2 comments about Mas Oyama's Karate.

1. This book, first written in 1965, is the essential reference text after Mas Oyama's 3 main books on Kyokushin Karate;"What is Karate?", "This is Karate.", and "Advanced Karate". The goshin jitsu and gyaku kumite in the book formed part of the basis for Shihan Lowe's early training with Oyama Sosai during the early 1950's in Japan. Any student of Kyokushin Karate must have a copy of this text to complete their reference library.



2. This is an outstanding book authored by world-renowned karate master Shihan Bobby Lowe. The photographs are excellent and the text is easy to understand. I would recommend it to anyone interested in true karate.

1 comments about Vital karaté.

1. Mas Oyama legendary feats are amazing. In vital karate, Mas Oyama illustrates stances, kicks, punches, blocks, and breaking. The break feats of Mas Oyama include cracking river rocks, smashing bricks, and sheering off bottle tops. The time lapse photography is an unique method of demonstrating movements. Mas Oyama demostrates usages of point an circle movement. I found the techniques flow familiar to kempo.

5 comments about This Is Karate.

1. This is Mas Oyama's best work. I would say it is the most complete book for Japanese karate (Not okinawan). There are good practical applications in this book. And self-defense training.



2. I've read this before and watch the korean movie about the, authors life Kinda almost good as the book itself.
   Hope they print more of this book "what is karate"1958 coz we shall introduce this to the new student who wish to study martial, arts.
   anybody who wish to sell there books or just lyin around there bookshelves pls. contact me glim@asia.com



3. I have later (newer) version of THIS IS KARATE autographed by author himself Mas Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate (Ultimate Truth) Full Contact Karate System. It always amazes me how Sosai Mas Oyama could put his knowledge together in this one book and in such a practical manner. I remember his speach was always full of spirit, and valable. He always had a good story to tell, and drew everyone's attention with his kindness and love....
   
   I would also recommend WHAT IS KARATE. These TWO books are now getting harder to find, and increasing in value. These books should be used as a Text book for Kyokushin practicionor. You must SWEAT, SWEAT, SWEAT before you can even utilize the information shared in this book. OSU~!!!!



4. This is regarded as the bible of kyokushin karate.
   
   The author Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama, was a legend in his own time, and the creator of Kyokushin kai karate -one of the largest karate styles in the world.
   
   This book is old and looks it, it is however one of the finest karate manuals ever published. Along with its brother books ("what is karate" and "Advanced karate") it forms the nucleus of the kyokushin style. On its own it is a outstanding work second to none of the inumerable more recent books on karate. When it was released it set a standard few books can measure up to.
   
   It is a step by step introduction to the fundamental techniques and katas in karate, also it contains selfdefense and some more unusual aspects of karate such as breaking and other special training methods.
   
   The section on history is very aged though, and should not be taken as absolute truth. Much has happened in the research in martial art history since this book was released 1965.
   
   This book is recommended to any practicioner of karate, but especialy to practiciners of kyokushin karate or to practicioners of kyokushin derived styles.
   Only please be aware that even kyokushin karate (the style the author founded) has changed slightly since this book was released.
   
   It tends to be expensive, but it is worth it.



5. It has been over 30 years since this book was first published and it's really amazing how Kyokushin-kai has evolved. I would like to point out that some of the techniques depicted in this book are actually wrong. Ushiro-geri (back kick) for example is executed by turning your head in the opposite direction of the kick.
   
   This book only contains the very basics as far as techniques are concerned but it does explain a great deal about breaking techniques. It explains the proper techniques for breaking stones, bricks and striking the tops off of bottles half filled with water. Unlike the first volume, this volume doesn't have any katas with the exception of Tensho.
   
   Nowadays, low kicks and round kicks from different angles are an important part of kyokushin-kai but when this book was first published they were all but non-existent. The special kicks such as the low kicks and Brazilian kicks were developed over a period of time through competitions and from studying Muay Thai kick boxing techniques.
   
   The value in this book is to appreciate how much kyokushin karate has evolved and has become one of the hardest systems of karate to learn.

No comments about This is Karate.

5 comments about Karate School.

1. Karate School by Masutatsu "Mas" Oyama (previously published as Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course) is an excellent introduction to Karate. Like Hidetaka Nishiyama and Richard C. Brown's Karate: the Art of "Empty Hand" Fighting, ISBN 0-8048-1668-9, it gives the reader clear and well illustrated instruction on the execution of fundamental techniques. Also like Nishiyama and Brown's book it includes entire sections are devoted to Kumite and the application of Karate in everyday situations. But unlike Nishiyama and Brown's book which, at least, has rather thin expositions of Karate history and philosophy, Oyama simply leaves them out altogether. In place of these what we are treated to are a detailed section on breathing techniques, an entire chapter on Tameshiwari, and Oyama's suggestions for modernizing Karate competition and its scoring system.

   I would, of course, recommend this book for its thoroughness in detailing the fundamentals, its section on breathing techniques, and for what really distinguishes this book from Nishiyama and Brown's book, its chapter on Kata. While this chapter is not as heavy on the significance and importance of Kata it does give step-by-step explanations for five Kata. As with Nishiyama and Brown's book I would recommend supplementing this book with one that explains the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the art such as Robin L. Rielly's Complete Shotokan Karate, ISBN 0-8048-2108-9.




2. This book is a great text for students of Kyokushin style of Karate-do, and great for any Karate-ka interested in the traditional styles of Okinawan Karate-do. Sosai Masutatsu Oyama imigrated to Japan From South Korea to learn the Japanese Martial Arts, he had studied boxing and Judo until he found his true love, Karate. He started learning Shotokan Karate from the Great Giko Funakoshi,son of Gichin Funakoshi. Oyama excelled quickly in the art and later created what he called Kyokushin. This book contains study aids to students of the art and facts for Karate lovers. It includes pictures of him and his students showing the precise movements,techniques and descriptions by Oyama him self. The Katas are precisely detailed and demostrated, it is a must have.



3. This book has a good (although short) topic about breathing. I guess it's the best you can take from it. In this book you'll also find some interesting warm-up routines. That's all I like from this book, really.

   Sure, you'll also see here several basic techniques, but blockings (uke) are barely explained and poorly illustrated. In addition, you won't find here any historical information, nor any phylosophical explanation about karate. Even, techniques are not explained very well: they're just presented. So, there's nothing (or very few) for intermediate/advanced students here. I thought to take this book as a reference for basics, but make yourself a favor and try to get something else instead of this -like "This Is Karate" from Mas Oyama, or the IFK Sylabus (kihons) from Shihan Steve Arneil. Also check the Shihan Steve Arneil's "Kyokushin Kata" book.

   In few words, "Karate School" has very few to offer if you're not a beginner: it's just another karate book, like many others over there.




4. I bought this book to see how Oyama's conditioning was done. I mean the man fought bulls with his bare hands. I don't care much for forms, and I didn't buy this for the fighting techniques. However, I can follow the techniques just fine. BUT, like any book on martial arts, the beginner will have a hard time following what is here, and someone formally trained in a traditional martial art will probably follow along fine. Also like any traditional martial arts book though, those who practice a traditional martial art probably knows most (not all) of this stuff.

   Overall I like the book and recommend it to anyone who wants to supplement their training, anyone who wants to know more about Mas Oyama, and anyone who wants to follow along as they formally learn Kyukushin Karate. Before Karate School it was named Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course, so if you have that book, you don't need this one.




5. If you are truly serious about learning Kyokushinkai Karate then this is the book to buy.
   In my Opinion Mas Oyama was the Greatest Karateka who ever lived. He had awsome super human strength & His Martial Arts skills were second to none. He even killed Bulls with his bear hands. Buy this book you wont regret it.

5 comments about Mas Oyama's Classic Karate.

1. This is an excellent book, but this book is a copy of mas oyama other book "karate school". If you have that book don't buy this because there is no difference. Oooh I almost forgot to tell you that there is difference. The book cover is not the same :)



2. I own this book under it'sother title, while I am not a kyukoshinkai guy, I do wonder when they started using Korean pullovers s uniforms...
   Otherwise, great book. Oyama has written exactly one book on karate, and gave it 37 different titles.
   Buy any of them, and you know what his other titles offer.



3. This book is yet another re-release of Masutatsu Oyamas book "Essential karate". It has also been released under the name "Complete karate course", and "Karate school".
   
   Only the name and cover has been changed (and the Taekwondo uniforms and practicioners on the cover on this latest version is the source of some amusement in kyokushin circles -probably the work of a editor that didnt know what he was doing and didnt know the difference), the contents are identical. If you already own any of its previous incarnations, dont bother with this one.
   Its annoying that they keep changing the name for every new release.
   
   If you ignore the name/edition confusion, it is a Good book on kyokushin karate basics. It is a bit dated with a 70ies feel and outdated techniques for grading purposes, but mostly it is a worthwile buy for any kyokushin karate practicioner.
   
   Mainly it is a walktrough of the basic karate techniques as done (back then) in the kyokushin style. There are also sections on warmups, breathing, self defense and more -mostly to short to be useful as anything but inspiration.
   It gets a bit confused and obscure occationaly. But it is still better than most books on karate released today.
   I rate it a 4, but for non-kyokushin karate stylist a 3 would probably be more appropriate.



4. Mas Oyama's book but with the cover showing a guy with Taekwondo Gi? I reckon it's the biggest mistake in the world. Are you sure it's Oyama's book? I don't think Oyama would be happy about this.



5. This book is a republication of one that came out in the seventies. The only difference is in the original there were pictures of him fighting and killing a bull with his bare hands. Some lightweight giving into some special interest obviously had it taken out. The facts are that Mas Oyama killed many bulls with a punch to the center of its head or by hacking off a horn with a shuto strike. I spent many years teaching Karate and studied his style of bare knuckle classic karate. This book has several katas and alot of sparring technics well illustrated. Whether you are just starting or been at it a long time, this book will benefit you.

No comments about THIS IS KARATE..

5 comments about Oyama: The Legend, the Legacy.

1. As a new student of the Kyokushin style of karate, I looked around for biographical information on Mas Oyama, it's founder. This book, while it covers basic facts and offers a few interesting stories, was not written well. Chapter by chapter, the author repeats himself, sometimes almost word-for-word paragraphs at a time. It's disjointed, almost as though the chapters were written as individuals essays, then the whole lot thrown together for publication. He keeps jumping forward and back in time, making any chronology difficult to follow. It's a decent introductory read, but I'm going to look elsewhere for a real biography.



2. Interesting story about Mas Oyama. I enjoyed reading about my sosai, but first of all the book is quite short. I read it in one evening. It will take at most two if you have other things to attend to. Second, add to the brevity of the book, it is very repetitious. And as most of the repetition is about the "legendary exploits of the godlike Oyama", you'll soon start feeling like you're going to throw up your lunch. When you just think you've seen the last of it, another chapter starts by reciting how many challenge fights and how many bulls Oyama has beaten and how many months he trained inhumanly in the mountains and so on. Just too much of repetition for such a short book overall. I've also heard rumours that there are some factual errors in the book, but don't have any further info about them. Some obvious typoes are repeated throughout the book (like goju-ryu is spelled gojo-ryu). Also, quite an amount of the book focuses on other aspects than Oyama, things like the different kinds of sparring practice and the different master instructors and tournament champions of kyokushinkai. Perhaps the book should've been named "Oyama and His Karatekai". It definitely should've been longer and less repetitious.



3. the problems with this book have already been addressed by other reviewers for the most part. the author is a terrible writer, and the book repeats itself all the way through. the book is very short. the author is a fanboy and writes like one, with no thought given to an unbiased look at oyama. all in all a pitiful book, 0 out of 5 stars.



4. Unfortunately Michael L. Lorden's, "Mas Oyama: The Legend, the Legacy" falls short of its intended target.
   
   Michael L. Lorden begins his book on a positive note, but unfortunately seems to lose his way in portraying the life of Masutatsu Oyama, one of the greatest martial artist of our time. Lorden collects some important facts about Mas Oyama and his karate, but there is very little new information on Mas Oyama's life.
   
   I, like many other admirers, looked forward to reading more of the younger Yong I Choi (Oyama's birth name, in Korea), but there was little written on his youth in this book. Lorden scarcely touches upon Mas Oyama's Korean family, his childhood or teen-age years, his schooling or education, his friends, hobbies - apart from his love of reading, his short-lived military career, etc.
   
   Masutatsu Oyama was undoubtedly one of the world's great martial artists and the founder of Kyokushin Karate, a formidable style that stressed full contact kumite with no protective gear. Mas Oyama was regarded as a true master because he practiced what he preached and preached what he practiced - he lived the life of a true martial artist. His devotion to his Kyokushin Karate was everything to him. Mas Oyama first exhibitions in the United States flabbergasted audiences and martial artists alike. Mas Oyama's extraordinary speed, inconceivable power, and unwavering spirit were recognized throughout the martial arts world. His forceful demonstrations illustrated to all the grand possibilities of Kyokushin Karate and karate in general. The author tells us of Oyama's "uchi-deshi program" wherein a selected few students are permitted to spend three years at his honbu in pursuit of excellence in Kyokushin Karate. Few students made it into his program and even fewer graduated from it.
   
   Any individual that is a product of the 60s and was interested in, or practiced, a martial art was very familiar with Sosai Masutatsu Oyama's karate. You Knew of his exploits with bulls, his open challenges to all fighters (whatever their fighting style), his breaking of boards, roof tiles, blocks of ice, rocks, bricks, and his ability to chop the neck off of a bottle without knocking the bottle over. People were also aware of Mas Oyama's devotion, philosophy, and maxims on karate and on life.
   
   In "Mas Oyama: The Legend, the Legacy", Lorden writes on Mas Oyama's way of life; the value he placed on self-discipline, perseverance, goodness, civility, respect, devotion, and arduous training. Unfortunately, Lorden presents no new biographical footprints to Mas Oyama's past. Whereas other biographers utilize research, archival documents, interviews . . . in order to uncover new insights into their subjects, Lorden is content to put together a book with a conglomeration of previous and well-known facts on Mas Oyama. Lorden does not follow any particular pattern in his writing - he jumps back and forth and uses too much repetition in his writing.
   
   "Mas Oyama: The Legend, the Legacy" is a good book for those unfamiliar with the life of Masutatsu Oyama, but for those who are acquainted with Mas Oyama's life, Michael L. Lorden book offers no new material or insights.



5. The book is OK if you do not know about Mas Oyama. The problem that I found; the writer repeats some parts in some chapters

2 comments about Mas Oyama's Essential Karate.

1. Mas Oyama's book "The Essential Karate" is perhaps the easiest source for a beginning martial artist to use to gain knowledge about this interesting artform. KyokushinKai-Kan Karate, also known as the assocaition for the search in ultimate truth in Karate, was founded in the early 1950's. Matsutatsu Oyama, the founder, created a Karate style that is derived from Shotokan and Goju-Ryu. In doing so he started one of the most powerful and most widely respected martial forms. Kyokushin is extremely popular with over ten million practitioners in the world today. This book will enable the beginner and the expert to unravel Master Oyama's thoughts on how this art should be performed. It will explain in detail and with photos all of the basic manuevers. Each page is well illustrated with reasons why each attack or defense is done. Also included are basic self defenses and a history of martial arts. Due to both of Master Oyama's other book being out of print this manuel is a indespensable tool for any martial artist. Further more it is clearly the best available and affordable tool for the adherent to this style. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It will put the extra umph into each punch and kick that you do.



2. I do not think anyone could go wrong with this book. Also, for those who have not noticed. The new work out titled "Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course" is in fact THIS book with a new title. Enjoy. It's worth every penny!

5 comments about What Is Karate?.

1. The most influencial book ever published in English on Karate instruction. After repeated inquires for "a good Karate book" from foreigners visiting the author in Japan and the requests he received traveling through North America, Masutatsu Oyama wrote "What is Karate?" because he could not recommend any book that would help his foreign friends understand the real Karate. This book soon became the foundation of the Karate movement in North America. The book is profusely illustrated with B/W photographs and 4 full-page color photographs. The revised 1959 edition is even more scarce and sought after then the original 1959 edition.



2. I ordered this book and I recieved it read it and gave it to my friend max lee its a wonderful book for students and non student good foundations love the original cover red with feather and content exept when the pictures doesn't match when they stated kickin is punchin ,and punch is kickin on the picture!



3. This is the Book,that telling us all about the Oyama Dojo in
   1950's! In those days,Kyokushin Karate was "The strongest standing fighting system on whole Earth! They punching to the face,takedown,grappling.... You know that Kyokushin Karate was
   changed after they held all Japan,and world tournaments!
   And keep in mind that 'what is karate'had several revisions.
   I bought 'Mastering karate'in eBay,I found out that this is same book as 'what is karate completly New edition'!
   Continue your training. OSU!
   
   



4. I was lucky to find this 1957/58 book cheap at a local used bookstore with a worn dust jacket but beautiful interior.
   
   The book is filled with pictures, a few in color, added just for their beauty. Some pictures are of the author with various people that I guess were famous back then. However, there are plenty of pictures illustrating techniques and forms.
   
   Oyama says that if you can master the 4 forms he gives in the book, you can consider yourself a "first grader" of Karate. Of course, if you get into Karate you will want to join a dojo and use the kata they teach. At the time Oyama was writing, however, there would have been few dojos for westerners. Also, if for some reason you aren't ready to join a dojo or don't have the money, I don't suppose it would hurt you any to practice these on your own.
   
   There is a short section on training. Clearly, Oyama values repetition in training. He says he benchpressing 175 lbs. 300 times a day, and in his other training advice he recommends doing various exercises hundreds of times per day. If you followed his general training recommendations minus the karate-specific stuff, you would certainly be in good physical condition, but this would also be a time-consuming workout.
   
   I don't know if there is something magical about the number 300, but he also says that to master a form will take practicing it at least 300 times.
   
   Unfortunately, he writes many more words about himself than he does in describing the karate techniques, but as they say "a picture says a thousand words".
   
   Of course, the autobiographical sections are interesting too. The author is not shy about showing off his abilities as others have noted. Of course, he is also humble enough to say that when ye was a youth he was not particularly strong and says that anyone who masters Karate can perform similar feats.
   
   With statements like that, it is no wonder that his book made such a hit when it became available at a time when Karate was still relatively unknown in the west. I can imagine dreamy westerners thinking that they too would soon be smashing stones with their bare hands.
   
   I have to admit that I was a bit turned off by the pictures of his bull-fighting. It is one thing to show off by breaking boards and rocks, but picking on innocent dumb animals seems cruel. Those were different times though.
   
   Anyway, his Karate is not all showing off. There are practical sections on self-defense that include picture sequences demonstrating defense against attackers with knife and pistol.
   
   This is definitely a classic that leaves one wanting more.



5. Although the book isn't specific to one particular style, it's assumed to be Kyokushin karate as it's written by the founder himself (Oyama). It's a good book, but keep in mind that it's very very basic (which is important). The sanchin dachi basics are covered and some useful conditioning exercises as well but it's mostly out dated. The pinan katas are covered (which are shotokan katas). In reading this book, I can really appreciate how much kyokushin karate has evolved. No low kicks are demonstrated and no mawashi-geri with a follow through or Brazilian Kick are shown or mentioned. Low kicks are not trivial to execute and require lots of practice. I think these kicks were developed later mostly as a result of the rules of Kyokushin fighting. It's interesting and provides good food for thought. Kyokushin founder Mas Oyama was not a good kicker himself, but encouraged his students to kick. Today, Kyokushin Karate and it's derivatives have some of the most dynamic and effective kicking techniques in all of the martial arts. And I say this as someone who has over 20 years of experience in tae kwon do.