Many of the kata performed today in Shotokan Karate were created centuries ago by the pioneering karate masters as a means of practicing and remembering the myriad of basic techniques that made up their style. The kata are of vital significance as they provide a vehicle for understanding and developing skill in performing these techniques.
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"This book is unique in that it provides detailed theory and explanation of the karate techniques, but presented in a manner that can be easily followed and understood by all. It is comprehensive and metioulous, and contains a depth of material unsurpassed in a book of this nature." Rick Clark
--This text refers to an alternate
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About the Author
Ashley Croft is a fifth dan in Shotokan Karate and fourth dan in Ao Denkou Jitsu. He has trained with some of the top instructors in the world and has studied in China under the instruction of a Master from the renowned Shaolin Temple. He has taught karate for more than 18 years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book on Kata bunkai,
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This review is from: Shotokan Karate: Unravelling the Kata (Paperback)
The purpose of this book is to give a practical explanation of the Shotokan Kata bunkai. It provides illustrations of practical techniques from the Shotokan Katas that can be applied in self defence situations.
Even though the bunkai was good, I didn't like the way the Kata techniques were illustrated in this book. The stances weren't good and some techniques did not look correct. Coming from a Shotokan Karate school, I can tell when the technique of the Kata is performed correctly or not, and few weren't performed correctly in this book. On the other hand, I liked the Kata techniques that were translated into throws. For example I loved the fact that two moves in Hein Godan can actually be interpreted as 2 Judo throws, which are Morote Seo Nagi and Ogoshi. However me having some Judo background, I know for a fact that the throws weren't performed correctly in the book, but its ok as long as it provided a practical application for the Kata techniques. Despite some of the criticims I provided above, I believe the book is a must for every Shotokan Karateka. Many senseis do not provide such good interpretation of Kata. This book will provide it, however always remember that there is no definite explanation of the Kata because it was kept a secret for centuries with very little revelation of the true applications.
9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book around on Bunkai yet!,
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This review is from: Shotokan Karate: Unravelling the Kata (Paperback)
A good Shotokan beginner's book with LOTS of clear colour pictures showing the first six kata's in the Shotokan canon up to Heian Godan.
A good compliment & natural progression from Ashley's first two titles -"Shotokan" & "Secret Karate". There are some very small mistakes in techniques though (eg. Yondan). It begins with a good general history of karate & its development, with details of its key founders & ancient masters. Vital pressure points covered (again). As for the bunkai (application of kata moves) there are some strange & sometimes awkward moves. Some are new, some are advanced but many don't accurately follow the moves of the kata (ie. Oyo Bunkai). However they do give a good interpretation of how throws can be incorporated. A good book overall & worth reading, as there are very few good books covering this subject. Despite the style & interpretations used, it's still one of the BEST books on Bunkai I've seen for a very long time.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent instruction.,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Shotokan Karate: Unravelling the Kata (Paperback)
Far from being just another book on karate, A. Croft has given us a valuable look into the future of traditional karate.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Sensei Richard Kim once said Kata is the heart of karate, and it is on kata that karate is based. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
upper rising block, stepping straight punch, level knife hand strike, yoi position, right knife hand block, vertical knife hand block, left knife hand block, stepping punch, pull the front foot, augmented block, bottom fist strike, kata step, left downward block, right downward block, upper cut punch, gedan barai, front stance, side snap kick, kata bunkai, left straight punch, stamping kick, right straight punch, uchi uke, forearm block, hammer fist strike Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Shaolin Temple, Gichin Funakoshi, Chang San Feng, Heian Shodan, White Crane, Heian Nidan, Hidari Fig, Fang Qi Niang, Heian Yondan, History of Karate, Intermediate Fig, Ankoh Itosu, Attack These, Fang Chi Liang, Kanku Dai, Kanryo Higaonna, Master Funakoshi, Shito Ryu, Fang Zhen Dong, Gojo Ryu, Hidari Morote-Uke, Migi Morote-Uke, Shoshin Nagamine, Yong Chun, Bunkai Movements New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Sensei Richard Kim once said Kata is the heart of karate, and it is on kata that karate is based. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
upper rising block, stepping straight punch, level knife hand strike, yoi position, right knife hand block, vertical knife hand block, left knife hand block, stepping punch, pull the front foot, augmented block, bottom fist strike, kata step, left downward block, right downward block, upper cut punch, gedan barai, front stance, side snap kick, kata bunkai, left straight punch, stamping kick, right straight punch, uchi uke, forearm block, hammer fist strike Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Shaolin Temple, Gichin Funakoshi, Chang San Feng, Heian Shodan, White Crane, Heian Nidan, Hidari Fig, Fang Qi Niang, Heian Yondan, History of Karate, Intermediate Fig, Ankoh Itosu, Attack These, Fang Chi Liang, Kanku Dai, Kanryo Higaonna, Master Funakoshi, Shito Ryu, Fang Zhen Dong, Gojo Ryu, Hidari Morote-Uke, Migi Morote-Uke, Shoshin Nagamine, Yong Chun, Bunkai Movements New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 4
books:
- Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate (Japanese Arts) by Pat McCarthy in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques by Mark Bishop in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Staying Safe by Ashley Croft in Front Matter
- Shotokan Karate by Ashley Croft in Back Matter
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