Rating: 
Summary: Good historical document, but somewhat subjective
Review: First, I hold sandan rank in both Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate and Matayoshi kobudo. I've received personal training from some of the great practitioners of Okinawa karate. Not to blow my own horn, but I do know a little about these subjects.
Mark Bishop has provided a great service in giving us this book. The photos and interviews with Okinawan master practitioners are fascinating. And, he covers a wide range of styles. One feels the actual "flavor" of these styles and the dojo where they are practiced. I know of no other martial arts book that has done this. It was not an easy task.
However, I am concerned about some of his statements concerning Goju Ryu and particularly regarding the practice of the Sanchin kata. Mr. Bishop contends that practice of Sanchin can lead to high blood pressure, and in fact he quit Goju Ryu because of this even though he held a dan rank.
I have encountered hundreds of Goju practioners, and I had never heard of this until it appeared in this book. My teacher, who has been training Goju for about 40 years, commented, "That book (Okinawan Karate) is junk. That stuff about sanchin is nonsense. I've never heard of it, and karate teachers have a reputation for living long lives." His value judgements aside, I must conclude that Mr. Bishop's contention about Sanchin is not based on a whole lot of evidence. How did he get high blood pressure? Did he smoke? Eat too much salt? Get stressed out? Sanchin? Who knows.
So I am concerned that Mr. Bishop may have taken this method of reasoning to other facets of the book, making some things appear as objective fact when they are actually subjective judgements. Having said all that, there is no doubt that this is an essential book for anyone interested in Okinawan or Japanese karate. Buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: History of Okinawan Karate
Review: I found this book to be an excellent introduction to all of the martial arts in Okinawa. Mr. Bishop tries to write something about all of the differrent styles, their techniques and the lineage. Dates are given where possible with photos and skecthes where necessary. Very entertaining read.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Book For Anyone
Review: I will recommend this book to any one who studies Tradional karate,OR any one who enjoys reading on a whole.This book,gives more like a biography,about many GREAT karate teachers.Eg:Bushi Matsumura,Nabe matsumura,and many more.It is also very informative.
It features some RARE pics of martial artists such as:Shinpan Shiroma etc.
I have personally studied matsumura orthodox shorin ryu,for the past 3 years.And let me say,i learned a great deal about my style from this book.
IF YOU LOVE KARATE BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!
Even if you donot study any of the styles in the book,it is VERY interesting.
Rating:
Summary: history of Okinawan karate styles
Review: Mark Bishop has written a geneological history of most, if not all, of existing karate styles that have their roots in Okinawa. Though his work is not sourced and footnoted as is customary in academic writing, he does indicate that his information comes from interviews with karatedo masters in Okinawa, and presumably these interviews were conducted in the masters' native language. Since the vast majority of martial arts "history" is oral, and his book is so detailed, I find his accounts quite credible. In this book, Mark Bishop has done a good job of conveying the commonalities of all karate styles, despite the efforts by some to differentiate and mysticize them. Bishop should also be commended for debunking the frequently told myth that martial arts began in Okinawa when weaponless peasants developed fighting techniques to counter the aggression of Japanese samurai. He also presents his interview subjects as real people -- some of the karate masters he interviewed struck him as slightly bombastic or secretive, while others came across as humble and eager teachers. Instead of editing these impressions out he includes them.This is not the book for people with little or no experience in the martial arts looking for a guidebook so they can learn how to win bar fights. The book is most valuable as a historical reference.
Rating:
Summary: A Personal Journey Through the Homeland of Karate
Review: Mark Bishop offers us a look at karate on Okinawa. Not in the usual manner, wherein an author tries to explain techinques through pictures and words, but through descriptions of his discussions with practitioners of different styles of karate and kobudo (traditional weaponry), and descriptions of the many dojo (schools) he visited. Bishop includes photos of the places he visited and the masters he met throughout the volume, and for most schools offers lineage charts showing who the major instructors of each master were, and that teacher's senior students. One emerges with a new awareness of and appreciation for the diversity of Okinawan Karate, both in practice and philosophy. The author breaks down the book into three major sections. The first of these is on styles and teachers of Karate directly related to Chinese Boxing ("kung fu"), such as Jukendo, Ryuei-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Pangai Noon, and Kojo-ryu. section Two is concerned with Shorin-ryu styles of karate, including Matsumura Orthodox shorin-ryu, Ishmine-ryu, Tomari-te, Shorinji-ryu, Matsubayashi-ryu, Chuba-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shorin-ryu (shaolin), Ryukyu Shorin-ryu, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, Kushin-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni Shiito-ryu, Shinpan Shiroma Shiito-ryu, Tozan-ryu, and Okinawan Kempo. The third section of this book delves into schools and instructors of Kobudo (traditional weaponry), includingHoshin-ryu, Yamani-ryu, Uhuchiku Kobudo, Ryukyu Kobudo, Matayoshi Kobudo, Motobu-ryu, and Bugeikan. Also included are appendixes with a map of Okinawa (detailed names of each region of the Island), a Kata (form) chart showing what kata each school of karate practices, a list and description of Kobudo weapons, and addresses of major teachers and schools in Okinawa. This is probably the best guide to different forms of Okinawan martial arts, since the author is able to include his personal observations, and not simply a collection of data from other sources.
Rating:
Summary: A Personal Journey Through the Homeland of Karate
Review: Mark Bishop offers us a look at karate on Okinawa. Not in the usual manner, wherein an author tries to explain techinques through pictures and words, but through descriptions of his discussions with practitioners of different styles of karate and kobudo (traditional weaponry), and descriptions of the many dojo (schools) he visited. Bishop includes photos of the places he visited and the masters he met throughout the volume, and for most schools offers lineage charts showing who the major instructors of each master were, and that teacher's senior students. One emerges with a new awareness of and appreciation for the diversity of Okinawan Karate, both in practice and philosophy. The author breaks down the book into three major sections. The first of these is on styles and teachers of Karate directly related to Chinese Boxing ("kung fu"), such as Jukendo, Ryuei-ryu, Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Pangai Noon, and Kojo-ryu. section Two is concerned with Shorin-ryu styles of karate, including Matsumura Orthodox shorin-ryu, Ishmine-ryu, Tomari-te, Shorinji-ryu, Matsubayashi-ryu, Chuba-ryu, Isshin-ryu, Shorin-ryu (shaolin), Ryukyu Shorin-ryu, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, Kushin-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni Shiito-ryu, Shinpan Shiroma Shiito-ryu, Tozan-ryu, and Okinawan Kempo. The third section of this book delves into schools and instructors of Kobudo (traditional weaponry), includingHoshin-ryu, Yamani-ryu, Uhuchiku Kobudo, Ryukyu Kobudo, Matayoshi Kobudo, Motobu-ryu, and Bugeikan. Also included are appendixes with a map of Okinawa (detailed names of each region of the Island), a Kata (form) chart showing what kata each school of karate practices, a list and description of Kobudo weapons, and addresses of major teachers and schools in Okinawa. This is probably the best guide to different forms of Okinawan martial arts, since the author is able to include his personal observations, and not simply a collection of data from other sources.
Rating: 
Summary: good source of information but filled with biased.
Review: Mr. Bishop certainly has provided some good insights into the way of traditional Okinawan Karrate. His first hand accounts add much to the information provided and his story is rich in detail. He dosen't just give you facts, names and dates, but presents the reader with a source on which you will reflect on for some time. There's not much in the way of mystical karate in this book, just good hard facts that are a wealth of information.
Rating:
Summary: Great historical work
Review: Mr. Bishop has done an excellent job of researching Okinawan martial arts history. This tome is well written, easy to read, and quite enlightening. Part one describes the Chinese influenced empty-hand arts such as Goju Ryu which I study as well as Uechi Ryu and others. Part two covers the Shoren styles such as Isshin Ryu, Shoren Ryu (there is more than one type), and Kushin Ryu. Part three covers weapons forms such as Matayoshi (which I have also studied) and Ryukyu kobudo. The appendices have great maps and useful information. The book is short, only 173 pages, but interesting. I like the author's personal observations but I wish the book had been a little more in-depth. If you are into lineage this is an essential resource.
Lawrence Kane
Author of Martial Arts Instruction: Applying Educational Theory and Communication Techniques in the Dojo
Rating:
Summary: good source of information but filled with biased.
Review: There are very good and useful information about some less-popular styles such as Ryuei Ryu and different branches of Shorin ryu. However, the author added so much of his own criticism of instructors, usually about their personalities and manners, and at times I wonder why he has an authority to criticize some senior instructors of Okinawa, the birth place of Karate-do. The author shows very little, and sometimes no respect to Japanese/Okinawa senior instructors. Having said that, this is still a good book and will add some historical perspective to a serious Karate-ka.
Rating:
Summary: Great Resource!
Review: This is certainly one of the best books on the history and diversity of Okinawan martial arts. Bishop has done English speakers a great service in going to the masters themselves to get firsthand accounts of the inner teachings and foundations of the respective traditions. Great attention to detail, many photographs, and a solid binding. Highly recommended!
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