Best Karate, Vol.9: Bassai Sho, Kanku, Sho, Chinte (Best Karate Series)

I cannot sing enough praises to this series of books. Together with the title Dynamic Karate, they form a foundation upon which to advance your karate with rock solid kihon information.I started to practice karate at the age of 16. After a long period of medical school and residency training during which practicing karate was out of the question, I got back to it at the age of 38. In my comeback I found out that the spirit of karate had changed. When I started, the emphasis was on learning good kihon and good kata, so that your kumite skills would have a strong foundation. It was also on the moral values of karate. Now, I feel that much of that is being lost and kumite and competition is all many karateka think of.This series of books presents karate in the light of an era of change. Sensei Nakayama lived in a generation marked by the transition of the karate as taught by Funakoshi, who believed it was unsuitable for competition, to an era where competition, if not the single purpose, has become one of the main goals of karate practitioners.When you read Funakoshi's books, it is easy to grasp how he viewed karate: a martial art meant to discipline ones body, improve ones health and lifespan, rein in ones violent impulses, and promote the sense of respect and politeness towards others, especially ones would be opponents. In summary, karate was to span a persons whole being and attitude, both inside the dojo as well as outside. Maybe especially outside.Sensei Nakayama clearly inherited that way of thinking and added to it a scientific view of body mechanics and systematic organization of techniques and concepts. He also presents excerpts of famous tactical experts of the past, many of whom where not karateka, but swordsman or strategists as they were called. Those excerpts represent the concept that all martial arts are the same in terms of rational, only the methods and weapons vary. The need for strategy, for constant training and for the understanding of the spirit is of paramount importance.While learning Karate-do from a book is impossible, complementing what we learn at our dojo with technical information provided by this series of books is certainly very desirable. I dare say it is desirable regardless of your karate style. I hail from Kenyu-Ryu karate, which tends to use karate stances that are higher. But still, I feel that 100% of the books still apply.

The "Best Karate" series by the late Nakayama is an important contribution to the art of Shotokan Karate. This volume (9), covers the proper sequence of Shotokan Karate Kata Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, and Chinte. The katas taught in this great book are middle black belt level kata and should not be practiced until one has learned Hein 1,2,3,4,5, Tekki Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai and Jion. The beauty of this book is how it examines in great detail how to properly perform these katas. In conclusion, this book is fantastic when used in conjunction with actual training under a high ranking Shotokan Black Belt instructor. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Shotokan Karate Self-Defense Techniques: Combat Karate for the street).

All of Sensei Nakayama's books are classic. The detailed photos are great but the text and his descriptions of the learning objective and purpose of each kata are priceless.

Great books on Shotokan karate. Well explained, lots of pictures.

the best karate

excellent book. very detailed and authored by one of the founder of shotokan's actual students!!!!

Use the text to assist my son in this kata training. It is a good supplent to formal trainingM

Great Book.

Bestes Nachschlagewerk dieser Art das ich kenne, auch wenn in englischer Sprache verfasst! Zumindest für all jene die die ursprüngliche “moderne Form” der Shotokan Katas schätzen und betreiben wollen.

Era el volumen que me faltaba para completar la colección. Aunque sea en inglés (no es problema para mi el idioma) no deja de ser una joya, adelantada a su tiempo.

Me encanta, lo que no me gusta es que es imposible comprarlo en mi lengua materna el español y lo uso para aprender karate como todos los demas libros, hay muchos videos en internet pero no hay duda de que este sensei ha sido el mas erudito encuanto a la tecnica y por supuesto como escritor

merci

This is a good series of karate books for a student to learn the history and details of the art.