Customer Reviews

The Way of Karate

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I usually do not recommend a book for martial arts study. A few I have found contain the basics that can help a beginner. This is one. Though Mr. Mattson may blush at his form now--he was a 1st degree and he is now a 9th degree--it is sufficient to help a student in self-study.

I would recommend a student use this book to help their study under the guidence of a teacher.

I purchased a 1963 first edition copy of this classic book in good condition, but plan to purchase a used paperback for use in practice.

Good pictures and down to earth explanations. No mystical walk-thru-walls or super human power talk.

The book is divided into a short section on philosophy, a short terminology chapter (enough to get through a traditional class and body parts), stretching chapter, and others.

The strength of this book is in the description of Sanchin and Sesan. This is why the book warrants the 4 star rating in my opinion. The book is a good overview, but I would recommend learning from a proficient instructor.

For more in depth Karate information, especially on Uechi Ryu, I recommend The Encyclopedia of Karate and Related Arts, by Ted Kresge. The book was checked by Master Kanei Uechi before publishing. It can be very difficult to find.

Obwohl ich nicht aus dem Uechi Ryu stamme, halte ich dieses Buch für eines der besten Lehrbücher der Kampfkunst die es gibt. Mr. Mattson hat meine vollste Hochachtung für diese gelungene und nützliche Arbeit.

The depth of this book, first and foremost, not just on the physical movements, but on the philosophy of Karate, is phenomenal. Mr. Mattson, though young when he wrote this book, had an incredible grasp on the essence of Karate-Do, and of his style. Though not a practitioner of Uechi-ryu Karate and therefore unfit for an indepth judgement, his skill is obviously there. He shows, step by step and in great detail (including diagrams), the movements of two of the three main Kata: Sanchin and Seisan. Before the forms he outlines basic hand strikes, leg strikes, blocks and stances, as well as warm ups and drills. After each kata, however, he delves even deeper, while showing a generous amount of applications (Bunkai, I believe it is usually called in Karate). The stories/legends of great teachers at the end - which are my favorite part of all martial arts primers - is what adds a real aesthetic value to the whole book. Another good book on another Okinawan style of Karate is Shoshin Nagamine's "The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do".

Great piece of work! Enjoyed it a lot, as well as learned a few things too!

This is a blast from the past. The author did it right. He went to Okinawa and studied with the best folks he could find and listened to every word he heard and believed it all.

He then enlisted a great photographer (the black and white photos are neat) and put together a neat book.

The upside; he sets out a traditional style of karate (Ueichi-ryu) in good detail, and recites exactly the stories he heard at the dojo after training. This book could not be more sincere. And there is a lot of good information in it.

The downside; he wrote this book a long time ago, when he was a shodan (first degree) black belt. Now he's a ninth degree black belt in this style. Therefore his style isn't as mature as it would become. He also, at the time of this book, bought every story he heard about the style hook, line and sinker. The book is therefore exclusively that of an advocate, with no critical balance.

The book is primarily of historical value at this point; there is better scholarship that this on the history of his style, and there is better instruction in technique than this. But this sets out beautifully the awe and wonder of a karate student who is exposed to a legitimate style at a time when karate was as exotic as the far side of Neptune.

So read this for historical value, and for the sincerity of the author, and for the nifty photographs.

I used this book as the primary reference book while doing research for a children's book that I wrote several years ago. Encyclopedias and other karate books just weren't as definitive as Mr. Mattson's. It was fantastic. Thank you for all the illustrations and directions. I thought so highly of this book, that a brief description and thank you is included on my acknowledgment page. It is now several years later and I am finally going to start my own training at a local school.

This is a great book. It gives a nice historical perspective on Uechi-ryu Karate. Sensei Mattson has done a lot to help spread karate here in the U.S. One word of warning- in this (his first book) the term Karate and Kung-fu is sometimes used interchangably- Consider that this book was published in 1963 and those words did not mean quite the same as they do today. A definite must for your martial arts collection.