Customer Reviews

Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques

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Mark Bishop has written a geneological history of most, if not all, of existing karate styles that have their roots in Okinawa. Though his work is not sourced and footnoted as is customary in academic writing, he does indicate that his information comes from interviews with karatedo masters in Okinawa, and presumably these interviews were conducted in the masters' native language. Since the vast majority of martial arts "history" is oral, and his book is so detailed, I find his accounts quite credible. In this book, Mark Bishop has done a good job of conveying the commonalities of all karate styles, despite the efforts by some to differentiate and mysticize them. Bishop should also be commended for debunking the frequently told myth that martial arts began in Okinawa when weaponless peasants developed fighting techniques to counter the aggression of Japanese samurai. He also presents his interview subjects as real people -- some of the karate masters he interviewed struck him as slightly bombastic or secretive, while others came across as humble and eager teachers. Instead of editing these impressions out he includes them.

This is not the book for people with little or no experience in the martial arts looking for a guidebook so they can learn how to win bar fights. The book is most valuable as a historical reference.

Mark Bishop offers us a look at karate on Okinawa. Not in the usual manner, wherein an author tries to explain techinques through pictures and words, but through descriptions of his discussions with practitioners of different styles of karate and kobudo (traditional weaponry), and descriptions of the many dojo (schools) he visited. Bishop includes photos of the places he visited and the masters he met throughout the volume, and for most schools offers lineage charts showing who the major instructors of each master were, and that teacher's senior students. One emerges with a new awareness of and appreciation for the diversity of Okinawan Karate, both in practice and philosophy.

The author breaks down the book into three major sections. The first of these is on styles and teachers of Karate directly related to Chinese Boxing ("kung fu"), such as Jukendo, Ryuei-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Pangai Noon, and Kojo-ryu. section Two is concerned with Shorin-ryu styles of karate, including Matsumura Orthodox shorin-ryu, Ishmine-ryu, Tomari-te, Shorinji-ryu, Matsubayashi-ryu, Chuba-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shorin-ryu (shaolin), Ryukyu Shorin-ryu, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, Kushin-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni Shiito-ryu, Shinpan Shiroma Shiito-ryu, Tozan-ryu, and Okinawan Kempo. The third section of this book delves into schools and instructors of Kobudo (traditional weaponry), includingHoshin-ryu, Yamani-ryu, Uhuchiku Kobudo, Ryukyu Kobudo, Matayoshi Kobudo, Motobu-ryu, and Bugeikan. Also included are appendixes with a map of Okinawa (detailed names of each region of the Island), a Kata (form) chart showing what kata each school of karate practices, a list and description of Kobudo weapons, and addresses of major teachers and schools in Okinawa. This is probably the best guide to different forms of Okinawan martial arts, since the author is able to include his personal observations, and not simply a collection of data from other sources.

Even though the book is full of useful information for any interested martial artist, I find the book to be full of biased information resulting in half truths and conjecture. A very good job is done in making sure that most systems are represented; however, it is apparent that in the cases where the author felt he was not received with enthusiasm, he gave very unfavorable accounts of his experiences. The author went so far as to insult and degrade a genuine grandmaster of a very respected Okinawan martial art who is, incidentally, a Japanese Living National Treasure. The fact that he can openly show disrespect and complete disregard for a martial art system and its grandmaster shows that through his martial arts training he has never learned the most valuable lesson taught in the martial arts: to show respect and always remain humble--yet, he continues to write about a subject that he has only a superficial knowledge of.

Although we have to admit that Mr. Bishop put a lot of research on the history of the Birthplace and Development of Karate, there is too much of his opinions imprinted on the writing style... all in favor of the several branches of Shorin Ryu and at a certain point minimizing the importance of the other Okinawan Karate Koryu... Further more on his excerpt titled Goju and Health, Mr. Bishop presents an irresponsible and highly biased personal opinion disguised as a "medical proven fact" of the alleged health effects caused by Sanchin Kata (Three Battles Form). Reality has it that Mr. Bishop is not a health licensed professional and according to my research there has never been a scientific study performed or any type of medical lead investigation that supports his misguided and fantastic allegations about the Danger of the Practices included in Goju Ryu Karate Do... He goes to the length to even propose that Goju Teachers die at an early age, this cannot be further from the truth, e.g., Yagi Meitoku Dai Sensei founder of Meibukan Goju Ryu and Successor of Miyagi Chujun O'Sensei founder of Goju Ryu Karate Do, died at age 91, and reportedly, practiced Sanchin Kata until the dawn of his days (1912-2003)... The book relays interesting information to include apparent gossips of the Okinawan Karate Koryu, and excellent tables of lineage... Certainly NOT a technical book and NOT for beginners. Otherwise recomended as a good source of record of Okinawan Karate Teacher-Student Lineage and Geneolocial Tree... Juan Javier Adames / USA - Philippines

First, I hold sandan rank in both Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate and Matayoshi kobudo. I've received personal training from some of the great practitioners of Okinawa karate. Not to blow my own horn, but I do know a little about these subjects.

Mark Bishop has provided a great service in giving us this book. The photos and interviews with Okinawan master practitioners are fascinating. And, he covers a wide range of styles. One feels the actual "flavor" of these styles and the dojo where they are practiced. I know of no other martial arts book that has done this. It was not an easy task.

However, I am concerned about some of his statements concerning Goju Ryu and particularly regarding the practice of the Sanchin kata. Mr. Bishop contends that practice of Sanchin can lead to high blood pressure, and in fact he quit Goju Ryu because of this even though he held a dan rank.

I have encountered hundreds of Goju practioners, and I had never heard of this until it appeared in this book. My teacher, who has been training Goju for about 40 years, commented, "That book (Okinawan Karate) is junk. That stuff about sanchin is nonsense. I've never heard of it, and karate teachers have a reputation for living long lives." His value judgements aside, I must conclude that Mr. Bishop's contention about Sanchin is not based on a whole lot of evidence. How did he get high blood pressure? Did he smoke? Eat too much salt? Get stressed out? Sanchin? Who knows.

So I am concerned that Mr. Bishop may have taken this method of reasoning to other facets of the book, making some things appear as objective fact when they are actually subjective judgements. Having said all that, there is no doubt that this is an essential book for anyone interested in Okinawan or Japanese karate. Buy it.

This book is filled with excellent information on most Okinawan systems of karate. There were systems in this book that had never come accross in my 15 years of study. This is a book that should be read by all karate-ka! If your system originated in Okinawa then it will be in this book!

Okinawan Karate, and its history tends to be contradictory, or ambiguous depending on who does the telling, and how long the "telephone game" was. Bishop's english language book adds to that history as he saw it. What's missing are Kanji / Chinese characters for the various people, locations, and styles. Kanji have multiple pronuciations (i.e. Japanese is a language full of homonyms). Since this book is in part intended to perserve Okinawan history it would be considerably more useful to have the correct words.

An universally acclaimed book. A real reference praised by all martial arts scholars and experts including the same karate masters it faithfully depicts! Includes a specially accurate and complete rendering of the Nahate (Goju-Ryu) line which sadly has been lately distorted by some very successfull "reference" books for individual promoting purposes.
This book should be present in every serious martial artist's bookshelf.

Mr. Bishop has done an excellent job of researching Okinawan martial arts history. This tome is well written, easy to read, and quite enlightening. Part one describes the Chinese influenced empty-hand arts such as Goju Ryu which I study as well as Uechi Ryu and others. Part two covers the Shoren styles such as Isshin Ryu, Shoren Ryu (there is more than one type), and Kushin Ryu. Part three covers weapons forms such as Matayoshi (which I have also studied) and Ryukyu kobudo. The appendices have great maps and useful information. The book is short, only 173 pages, but interesting. I like the author's personal observations but I wish the book had been a little more in-depth. If you are into lineage this is an essential resource.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

In this book, Bishop tries to show all the branches in Okinawan Karate-do. It details the well known stiles, interviews with the responsible masters and so on. It also includes valuable information on some rare styles. But if you are looking for the "secret techniques" they are not here, of course (try training with your Master for 20 years ;-) ). Very good and recommendable book!