Rating: 
Summary: A New Look at Isshinryu
Review: The author takes a different route in this book in that he explores Isshninryu not so much from the standard party line of it being the greatest martial art the world has ever known. Instead he sets down before the reader a great overview of the system and its early pioneers, most of whom were Americans, and tells how and why this Karate System evolved without trying to debase any other systems of karate. He does however take a different viewpoint towards the effectivness of modern day sport based systems and is quite quick to point of the differences between Japanese Styles and Okinawan Styles of Karate. There are very few pictures in this book except for the sketches done of famous Isshinryu practitioners however he does a wonderfull job of exploring the body mechanics of the system, its hard and soft elements as well as its internal and external elements all explained in a rather matter of fact viewpoint. Nowhere does he delve into quasi-mystical elements as is so often done in many martial arts books attributing this or that to chi, ki or anyother unseen element. Intead he presents facts to the reader and lets you determine what is real and what isn't. Also he takes the same approach in his presentation fo the system itself. He is however, and rightly so, pretty harsh on modern day ranking it's abuse and the good ole boy politics found within many styles of karate, Isshinryu included. Over all its a good book, not to deep, just to the point and factual.
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