Customer Reviews

The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications

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I liked this book very much. Shorin-ryu karate was my first martial art, and since moving on to more modern arts I've felt a sense of fustration that most karate, as taught today, cannot efficiently produce a person capable of defending themselves. The reliance on kata as a teaching tool adds to this fustration. Are the moves in kata effective? Why do some sequences seem illogical? Why aren't the movements explained? Is the explaination we're getting accurate?

"The Way of Kata" provides the karate-ka with a set of guidlines which makes understanding the movements of kata easier. The authors are both from the Goju-Ryu system, and so their explainations are most directly applicable to that system, and it's the system the book focuses on.

Chapter 1 covers background information, such as answering the fundamental question "What is kata", as well as going over the history of Goju kata. They also write about why the movements are hidden, and how to use kata as a curriculum of sorts.

Chapter 2 focuses on the difference between strategy & tactics, and how they relate to the Goju system. They also introduce the "Decision Stick", a takeoff of the concept of a "Decision Tree", designed to aid one in making split-second decisions instead of having to calculate dozens of variables when deciding on a strategy.

Chapter 3 covers the fifteen principles that aid in kata interpretation. Some may be familiar with long-time students of kata ("There is more than one interpretation") while others may be new to people ("Work with the Adrenaline Rush"). That last one got my attention, as well as "Nerve Strikes are 'Extra Credit'" and "Cross the T to escape".

Chapter 4 gets into the rules of kata interpretation; my favorite has to be "There is no block". There are others I'm still struggling with, such as "Kata demonstrate proper angles", but the rule about advancing & retreating techniques really explains a lot, and the head control rule is valuable to anyone.

Chapter 5 covers a lot of ground, including vital points (based on accupuncture theory & physiology), how the brain works in combat, and how to determine an appropriate level of response to your threat. There's a lot of things to take into consideration that are presented here, but the authors try to keep things in context of kata performance & utilization.

Chapter 6 covers the actual learning process; how to take kata movements and drill them as fighting techniques.

Chapter 7 gives examples of movements found in certain Goju kata and provides both the orthodox interpretation and the authors "optimal" interpretation. I think seeing these two views back-to-back is valuable, as is seeing the authors' checklist of principles and rules beside the interpretation.

There was some nice 'bonus' material in the appendices, including an ancient poem on the "precepts of kempo", a brief summary of Goju kata, and a blank checklist for the rules & principles of kata. Also nice was an illustrated glossary of karate terms (for those of us who don't speak Japanese).

I have two major complaints about this book. The first is that if the reader is unfamiliar with Goju-Ryu kata (like me) there are ample opportunities to get lost. Entire kata are not presented at any time, which I think would have added to the book. Since most of my kata come from a different lineage, I was left scratching my head whenever they tried to give examples; chapter 7 wasn't really useful in helping me understand the kata of my system. My second big complaint is that the authors fall into the trap of assuming maximum (and at times, unrealistic) damage or results from a particular technique. Every backfist to the temple is assumed to end in death; every stomp to the ankle or instep is assumed to be a fight-ender. It seems that a little dose of reality has been left out of some of these interpretations.

Overall, this book was written as a guide to help karateka interpret the movements found in their kata; I think it accomplished that. The chapters laid out their agenda very well, and a summary at the end of every chapter reitterated the lessons. I had only a few important complaints, but I'd recomend this to any karateka interested in exploring their kata more deeply, or even to non-traditionalists for some of the principles and ideas included inside.

"Theory of Japanese Kata & Practical Application" is what I would have titled this terrific book on Japanese karate & kata. The authors draw from traditional Japanese roots in Goju-Ryu Karate but also incorporate ideas and modern points of view from a variety of martial artists. It is densely filled with information that is hard-to-find elsewhere. If one were to find any flaw at all in this work, it would be that it builds from a foundation of Goju-Ryu karate, which may not be very well known to students of other schools or non-Japanese styles. That does not mean you will not benefit from reading it -- you will, and if you read it seriously you may think about "what kata is" more deeply. And with greater understanding & appreciation. While many books will teach you the specific technical moves in a kata (i.e. Nakayama's excellent BEST KARATE series) this book discusses WHY you learn kata, the benefits, the intentions of creators of kata, the art, tradition, and psychology of kata. Ideas applicable to all schools where kata are learned. I have studied a variety of martial arts for 30 years and read hundreds of books on the subject in that time. I would say without any hesitation this book can fairly be placed in the "top 10 books" that belong in any martial artist's library, regardless of school or background.

Saying The Way of Kata by Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder is a great book is an understatement. What an addition to traditional Okinawa Karate. This is not another book of complicated and questionable techniques or weird physiological theories.

When I first scanned the chapters and their contents I quickly realized this is a work that is needed and long time coming. Regardless of ones style or system, when it comes to discerning each move of ones kata, this is the book.

I have been studying my martial art for 36 years, and this is not only the best martial art book on kata I own, but a work in a league of its own.

If you obtain the book for just the fifteen general principles to identify effective kata techniques and the twelve discrete rules for deciphering martial applications, it will be well worth it.

Michael E. Odell
Isshin-ryu Northwest Okinawa Karate Association ®

I read "The Way of Kata" from the perspective of a 40 year martial artist, trained primarily in the style (Goju Ryu) most frequently referred to in the book. At a special training camp, (Gashuku) our Sensei once asked us "What is the purpose of training in Karate?" After several answers along the lines of "to improve our character," or "to become a better person," Sensei shouted "Nonsense! Purpose is to win fight... to survive!"

The focus of "The Way of Kata" is exactly that, and shows how to understand kata in such a way as to improve the fighter's odds. It is realistic, practical, and very well written. It should be on every martial artist's bookshelf, and should be well worn and dog-eared.

The Way of Kata will bridge the gap between traditional and modern scholars of the martial arts. To those hard core fighters who feel kata is an "evil" that is necessary only for rank promotion, this book will give you a whole new perspective on the fight game. To the traditionalists who "always did it" and know kata is part of being a complete martial artist, if you didn't get the full picture before, you will now.

Martina Sprague, author of Complete Kickboxing and Strength and Power Training for Martial Arts

For those just learning any martial art, this is a good book. But for those with some training already under their belt, this is even a greater book. And for fellow Yundasha, this book is where it's all compiled together in a "one stop shopping" book. Filled with relevant quotes, History & Fundamentals, Principles & Theory, Strategy & Tactics,, graphical illustrations and a few "There I was" stories, this book is a must read for any serious student or practitioner. Do not let yourself be limited by the title of this book, there's a wide swath of subjects covered, all relavant to "the source" (Kata).

Even though I practice all my (30) karate katas every day, I have often been critical of its application for real life self-defense. Though I have attempted to read and study every book I could find on the subject, none persuaded me from my view that kata is not practical for any real life self-defense. I now admit my evaluation and research was not complete, in spite of my more than 50 years of training and teaching karate and other martial arts. Yes, even an old karate ka can still grow and learn. It is all because of reading this fantastic book, which explains as no other text in the past has, the true bunkai of karate. Even though I am a rokudan in shotokan karate and the writers are Goju stylists(which I am also studying at this time), their research applies to any style of karate that has kata. In my humble opinion, this is a book that every serious karate student should read and study. It is comprehensive in scope, but is easy to read and understand. This book uses 15 principles and 12 rules to use as a guide to decipher the combat meanings of karate kata. Even though I have always practiced all my katas at least once a day, I now look at the movements with a renewed interest and enthusiasm. I intend to learn some of the Goju karate kata in the future. One of the many things I like about this book is how it explains that learning kata alone will not make you a great fighter or self-defense expert, but when combined in the whole curriculum, will improve your karate effectiveness. This great book demonstrates that the old masters who created karate kata did it for practical purposes. Remember, karate was originally designed for real life and death combat, not for tournament tag. The book brings out the true combat effectiveness of karate kata. The book should become a classic and required reading for all those who practice traditional karate. In give it my highest rating. *****(Superior book) Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Shotokan Karate Self-Defense Techniques: Practical Combat Karate for the street)

I REALLY like Lawrence's insights into the nature of kata. It's not just jumping around waving your arms and legs. His understanding of karate is something that has sadly been lost from a majority of the hardstyle martial arts. Many styles have become like a car without the engine and transmission. They have the form, but not what it takes to make it go. Your book helps put the engine and transmission back in. It becomes a drivable vehicle instead of a shell that someone sits in and goes "Vroom! Vroom!"
Marc Animal MacYoung

The authors of The Way of Kata are teachers, purchasing this book will help you find the most in your kata because these teachers have provided an excellent example of how they find the most in their kata.

These are different times we live in as compared to the originators of kata. Some arguably better, some worse. Mr. Kane and Mr. Wilder have put forth this piece, in my opinion, by not outdoing the Masters of the past with some hyperbunkai, but rather, understand the past Master's history, probable thoughts, knowledge and skill sets and work forwards to give their interpretation of the probable principles, rules and reasonings behind the kata.

They have alot of experience and have given those experiences freely to the reader. I look forward to more books from them.

There is a small community of martial artists that are forming good opinions as to the intentions of kata. Some of them have written reviews of this book. Get their books and read them as well.

If your thinking that you could write a better book. Do it!

'The Way of Kata' is a thoughtful, thorough and informative analysis of the 'hidden' fighting applications of kata. This superb book is essential reading for all those who wish to understand the highly effective techniques, concepts and strategies that the katas were created to record.

- Iain Abernethy 5th Dan, Author of Bunkai-Jutsu: The Practical Application of Karate Kata