Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques (Paperback)

~ (Author) "There is always a tendency in dealing with any fighting art for practitioners to reject and unfairly criticise methods that are not known, or are..." (more)
Key Phrases: kobudo katas, staff kata, full protectors, Chotoku Kyan, Kanyei Uechi, Chojun Miyagi (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Written by a well-known figure in the Martial Artsl arts community noted for his outspokenness, this book is an engaging and rich text, certain to provoke and please. Okinawan Karate, long sought after by connoisseurs of Okinawan Martial Artsl arts, is the definitive survey and examination of traditional Martial Artsl arts of the island. With detailed lineage charts of most of the major Okinawan Martial Artsl arts systems, sequential photographs displaying the distinctive techniques of his subjects, solid reportage, and frank quotes from his interview subjects, Okinawan Karate is a complete and encyclopedic source of information.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; Second Edition edition (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804832056
• ISBN-13: 978-0804832052
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #385,561 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars history of Okinawan karate styles, November 24, 1999

By	Chad Raymond (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques (Martial arts) (Paperback)

Mark Bishop has written a geneological history of most, if not all, of existing karate styles that have their roots in Okinawa. Though his work is not sourced and footnoted as is customary in academic writing, he does indicate that his information comes from interviews with karatedo masters in Okinawa, and presumably these interviews were conducted in the masters' native language. Since the vast majority of martial arts "history" is oral, and his book is so detailed, I find his accounts quite credible. In this book, Mark Bishop has done a good job of conveying the commonalities of all karate styles, despite the efforts by some to differentiate and mysticize them. Bishop should also be commended for debunking the frequently told myth that martial arts began in Okinawa when weaponless peasants developed fighting techniques to counter the aggression of Japanese samurai. He also presents his interview subjects as real people -- some of the karate masters he interviewed struck him as slightly bombastic or secretive, while others came across as humble and eager teachers. Instead of editing these impressions out he includes them.

This is not the book for people with little or no experience in the martial arts looking for a guidebook so they can learn how to win bar fights. The book is most valuable as a historical reference.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Personal Journey Through the Homeland of Karate, February 15, 2003

By	C. J. Hardman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mark Bishop offers us a look at karate on Okinawa. Not in the usual manner, wherein an author tries to explain techinques through pictures and words, but through descriptions of his discussions with practitioners of different styles of karate and kobudo (traditional weaponry), and descriptions of the many dojo (schools) he visited. Bishop includes photos of the places he visited and the masters he met throughout the volume, and for most schools offers lineage charts showing who the major instructors of each master were, and that teacher's senior students. One emerges with a new awareness of and appreciation for the diversity of Okinawan Karate, both in practice and philosophy.

The author breaks down the book into three major sections. The first of these is on styles and teachers of Karate directly related to Chinese Boxing ("kung fu"), such as Jukendo, Ryuei-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Pangai Noon, and Kojo-ryu. section Two is concerned with Shorin-ryu styles of karate, including Matsumura Orthodox shorin-ryu, Ishmine-ryu, Tomari-te, Shorinji-ryu, Matsubayashi-ryu, Chuba-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shorin-ryu (shaolin), Ryukyu Shorin-ryu, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, Kushin-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni Shiito-ryu, Shinpan Shiroma Shiito-ryu, Tozan-ryu, and Okinawan Kempo. The third section of this book delves into schools and instructors of Kobudo (traditional weaponry), includingHoshin-ryu, Yamani-ryu, Uhuchiku Kobudo, Ryukyu Kobudo, Matayoshi Kobudo, Motobu-ryu, and Bugeikan. Also included are appendixes with a map of Okinawa (detailed names of each region of the Island), a Kata (form) chart showing what kata each school of karate practices, a list and description of Kobudo weapons, and addresses of major teachers and schools in Okinawa. This is probably the best guide to different forms of Okinawan martial arts, since the author is able to include his personal observations, and not simply a collection of data from other sources.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good historical document, but somewhat subjective, February 7, 2005

By	Eric C. Peters "Goju Guy" (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First, I hold sandan rank in both Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate and Matayoshi kobudo. I've received personal training from some of the great practitioners of Okinawa karate. Not to blow my own horn, but I do know a little about these subjects.

Mark Bishop has provided a great service in giving us this book. The photos and interviews with Okinawan master practitioners are fascinating. And, he covers a wide range of styles. One feels the actual "flavor" of these styles and the dojo where they are practiced. I know of no other martial arts book that has done this. It was not an easy task.

However, I am concerned about some of his statements concerning Goju Ryu and particularly regarding the practice of the Sanchin kata. Mr. Bishop contends that practice of Sanchin can lead to high blood pressure, and in fact he quit Goju Ryu because of this even though he held a dan rank.

I have encountered hundreds of Goju practioners, and I had never heard of this until it appeared in this book. My teacher, who has been training Goju for about 40 years, commented, "That book (Okinawan Karate) is junk. That stuff about sanchin is nonsense. I've never heard of it, and karate teachers have a reputation for living long lives." His value judgements aside, I must conclude that Mr. Bishop's contention about Sanchin is not based on a whole lot of evidence. How did he get high blood pressure? Did he smoke? Eat too much salt? Get stressed out? Sanchin? Who knows.

So I am concerned that Mr. Bishop may have taken this method of reasoning to other facets of the book, making some things appear as objective fact when they are actually subjective judgements. Having said all that, there is no doubt that this is an essential book for anyone interested in Okinawan or Japanese karate. Buy it.