Customer Reviews

This Is Karate

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This is regarded as the bible of kyokushin karate.

The author Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama, was a legend in his own time, and the creator of Kyokushin kai karate -one of the largest karate styles in the world.

This book is old and looks it, it is however one of the finest karate manuals ever published. Along with its brother books ("what is karate" and "Advanced karate") it forms the nucleus of the kyokushin style. On its own it is a outstanding work second to none of the inumerable more recent books on karate. When it was released it set a standard few books can measure up to.

It is a step by step introduction to the fundamental techniques and katas in karate, also it contains selfdefense and some more unusual aspects of karate such as breaking and other special training methods.

The section on history is very aged though, and should not be taken as absolute truth. Much has happened in the research in martial art history since this book was released 1965.

This book is recommended to any practicioner of karate, but especialy to practiciners of kyokushin karate or to practicioners of kyokushin derived styles.
Only please be aware that even kyokushin karate (the style the author founded) has changed slightly since this book was released.

It tends to be expensive, but it is worth it.

Somehow when I first bought this book over twenty years ago, it went missing from my shelf. I searched for it and found that this karate manual would cost hundreds of dollars to replace. But I had to have it. It was a marker in my martial arts development and although perhaps not zen-like I needed a replacement. In this beautifully bound manual, not only do we see Mas Oyama display his concentration as he breaks a bottle with a knife hand strike, we see his crane-like movements incorprated into the traditional tensho form, his eyes transfixed upward upon an infinite goal. Oyama's students display the basic stances, blocks, kicks and punches of Sboto Kan Karate in a flowing organized manner. This book is a must for those who are truly students of traditional karate. Seeing Master Oyama's form, and the techniques of his students will enhance the reader's appreciation of this art.

I am very very happy with my purchase. The book was actually in better shape then I expected. IT will be treasured for many years by me and will be referred to often in my training.
I am very pleased with Amazon in making the connection to the seller and to the seller congratualtions on your speedy delivery and care in protecting this book during the shipping process.
I will be buying books through Amazon in the future.

Good Job to all.
Greg Hutton
Kingsville Ontario Canada

It has been over 30 years since this book was first published and it's really amazing how Kyokushin-kai has evolved. I would like to point out that some of the techniques depicted in this book are actually wrong. Ushiro-geri (back kick) for example is executed by turning your head in the opposite direction of the kick.

This book only contains the very basics as far as techniques are concerned but it does explain a great deal about breaking techniques. It explains the proper techniques for breaking stones, bricks and striking the tops off of bottles half filled with water. Unlike the first volume, this volume doesn't have any katas with the exception of Tensho.

Nowadays, low kicks and round kicks from different angles are an important part of kyokushin-kai but when this book was first published they were all but non-existent. The special kicks such as the low kicks and Brazilian kicks were developed over a period of time through competitions and from studying Muay Thai kick boxing techniques.

The value in this book is to appreciate how much kyokushin karate has evolved and has become one of the hardest systems of karate to learn.