The Enigma of Karate Kata
Author: Nathan J Johnson
Publisher: The Wykeham Press
Published:
Total Pages: 73
ISBN-13: 095496098X
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The Kata and Bunkai of Goju-Ryu Karate
Author: Giles Hopkins
Publisher: Blue Snake Books
Published: 2018-02-06
Total Pages: 305
ISBN-13: 1623172004
DOWNLOAD EBOOKChallenging timeworn conventions of karate training and revealing the original intent of classical kata—or forms—through detailed descriptions of self-defense applications known as bunkai, this is a crucial addition to any martial-arts library. Containing more than 265 photos, the book is divided into chapters that illuminate each of the ten classical kata of Goju-ryu. Drawing on more than forty years of experience in the martial arts, Giles Hopkins Sensei takes us on a journey into the Goju-ryu karate system, providing a principles-based method for analysis of kata practice. Arguing against the commonly held notion that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, he insists that a kata cannot simply mean what the user wants it to mean, but contains specific martial principles that must be followed for it to work effectively. The step-by-step descriptions of the receiving, controlling or bridging, and finishing techniques contain in-depth analysis of commonly misunderstood aspects of kata. Each chapter concludes with an engaging anecdote from the author’s time in Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju-ryu, connecting it with the kata under discussion. Equally useful for the novice and for more advanced karate practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of kata and bunkai.
Karate Kata: For the Transmission of High-Level Combative Skills, Vol. 2
Author: Michael DeMarco, M.A., et al.
Publisher: Via Media Publishing
Published: 2015-09-05
Total Pages: 199
ISBN-13: 1893765148
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWe all know the meaning of the word kata. Even to nonpractitioners it is a familiar karate practice. Plus, the word has long been incorporated into the English language. For this reason I choose to write the plural as “katas,” and not follow the Japanese tradition where “kata” can be both singular or plural. By doing this I’ve ruffled feathers already, since many hold such a sacred bond with the time and place where karate took shape. Trouble with one word? Now how about the whole Okinawan martial tradition as passed on through katas? A kata is much like a family jewel that has passed down through generations. It holds a significance that is difficult to decipher, and many dispute the meaning of every micromovement it contains. Who created it? What are the applications? Is kata practice outdated? Is there more than we can see and understand? You bet. It is precisely because of the confusion and misunderstandings regarding the place of kata in the karate tradition that we are thrilled to present a two-volume e-book on this subject. If katas are learning tools that pass down knowledge of a valued art, then the authors included in this anthology can certainly facilitate the learning process for all interested in karate. Each author has excellent experience in the field, having studied directly under masters, often on the largest island in the Ryukyu island chain. In addition to their long years of physical participation in the school of hard knocks, their depth of scholarly research into the encompassing culture allows their writings to illuminate many aspects of kata practice that normally go unnoticed. In our quest to better understand the full significance of kata practice, we must take a serious look at why old masters formulated the routines. How can kata practice better our health and promise to hone our self-defense skills? Each chapter in this anthology deals with the principles that guide kata practice. Hopefully the reading will reveal some of the secrets to improving techniques. As with other martial traditions, some insights cannot be shared through written word. Like good teachers, may the chapters here inspire you to look deeper into kata practice.
Karate Beyond Kata
Author: John Titchen
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: 2020-08-29
Total Pages: 0
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWhy train in kata? What benefits can it bring? How can we turn something so static into a dynamic part of our regular training? What role should solo training play in a repertoire? "John has done a brilliant job of methodically and logically explaining his approach to bunkai! Conclusions and workings are clearly articulated in a work that is sure to be hugely popular and influential" Iain Abernethy "An excellent synthesis of the last 30 years of practical karate research." Bill Burgar "Karate has become a generic label, so I think it is important that contemporary practitioners are contextually conscious toward their individual training goals, to ensure they are travelling along the right path. John has created this excellent, thoroughly researched, educational and thought-provoking book that serves to represent an in-depth study of karate for civilian self-protection. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to explore karate under the surface." Chris Denwood "We need more books like this: high value, precisely written, innovative and thought provoking. "Karate Beyond Kata" provides martial artists with a step-by-step diagnostic snd self-reflective algorithm providing practitioners with the door to evolve and adapt naturally within their own training syllabus and current mindset. Get it. I did!" Chris Hanson "John intelligently explores and dives deep into vital and at times controversial topics which are essential to karate's effectiveness and growth as a martial arts system. A must read for those who like to progress their understanding and breadth of karate knowledge." Leigh Simms
Okinawan Martial Traditions: Te, Tode, Karate, Karatedo, Kobudo - Vol. 3
Author: Michael DeMarco, M.A., et al.
Publisher: Via Media Publishing
Published: 2017-01-06
Total Pages: 199
ISBN-13: 1893765423
DOWNLOAD EBOOKWhat would you like to obtain from your research and practice of an Okinawan martial art? For an academic, it would be to obtain historical and cultural facts and details. For a practitioner, it would be to gain expertise in the combative skills. If you’re interested in both, this first of a three-volume anthology is assembled for your convenience to facilitate your endeavors. These volumes assemble a wealth of material originally published during the two decades when the Journal of Asian Martial Arts was in print. Hundreds of pages and photographs present the richness of Okinawan martial traditions, from the original combatives to those influenced by Chinese and mainland Japanese martial art styles. The variety of topics shown in the table of contents indicate the depth and breath in the chapters, along with the authors who are well-known for their meticulous research and practical skills in specific arts. These three volumes dive deep into the history and culture of Okinawan martial arts. You’ll find coverage of the actual artifacts—the material culture related to weaponry and training methods. Instructions from the masters details both open-hand techniques as well as with weapons. The chapters offer insights into “the lives of many masters over the past few centuries, giving the raison d’être for these unique fighting arts—their reason for being. Many streams of arts have contributed to the martial traditions found on the small island: Naha-te, Shuri-te, Fukien White Crane, Shorin, Goju, Motobu, Shotokan, Isshin, Kyokushin, Pwang Gai Noon, Shito, Uechi, and the list continues … Along with the various styles come the associated training methods, such as conditioning exercises with weights and creatively designed apparatus, such as the punching post (makiwara), or stone lever and stone padlockshaped weights. Some become battle-hardened by active and passive breaking of objects (tameshiwari), including wooden boards, baseball bats, rocks, and ice. The extensive use of weaponry is found in many Okinawan styles, often associated with their farming and fishing occupations. Such a blend of history and culture make the Okinawan fighting traditions a fascinating field of study. Besides being such vital sources of information, these three volumes will prove enjoyable reading and permanent at-hand reference sources in your library.
Zen Bodywork Dynamics, Enigma Key to Restorative Martial Arts: Primary Course (Part 1)
Author: Mark D Bishop
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 2018-04-18
Total Pages: 172
ISBN-13: 0244078149
DOWNLOAD EBOOKZen Bodywork Dynamics is a natural, martial-arts-based, hands-on method of helping to restore health in a holistic way. It corresponds with other martial-arts training, which it is seen as complementing - whatever the style. Thumbs, hands, elbows and feet, etc. are used to apply pressure and relieve pent-up stress in the format of: Relax, Release & Let Go. Many trainees have benefitted from its wisdom, as have thousands of members of the public - the book is highly recommended.
Suparinpei
Author: Giles Hopkins
Publisher: Blue Snake Books
Published: 2021-05-11
Total Pages: 252
ISBN-13: 1623175593
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAn illustrated step-by-step guide to the structure, themes, and techniques of Suparinpei--the last kata of Goju-ryu. Suparinpei, or Pechurin, is the highest and most difficult kata in the Goju-ryu system of Okinawan karate. Its performance has long been reserved for high-level practitioners, its history and applications obscured by misunderstanding and misinterpretation. In this indispensable manual by experienced master Giles Hopkins, readers will learn the skills, techniques, and bunkai of this little-understood kata, step by step. Suparinpei explores the initial receiving, bridging, controlling, and lethal finishing techniques in sequence, and offers illustrations of both the applications and movements of Suparinpei. Hopkins questions conventional interpretations of kata movements, suggesting instead that there is only one originally intended application for each move in kata, and that each is to be understood in sequence and not as isolated components. This strict interpretation of kata movements reveals not only realistic self-defense executions, but also potentially the original intent of kata.
Wandering Along the Way of Okinawan Karate
Author: Giles Hopkins
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Published: 2020-09-15
Total Pages: 290
ISBN-13: 1623174481
DOWNLOAD EBOOKA personal, philosophical, and historical exploration of Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate written by an experienced master. In Wandering Along the Way of Okinawan Karate, Giles Hopkins draws on his fifty years of martial arts experience to take the reader on a journey through the meaning of kata (form) and bunkai (application) in Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate. Hopkins offers his personal reflections on the enigma of karate kata while explaining many of its little-understood applications. With skill and insight into kata's connection to nature, the book addresses key topics such as why some movements are done slowly while others are fast, the significance of steps and turns, and the role of tradition in karate. The purpose of kata solo patterns is to solidify specific self-defense techniques. Contrary to the commonly held belief that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, Hopkins argues that kata embodies specific martial principles that must be followed rigorously for it to be truly effective. He also reveals the spiritual dimensions of martial arts by explaining its deep connection to nature. Providing new understanding of kata structure, themes, and martial art principles, Hopkins sheds light on the practitioner's journey.
Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Author:
Publisher:
Published: 2008
Total Pages: 436
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts
Author: Alex W. Tong
Publisher: Blue Snake Books
Published: 2022-02-22
Total Pages: 370
ISBN-13: 1623176654
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThrough the lenses of Shotokan Karate and biomedicine, sensei and biomedical scientist Alex W. Tong shows readers how body, mind, and spirit can be developed through martial arts practice. Through the practice of martial arts, a person can realize their full potential--not only in body, but in mind and spirit. The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts shows readers how. Author, sensei, and biomedical scientist Alex W. Tong delves into the physical, mental, and spiritual components of martial arts and integrates contemporary sports psychology, kinesiology, and neuroscience into a nuanced and illuminating understanding of what martial arts practice can be. Structured into three sections, Tong discusses: The Mind: The dao of martial arts, mental tranquility, contemporary neuroscience, and warming up the brain The Body: Posture and stance, breathing in martial arts, and the physics of mastery and effort The Spirit: Soul, spirit, and moving zen; nature and manifestations of the spirit Each section includes observations on martial arts origins, physiology, and tangible results on martial arts training. Blending traditional and contemporary approaches, knowledge, and research, The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts builds a vision of practice that elevates physical performance, awareness, decisiveness, and strength of spirit.
