Rating: 
Summary: Resource for students of Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu
Review: Nagamini's book is not an instruction manual, but a straighforward textbook designed to supplement the study of Matsubayashi style shorin-ryu karate. Students will find it most helpful as a reference for the entire curiculum of 18 kata, which Nagamini illustrates with photographs and foot movements. Preceding kata instruction is a brief history of Okinawan karate-do, an explanation of theory, and an overview of techniques. As a brown belt, I have used this book as an essential reference text throughout my study.James R. Strange, 3rd kyu, ASKA (American Shorin-Ryu Karate Association)
Rating: 
Summary: One does not have to be.....
Review: One does not have to be a Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioner to recognize the importance of this historical and highly instructional book on Traditional Okinawan Karate. The story of how Shoshin Nagamine and Chojun Miyagi worked together to construct Gekisai Dai Ichi Kata for use in both of their systems is telling in that these great masters all new each other and trained together and worked towards promoting Karate to the world as a team. No Traditional Karate student loses when they learn something from all of the Traditional Karate Arts from Okinawa. I highly reccomend this book to any practioner. It's great to have in the martial arts library!
Rating:
Summary: One does not have to be.....
Review: One does not have to be a Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioner to recognize the importance of this historical and highly instructional book on Traditional Okinawan Karate. The story of how Shoshin Nagamine and Chojun Miyagi worked together to construct Gekisai Dai Ichi Kata for use in both of their systems is telling in that these great masters all new each other and trained together and worked towards promoting Karate to the world as a team. No Traditional Karate student loses when they learn something from all of the Traditional Karate Arts from Okinawa. I highly reccomend this book to any practioner. It's great to have in the martial arts library!
Rating:
Summary: Original Okinawa Karate & Kata Bible in English
Review: Shoshin Nagamine's book is invaluable to anyone who studies Shorin-ryu Karate, or a school related to or derived from Shorin-ryu. Although Nagamine's volume was originally published in English in 1976, it still sets the standard for other books on the subject of Okinawan karate (I don't know of any English volume as thorough--and I own over 3,000 martial arts books). It is also the only English language Shorin-ryu manual to include complete demonstrations of ALL 18 kata of this style, all of which are demonstrated by Mr. Nagamine himself (photos, foot position & stepping diagrams, and narrative). They include: Fugyu Kata I & II, Pinan 1 through 5, Naihanchi 1-3, Ananku, Wankan, Rohai, Wanshu, Passai, Gojushiho, Chinto, and Kusanku. Practitioners of styles such as Shotokan and Tang Soo Do will enjoy comparing these older versions of the forms with those they practice today. This is one of the few books on Karate which could benefit a practitioner at either the basic OR advanced levels, due to the amount and depth of information included within. Another attractive feature of this book is the excellent autobiography which Mr. Nagamine includes. He writes about personal aspects of his life, his interest in karate and other martial arts (he was also a skilled judoka), and includes a subsection on each of his teachers describing his experience and what he learned. He describes training with his first teacher, Ankichi Arakaki, and then the famed Chotoku Kyan, and the kempo master Choki Motobu. Nagamine offers his personal thoughts on karate training, including a series of precepts which have guided his own studies. The section on basic techniques (preceeding the lengthy section on kata) shows exactly how each movement is to be performed, and includes detailed photographs from the start of the technique to its finish. There are also sections on Kumite (showing 7 sequences and also brief information on breaking objects and makiwara training) and Kobudo (weapons such as sai, bo, nunchaku, etc.). Concerning Shishin Nagamine, the man was a dedicated karate researcher as well as a skilled practitioner who knew many of the old masters and was friendly with karate men of other styles. Nagamine's specific style is called Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu. He was a policeman by trade, and has written a second book called "Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters", which includes much more about his experiences delving into karate history.
Rating:
Summary: Original Okinawa Karate & Kata Bible in English
Review: Shoshin Nagamine's book is invaluable to anyone who studies Shorin-ryu Karate, or a school related to or derived from Shorin-ryu. Although Nagamine's volume was originally published in English in 1976, it still sets the standard for other books on the subject of Okinawan karate (I don't know of any English volume as thorough--and I own over 3,000 martial arts books). It is also the only English language Shorin-ryu manual to include complete demonstrations of ALL 18 kata of this style, all of which are demonstrated by Mr. Nagamine himself (photos, foot position & stepping diagrams, and narrative). They include: Fugyu Kata I & II, Pinan 1 through 5, Naihanchi 1-3, Ananku, Wankan, Rohai, Wanshu, Passai, Gojushiho, Chinto, and Kusanku. Practitioners of styles such as Shotokan and Tang Soo Do will enjoy comparing these older versions of the forms with those they practice today. This is one of the few books on Karate which could benefit a practitioner at either the basic OR advanced levels, due to the amount and depth of information included within. Another attractive feature of this book is the excellent autobiography which Mr. Nagamine includes. He writes about personal aspects of his life, his interest in karate and other martial arts (he was also a skilled judoka), and includes a subsection on each of his teachers describing his experience and what he learned. He describes training with his first teacher, Ankichi Arakaki, and then the famed Chotoku Kyan, and the kempo master Choki Motobu. Nagamine offers his personal thoughts on karate training, including a series of precepts which have guided his own studies. The section on basic techniques (preceeding the lengthy section on kata) shows exactly how each movement is to be performed, and includes detailed photographs from the start of the technique to its finish. There are also sections on Kumite (showing 7 sequences and also brief information on breaking objects and makiwara training) and Kobudo (weapons such as sai, bo, nunchaku, etc.). Concerning Shishin Nagamine, the man was a dedicated karate researcher as well as a skilled practitioner who knew many of the old masters and was friendly with karate men of other styles. Nagamine's specific style is called Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu. He was a policeman by trade, and has written a second book called "Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters", which includes much more about his experiences delving into karate history.
Rating:
Summary: The True Essence
Review: The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do by Shoshin Nagamine is, in my estimation, the best book on Karate-do for the price. It lays out for the reader the philosophy and technique of Matsubayashi-ryu. If you are a beginner this is a good book to learn form. If you are already a practitioner of Karate-do then this book will serve as a good reference, particularly in terms of Kata for 19 are given here. This book begins with a history of Karate-do and the changes made to it with its introduction into Japan. Isshin-ryu practitioners will be interested in the histories of two of O'Sensei Shimabuku's teachers: Chotoku Kyan and Choki Motobu. Of interest to the practitioners of both Shotokan-ryu and Isshin-ryu will be the explanation of Okinawan techniques. For those that go from Shotokan-ryu to Isshin-ryu will find it helpful in the subtlety with which the stances are executed will make obvious the "how and why" in the higher stances in Isshin-ryu. Practitioners from both schools will find the section on Kata of interest in that four of the eight Isshin-ryu Kata are here in a varied form and 13 Shotokan Kata are here also in a varied form. The last chapter of the the book outlines the art of Kobujutsu which will be familiar to those in Isshin-ryu but rather new to Shotokan practitioners. If one is an avid Karate-ka and is looking for a historical and thorough grounding in their art I would strongly recommend this book along with Patrick McCarthy's translation of the Bubishi: the Bible of Karate, ISBN 0-8048-2015-5.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but there are problems.
Review: The first part of the book, including history and basic techniques, is great; however, the reason one buys the book is to learn the katas. It is a great book considering you get all the Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu katas for such a low price, but it is very difficult to follow the pictures that illustrate the movements of any given kata. For instance, Chinto is very difficult to learn from the book, I find. The pictures often do not show the moves when Shoshin Nagamine's back is to the reader. And even though foot-prints are used to show the direction in which one should move, they get a bit difficult to understand at times.
This is perhaps a great book for students of Shorin-Ryu, but only a good book for everyone else.
Rating:
Summary: Very good book on the traditional approach to karate.
Review: This a very good book on karate methods, traditions, and history. Areas that are somewhat lacking are the descriptions of the katas. The pictures are well done, but there could be more information provided on specific moves. As a Godan (fifth level black belt) in the martial art of Karate, I find this book to be a valuable addition to my reference library. -Gary W. Parks, Shiha
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference................
Review: This allows the student the opportunity to touch up and improve training technics at home... after the class, when sometimes he/she might have slipped on a particular move and needs a little reference before the next class... great to be able to do this... When used as a reference to the actual class, it is invaluable. Sometimes the pictures and the foot work have to be studied rather closely... somewhat difficult to view at times. Overall, excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Domo Nagamine Sensei
Review: This is a must read book for karatekas. One of the greatest modern Okinawan masters imparts the technical and the historical aspects of the art. I highly recommend this book to experienced practioners, 2nd dan and above.
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