Customer Reviews

What Is Karate?

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

 

 

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.

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.

This is the Book,that telling us all about the Oyama Dojo in

1950'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!

This book is the best book ever I read. It covers all the history and foundation of Masutatsu Oyama's Karate. If you are a fan of Masutatsu Oyama, then I recomend you to buy this book. Its worth it

This book is a great book for basics and conditioning. It covers all the history and foundation of Masutatsu Oyama's Karate. If you are a fan of Masutatsu Oyama, then I recomend you to buy this book. It should be in every karate library.

Although the book isn't specific to one particular style, it's assumed to be Kyokushin karate as it's written by the founder himself (Oyama). It's a good book, but keep in mind that it's very very basic (which is important). The sanchin dachi basics are covered and some useful conditioning exercises as well but it's mostly out dated. The pinan katas are covered (which are shotokan katas). In reading this book, I can really appreciate how much kyokushin karate has evolved. No low kicks are demonstrated and no mawashi-geri with a follow through or Brazilian Kick are shown or mentioned. Low kicks are not trivial to execute and require lots of practice. I think these kicks were developed later mostly as a result of the rules of Kyokushin fighting. It's interesting and provides good food for thought. Kyokushin founder Mas Oyama was not a good kicker himself, but encouraged his students to kick. Today, Kyokushin Karate and it's derivatives have some of the most dynamic and effective kicking techniques in all of the martial arts. And I say this as someone who has over 20 years of experience in tae kwon do.

I ordered this book and I recieved it read it and gave it to my friend max lee its a wonderful book for students and non student good foundations love the original cover red with feather and content exept when the pictures doesn't match when they stated kickin is punchin ,and punch is kickin on the picture!