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Rating: 
Summary: Living Legend Bearing Gifts
Review:
Nakamura is a living legend. He brought Mas Oyama's Kyokushinkai from Japan to the United States,and later formed his own style, Seido, which is now nearly 25 years old. This book is virtually a textbook for Seido students, and since Seido is a traditional style, it would be of use to students of any Japanese style. The book includes all "natural" weapons (body parts), stances, striking and blocking techniques, with detailed photographs and diagrams, and also includes discussions on the history of martial arts, its relevance to modern life, proper breathing and stretching, the meanings of the names of various traditional kata and why kata is important to a karete-ka's training regimen, karate's relation to Zen, and several of Nakamura's own meditation lectures he gives to his own students on a weekly basis. Anyone can write a book about karate technique, but Nakamura not only has expert knowledge of the techniques shown in this book, he is among a handful of true exponents of the spirit of Karate-Do: The ---Way--- of Karate, and he has made it his life's work to instill that spirit in his students. Seido has dojos all over the world.
Rating:
Summary: Living Legend Bearing Gifts
Review:
Nakamura is a living legend. He brought Mas Oyama's Kyokushinkai from Japan to the United States,and later formed his own style, Seido, which is now nearly 25 years old. This book is virtually a textbook for Seido students, and since Seido is a traditional style, it would be of use to students of any Japanese style. The book includes all "natural" weapons (body parts), stances, striking and blocking techniques, with detailed photographs and diagrams, and also includes discussions on the history of martial arts, its relevance to modern life, proper breathing and stretching, the meanings of the names of various traditional kata and why kata is important to a karete-ka's training regimen, karate's relation to Zen, and several of Nakamura's own meditation lectures he gives to his own students on a weekly basis. Anyone can write a book about karate technique, but Nakamura not only has expert knowledge of the techniques shown in this book, he is among a handful of true exponents of the spirit of Karate-Do: The ---Way--- of Karate, and he has made it his life's work to instill that spirit in his students. Seido has dojos all over the world.
Rating:
Summary: The Golden Hand - River Rock
Review: I found Nakamura's devotion to karate admirable. I liked his work ethic. The ideas of love (discovering why men suffer), obedience, and zen were made in a very clean presentation. The most impressive feat in the book was the portion where Nakamura demonstration his power by breaking river rocks. This is no cheap trick. The breaking represented, the complete symbolism of: giving a 100 percent, seeking mental clarity, releasing extreme power through joining as one with the material. The verbal discussion of zen being manifest as action. One can reason, breaking the rock is simply the principle of the fulcrum and leverage being applied to a material through a mechanical forces. However, one must experience the physical and mental pain associated with failure to perform such a feat to understand the simplicity and perfection illustrated by Nakamura. My teacher talked about breaking river rocks in the mountain. He told me it was a matter of timing and speed. Apparently, the his first attempts at breaking the rocks were unsuccessful and he wanted to quit. After receiving encouragement and demonstrations that it was possible, he proceeded to break many rocks. Also, my first attempt to breaking a 6 inch piece of ice using a full circle chop failed. I thought about power only and failed. I turned inward focusing internally and broke the ice with a one inch slap. People want to know what was the difference in technique. Zen was the difference, and it produced the power needed to break the ice. The difference in breaking quality was noticeable. Nakamura inspired me to encourage my students to give a 100 percent at every practice. He demonstrated katas as a means to strengthen the mind of the body. I hope for significant improvements in concentration and desire. Nakamura karate is very good, no wonder he became a karate legend.
The photos in the book create a strong connection to natural beauty of the sunsets, waterfalls, rock textures, and the whiteness of snow. His tradition links philosophy and spirituality links back to feudal Japan.
Rating:
Summary: The Golden Hand - River Rock
Review: I found Nakamura's devotion to karate admirable. I liked his work ethic. The ideas of love (discovering why men suffer), obedience, and zen were made in a very clean presentation. The most impressive feat in the book was the portion where Nakamura demonstration his power by breaking river rocks. This is no cheap trick. The breaking represented, the complete symbolism of: giving a 100 percent, seeking mental clarity, releasing extreme power through joining as one with the material. The verbal discussion of zen being manifest as action. One can reason, breaking the rock is simply the principle of the fulcrum and leverage being applied to a material through a mechanical forces. However, one must experience the physical and mental pain associated with failure to perform such a feat to understand the simplicity and perfection illustrated by Nakamura. My teacher talked about breaking river rocks in the mountain. He told me it was a matter of timing and speed. Apparently, the his first attempts at breaking the rocks were unsuccessful and he wanted to quit. After receiving encouragement and demonstrations that it was possible, he proceeded to break many rocks. Also, my first attempt to breaking a 6 inch piece of ice using a full circle chop failed. I thought about power only and failed. I turned inward focusing internally and broke the ice with a one inch slap. People want to know what was the difference in technique. Zen was the difference, and it produced the power needed to break the ice. The difference in breaking quality was noticeable. Nakamura inspired me to encourage my students to give a 100 percent at every practice. He demonstrated katas as a means to strengthen the mind of the body. I hope for significant improvements in concentration and desire. Nakamura karate is very good, no wonder he became a karate legend.
The photos in the book create a strong connection to natural beauty of the sunsets, waterfalls, rock textures, and the whiteness of snow. His tradition links philosophy and spirituality links back to feudal Japan.
Rating:
Summary: A Gem
Review: This book, may at first glance, seem a bit "pricey", however, it is a great primer book, printed on high quality paper. The techniques are standard karate type fare: Blocks, punches, and kicks. What makes this book such a collectable is that the author and publisher, write a beautiful introduction as to what the spirit of karate is really all about. They arrange the photos, bioagraphies of students, demonstrations, and martial arts tenets in a masterful way. This book will probably not add much to the black belts (assuming he is well studied) knowledge of the subject of karate, but, it will add much to his vision on a masterful way to write and publish a karate primer book. He or she will further just enjoy the book for what it is: a great work of art. To the beginning or intermediate student, this book will engage his or her imagination. The section on ethical and moral values of karate is short, sweet, and to the point. The last chapter on "Karate Meditation Lectures" is outstanding and not pretentious. If you are a karateka - purchase this book for the beauty of it.
Rating:
Summary: A Gem
Review: This book, may at first glance, seem a bit "pricey", however, it is a great primer book, printed on high quality paper. The techniques are standard karate type fare: Blocks, punches, and kicks. What makes this book such a collectable is that the author and publisher, write a beautiful introduction as to what the spirit of karate is really all about. They arrange the photos, bioagraphies of students, demonstrations, and martial arts tenets in a masterful way. This book will probably not add much to the black belts (assuming he is well studied) knowledge of the subject of karate, but, it will add much to his vision on a masterful way to write and publish a karate primer book. He or she will further just enjoy the book for what it is: a great work of art. To the beginning or intermediate student, this book will engage his or her imagination. The section on ethical and moral values of karate is short, sweet, and to the point. The last chapter on "Karate Meditation Lectures" is outstanding and not pretentious. If you are a karateka - purchase this book for the beauty of it.
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