25 Shoto-Kan Kata (Paperback)

~ Shojiro Sugiyama (Author) "Yoi (ready). Stand in Shizen-tai (natural stance) with your feet shoulder width apart..." (more)
Key Phrases: Kanku Shó, Heian Ni-dan, Gojyu-shi-ho Dai (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

What is Kata?

A kata is a series of defensive and offensive moves against imaginary attacks from different directions. Also, a kata includes many moves for physical exercise and for connection to subsequent moves rather than for actual application.

Why practice Kata?

Because of the tension of fighting, it is difficult to maintain tranquility in order to examine and understand the details of techniques during sparring. Therefore, Kata are made for studying the details of the external movements.

Why this Kata book?

1. All movements are illustrated by drawing insted of photographs. Therefore, you can understand the movements more clearly.

2. The drawings employ a three dimensional perspective and use compass points for easy orientation.

3. To complete the learning of each Kata, the rhythm and timing of movements are clearly described.

4. For clear understanding, step by step explanations accompany each diagram.

Note: Instructions provided in English, Spanish and Japanese.

About the Author

Shojiro Sugiyama is known by his colleagues as a maverick. He teaches traditional Karate in a very contemporary way. Even though he teaches traditional Karate, almost every one of his approaches to training are different than traditional methods. His intent is to make Karate easier to comprehend and learn.

Unfortunately many Karate instructors use a "Monkey see Monkey do" approach to teaching - Sugiyama doesn't. If a college is a place where one goes to learn how to think then the Sugiyama Dojo (school) is where one goes to teach oneself Karate through thought and reason. Sugiyama encourages questions and debate. His job as teacher is to help his students gain a better understanding of Karate and guide their learning so that they can improve. He believes that eventually every student should become better than the teacher.

Similarly, Sugiyama's books reflect his unique approach to Karate. 25 Shoto-Kan Kata was the first book to use three dimensional drawings. His other books also break new ground and continue to develop the art of Karate. He believes that just as the student should surpass the teacher his books will eventually become obsolete (or collector's items) as new books are written. This constant drive toward innovation and development marks Sugiyama as a one of a kind Karate instructor.

Shojiro Sugiyama was born in Tokyo in 1929. In 1954, after training in two other styles of Karate, he began studying with the Japan Karate Association (Yotsuya), Japan. In 1963, he was invited to come to Chicago to teach Karate. He continues to teach Karate at his dojo located on the north side of Chicago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Shojiro Sugiyama; 2nd edition (January 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096690480X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966904802
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,509 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #25 in

  Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Martial Arts > Karate

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best value Shotokan Kata Book hands down!, July 15, 2000

By	David Kaneda (Redwood City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Sugiyama Sensei has painstakingly crafted this step by step kata book for over 15 years, and I am aware of at least three iterations as he has refined it over the years. He worked closely with both top JKA international instructors and his own blackbelt students to ensure that each move in each kata is accurate. This is no mean feat considering the myriad of details in even the simplest kata and the variations found from club to club and instructor to instructor! In addition the text is written in English, Japanese and Spanish!

The result is a kata book that is comprehensive, including key graphic information on direction and timing of each move, as well as important details such as hip rotation or hand or foot placement. I have seen instructors refer to it on the dojo floor for details of a particular move in an advanced kata as well as beginners use it as the first step to learning a new kata. Although there are several other good kata books available, you are not going to find one that comes close to this single volume in value for the price!

Now Sensei... if you would please write a companion text showing some applications for each of the kata!

David Kaneda JKA Blackbelt

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Masotoshi Nakayama Kata books, July 24, 2001

By	Shihan Patel (6th Degree) (Clarksville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

excellent book.for any Shotokan Deshi(student) to a Soke(Grand Master). It can be used as a reference or a get-to-learn-your-katas book!The book also has tips on powering up your Ki(internal force).Also the book has the human animation instead of pictures. it shows u directons with arrows and how fast u should do them.it even tells how many seconds to focus after every step. It never gets complicated either. Forget Nakayama (with all due respect) this book will blow the cover off of any Kata teching book. Please buy this book if you are serious about learning Katas.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS is the "master text" on kata., September 23, 2000

By	Bruce D. Clayton (Mariposa, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the best book on kata ever done. It will become the class kata reference for Shotokan because it simply outshines the competition as a reference book.

This is a book you NEVER see offered second-hand on Ebay! ;-)