Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: While this book makes some interesting points it comes across more as an anti-tradition propaganda piece than a useful treatise on martial arts. While the author is an experienced, highly knowledgeable practitioner, his understanding of the traditional martial arts that he rails against is incomplete and oftentimes inaccurate. Don't get me wrong; I certainly do not believe that the author is an idiot. I believe that he is the victim of bad teaching, an all too common occurrence in martial arts.
For example, he states that, "today's full-contact fighters throw devastating, lightning fast punches from a distance of less than two feet. Against this kind of speed, classical blocks and punches simply do not stand a chance. What amazes me is how a flaw of this magnitude - and one that is taught to thousands of unknowing students every day - still exists in what are, otherwise, extremely potent arts..." This is just flat wrong.
Contrary to Mr. Orlando's understanding, in classical blocks the hand that is out (e.g. just punched or blocked) performs the actual block, check, or deflection, while the hand that is in chamber executes a technique designed to control the opponent's limb. Even though it is often hidden, almost all blocks in traditional karate styles utilize this check/control methodology. In all cases, there is never ever any "wind-up" preceding anything. In most traditional schools all but the most junior students understand that simple fact.
To delve deeper, the word "uke" translates more accurately to "receive" than it does to "block." When viewed in this context, it may be easier to understand that practitioners typically check, deflect, or control an attack rather than meeting it force-on-force. Using the traditional check/control methodology, a practitioner's outstretched hand need only deflect an attack by a few inches to spoil its effect when contact is made close to an opponent's body. In this fashion karateka can easily avoid being hit by even the most "devastating" of punches no matter how fast, or how powerfully, or even how unexpectedly they are thrown.
Common misconceptions such as this one are the reason that I believe it is imperative to supplement the traditional modeling approach to instruction with interactive discussions and other teaching styles. Regardless, I hate to see this sort of stuff perpetuated...
Now that I've ripped him down, I will point out that there are some redeeming concepts in this book. For example, the author also promotes practicing martial arts in the same sort of attire one might be wearing in real life. If you have spent your whole life barefoot in a dojo, training with loose fitting clothes, you may well be in for a shock the first time you have to fight in tight-fitting jeans wearing boots. This is a very valid point. I wholeheartedly agree that practitioners should devote some of their training to more realistic conditions though that often must occur at their home rather than in a tradition karate school.
All in all, however, there is not enough meat in this book for me to feel like I got my money's worth from purchasing it. It was disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: While this book makes some interesting points it comes across more as an anti-tradition propaganda piece than a useful treatise on martial arts. My problem with that approach is that while boxing, wrestling, and other sports are currently associated with name-calling, ear biting, tattooed freaks, Asian martial arts have managed to maintain much of their dignity, ostensibly through an adherence to the traditions of such art forms.This is compounded by the fact that several sections are grossly inaccurate. For example, the author states that, "today's full-contact fighters throw devastating, lightning fast punches from a distance of less than two feet. Against this kind of speed, classical blocks and punches simply do not stand a chance. What amazes me is how a flaw of this magnitude - and one that is taught to thousands of unknowing students every day - still exists in what are, otherwise, extremely potent arts..." Sorry to be blunt, but this kind of nonsense just pisses me off. Contrary to Mr. Orlando's understanding, in classical blocks the hand that is out (e.g. just punched or blocked) performs the actual block, check, or deflection, while the hand that is in chamber executes a technique designed to control the opponent's limb. Even though it is often hidden, almost all blocks in traditional karate styles utilize this check/control methodology. In all cases, there is never ever any "wind-up" preceding anything. To delve deeper, the word Uke translates more accurately to "receive" than it does to "block." When viewed in this context, it may be easier to understand that practitioners typically check, deflect, or control an attack rather than meeting it force-on-force. Using the traditional check/control methodology, a practitioner's outstretched hand need only deflect an attack by a few inches to spoil its effect when contact is made close to an opponent's body. In this fashion Karateka can easily avoid being hit by even the most "devastating" of punches no matter how fast, or how powerfully, or even how unexpectedly they are thrown. Don't get me wrong; I certainly do not believe that the author is an idiot. I believe that he is the victim of bad teaching. Common misconceptions such as this one are the reason that I believe it is imperative to supplement the traditional modeling approach to martial arts instruction with interactive discussions and other teaching styles. I hate to see this sort of stuff perpetuated. Now that I've ripped him down, I will point out that there are some redeeming concepts in this book. For example, the author also promotes practicing martial arts in the same sort of attire one might be wearing in real life. If you have spent your whole life barefoot in a Dojo, training with loose fitting clothes, you may well be in for a shock the first time you have to fight in tight-fitting jeans wearing boots. This is a valid point. I agree that practitioners should devote some of their training to more realistic conditions though that often must occur at their home rather than in a tradition karate school. All in all, however, there is not enough meat in this book to spend your hard earned dollars purchasing it.
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