Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate

Rating:
Summary: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO KARATE
Review: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate" is an extremely comprehensive, easy-to-read book that is valuable for both beginning and advanced students of karate alike. While the portions on the actual physical aspect of karate are highly commendable, complete with photographs of all of the basic stances and techniques involved in the art; the book really shines in that it also discusses the psychological elements of self-defense, and how to avoid violent conflict in the first place. While overflowing with information, the book is written with a style that is both humorous and easy-to-follow, so that the beginning karate student will not be lost in a mass of technical jargon and the advanced student will not be bored to death. In short, this is an excellent book on karate, and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO KARATE
Review: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate" is an extremely comprehensive, easy-to-read book that is valuable for both beginning and advanced students of karate alike. While the portions on the actual physical aspect of karate are highly commendable, complete with photographs of all of the basic stances and techniques involved in the art; the book really shines in that it also discusses the psychological elements of self-defense, and how to avoid violent conflict in the first place. While overflowing with information, the book is written with a style that is both humorous and easy-to-follow, so that the beginning karate student will not be lost in a mass of technical jargon and the advanced student will not be bored to death. In short, this is an excellent book on karate, and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO KARATE
Review: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate" is an extremely comprehensive, easy-to-read book that is valuable for both beginning and advanced students of karate alike. While the portions on the actual physical aspect of karate are highly commendable, complete with photographs of all of the basic stances and techniques involved in the art; the book really shines in that it also discusses the psychological elements of self-defense, and how to avoid violent conflict in the first place. While overflowing with information, the book is written with a style that is both humorous and easy-to-follow, so that the beginning karate student will not be lost in a mass of technical jargon and the advanced student will not be bored to death. In short, this is an excellent book on karate, and I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: A good book for traditional stylists!
Review: I find this book very well written and a must read for students or parents preparing to enter a strict traditional karate school. This book is informative and educational, but also filled with the wit and humor of the authors to keep much of the reading on the lighter side.
The sidebars "Karate Minutes", "Sense Says" and "Talk the Talk", also "Ouch" push home points and various karate meanings that are important.
The downside of this book relates directly to those masters of non-traditional, or mixed martial arts, is that they are given no credit for advancing the new age styles, techniques and katas. What makes the masters of old more qualified to put together an art form than the more rounded, traveled and educated masters of today?
I really enjoyed reading this book and even though I have been involved in the martial arts since 1967, I still learned a few new things and my memory was jogged on information that I had long forgotten.
I give this book an eight rating on a scale of 1 to 10.
Soke
Professor David L. Grosscup
10th Dan
M.P.K.A.
www.MPKA.net

Rating:
Summary: A good book for traditional stylists!
Review: I find this book very well written and a must read for students or parents preparing to enter a strict traditional karate school. This book is informative and educational, but also filled with the wit and humor of the authors to keep much of the reading on the lighter side.
The sidebars "Karate Minutes", "Sense Says" and "Talk the Talk", also "Ouch" push home points and various karate meanings that are important.
The downside of this book relates directly to those masters of non-traditional, or mixed martial arts, is that they are given no credit for advancing the new age styles, techniques and katas. What makes the masters of old more qualified to put together an art form than the more rounded, traveled and educated masters of today?
I really enjoyed reading this book and even though I have been involved in the martial arts since 1967, I still learned a few new things and my memory was jogged on information that I had long forgotten.
I give this book an eight rating on a scale of 1 to 10.
Soke
Professor David L. Grosscup
10th Dan
M.P.K.A.
www.MPKA.net

Rating:
Summary: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate
Review: I have been practicing karate for 28 years and I have read many books on karate and other martial arts. This book by Mr Otis and Mr Hassel is excellent. It is wonderful guide for the novice, the experienced practitioner,and teacher to the art of karate.It is a comprehensive guide from choosing a style of martial art to learn, a school to learn it in, as well as a guide to the more advanced aspects of the art: ettequette, competition, teaching, self defense and self improvement.

Rating:
Summary: Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate
Review: I'm a parent of a new Karate student and knew nothing. This book took me through step by step everything. It started with the history and went through what to expect in tournaments. I could not be more happy with what it tought me. I would recomend this book for anyone not wanting to get real deep.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT ALL-AROUND KARATE PRIMER!
Review: If you've ever been interested in learning about what karate is, why it is, what to do with it, or how it works, THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK YOU SHOULD PICK UP! Written by renowned karate historian Randall G. Hassell and Edmond Otis (a leading technical karate expert), this book is a very easy and FUN read that you'll refer back to for years to come. The authors have over 65 years of karate experience between them and it shows. No stone is left unturned, no punches are pulled (no pun intended!) and they don't talk down to you - every sentence compels you to read the next, and the next, and so on. Excellent photography and graphics help you visualize everything, from techniques to tying your belt, it's everything you need to get started in your karate training!

Rating:
Summary: Good-to an extent
Review: My rating is for if you are practicing Shotokan. If you do another style, like Wado Ryu, than it is not as usefull. I'd say it's worth buying if you are in the intermediate and begining stages of Wado Ryu. But if you half no money living in a impovershid country and you only have enough money and food to buy and read one book before you starve to death in your life, then it might be better to get a more style-specific one

Rating:
Summary: The Complete Idiot'sGuide to Karate
Review: Randy Hassell is the best karate writer in America today. Ed Otis is the foremost Shotokan instructor of his generation. Together they have written the most comprehensive, most readable, most USEFUL karate manual ever.