Customer Reviews

This Is Karate

5 star:		(9)
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Mas Oyama's "This Is Karate" is the most complete and thorough book on the Japanese style of Martial Arts that I have had the pleasure of reading. The practical applications are some of the best techniques that one could possibily need for self defense training.

I have later (newer) version of THIS IS KARATE autographed by author himself Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate (Ultimate Truth) Full Contact Karate System. It always amazes me how Sosai Mas Oyama could put his knowledge together in this one book and in such a practical manner. I remember his speach was always full of spirit, and valable. He always had a good story to tell, and drew everyone's attention with his kindness and love....

I would also recommend WHAT IS KARATE. These TWO books are now getting harder to find, and increasing in value. These books should be used as a Text book for Kyokushin practicionor. You must SWEAT, SWEAT, SWEAT before you can even utilize the information shared in this book. OSU~!!!!

This is the best work on the Kyokushin Kai Goju style and one of the greatest books ever written on the subject of Karate. This work and Oyama's Advanced Karate are essential books for the beginner and advanced karateka alike.

By the way, I learned an amazing fact about Oyama's books recently, five years after I wrote this review. I was recently told that if you have Oyama's three-volume set of What is Karate?, This is Karate, and Advanced Karate, in very good condition, it's worth about $1200. I can't vouch for the validity of this myself, but pass it on for what it's worth to all the old karate hands out there like me who might have all three books sitting around gathering dust. Well, those old Oyama volumes might just be worth something. :-)

Mas Oyama has written many books based on years of training and applied theory of Karate. He taught Kyukushin and this is the karateka's Bible!! I recommend this all martial artist and interested reader's!!

Oyama's best book. To me it resembles all the arts that come out of shorin ryu or shotokan: wado ryu, taekwondo, tangsoodo, ishinryu, kyoshinkan, etc. Nicely written and the photographs are excellent

This fantastic book is a collectors item for anyone into karate, but most especially for those into Oyama's Kyokushinkai karate, which means "The search for the ultimate truth." This is one of his best and most detailed books on karate. I had purchased his first book, What is Karate? when I was in the Navy stationed in Japan on board ship back in 1962. Even though I was studying Shotokan karate I had enormous respect for Mas Oyama who had studied both Shotokan and Goju Ryu Karate before creating his Kyokushinkai style. His unfortunate death April 26th, 1994 created a conflict within his organization and many of his top students started their own system. Nevertheless, his hard contact realistic karate will remain forever and his name will always be remembered.

I purchased this book in 1965 and this short review cannot do this book justice. The 368 pages are full of photographs and detailed explanations of each technique. The seven sections cover the basics, techniques, formal exercises, special techniques, special drills, applications. sparring, self-defense techniques and much, much more. Even though there are some differences between Shotokan and Kyokushinkai karate, most of the karate basics are the same. I found myself often referring to this text in my lifetime of karate study.

In conclusion, if you are into karate, no matter what style, this book will be of value to you. If you are a Kyokushinkai student and a collector of anything written by Master Oyama, you will want to own this historical text.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Shotokan Karate Self-Defense Manual: Combat karate for the street)

I've read this before and watch the korean movie about the, authors life Kinda almost good as the book itself.
Hope they print more of this book "what is karate"1958 coz we shall introduce this to the new student who wish to study martial, arts.
anybody who wish to sell there books or just lyin around there bookshelves pls. contact me glim@asia.com

This is Mas Oyama's best work. I would say it is the most complete book for Japanese karate (Not okinawan). There are good practical applications in this book. And self-defense training.

Very Best of Karate ka