Customer Reviews

Karate-Do Nyumon: The Master Introductory Text

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All of us who study karate are lucky that Funakoshi wrote all he did. Except for a very few others, Funakoshi is the only early written information about karate and the earliest material that was translated into English.

Unfortunately for myself and many others who study karate history, Funakoshi never goes into much detail about much of anything. He almost never gives a date and he rarely, if ever says where he learned any of his kata or other practices.

The material on his teachers (Itosu and Azato primarily) is in summary form, never mentioning more than anecdotes. There are no dates, mentions of other students they had, what they taught etc...

Over all, this kind of book is about real karate, certainly enough to get a young mind going in the right direction about karate. It is well written, we can probably thank the translator for that. It contains some interesting material that is fun to read. Beyond that, it lacks detail to keep you interested for long.

Most of Funakoshi's books are like this for history. For the real meat of Funakoshi's karate (rather than this introduction), take a look at "Karate-do Kyohan", which contains much more technical information.

Karate-Do Nyumon is a wonderful book for any karate practitioner to read. I've read my copy through many times, and that's not counting all the times I've come back to specific areas of the book. This is one of the best books available for the new student in helping them understand just what karate-do really is, and it is no less a very informative read for students and teachers of all other levels.

Written by Gichin Funakoshi, Shotokan Karate founder and "father of modern karate", and translated by John Teramoto, president of Shotokan Karate of America's Black Belt Council, this book was originally published in Japanese in 1943. The first half of the book is full of wonderful history and entertaining anecdotes, advice on training, and photographs of practice during the first half of the (20th) century. The second half contains descriptions of basic techniques, ten-no-kata, and kawashi as practiced recently by senior Shotokai members. The text concludes with wonderful 'vignettes' of Funakoshi's teachers, Yasutsune Itosu and Yasutsune Azato, and of their teacher, Matsumura Sensei. Very highly recommended!

I am a practioner of MANY martial arts and I have to say, without a doubt, the Master Funakoshi has put together a great text which describes a part of his martial heritage and how his masters dealt with adversity in the past. The stories he tells us are not only for entertainment, but they serve as an example on how one should ACT, not REACT, in a situation. I esspecially respect the fact that Master Funakoshi is an innovator and not mearly an immitator. My praises.

I bought this book as I have heard much of Gichin Funakoshi through my training in Shotokan. It is the first book I've read which was written by Funakoshi.
I expected, as the book's title suggests, an introductory text. It therefore delivers.
It is interesting to read the master's thoughts on the way karate-ka should develop. I would say this is a must read for anyone who sees Karate as purely about technique. My teachers have always tried to instil that it's more than that. This book underscores the principle that it should be about enhancing one's self, that through Karate you should develop as a person.
Some interesting points about his teachers, and an interesting Kata i'd not heard of before (Ten No Kata).
I'll be buying Karate-Do Kyohan

Myself being a student of Okinawa karatedo and this book being one by the great Funakoshi Gichin himself, I must give it a good rating, because it is a good book. His tales of his teachers are a very good read, and the chapter on Karate in Ryukyu tells people exactly what all these kyusho-jutsu people are telling us now: that there ARE "secret" movements in the kata! (Unfortunately, Funakoshi Sensei does not go into details). :)

This book should be in the library of every serious martial artist, regardless of their specialty. Funakoshi demonstrates clearly that the basic value of karate (and any martial art, for that matter) is respect for self and others. The language is simple. The translation is very good.

I have read many Funakoshi books... this book was was extremely interesting the Master talks about basics which are the foundation of every great Martial artist. I highly recommend this book for any martial Artists studying Karate..Funikoshi has a few other amazing books as well Karate d0 my way of life is truly a great book as well as the essence of Karate. this book is full of great examples and illustrations

Karate Do Nyumon was Gichin Funakoshi's book for beginners and introduced us to the little practiced Ten No Kata. Ten No Kata is a fantastic tool for teaching fundamentals and introducing beginners to rehearsed kumite. As it is practised on the spot it takes up very little room and can be practised anywhere.

As far as the book goes, that's pretty much it. All of the stories and background can be found in Karate Do Kyohan which is a far superior work and the stories of Azato and Itosu are repeated in virtually all Funakoshi's work. The techniques displayed in the photographs are for me being a Shotokan karateka, shockingly poor and I shudder at the thought of a complete novice having this book and thinking that what he/she was looking at was good form.

However, this is Funakoshi's text and being a complete karate geek the book, for, me is worth having as a piece of Karate's history only.

I enjoy history and origins of martial arts, and this book fits in very nicely with other books of this nature. The sender was very prompt and the book was in perfect condition.