Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "In Okinawa, a miraculous and mysterious martial art has come down to us from the past..." (more)
Key Phrases: altering the stance, level forearm block, draw the left fist, Heian Shodan, Tekki Shodan, Heian Nidan (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Nineteen kata ("forms") of karate-the art of self-defense without weapons-are presented here in complete detail. They are the ones selected by the great master and teacher, Gichin Funakoshi, to give comprehensive training in Karate-do, the way of karate.
Fully illustrated demonstrations by the translator cover not only every technique of the kata but also the fundamentals and applications: how to make a fist; the correct form of the open hand; preliminary training in blocking, striking and kicking; the seven stances; and sparring.
The author presents, besides kata that he himself originated, beginning and advanced kata from both the Shorei school and the Shorin school, the former remarkable for their forcefulness and development of strength, the latter characterized by their gracefulness and lightning swiftness.
This book, the most comprehensive and authoritative ever published, was being revised by the author shortly before his death in 1957, at the age of eighty-eight, and is translated for the first time. Through his advice on both practical and spiritual aspects of training, the master guides the student from techniques to the Way of karate. Complementing the English edition are illustrations of National Treasures from Kofuku-ji and Todai-ji temples in Nara and Master Funakoshi's calligraphy.
Karate, whose value for the well-rounded development of strength, coordination and agility is scientifically validated, can be practiced at any time and in any place, for any length of time, by men and women of all ages, and requires no special equipment. It also fosters the development of spiritual qualities: courage, courtesy, integrity, humility and self-control.
Gichin Funakoshi's karate books, the first published in 1922, are landmarks, for the development of this martial art in Okinawa was shrouded in secrecy, and almost no records of its early history, dating back more than a thousand years to the Shao-lin Temple in Hunan Province, China, exist. Karate-do Kyohan is a book that lives up to its title: it is in truth the master text for karate instruction at all levels and in all aspects of technique and character development.

Language Notes

Text: English, Japanese (translation)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (May 15, 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870111906
• ISBN-13: 978-0870111907
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,257 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have !, December 14, 1999

By	Stephan Eberhard (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This book is great in every aspect. First, the layout is great, quality paper with very well done illustrations and great photographic material. Second, the text by Masetr Funakoshi is very pleasant and interesting to read, really enjotable. And third the katas are demonstrated with great technique and much detail (written and pictures). Be sure to get this book if you are serously interersted in Shotokan Karate-Do. I must mention although that the book is 3/4 of Katas and 1/4 of everything else, so if you think you will be bored with pages and pages of katas dmonstartion, think about it twice. Overall, I find it excellent.

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive book on kata by karate's greatest master, January 6, 2000

By	Leonard M. Feder (USA) - See all my reviews

Gichin Funakoshi was the founder of modern karate. His style is known as shotokan, from his nickname Shoto. Every karate and tae kwon do style in the world today is descended from Funakoshi. Ancient Korean tae kwon do is a lost art. Modern TKD borrowed heavily from Funakoshi.

Nearly 200 of the book's 250 pages are devoted to katas, the choreographed forms of karate. There are 17 katas carefully explained and illustrated. I learned some of these 30 years ago. You forget a lot in 30 years - although not so much if it's been drummed into your head enough. Anyway here they are - move by move, good as new. They are great practice tools for when you don't have a partner. Doing kata is a lot more interesting than repetitive drills.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic work by the master, October 2, 2000

By	magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This book is a must have for Shotokan as well as other stylists. The photos are excellent and the presentation of the forms is equally good. An important feature is the footwork diagrams, missing in many otherwise good kata books. The book is mostly katas, and up till this time it was the only book documenting the more advanced forms. To my knowledge, it is still the only book that has the Ten No Kata Omote form. There are 19 forms in all. Senior Egami does a great job with the form demonstrations.

There are about 30 forms in all in the Shotokan style. I only hope that someone does a book someday with all of them. Nakayama has done some further books with 2 or 3 of the advanced forms per book, but I'd like to see them all under one cover some day. However, someone who masters the 19 forms in this book should have considerable skill and power.