Customer Reviews

Katsu Jin Ken - Living Karate - The Way to Self-Mastery

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In the interest of full disclosure, I am a student of Hanshi Shimabukuro. Given this -and in order to reduce any potential bias- I've read (and re-read) the book a couple of times, and have waited a few years before writing this review. I may have waited a bit too long, since I first got the book in 2006 as I recall!

I would first like to say that anyone interested in learning a martial art should find a teacher. There's no substitute for a good teacher. Having said that, this book is a wonderful addition and supplement for people who already train under a Sensei. Not everyone will have access to a Sensei who has Hanshi Shimabukuro's knowledge, so the book becomes a great ally in an individual's development as a martial artist. I mention Martial Artist and don't focus in Karate specifically because this book can benefit practitioners of any Martial Art. I've even recommended it to friends who don't practice Martial Arts, since it also contains a wealth of knowledge applicable to self-help and the enrichment of one's life and the life of others.

I recommend looking at the Table of Contents available here at Amazon. With 18 Chapters and close to 500 pages the book is quite thorough, yet highly accessible and easy to read. At the same time, it can be quite deep and I've found myself going over a single idea or reading a single page numerous times. For example, developing Ki, the Principles of Training, Discipline, etc.

Specifically for Karate, Hanshi Shimabukuro presents a definition of Karate, its history, philosophy, spirit, and etiquette. He then goes on to present some of the basic stances, different techniques (first defensive, then offensive), and talks about the training process and the importance of Mind, Ki, and Attitude. There are also chapters on Kata, Kumite, Weapons, and Tournaments, as well as chapters with more detail regarding focus, meditation, breathing, etc.

Anyone can learn to kick, punch, and strike. A person who practices 100 kicks, punches and strikes a day will eventually become proficient after months or years of practice. This is NOT Karate. Karate goes much deeper than that. It helps build character and instill confidence, and encompasses aspects such as etiquette, honor, respect, and compassion. I've trained (on and off) for almost 30 years and have never kicked or punched anyone, yet Karate has helped me with a wide variety of challenges, from pursuing post-graduate degrees to remaining calm while being robbed at gunpoint to learning how to walk after a near-fatal motorcycle crash. In all 3 situations I recall drawing heavily upon my experience practicing Seienchin, which back then was my favorite Kata and some translations refer to it as "Calm in the storm."

I've read other Martial Arts books and in addition to Karate I used to practice Tai Chi Chuan and recently began training Qigon once again. I highly recommend this book to all Martial Artists who desire to take things to a deeper level, as well as to those who may be just starting out. I wish I had read a book like this one back when I started training.

Shimabukuro Sensei's book truly offers all serious students of budo a way to understand the meaning and philosophy behind karate and for that matter any martial art.

While it shows ample photos and examples of kihon, it is the explanation of the smallest principles underlying why we do what we do in the dojo that make it such a compelling book!

This very fine book, like its predecessor, is a must for all martial artists and enthusiasts. Shimubukaru Sensei has done a great service by relating the philosophical underpinnings of the Martial Journey in addition to offering guidance in the realm of the oft visited technical realm. I highly recommend this book for ALL martial artists, athletes and weekend warriors. You will learn something of great value by reading this book. The title says it all, Katsu (revive) Jin (mankind) Ken (fist/boxing), through the practice of "Living Karate" many people will be revived and revitalized as opposed to the destructive qualities that are all too often discussed regarding the art of Karate in particular and Martial Arts in general.

Katsu Jin Ken is a well thought out text book applying Karate-do to everyday life. Explicit examples are provided to help connect the Theory to Practice and is covered in the first 1/3 of the book. The remainder of the book is very basic Karate techniques, coverage of refereeing tournaments and promotional information on Mr. Shimabukuro's program. The History, Philosophy and True Understanding of Karate sections certainly demonstrate knowledge of one who has dedicated his life to understanding the deeper aspects of Karate and not just the physcial aspects. The knowledge one gathers from this book makes it a worthwhile purchase.

I have been training in the art of Karate-do for around 6 years now and have been looking for a comprehensive guide to the art. Finally after all of the other Karate books I have read and tried to study, this book is really the only book I use as a reference. From the great drawings and clear photos of the most basic of techniques to the clear and distinct explanations of how to do them properly. This book has it all. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn a more in depth and precise explanation of Karate-do.
In martial arts, people forget that between just learning the techniques to defend themselves there is a philosophy that needs to be learned by all of us. This text explains a greater outlook and how one should think in many different situations in life. The philosophical writings of the writer of this book is very in depth. It gives great meaning to both technique and philosophy which together create Karate-do. I would recommend this book to anyone who studies the martial arts.

My practice of Karate-do was deeply affected by the philosophy section of Shimabukuro Hanshi's Flashing Steel, which was a surprise to me since it is a book on Samurai Swordsmanship. When I realized that he had written a book on Karate-do, I had to get it, and it has affected me even more profoundly. Katsu Jin Ken is the best book on Karate philosophy and lifestyle that I have ever read, by far. It also has the best and most thoughtful history of Karate that I have ever come across. Although there are some basic techniques of Shito-Ryu Karate explained and illustrated in the text, the power of this book is in Shimabukuro's willingness to share Karate-do's philosophy of personal responsibility growing into a responsibility for the good of those around you and its power to change your life and society as a whole. As Shimabukuro Hanshi says in his book, anyone can develop considerable physical skill if he/she is willing to spend five years training hard on improving fighting technique. However, very few are able to learn to integrate respect, courtesy, charity, and an unshakable attitude into their daily lives, even after a lifetime. In Katsu Jin Ken, Shimabukuro Hanshi very specifically and very practically discusses this integration and encourages all karateka (even those of us like me, who are not Shito-Ryu stylists) to put these principles into practice. This book is invaluable and has the potential to improve not only a whole generation of karateka, but the entire world.

Great book. Like the moral parts as well. Not for everyone, though, especially if you aren't into the "budo" side of the martial arts.