Customer Reviews

The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do (Shorin-Ryu)

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Shoshin Nagamine's book is invaluable to anyone who studies Shorin-ryu Karate, or a school related to or derived from Shorin-ryu. Although Nagamine's volume was originally published in English in 1976, it still sets the standard for other books on the subject of Okinawan karate (I don't know of any English volume as thorough--and I own over 3,000 martial arts books). It is also the only English language Shorin-ryu manual to include complete demonstrations of ALL 18 kata of this style, all of which are demonstrated by Mr. Nagamine himself (photos, foot position & stepping diagrams, and narrative). They include: Fugyu Kata I & II, Pinan 1 through 5, Naihanchi 1-3, Ananku, Wankan, Rohai, Wanshu, Passai, Gojushiho, Chinto, and Kusanku. Practitioners of styles such as Shotokan and Tang Soo Do will enjoy comparing these older versions of the forms with those they practice today. This is one of the few books on Karate which could benefit a practitioner at either the basic OR advanced levels, due to the amount and depth of information included within.

Another attractive feature of this book is the excellent autobiography which Mr. Nagamine includes. He writes about personal aspects of his life, his interest in karate and other martial arts (he was also a skilled judoka), and includes a subsection on each of his teachers describing his experience and what he learned. He describes training with his first teacher, Ankichi Arakaki, and then the famed Chotoku Kyan, and the kempo master Choki Motobu. Nagamine offers his personal thoughts on karate training, including a series of precepts which have guided his own studies. The section on basic techniques (preceeding the lengthy section on kata) shows exactly how each movement is to be performed, and includes detailed photographs from the start of the technique to its finish. There are also sections on Kumite (showing 7 sequences and also brief information on breaking objects and makiwara training) and Kobudo (weapons such as sai, bo, nunchaku, etc.).

Concerning Shishin Nagamine, the man was a dedicated karate researcher as well as a skilled practitioner who knew many of the old masters and was friendly with karate men of other styles. Nagamine's specific style is called Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu. He was a policeman by trade, and has written a second book called "Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters", which includes much more about his experiences delving into karate history.

All Matsubayashi Practioners need this book in their possesion. Breaks down all eighteen katas and leaves room on every page for notes and highlighting. Shoshin Nagamine does an excellent job in helping us learn about his life, the history of karate and the techniques of Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu. This book is the best guideline in helping anyone learn and maintain their katas, kihon and yakusoku kumite. I have recommended it to all of my students and friends . I live by this book. Sensei Dan Cole Nidan, 2nd Degree Black Belt

One does not have to be a Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioner to recognize the importance of this historical and highly instructional book on Traditional Okinawan Karate. The story of how Shoshin Nagamine and Chojun Miyagi worked together to construct Gekisai Dai Ichi Kata for use in both of their systems is telling in that these great masters all new each other and trained together and worked towards promoting Karate to the world as a team. No Traditional Karate student loses when they learn something from all of the Traditional Karate Arts from Okinawa. I highly reccomend this book to any practioner. It's great to have in the martial arts library!

This is the only book I've ever seen documenting the Matsubayashi-ryu style of Shorin-ryu. The most important part of the book is the forms, which I have also never seen elsewhere.

In addition to the coverage of the forms, which includes all 18 kata, Nagamine gives an interesting historical account of the style, including many anecdotal stories about many of the other masters who have contributed so much to it, such as Kyan, Motobu, and others.

I am interested in the evolution of the various karate forms, and in that context it is fun to compare the forms here that have been passed on, in modified form, to Shotokan and related styles where there is Shorin-ryu as well as Shorei-ryu influence. Of course, the Pinan 1-5 and the Naihanchi 1-3 series are known as the Heien 1-5 and the Tekki 1-3 forms in Shotokan. However, the Matsubayashi versions of Wanshu, Passai, and Kusanku, although greatly modified, are still recognizable in their Shotokan versions as Empi, Bassai Dai, and Kwanku.

The book would make for fascinating study if only for the kata information. The book is a must for all practitioners of this style and for all those interested learning about the historical importance of the Okinawan styles.

An excellent book from a historical point of view as well as techniqual. I enjoyed it immensely. My only disappointment was in the Kata section. The reader sees no transition from technique to technique, only the end product. I believe in doing so, the book would have been much larger. In other books they may take half a page to a full page to demonstrate each techniuqe. In this book, each page may average 10 techniques. On the whole this is an excellent book and a must have for any serious Karate Ka.

This is the most important book you can own if you study Matsubayashi Ryu. It is very well written. Shows all 18 kata, kihons and yakusoku kumite. This book is not only good as a refresher but as a text book. I require that all my students purchase this book. I am a Shihan, 5th Degreee Black belt in Matsubayashi Ryu.

There are a lot of books out there on various martial arts. Most of which include pictures for their forms. "The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do" is no different - but having studied the style (under two different intructors) on and off since 1983, I rarely go to class without a copy of this book. I currently have at least 4 copies - 2 softbound, 2 hard bound.

I am not the only one in my class that shows up with a copy of this book tucked inside their training bag. The instructor and other black belts have been known to stop in the middle of a kata, walk over to their bag, and look at the book to verify the next steps.

Is this a good book to learn the katas? Some of the easier ones can be learned just by looking at the pictures in the book, but the more advanced ones are harder - especially since there are some intensional errors (especially in regards to the foot work) in the book. The book is best used with guided training. Those properly trained won't have to worry about the errors as they will be using the book as a reminder.

Nagamine Sensei was one of the three persons declared a National Treasure. The other two were Yagi Sensei of Goju Ryu and Matayoshi Sensei of Matayoshi (Okinawan) Kobudo.

Every serious martial artist needs four books on their shelf: this book, the Essence of Karate-Do,Shotokan a Precise History, Karate-Do Kyohan, and The History of Karate.

Nagamine Sensei was truly an Okinawan Treasure as was his art, Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. He was a Master to the Masters. This is a great book by a great man.

Its a great book, lots of pictures showing Master Nagamine going through kata. The information presented gives much insight into his thoughts and ideas about the history of the kata, Okinawan KArate and how both should be practiced. Nothing on the mystical side here just good strong karate presented by a legend.
No matter what style of Okinawan Karate you practice this book will be of help to you in your studies

In his book, Sensei Nagamine provides great insight into the spirit, history, and training methods of traditional Okinawan karate. Detailed, easy-to-follow pictures make this an excellent reference book for anyone learning Shorin-Ryu kata.