No comments about Type de Karaté: Shotokan-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, Kyokushinkai, Shito-Ryu, Karate-Do Shotokaï Egami-Ryu, Karaté C.a.m., Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu (French Edition).

No comments about Shito-Ryu Karaté-Do.

No comments about Shito-Ryu: Gintaras Stauce.

No comments about Karate Do the Way of Shito-Ryu.

5 comments about Shito-Ryu Karate.

1. This book has all the pictures and Japanese terminology associated with the movements. Most traditional karate dojo's use these terms to conduct there classes, this is a great book for reference whether you are training in Wado-ryu,Shotokan,Goju-ryu or Shito-ryu. This text will benefit you in your training.



2. When reading Sensei Demura's books, you're getting martial arts info from one of the most realiable sources in contempoary times. His book is knowledge and informative. A must oen for any karate stylist.



3. You may be confused by a different title printed on the cover 'Black Belt Karate'. Don't worry, it's probably some kind of cover design. In fact it's printed as 'Shito-Ryu Karate' on the side of the book and also the first page inside the book. It's indeed an authentic handbook of Shito-Ryu Karate, just like the hand notes you may recieve when you join any major karate dojo that practicing Shito-Ryu style. However, this handbook is very complete and helpful. It contains the following topics:
   
   
   
   - History of Shito-Ryu Karate
   
   - Striking Points
   
   - Target Areas
   
   - Standing Positions
   
   - Hand Techniques
   
   - Elbow Techniques
   
   - Kicking Techniques
   
   - Blocking Techniques
   
   
   
   For each topics like standing positions, it provides each stance with the proper terminology, spelling, picture, application, and description of how to do the stance, such as the forward stance, Zenkutsu Dachi.
   
   
   
   This book covers the history and techniques, it does not provide any kata forms. If you're interested on practicing Shito-Ryu kata forms, you may want to look at the DVD from amazon.com named 'Shito Ryu Karate Original'. It shows you different traditional Shito-Ryu kata forms in both slow and correct speed & timing, as well as from different side views.
   
   
   
   Overall, if you practice Shito-Ryu karate, this is a very good and authentic handbook to help you practice and prepare your belt tests. If you're looking for a book to show you overall how-to-do karate, this may not the one you should be looking for.
   
   
   
   (Reviewed by Otto Yuen, 13-Aug-2004)



4. All the hand and leg techniques are perfectly shown; but I wish moving and turning were included, as well as a kata or two.



5. This book has just the basics. Most but not all stances, blocks, kicks, and strikes are demonstrated. A good introduction for a beginner.

3 comments about Katsu Jin Ken - Living Karate - The Way to Self-Mastery.

1. Shimabukuro Sensei's book truly offers all serious students of budo a way to understand the meaning and philosophy behind karate and for that matter any martial art.
   
   While it shows ample photos and examples of kihon, it is the explanation of the smallest principles underlying why we do what we do in the dojo that make it such a compelling book!



2. I have been training in the art of Karate-do for around 6 years now and have been looking for a comprehensive guide to the art. Finally after all of the other Karate books I have read and tried to study, this book is really the only book I use as a reference. From the great drawings and clear photos of the most basic of techniques to the clear and distinct explanations of how to do them properly. This book has it all. I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn a more in depth and precise explanation of Karate-do.
   In martial arts, people forget that between just learning the techniques to defend themselves there is a philosophy that needs to be learned by all of us. This text explains a greater outlook and how one should think in many different situations in life. The philosophical writings of the writer of this book is very in depth. It gives great meaning to both technique and philosophy which together create Karate-do. I would recommend this book to anyone who studies the martial arts.



3. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a student of Hanshi Shimabukuro. Given this -and in order to reduce any potential bias- I've read (and re-read) the book a couple of times, and have waited a few years before writing this review. I may have waited a bit too long, since I first got the book in 2006 as I recall!
   
   I would first like to say that anyone interested in learning a martial art should find a teacher. There's no substitute for a good teacher. Having said that, this book is a wonderful addition and supplement for people who already train under a Sensei. Not everyone will have access to a Sensei who has Hanshi Shimabukuro's knowledge, so the book becomes a great ally in an individual's development as a martial artist. I mention Martial Artist and don't focus in Karate specifically because this book can benefit practitioners of any Martial Art. I've even recommended it to friends who don't practice Martial Arts, since it also contains a wealth of knowledge applicable to self-help and the enrichment of one's life and the life of others.
   
   I recommend looking at the Table of Contents available here at Amazon. With 18 Chapters and close to 500 pages the book is quite thorough, yet highly accessible and easy to read. At the same time, it can be quite deep and I've found myself going over a single idea or reading a single page numerous times. For example, developing Ki, the Principles of Training, Discipline, etc.
   
   Specifically for Karate, Hanshi Shimabukuro presents a definition of Karate, its history, philosophy, spirit, and etiquette. He then goes on to present some of the basic stances, different techniques (first defensive, then offensive), and talks about the training process and the importance of Mind, Ki, and Attitude. There are also chapters on Kata, Kumite, Weapons, and Tournaments, as well as chapters with more detail regarding focus, meditation, breathing, etc.
   
   Anyone can learn to kick, punch, and strike. A person who practices 100 kicks, punches and strikes a day will eventually become proficient after months or years of practice. This is NOT Karate. Karate goes much deeper than that. It helps build character and instill confidence, and encompasses aspects such as etiquette, honor, respect, and compassion. I've trained (on and off) for almost 30 years and have never kicked or punched anyone, yet Karate has helped me with a wide variety of challenges, from pursuing post-graduate degrees to remaining calm while being robbed at gunpoint to learning how to walk after a near-fatal motorcycle crash. In all 3 situations I recall drawing heavily upon my experience practicing Seienchin, which back then was my favorite Kata and some translations refer to it as "Calm in the storm."
   
   I've read other Martial Arts books and in addition to Karate I used to practice Tai Chi Chuan and recently began training Qigon once again. I highly recommend this book to all Martial Artists who desire to take things to a deeper level, as well as to those who may be just starting out. I wish I had read a book like this one back when I started training.

5 comments about FUJITA SEIKO: THE LAST KOGA NINJA.

1. This was a very good book. Although it was short, it was very good quick read.It will leave you wanting to know more about this interesting character in ninjutsu history. I enjoyed it very much.



2. I feel that Shihan Hevener did an excellent job in researching and reporting this amazing story. I found the information enlightening and very interesting. Additionally, considering the number of artists practicing Kogo-ryu Ninjutsu and the fact that Mr. Hevener has or is a practicing member of the Bujinkan, I feel Mr. Hevener's approach rather unbiased and fair, both to O'Sensei Seiko and to Koga-ryu Ninjutsu practioners.
   I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese history and/or in Japanese martial arts, expecially the history of ninjutsu.



3. Like others, I have always wanted to know more about the life and mystery surrounding Fujita Seiko and the Koga ryu ninja lineage. The book cites all the sources used, and goes into specific detail about Fujita's early life, how he came into the arts he studied, and which schools he either passed on, or took to the grave with him. It's also interesting to read about his funeral, and all the highly-respected budo/bujutsu and koryu practicioners that attended, testifying to Fujita's credentials. I also didn't know about his kempo, jojutsu and shurikenjutsu arts, for which he was known in Japan at the time, rather than his "secret" side (Koga Wada ha). All in all, a quick, informative read. It's less than a hundred pages, but for 10 dollars, you can't beat this!



4. this book has some problems...first off its written by a bujinkan member for one...why? and for me he didnt dig deep enough or his opinion is just a little to bias...fujita was a sneaky one there is more to him than whats presented in this book...book is not big enough or long enuff to get to the dam point and point out all the good stuff he could have talked more about his writing of the books and stuff that was in them more for one...but does however give a better background...if you cant read japanese ... so again if looking for the basic truth of fujita in english you could start here...i will say this...he wasnt the last koga ninja...



5. Man, this book is too small. It could have been as thick as a dictionary, and it would still be interesting! It was an eye opener for me. Not on the Koka/Koga claims, but on who Fujita Seiko was, as a man, as a martial arts practitioner.
   
   This is a must for anyone interested in Ninjutsu. It does put to rest some claims, while for me, it increased the mystic around such a great man.
   
   Loved it, just loved it.