Karate School [Paperback]

Mas Oyama (Author)

Book Description

It's still the classic text on karate, newly reissued. The world's greatest karate master reveals his philosophy and technique for practicing one of the world's greatest martial arts. With over 1,300 photos that break down each movement and exercise, the master describes every aspect of karate, starting with the basic elements and leading up through set combinations, sparring, and competition. Build strength, control, precision, and agility from hand to foot. Make several different types of fists, as well as hand swords. Add the elbow, forearm, and the entire upper body. Try out preliminary exercises for the wrist, Achilles tendon, knees, and hips; preparations for the roundhouse block; and 16 stances. Master defensive moves, variations on fundamental techniques, and the Kata, karate's all-important set and leveled combinations. At this point you're ready to think about free sparring, or Kumite, with five preparatory stances. Plus: guidance on doing Tameshiwari--breaking wood and other materials with your fist--and reaching your pinnacle of strength!

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (March 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806988975
• ISBN-13: 978-0806988979
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,108,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Schooled, March 19, 2002

By 

"jvaldezcg5" (Burbank, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karate School (Paperback)

Karate School by Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama (previously published as Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course) is an excellent introduction to Karate. Like Hidetaka Nishiyama and Richard C. Brown's Karate: the Art of "Empty Hand" Fighting, ISBN 0-8048-1668-9, it gives the reader clear and well illustrated instruction on the execution of fundamental techniques. Also like Nishiyama and Brown's book it includes entire sections to Kumite and the application of Karate in everyday situations. But unlike Nishiyama and Brown's book which, at least, has rather thin expositions of Karate history and philosophy, Oyama simply leaves them out altogether. In place of these what we are treated to are a detailed section on breathing techniques, an entire chapter on Tameshiwari, and Oyama's suggestions for modernizing Karate competition and its scoring system.

I would, of course, recommend this book for its thoroughness in detailing the fundamentals, its section on breathing techniques, and for what really distinguishes this book from Nishiyama and Brown's book, its chapter on Kata. While this chapter is not as heavy on the significance and importance of Kata it does give step-by-step explanations for five Kata. As with Nishiyama and Brown's book I would recommend supplementing this book with one that explains the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the art such as Robin L. Rielly's Complete Shotokan Karate, ISBN 0-8048-2108-9.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Schooled, March 19, 2002

By 

"jvaldezcg5" (Burbank, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karate School (Paperback)

Karate School by Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama (previously published as Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course) is an excellent introduction to Karate. Like Hidetaka Nishiyama and Richard C. Brown's Karate: the Art of "Empty Hand" Fighting, ISBN 0-8048-1668-9, it gives the reader clear and well illustrated instruction on the execution of fundamental techniques. Also like Nishiyama and Brown's book it includes entire sections are devoted to Kumite and the application of Karate in everyday situations. But unlike Nishiyama and Brown's book which, at least, has rather thin expositions of Karate history and philosophy, Oyama simply leaves them out altogether. In place of these what we are treated to are a detailed section on breathing techniques, an entire chapter on Tameshiwari, and Oyama's suggestions for modernizing Karate competition and its scoring system.

I would, of course, recommend this book for its thoroughness in detailing the fundamentals, its section on breathing techniques, and for what really distinguishes this book from Nishiyama and Brown's book, its chapter on Kata. While this chapter is not as heavy on the significance and importance of Kata it does give step-by-step explanations for five Kata. As with Nishiyama and Brown's book I would recommend supplementing this book with one that explains the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the art such as Robin L. Rielly's Complete Shotokan Karate, ISBN 0-8048-2108-9.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book by Sosai Mas Oyama, August 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Karate School (Paperback)

This book is a great text for students of Kyokushin style of Karate-do, and great for any Karate-ka interested in the traditional styles of Okinawan Karate-do. Sosai Masutatsu Oyama imigrated to Japan From South Korea to learn the Japanese Martial Arts, he had studied boxing and Judo until he found his true love, Karate. He started learning Shotokan Karate from the Great Giko Funakoshi,son of Gichin Funakoshi. Oyama excelled quickly in the art and later created what he called Kyokushin. This book contains study aids to students of the art and facts for Karate lovers. It includes pictures of him and his students showing the precise movements,techniques and descriptions by Oyama him self. The Katas are precisely detailed and demostrated, it is a must have.