Customer Reviews

The Fundamentals of Goju-Ryu Karate

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"Fundamentals" is the appropriate title for this manual. Authored by N. Gosei Yamaguchi, eldest son of Gogen "The Cat" Yamaguchi, cofounder of the Goju-Ryu system, this techniques guidebook is an accurate companion for any student of this major Japanese martial art.

It includes a preface by the author and a brief history of the style, and also an outline of the instructional programs in Goju-Ryu. Its primary focus is on the underlying techniques which form the foundation of the Goju (hard-soft) system, the first major synthesized martial art of the 20th Century. It culls from various Chinese styles the flowing, circular, "soft" or "internal" techniques and couples them with the more direct, straight-line "hard" or "external" styles typical of the powerful Okinawan and Japanese martial forms.

It covers the Standing Positions (which are the basis of the moving forms - "kihon"), the various Ceremonial, Functional, and Classical Forms of Posture, Striking Points and Target Areas, and the fundamental Blocks, Strikes, and Kicks.

There is also an outline of Kihon #1, the first of the "basics in motion" which incorporate the most basic strikes, kicks, and blocks. Kihon are integral intermediate exercises which deliver the student of karate from static postures into practical stepping and turning motions. These later evolve into the kinetic maneuvers of "kata", the dance-like forms which symbolize defence against multiple attackers. The whole idea of practicing these forms repetitiously is to ingrain them into the body's repertoire of autonomous responses.

The manual is profusely illustrated with clear photographs revealing nuances of the many hand and foot and body posture positions to facilitate an understanding of the underlying dynamics of each.

Serviceable for any student of karate (empty hand), this book is indispensable for those who are actually studying this particular style. Goju-Ryu has a large following of karatekas (practitioners) worldwide and maintains a number of dojos (schools) in the United States. Master Yamaguchi is President of Goju-Kai Karate-Do USA, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I bought this book as a reference to basic stances/techniques etc, and am very happy with the purchase.

It is an easy to read book with photos, diagrams and written descriptions. There is also a brief history to Goju-Ryu Karate which is of interest.

This is a good picture book and very technical. However, if you are interested in the philosophical foundations of Goju, it is not in this book. Since this was my prime interest, I was disappointed. Having said that, the pictures are very informative.

Absolutely an excellent book and real happy to see that it is available once again.

Any beginner will find this an excellent book to learn from and as well it is an invaluable asset to anyones library.

This is a good beginner's book, as the name suggests, full of pictures of the stances and techniques. A few more on the history of the style would be nice. Some differences in nomenclature with the Okinawan schools must be taken into account. A fine basic book. Recommendable.