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ramymensa
Black Belt
Black Belt

Joined: 12 Aug 2002
Posts: 1450
Location: New Jersey
Styles: Shotokan

PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2002 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A few days ago I got Nakayama's Dynamic Karate from a friend. What a day !!!
Here in Romania it's kind of difficult to get this stuff, so imagine my joy.
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LeaF
Black Belt
Black Belt

Joined: 31 Jul 2002
Posts: 1012
Location: North of the 49
Styles: Goju Ryu Karate-do and Okinawan Kobudo

PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2002 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Karate-do my way of life by GICHIN FUNAKOSHI (founder of shotokan)
Submissive fighter suggested this book and I would like to agree with him and highly suggest it for any karate pratitoner (shotocan or otherwise), it is a great book.

Other karate-related books that I really enjoyed reading and would also recommend are: Classical Man by Richard Kim
Weaponless Warriors by Richard Kim


All great books that all karate pratitioners should read
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Given enough time, any man may master the physical. With enough knowledge, any man may become wise. It is the true warrior who can master both....and surpass the result.

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ZakariRu
Orange Belt
Orange Belt

Joined: 01 Mar 2002
Posts: 174


PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2002 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Funakoshis books are good for history, the technique is outdated
and he gets a bit senile from book to book espicially if you compare the earlier japanese versions of kyohan (ryu kyu kempo karate) to the english version.

also
dont read john van weeners book. one of my senpai was throwing it out and decided to give it to me instead. i should have let him throw it out.
(the mans basics are gross!)

Nakayamas books are very good for raw technique (no philosophy, this is good) Dynamic Karate is worth reading if you dont know much about body dynamics but is kinda of common sense if you have alot of exp in martial arts.

Edmond otis (AJKA chairman) and Randall hassel also wrote a book called "the complete idiots guide to karate" its about karate in general but most of the philosophy and technique are out of shotokan (it also has my friend Dean doing Heian Shodan) This is a phenominal book, probobly the best on karate/shotokan (I'm not saying this because i know literally everyone in the book.) hehehe

Sugiyama Sensei also has a book called "25 shotokan kata" best single volume kata book in existance. (He is in chicago, train with him if you get the chance). He has another book called "healing with Ki" not shotokan completely but worth reading.

Z

P.S. My reviews are right and everyone else is a shotokan zealot =)
P.S.S. Can get every shotokan book in existance on Amazon.com
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shotochem
Pre-Black Belt
Pre-Black Belt

Joined: 29 Dec 2001
Posts: 901
Location: New York
Styles: Shotokan, Kempo, BJJ, Baby-Do-Jitsu

PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2002 6:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree the Funakosi & Nakayama are must haves for all shotokan people. I also have the Peter Ventresca book.
I also recommend Kanazawas Kata books vol 1 & 2 ( I havent got the kumite one yet). A good one for all is Sun Tzu " The Art of War" is a classic....
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hobbitbob
Purple Belt
Purple Belt

Joined: 15 Jun 2002
Posts: 545
Location: Denver
Styles: 3d dan Shotokan, 2d dan Wado Ryu, 1st dan Taekwondo, 1st dan Aikido

PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2002 6:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Must add Elmar Schmeissar's books to the list of "great Shotokan Books."
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shotochem
Pre-Black Belt
Pre-Black Belt

Joined: 29 Dec 2001
Posts: 901
Location: New York
Styles: Shotokan, Kempo, BJJ, Baby-Do-Jitsu

PostPosted: Mon Sep 09, 2002 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I forgot to mention Elmer. Thanx for adding it..
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Taikudo-ka
Green Belt
Green Belt

Joined: 20 Mar 2002
Posts: 450
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Tue Sep 10, 2002 8:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Iain Abernathy's book is great, though a bit beyond beginners. It has some meat in it though, unlike many other "martial arts" books out there.

He has a new one called "Bunkai Jutsu" which extends the content of the first book. Although I haven't read it, I assume it would be better to get this over the first book.

Any good Goju-Ryu books out there?
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Mark Groenewold
Yellow Belt
Yellow Belt

Joined: 24 Sep 2002
Posts: 26
Location: Kanazawa, Japan

PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2002 5:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Elmar Schmeisser has written some excellent books on karate--one on advanced training (tough reading!) and another on kata application.

These texts are apparently getting very hard to access these days so if you see them available on e-bay you should snap them up.

As for other books to check out, I have several extensive reviews on my site, which you are most welcome to check out. Follow the link in my signature and take a look. A few of the articles have been written by some authoritative voices in the Shotokan world. More to be added as time marches on.

Cheers,

Mark Groenewold
Kanazawa, Japan
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chris
White Belt
White Belt

Joined: 24 Sep 2002
Posts: 13


PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2002 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The best books are the ones which help you find and make you understand better what you are looking for.

Generally speaking, any literature is good in itself as long as it raises your interest when reading it. In any sense of it, reading is good and helps your general culture evolve.

Labeling books by whom had written them is the same as labeling jeans by whom made them, for example. I have seen though better quality jeans made by little known companies and designers than Levi, or Wrangler. Selling in quantity does not point to quality products.

On the same token, not finding some books on the shelves it has to do with an argument between the publisher and the author, in some rare cases, but mostly, it has to do with the fact that the publisher does not find that selling more of that book is going to bring him a considerable profit. Amazon, for example, picks up books that no one sells anymore, at a cheap deal and then brings them back onto the market by selling them at a huge profit. Does that make the bokk worthwhile? In my opinion, not at all.

In better asessing your evaluations, you will go through a lot of garbage, but how you will make the difference, has more to do with more than just reading many books.

On the other hand, the more you read, the more you will become able to make that difference for yourself. Someone's opinion is someone's opinion, not necessarily yours.

Chris
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Mark Groenewold
Yellow Belt
Yellow Belt

Joined: 24 Sep 2002
Posts: 26
Location: Kanazawa, Japan

PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2002 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent points.

Sometimes merely the name of the author does not carry the book. Much like music perhaps... anyone else remember Elvis Costello and Bill Frisells album... sheesh...

It is true that amazon picks up all kinds of books that are out of print.... and that there is some garbage in there.... but sometimes one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Nice post.
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