Notes on Training

Rating:
Summary: Illuminating.
Review: Shihan Ohshima's book "Notes On Training" is destined to become one of the all time classic works on the martial art of Shotokan Karate-do. In my 40 years of practicing and instructing traditional Shotokan Karate-do, aside from the "Master Text" ( "Karate-do Kyohan" ), I don't believe I have ever read a more important and valuable volume on this classical Japanese/Okinawan martial art. I would urge all Shotokan karate-ka ( practitioners ) to read and re-read this book. My one caveat would be that I believe this book will hold more meaning for those karate-ka that have reached the intermediate ( Yonkyu, Sankyu, Nikyu, etc. ) and advanced stages of training as opposed to a rank beginner. Also, allow me to make clear the point that it maters not what branch, organization, or faction of the Shotokan community the karate-ka is associated with, Master Ohsima's book holds much wisdom for all. The sections on Kata and Kihon are superb. The break down of the biomechanics of the various techniques are alone worth the price of the volume. But, there is so very much more. Concepts such as Sen-No-Sen and Go-No-Sen which are usually passed over in other such books are dealt with in detail here. Profound, intelligent, and illuminating are a few of the well chosen words I would use to describe this book. We are all indeed fortunate to have a Master Instructor such as Tsutomu Ohshima willing to generously share so much with us.

George A. Wilkie Chairman American Shotokan Karate Society

Rating:
Summary: Illuminating.
Review: Shihan Ohshima's book "Notes On Training" is destined to become one of the all time classic works on the martial art of Shotokan Karate-do. In my 40 years of practicing and instructing traditional Shotokan Karate-do, aside from the "Master Text" ( "Karate-do Kyohan" ), I don't believe I have ever read a more important and valuable volume on this classical Japanese/Okinawan martial art. I would urge all Shotokan karate-ka ( practitioners ) to read and re-read this book. My one caveat would be that I believe this book will hold more meaning for those karate-ka that have reached the intermediate ( Yonkyu, Sankyu, Nikyu, etc. ) and advanced stages of training as opposed to a rank beginner. Also, allow me to make clear the point that it maters not what branch, organization, or faction of the Shotokan community the karate-ka is associated with, Master Ohsima's book holds much wisdom for all. The sections on Kata and Kihon are superb. The break down of the biomechanics of the various techniques are alone worth the price of the volume. But, there is so very much more. Concepts such as Sen-No-Sen and Go-No-Sen which are usually passed over in other such books are dealt with in detail here. Profound, intelligent, and illuminating are a few of the well chosen words I would use to describe this book. We are all indeed fortunate to have a Master Instructor such as Tsutomu Ohshima willing to generously share so much with us.

George A. Wilkie Chairman American Shotokan Karate Society

Rating:
Summary: Illuminating.
Review: Shihan Ohshima's book "Notes On Training" is destined to become one of the all time classic works on the martial art of Shotokan Karate-do. In my 40 years of practicing and instructing traditional Shotokan Karate-do, aside from the "Master Text" ( "Karate-do Kyohan" ), I don't believe I have ever read a more important and valuable volume on this classical Japanese/Okinawan martial art. I would urge all Shotokan karate-ka ( practitioners ) to read and re-read this book. My one caveat would be that I believe this book will hold more meaning for those karate-ka that have reached the intermediate ( Yonkyu, Sankyu, Nikyu, etc. ) and advanced stages of training as opposed to a rank beginner. Also, allow me to make clear the point that it maters not what branch, organization, or faction of the Shotokan community the karate-ka is associated with, Master Ohsima's book holds much wisdom for all. The sections on Kata and Kihon are superb. The break down of the biomechanics of the various techniques are alone worth the price of the volume. But, there is so very much more. Concepts such as Sen-No-Sen and Go-No-Sen which are usually passed over in other such books are dealt with in detail here. Profound, intelligent, and illuminating are a few of the well chosen words I would use to describe this book. We are all indeed fortunate to have a Master Instructor such as Tsutomu Ohshima willing to generously share so much with us.

George A. Wilkie Chairman American Shotokan Karate Society

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Ohshima shares his invaluable knowledge
Review: The title does not do it justice unless you know Mr. Ohshima, then you'll understand how important it is for a martial artist to have his notes on training. Meanings of katas and techniques are explained and directions on applications are given. If you are training in shotokan and wondering about anything, you open this book and there is a very good chance you'll find it in there.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Ohshima shares his invaluable knowledge
Review: The title does not do it justice unless you know Mr. Ohshima, then you'll understand how important it is for a martial artist to have his notes on training. Meanings of katas and techniques are explained and directions on applications are given. If you are training in shotokan and wondering about anything, you open this book and there is a very good chance you'll find it in there.

Rating:
Summary: Deep and Thoughtful Shotokan Insights
Review: Tsutomu Ohshima has the distinction of being one of the few men still living who studied under Shotokan Karate founder Gichen Funakoshi At Waseda University. This volume is a collection of Ohshima Sensei's insights and advice, originally published in the _Shotokan Karate of America_ newsletter between 1965 and 1995.

This is definately a book for the academic minded who are seeking the "why's" of Karate and like details. Please be aware that there are no photo-instruction sequences in this book, and the reader is assumed to have some familiarity with Japanese terminology (there is a glossary, see page 245). In other words, this book doesn't pretend to teach you karate, it has been published for people who are already familiar with at least the fundamentals of the art.

Ohshima offers pointers, and spices much of his advice with personal recollections from his days with Funakoshi Sensei. The tone of the book is kindly and the instruction has a personal feel to it. At no time did I find Ohshima coming across as arrogant or unduly harsh. He goes out of his way to give us the "why" of each technique, justifying little movements in kata which some of us may have thought useless or obsolete. Ohshima Sensei breaks the volume down into five parts. In the first section, "Kata" (Forms), 17 subchapters discuss the fine points of everything from Taikyoku, the 3 Tekki and 5 Heian, to Bassai, Kwanku, Hangetsu, Jutte, Empi, Gankaku, Jion, and even a favorite form of Gichen Funakoshi's son Gigo Funakoshi, Ten-no-Kata ("Heaven's Form", this chapter is very interesting!). The second section, "Kihon" (Basics), Ohshima details specific stances and techniques as well as how to practice, tactics such as Kime (focus) Sabaki (Evading), Ukemi (Falling), Ashibarai (Sweeping), and so on. A total of 41 subchapters are included in this section.

In section three, "Kumite" (Sparring), Ohshima discusses Ten no Kata Ura (Heaven's Form Application), Sanbon Kumite (Three-technique sparring), Kihon Ippon Kumite (One technique sparring), Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring), Self Defense, Torite (Escaping), Irimi (Getting into the opponent), and other subjects, for a total of 11 subchapters. The fourth section, "Practice" discusses the meaning and reason behind Rei (bowing), Healthy Practice, Special Training, Mental Blocks, Ma (Distance and Timing), Speed and Rythm, Grading (reccomendations, requirements for testing), Fasting, and more for a total of 18 subchapters. The last section, "Karate-do" includes three subchapters, "Why We Practice", "Our Goal for the Twenty-First Century", and the "Afterword".

If you're looking for a pictoral technical guide to kata or technique, or would like to know about the history of Shotokan, this probably isn't the book for you--try Funakoshi's "Karate-Do Kyohan" or any of the books by Randall Hassell. I recommend this volume for serious students of Shotokan karate or Shotokan derivatives and relatives which practice the same techniques and kata, such as Tang Soo Do, Cerio Kenpo, Wado Ryu, etc. Tsutomu Ohshima's "Notes on Training" makes a superb supplement to "Karate-Do Kyohan".

Rating:
Summary: Deep and Thoughtful Shotokan Insights
Review: Tsutomu Ohshima has the distinction of being one of the few men still living who studied under Shotokan Karate founder Gichen Funakoshi At Waseda University. This volume is a collection of Ohshima Sensei's insights and advice, originally published in the _Shotokan Karate of America_ newsletter between 1965 and 1995.

This is definately a book for the academic minded who are seeking the "why's" of Karate and like details. Please be aware that there are no photo-instruction sequences in this book, and the reader is assumed to have some familiarity with Japanese terminology (there is a glossary, see page 245). In other words, this book doesn't pretend to teach you karate, it has been published for people who are already familiar with at least the fundamentals of the art.

Ohshima offers pointers, and spices much of his advice with personal recollections from his days with Funakoshi Sensei. The tone of the book is kindly and the instruction has a personal feel to it. At no time did I find Ohshima coming across as arrogant or unduly harsh. He goes out of his way to give us the "why" of each technique, justifying little movements in kata which some of us may have thought useless or obsolete. Ohshima Sensei breaks the volume down into five parts. In the first section, "Kata" (Forms), 17 subchapters discuss the fine points of everything from Taikyoku, the 3 Tekki and 5 Heian, to Bassai, Kwanku, Hangetsu, Jutte, Empi, Gankaku, Jion, and even a favorite form of Gichen Funakoshi's son Gigo Funakoshi, Ten-no-Kata ("Heaven's Form", this chapter is very interesting!). The second section, "Kihon" (Basics), Ohshima details specific stances and techniques as well as how to practice, tactics such as Kime (focus) Sabaki (Evading), Ukemi (Falling), Ashibarai (Sweeping), and so on. A total of 41 subchapters are included in this section.

In section three, "Kumite" (Sparring), Ohshima discusses Ten no Kata Ura (Heaven's Form Application), Sanbon Kumite (Three-technique sparring), Kihon Ippon Kumite (One technique sparring), Jiyu Kumite (Free Sparring), Self Defense, Torite (Escaping), Irimi (Getting into the opponent), and other subjects, for a total of 11 subchapters. The fourth section, "Practice" discusses the meaning and reason behind Rei (bowing), Healthy Practice, Special Training, Mental Blocks, Ma (Distance and Timing), Speed and Rythm, Grading (reccomendations, requirements for testing), Fasting, and more for a total of 18 subchapters. The last section, "Karate-do" includes three subchapters, "Why We Practice", "Our Goal for the Twenty-First Century", and the "Afterword".

If you're looking for a pictoral technical guide to kata or technique, or would like to know about the history of Shotokan, this probably isn't the book for you--try Funakoshi's "Karate-Do Kyohan" or any of the books by Randall Hassell. I recommend this volume for serious students of Shotokan karate or Shotokan derivatives and relatives which practice the same techniques and kata, such as Tang Soo Do, Cerio Kenpo, Wado Ryu, etc. Tsutomu Ohshima's "Notes on Training" makes a superb supplement to "Karate-Do Kyohan".