Karate the Japanese Way

Rating:
Summary: Review: ¿Karate the Japanese Way¿ by Mark Groenewold
Review: "Karate the Japanese Way" written by Mark Groenewold is truly a wonderful book. Groenewold Sensei has torn asunder concepts of what Western Karate practitioners conceive how Karate is done in Japan. Mark has given us, best described in his own words, an "unadulterated perspective of what karate is like in Japan, how the Japanese train, and what are the key elements of karate from a Japanese perspective." Not many of us "Dans" have ever trained in Japan, so Groenewold Sensei takes through a tour of Karate in Japan chapter by chapter. Answering many questions we might have about types of dojos, etiquette, types of instructors and so many other topics. By interweaving his own experiences through out the book makes the reading not only fun but very interesting. To be honest with you all, I am so glad my Shodan testing was nothing like Groenewold Sensei's. Please, do not misconstrue my previous statement. My exam was very demanding and grueling but it was not insane. What am I talking about.... well, buy this book and find out!
I recommend this book to one and all. No matter what your rank is, one will learn from it

Rating:
Summary: Great intro to how karate is REALLY done in Japan
Review: A great mix of technical and practical information, written in plain english, about doing in traditional Shotokan karate in Japan. This book gives the beginner a good introduction to the art and also can help someone with more experience better assess how close what they are currently doing is to authentic Shotokan as done in Japan.

Rating:
Summary: Great intro to how karate is REALLY done in Japan
Review: A great mix of technical and practical information, written in plain english, about doing in traditional Shotokan karate in Japan. This book gives the beginner a good introduction to the art and also can help someone with more experience better assess how close what they are currently doing is to authentic Shotokan as done in Japan.

Rating:
Summary: A "must have" for every karate student
Review: Mark Groenewold's new book Karate the Japanese Way is definitely a "must have" for every karate student. Mark's conversational writing style makes this book very easy to read and enjoy. In contrast to so many other karate texts, Karate the Japanese Way gives the reader a sense of chatting with a friend, rather than being preached at by a self-proclaimed karate master. The book is very well illustrated and covers the entirety of Mark's training in Japan, from the day he met his teacher, Taniguchi-sensei, through warm-ups and stretching to what he calls the triad of karate... kihon, kata and kumite.

This book does not go into too many details with regards to the execution of karate techniques, nor does it profess to. This is not a "how to" manual of karate. Instead it shows those of us in the Western world how karate is really taught and learned in Japan.

I am not a "dan" level student in karate, nor do I even train in the same style of karate (Shotokan), as Groenewold-sensi, but I still think this book should be on the bookshelf of every karate student, regardless of rank or style.

Rating:
Summary: A "must have" for every karate student
Review: Mark Groenewold's new book Karate the Japanese Way is definitely a "must have" for every karate student. Mark's conversational writing style makes this book very easy to read and enjoy. In contrast to so many other karate texts, Karate the Japanese Way gives the reader a sense of chatting with a friend, rather than being preached at by a self-proclaimed karate master. The book is very well illustrated and covers the entirety of Mark's training in Japan, from the day he met his teacher, Taniguchi-sensei, through warm-ups and stretching to what he calls the triad of karate... kihon, kata and kumite.

This book does not go into too many details with regards to the execution of karate techniques, nor does it profess to. This is not a "how to" manual of karate. Instead it shows those of us in the Western world how karate is really taught and learned in Japan.

I am not a "dan" level student in karate, nor do I even train in the same style of karate (Shotokan), as Groenewold-sensi, but I still think this book should be on the bookshelf of every karate student, regardless of rank or style.