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.

Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text

Sports & Outdoors

FUNAKOSHI, GICHIN

Individual Sports

Kodansha USA

Aikido-a martial art deriving its effectiveness, like judo and karate, from the flow of ki -- techniques that, when thoroughly mastered, enable the gentle to overcome the strong -- exercise and sport for men and women of all ages, based on natural movements and harmony of mind and body Ancient theory, modern practice: Dynamic Aikido brings together the whole spectrum of theoretical and applied aikido. Through it, one can become perfectly attuned to one's opponent, can sense his intentions and turn his movements to one's own advantage. Comprehensive and fully illustrated, Dynamic Aikido presents the basic postures and stances, fundamental techniques and applications: how to cope with a frontal attack, how to avoid an attack from the rear, how to sense and thwart the pickpocket. An essential companion for every beginner, a vital reference for students of all levels.

Dynamic Aikido

Shioda, Gōzō

All the basic points of karate arranged systematically for effective learning, step by step--the parts of the body used as natural weapons, the stances, how to block, how to attack, introduction to the kata and to kumite. The fundamentals as presented in this volume, briefly but accurately, are the distillation of the author's forty-six years' experience in this art of self-defense. As well as setting forth the basic rules that must be put into practice when performing kata or applying techniques in kumite, this volume pinpoints the underlying physical and physiological principles of karate: source and concentration of power; stance, form, stability and technique; movement in all directions; basic and comprehensive aspects of training.

Best Karate, Vol.1: Comprehensive (Best Karate Series)

Nakayama, Masatoshi

As well as setting forth the basic rules that must be put into practice when performing kata or applying techniques in kumite, this volume pinpoints the underlying physical and physiological principles of karate: source and concentration of power; stance, form, stability and technique; movement in all directions; basic and comprehensive aspects of training.

Best Karate, Vol. 2: Fundamentals

In kumite (sparring) basic techniques are sharpened and body movement and distancing acquired through practical application. This volume explains the types and meaning of kumite and the relation between jiyu kumite and basic training in fundamentals. Demonstrated by instructors of the Japan Karate Association. As well as setting forth the basic rules that must be put into practice when performing kata or applying techniques in kumite, this volume pinpoints the underlying physical and physiological principles of karate: source and concentration of power; stance, form, stability and technique; movement in all directions; basic and comprehensive aspects of training.

Best Karate, Vol.3: Kumite 1 (Best Karate Series)

This book complements volume 3 of this series and, like the earlier volume, includes writings of masters of the martial arts to guide the student toward spiritual awareness and mental maturity. It places kumite in perspective, relating it to training as a whole.

Best Karate: Kumite 2, Vol. 4

Black Rain is centered around the story of a young woman who was caught in the radioactive "black rain" that fell after the bombing of Hiroshima. lbuse bases his tale on real-life diaries and interviews with victims of the holocaust; the result is a book that is free from sentimentality yet manages to reveal the magnitude of the human suffering caused by the atom bomb. The life of Yasuko, on whom the black rain fell, is changed forever by periodic bouts of radiation sickness and the suspicion that her future children, too, may be affected. lbuse tempers the horror of his subject with the gentle humor for which he is famous. His sensitivity to the complex web of emotions in a traditional community torn asunder by this historical event has made Black Rain one of the most acclaimed treatments of the Hiroshima story.

Black Rain: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Ibuse, Masuji

Bester, John

Genre Fiction

|"One-brush" sumi-e is an easy, entertaining way to express on paper the moods and images of nature. Everything you need to know is contained in this book. All the brush skills you learn lead step by step into full compositions. Drawings, photos, and simple text explain every stroke with dozens of examples to copy and practice. Sumi-e is easy to learn and fun to do. It could be just what you're looking for!

Sumi-E Just for You: Traditional One Brush Ink Painting

Arts & Photography

Hirayama, Hakuho

History & Criticism

Everyone interested in pottery and crafts will find this practical guide a valuable addition to both bookshelf and workshop. Penny Simpson, an English potter living in Japan, and Kanji Sodeoka, her Japanese colleague, have compiled a step-by-step manual of the way pots are made in Japan, their forms, and their decorations. The authors give a thorough account of both traditional and modern techniques and also describe in detail tools, materials, glazes, and the setup of workshops and kilns. Lucy Kitto's lettering and sprightly drawings infuse each page with life and clarity. Pottery terms and expressions are listed with their Japanese equivalents, making it possible for the Western potter to arrive at a more intimate understanding of Japanese pottery and, when necessary, to communicate with Japanese potters in their own language. A godsend to potters, students, and collectors, this book will be especially welcome to the growing number of potters who come into direct contact with their Japanese counterparts either at home or in Japan.

The Japanese Pottery Handbook

Simpson, Penny

Sodeoka, Kanji

Kata, the formal exercises of karate training, were the essence of practice in Okinawa and China, and are the core training method even today. Detailed here in 1500 sequential photos are the five Heian and three Tekki kata, mastery of which is necessary to attain first dan. Demonstrated by the author and Yoshiharu Osaka.

Best Karate, Vol.5: Heian, Tekki (Best Karate Series)

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