From DJ flap - Masutatsu Oyama, one of the world's most experienced karate experts and a true karate authority, explains thoroughly all of the karate fundamentals and actual techniques. A manual for both the beginner and the advanced student who would like to learn the real spirit of karate. Over 1,000 photographs. (Description by http-mart)
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than most introductory books,
By
This review is from: What Is Karate? (Hardcover)
I was lucky to find this 1957/58 book cheap at a local used bookstore with a worn dust jacket but beautiful interior.The book is filled with pictures, a few in color, added just for their beauty. Some pictures are of the author with various people that I guess were famous back then. However, there are plenty of pictures illustrating techniques and forms. Oyama says that if you can master the 4 forms he gives in the book, you can consider yourself a "first grader" of Karate. Of course, if you get into Karate you will want to join a dojo and use the kata they teach. At the time Oyama was writing, however, there would have been few dojos for westerners. Also, if for some reason you aren't ready to join a dojo or don't have the money, I don't suppose it would hurt you any to practice these on your own. There is a short section on training. Clearly, Oyama values repetition in training. He says he benchpressing 175 lbs. 300 times a day, and in his other training advice he recommends doing various exercises hundreds of times per day. If you followed his general training recommendations minus the karate-specific stuff, you would certainly be in good physical condition, but this would also be a time-consuming workout. I don't know if there is something magical about the number 300, but he also says that to master a form will take practicing it at least 300 times. Unfortunately, he writes many more words about himself than he does in describing the karate techniques, but as they say "a picture says a thousand words". Of course, the autobiographical sections are interesting too. The author is not shy about showing off his abilities as others have noted. Of course, he is also humble enough to say that when ye was a youth he was not particularly strong and says that anyone who masters Karate can perform similar feats. With statements like that, it is no wonder that his book made such a hit when it became available at a time when Karate was still relatively unknown in the west. I can imagine dreamy westerners thinking that they too would soon be smashing stones with their bare hands. I have to admit that I was a bit turned off by the pictures of his bull-fighting. It is one thing to show off by breaking boards and rocks, but picking on innocent dumb animals seems cruel. Those were different times though. Anyway, his Karate is not all showing off. There are practical sections on self-defense that include picture sequences demonstrating defense against attackers with knife and pistol. This is definitely a classic that leaves one wanting more.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
template for all western karate instruction,
By A Customer
This review is from: What Is Karate? (Hardcover)
The most influencial book ever published in English on Karate instruction. After repeated inquires for "a good Karate book" from foreigners visiting the author in Japan and the requests he received traveling through North America, Masutatsu Oyama wrote "What is Karate?" because he could not recommend any book that would help his foreign friends understand the real Karate. This book soon became the foundation of the Karate movement in North America. The book is profusely illustrated with B/W photographs and 4 full-page color photographs. The revised 1959 edition is even more scarce and sought after then the original 1959 edition.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is karate,
By
This review is from: What Is Karate? (Hardcover)
This is the Book,that telling us all about the Oyama Dojo in1950's! In those days,Kyokushin Karate was "The strongest standing fighting system on whole Earth! They punching to the face,takedown,grappling.... You know that Kyokushin Karate was changed after they held all Japan,and world tournaments! And keep in mind that 'what is karate'had several revisions. I bought 'Mastering karate'in eBay,I found out that this is same book as 'what is karate completly New edition'! Continue your training. OSU!
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