Customer Reviews

Karate: Technique and Spirit

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I found Nakamura's devotion to karate admirable. I liked his work ethic. The ideas of love (discovering why men suffer), obedience, and zen were made in a very clean presentation. The most impressive feat in the book was the portion where Nakamura demonstration his power by breaking river rocks. This is no cheap trick. The breaking represented, the complete symbolism of: giving a 100 percent, seeking mental clarity, releasing extreme power through joining as one with the material. The verbal discussion of zen being manifest as action. One can reason, breaking the rock is simply the principle of the fulcrum and leverage being applied to a material through a mechanical forces. However, one must experience the physical and mental pain associated with failure to perform such a feat to understand the simplicity and perfection illustrated by Nakamura.

My teacher talked about breaking river rocks in the mountain. He told me it was a matter of timing and speed. Apparently, the his first attempts at breaking the rocks were unsuccessful and he wanted to quit. After receiving encouragement and demonstrations that it was possible, he proceeded to break many rocks. Also, my first attempt to breaking a 6 inch piece of ice using a full circle chop failed. I thought about power only and failed. I turned inward focusing internally and broke the ice with a one inch slap. People want to know what was the difference in technique. Zen was the difference, and it produced the power needed to break the ice. The difference in breaking quality was noticeable. Nakamura inspired me to encourage my students to give a 100 percent at every practice. He demonstrated katas as a means to strengthen the mind of the body. I hope for significant improvements in concentration and desire. Nakamura karate is very good, no wonder he became a karate legend.
The photos in the book create a strong connection to natural beauty of the sunsets, waterfalls, rock textures, and the whiteness of snow. His tradition links philosophy and spirituality links back to feudal Japan.

Nakamura is a living legend. He brought Mas Oyama's Kyokushinkai from Japan to the United States,and later formed his own style, Seido, which is now nearly 25 years old. This book is virtually a textbook for Seido students, and since Seido is a traditional style, it would be of use to students of any Japanese style. The book includes all "natural" weapons (body parts), stances, striking and blocking techniques, with detailed photographs and diagrams, and also includes discussions on the history of martial arts, its relevance to modern life, proper breathing and stretching, the meanings of the names of various traditional kata and why kata is important to a karete-ka's training regimen, karate's relation to Zen, and several of Nakamura's own meditation lectures he gives to his own students on a weekly basis. Anyone can write a book about karate technique, but Nakamura not only has expert knowledge of the techniques shown in this book, he is among a handful of true exponents of the spirit of Karate-Do: The ---Way--- of Karate, and he has made it his life's work to instill that spirit in his students. Seido has dojos all over the world.

This book, may at first glance, seem a bit "pricey", however, it is a great primer book, printed on high quality paper. The techniques are standard karate type fare: Blocks, punches, and kicks. What makes this book such a collectable is that the author and publisher, write a beautiful introduction as to what the spirit of karate is really all about. They arrange the photos, bioagraphies of students, demonstrations, and martial arts tenets in a masterful way. This book will probably not add much to the black belts (assuming he is well studied) knowledge of the subject of karate, but, it will add much to his vision on a masterful way to write and publish a karate primer book. He or she will further just enjoy the book for what it is: a great work of art.

To the beginning or intermediate student, this book will engage his or her imagination. The section on ethical and moral values of karate is short, sweet, and to the point. The last chapter on "Karate Meditation Lectures" is outstanding and not pretentious. If you are a karateka - purchase this book for the beauty of it.

An excellent book on karate basics, and a beautiful book on the spirit of karate. This book projects the power of karate, as well as the beauty of karate through its crisp photos and content.

And it is great read the message that everyday people in everyday jobs take karate, not just the tough guys you see in the UFC.

Super karate book.

This is a book that all karate ka must have. The author explains like other books some kihon, some basic katas, use of Bo and kumite. The distinguishing part of this book is the meditation and the spiritual aspect of the art. Unlike other books on spiritual aspect of karate this one I guarantee you will walk away as a very different karate ka after reading it. Best of all it is easy to read and to the point.

Respect, love and Obedience are the three principles. This book will show you the correct paths to take when training in martial arts. I learned about the history and beliefs of Seido (The Sincere Way). This showed the natural weapons in karate and how to use the against an attacker. There is also a section on the traditional karate weapons ( Bo, JO, Sai). I was able to see how to do proper techniques, step by step in detail. This book helped me with expanding my variety of stretching exercises and martial art warm-ups. I personally love the mediation lectures in the book. This is the spiritual side of karate. In the mediation lectures I learned that karate is not just when I put on my GI and begin training. It is apart of my daily life and how I choose to live. One of my favorite lectures was Nana Korobi Ya Oki (If you fall down seven times, get up eight times). This showed me that no matter how hard life becomes and even if I am going against almost impossible odds, I must never give up. Even if I was to fall one hundred times, I must get up one hundred one times. We all make mistakes and we can not be assured on what the next day will bring, but we must go on and never surrender. I suggest that anyone no matter what style of martial arts they take should read this book.