Shorin-Ryu Okinawan Karate Question and Answer Book

Rating:
Summary: Not for a true karateka!
Review: First of all, the traditions of karate have no use for a "question and answer book". As Eugen Herrigel states in Zen and the Art of Archery, drawing information from books or getting "hints" from teachers is only cheating yourself, as true enlightenment comes from constant training. Although this book is an interesting read, many of the answers are incorrect or misleading; for example, the kata chart on page 27 contains many confusing statements about the composers of the katas. This is truly a book for a scholar or historian, to whom facts are more important than truths.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of great history and some interesting general info
Review: I like the way this book was set up. It's easy to read with little "quizes" all the way through. It's got great info on the origin of kata (names and creator), information on japanese martial arts terminology, and some interesting "general martial arts knowledge" info. For example, they say that a well executed martial arts punch can generate 600 foot/pounds of pressure and that bone has a structural strength greater than that of concrete. Are these stats true? I'm not sure, but it makes for an interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of great history and some interesting general info
Review: I like the way this book was set up. It's easy to read with little "quizes" all the way through. It's got great info on the origin of kata (names and creator), information on japanese martial arts terminology, and some interesting "general martial arts knowledge" info. For example, they say that a well executed martial arts punch can generate 600 foot/pounds of pressure and that bone has a structural strength greater than that of concrete. Are these stats true? I'm not sure, but it makes for an interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: Valuable Resourse
Review: This book was recommended to me by my sensei and I am pleased to share it with others. This is a book of lists, quizzes, and general tips and information presented in an extremely well-organized and interesting manner. It clearly points out key information and has helped me greatly with my studies. Most sources are either overwhelmingly detailed or oversimplified and it is difficult to sort through and figure out key concepts. This book does the work for you and is a convenient (and very portable!) challenging study guide.

This is one of the very few sources of information about Fukyugata San available, with photos and descriptions of Ueshiro Sensei performing the kata.

There are a few errors/debatable answers in the book (the kata information list is a good example), so if something doesn't seem right to you, check other places. This book is by no means a complete resource, but is invaluable when used with other sources of information.