Customer Reviews

Shito-Ryu Karate

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

 

 

You may be confused by a different title printed on the cover 'Black Belt Karate'. Don't worry, it's probably some kind of cover design. In fact it's printed as 'Shito-Ryu Karate' on the side of the book and also the first page inside the book. It's indeed an authentic handbook of Shito-Ryu Karate, just like the hand notes you may recieve when you join any major karate dojo that practicing Shito-Ryu style. However, this handbook is very complete and helpful. It contains the following topics:



- History of Shito-Ryu Karate

- Striking Points

- Target Areas

- Standing Positions

- Hand Techniques

- Elbow Techniques

- Kicking Techniques

- Blocking Techniques



For each topics like standing positions, it provides each stance with the proper terminology, spelling, picture, application, and description of how to do the stance, such as the forward stance, Zenkutsu Dachi.



This book covers the history and techniques, it does not provide any kata forms. If you're interested on practicing Shito-Ryu kata forms, you may want to look at the DVD from amazon.com named 'Shito Ryu Karate Original'. It shows you different traditional Shito-Ryu kata forms in both slow and correct speed & timing, as well as from different side views.



Overall, if you practice Shito-Ryu karate, this is a very good and authentic handbook to help you practice and prepare your belt tests. If you're looking for a book to show you overall how-to-do karate, this may not the one you should be looking for.



(Reviewed by Otto Yuen, 13-Aug-2004)

This book has just the basics. Most but not all stances, blocks, kicks, and strikes are demonstrated. A good introduction for a beginner.

This book has all the pictures and Japanese terminology associated with the movements. Most traditional karate dojo's use these terms to conduct there classes, this is a great book for reference whether you are training in Wado-ryu,Shotokan,Goju-ryu or Shito-ryu. This text will benefit you in your training.

I don't recommend this book. It's too basic information, just some stances, some punches and blocks and some kicks with some pictures. Save you money. However you may find some usefull information, but just for beginners.

I've been studying Shito-Ryu for two years and have been tracking down related info. This is extremely basic in explaining various kicks, punches, blocks, etc. My only issue is similar to many books of this nature, it lacks the context of the moves. I.E. where to use them. Nonetheless, it was informative and helped me understand Shito-Ryu in a broad sense of how it has evolved.

All the hand and leg techniques are perfectly shown; but I wish moving and turning were included, as well as a kata or two.

When reading Sensei Demura's books, you're getting martial arts info from one of the most realiable sources in contempoary times. His book is knowledge and informative. A must oen for any karate stylist.