Top products from r/karate
We found 35 product mentions on r/karate. We ranked the 75 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
4. Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
Kodansha
5. Stretching Scientifically: A Guide to Flexibility Training
Sentiment score: 3
Number of reviews: 2
6. The Art of Hojo Undo: Power Training for Traditional Karate
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 2
YMAA Publication Center
8. Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
Tuttle Pub
9. Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques
Sentiment score: 2
Number of reviews: 2
10. Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Used Book in Good Condition
12. Tonfa: Karate Weapon of Self-Defense (Literary links to the Orient)
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
13. Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate (Japanese Arts)
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Used Book in Good Condition
14. Tao of Jeet Kune Do: New Expanded Edition
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Black Belt Books
15. Fumio Demura's: Karate Weapons of Self-Defense: The Complete Edition
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
16. PREY FOR JUDGMENT: Priest charged in brutal unspeakable gruesome murder
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
17. Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Tuttle Publishing
18. Beyond the Known: The Ultimate Goal of the Martial Arts (Tuttle Classics)
Sentiment score: 1
Number of reviews: 1
Used Book in Good Condition
They aren't really uechi-ryu books, but here is a list of my favorite martial arts books:
[Karate-do My Way of Life] (http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Do-Way-Life-Gichin-Funakoshi/dp/1568364989/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368043735&sr=1-1&keywords=Karate-do+my+way+of+life) by Gichin Funakoshi - definitely my favorite martial arts book. This is the autobiography of Gichin Funakoshi. He talks alot about the history and culture of Okinawa and karate in general. His life is clearly a prime example of the spirit of karate-do.
[Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Twenty-Guiding-Principles-Karate/dp/4770027966/ref=pd_sim_b_2) by Gichin Funakoshi.
Basically anything by Gichin Funakoshi
[Beyond The Known] (http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Known-Ultimate-Martial-Classics/dp/0804834652) - More abstract. Presents some wonderful philosophical ideas about the unity of martial arts, the unity of spirit, and the higher purpose of the martial arts. Perhaps a better read for later in your training.
[Zen in the Martial Arts] (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Martial-Arts-Joe-Hyams/dp/0553275593/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368043973&sr=1-1&keywords=zen+in+the+martial+arts) - Everyone should read this once. It presents basic, but very important spiritual ideas relevant to the martial arts.
[Way of The Peaceful Warrior] (http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368044020&sr=1-1&keywords=Way+of+the+peaceful+warrior) - Absolutely fantastic (and entertaining) spiritual, development novel about a college age student seeking a higher meaning in life. Not exactly about martial arts, but the mindset and spiritual lessons are the same. I highly recommend this book.
[The Weaponless Warriors] (http://www.amazon.com/Way-Peaceful-Warrior-Changes-Lives/dp/1932073205/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368044020&sr=1-1&keywords=Way+of+the+peaceful+warrior) - More of the mythical/legend type stories about many of the famous okinawan karate practitioners. None-the-less an exciting and entertaining read about the many legends of karate.
My top recommendations is "karate-do my way of life" by Gichin Funakoshi. My second recommendation would be "way of the peaceful warrior". Most of the books I recommended are not technique books. Honestly, I don't find technique books very useful. They have their places, but I think the spiritual lessons are better learned from books, and the motivation that can be derived is beneficial as well.
Here is most of my library, broken down, with links and some thoughts on each.
Karate Specific
Kobujutsu Specific
Other Martial Arts
Health and Anatomy
EDIT: I can't believe I forgot this one...
I have a few thoughts, in no particular order:
Have fun!
Dynamic stretching for kicks!
Do 3 sets of 8-12 reps of the following stretch kicks:
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Increase your kicking height over the course of each set. Use your hand as a target for the front, side, and crescent kicks. Ideally, you would also perform this routine first thing in the morning. It generally doesn't hurt to do more, as long as you aren't fatigued.
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Once you reach the desired level of flexibility, you'll only need to practice a couple of times a week to maintain the existing level of flexibility.
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Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhpo9qKxO2c
https://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Scientifically-Guide-Flexibility-Training/dp/0940149451
If you can find the Demura books (example: https://www.amazon.com/Tonfa-Karate-Weapon-Self-Defense-Literary/dp/0897500806/) real cheap, they're worth it. I have the tonfa one and the sai one. There are some great youtubes out there as well. I've never tried any of the instructional DVDs.
I was fortunate because the class I was taking delved into some of the weapons. I wouldn't have been able to compete with the instruction I got there but the instructor was able to show us basic strikes and blocks.
I'm by no means an expert or anything and I would never rely on it in the real world, especially to block something but I can knock you pretty good with it and I have fun :)
Thanks for telling me. I've tried to search around, I ended up buying mine when I went over there, direct from the museum. All sources online show that it is no longer being printed, which is really strange. Someone in South Africa is selling it for $300, which is a complete and utter b.s. price.
I reckon if you contact the Okinawa gojuryu kenshikai museum or his Hokama Tetsuhiro's facebook page directly, they could help you out. Hokama's facebook page is not run by himself, but a representative.
https://www.facebook.com/kenshikai.association/
https://www.facebook.com/Tetsuhiro-Hokama-257926917897771/
It kind of makes me sad that this book, which is such an important text, is no longer in print.
Alternatively, you could also look at Karate by Jesse. His blog posts are quite interesting, and offer some pretty good insights into Karate and his various philosophies.
http://www.karatebyjesse.com/
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Also, check out The Bubishi (as translated by Patrick McCarthy) https://www.amazon.com/dp/4805313846/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=b4bbef4e-170e-463d-8538-7eff3394b224&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0804820155&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=GHEE2YYJ9HW91GCJG0YV&pf_rd_r=GHEE2YYJ9HW91GCJG0YV&pf_rd_p=b4bbef4e-170e-463d-8538-7eff3394b224
A little different from what you are looking for; but I have found this book to be a great teaching tool not only for Karate training but for life as well.
Zen in the Martial Arts
You're sure to find The Book of Five Rings cheaply and/or at a library. I've only read excerpts, but a lot of it, surprizingly, sounded like Uechi to me.
Here's another easy find, written by the father of the author of Turning the Mind into an Ally: Shamballa Warrior
None of those kata are unique to your style. Mark Bishop wrote an excellent book on Okinawan karate that you might find enlightening.
I'd highly recommend this one
http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1568364989
The dude who brought Karate to Tokyo and was instrumental in bringing it to the world shares stories and thoughts about karate. I honestly couldn't put it down.
Kata were originally the distillation of fighting techniques. But because of the Japanese obsession with secrecy it is pretty clear that most - and by most I actually mean practically all - sensei have no idea of what the techniques actually are. "Bunkai" is the name for the application of the techniques contained in the kata, and most bunkai you are taught is bunk. Some sensei have made an effort to find more realistic bunkai - Iain Abernethy is one, Bill Burgar is another, and there are a few others, but take it as read that the bunkai you will be taught won't be remotely realistic.
Having said that, kata are a way to demonstrate your control of your body, your form, your technique; and for that reason they are important. They are the heart of karate, and while they are a pain to remember, once they are internalised they become the expression of your karate. And they are never perfect, they only get better with time.
Michael Clarke Sensei's book on hojo undo is the best material I know of: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Hojo-Undo-Traditional/dp/159439136X
Here is a great book - Karate-Do Kyohan by Gichin Funakoshi translated by Tsutomu Ohshima.
Prey for Judgment by Gerald L. Orange
Maybe you should start with what wikipedia has to offer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate. Further, there are some good books, Funakoshi - My Way, and there are tons of material across the internet.
I had the honor to attend a 6th and 7th dan examination that was quite thorough in terms of letting the senseis explain the art to other attendees - as in where it comes from, how it came about. So while I can relate to your wish to learn from someone who does it, I'd think you should do some due diligence instead of expecting us to type all that out ;-) If you have some more specific questions than those broad general ones... shoot.
Also, may I suggest studying the art by practicing it? it's one thing to read and talk about it, but really another to dive into it.
If you are set on learning kobudo from a book, please, please use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Fumio-Demuras-Weapons-Self-Defense-Complete/dp/0897502116
These have what you are looking for:
[Empty Hand. The Essence of Budo Karate] (https://www.amazon.com/Empty-Hand-Essence-Budo-Karate/dp/3938305134)
[The Book of Five Rings] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1935785974/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499658891&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=the+5+rings+musashi&dpPl=1&dpID=51u6Mn5MaIL&ref=plSrch)
[Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/4805313846/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499658987&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Bubishi)
I have a book on traditional training and equipment Hojo Undo or something along those lines. Ill try and find it
Edit..
Sorry Couldnt find it. Here the amazon link for it. Maybe you could find a pdf or order it. A good read.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Hojo-Undo-Traditional/dp/159439136X
This book will set you on the right path of understanding where the Shotokan style came from.
http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Do-Way-Life-Gichin-Funakoshi/dp/1568364989
https://smile.amazon.com/Karate-Do-Way-Life-Gichin-Funakoshi/dp/1568364989
What about this?
Rob Redmond moved from Atlanta to Japan to train for two years. he wrote a book about his adventures in and out of the dojo.
http://www.amazon.com/Year-Chicken-Rob-Redmond/dp/1430328045
Not sure if it's exactly what you are looking for but Wado Ryu Karate, by Hironori Otsuka goes into the mentality and idea of karate at the beginning, I'm currently reading it, the translation isn't perfect as it was first of all dictated then translated.