Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Well I guess I should start off this review by informing the reader that this book is not an "Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible" as the title implies, it is primarily a book demonstrating the necessary katas or forms that one needs to learn to advance through the black belt ranks. Had the title been different, like say for example; Shotokan Karate: Advanced Forms for Black Belt and Beyond, that would have been a much better title and would have been more in-line with the actual content of the book.
There is really little more than a few pages of history and such at the beginning of this book and really could have been eliminated from the book and those pages used to make the kata section even that much better.
I really liked the fact that a lot of effort was used to have each movement in each form demonstrated so clearly with the background material from each photograph carefully removed to showcase the individual demonstrating each movement. This was well done and I give high regards for that. However, there were quite a few things lacking from the layout and format in this section.
There were no footwork or illustrations of overhead patterns used to show the direction of movement between moves and the explanations were very brief and could have used more detail. The author did show the applications of one or two moves in each kata at the end, but it would have been nice to have seen even more, which could have been done if the focus of this book would have been solely on the advanced katas.
This is an okay book and not horrible by any means, but it could have been so much better.
If you want to learn some advanced katas, I would recommend the following books as one of the best sources to do so.
Best Karate, Vol.6: Bassai, Kanku (Best Karate)
Best Karate, Vol.7: Jutte, Hangetsu, Empi (Best Karate)
Best Karate, Vol.8: Gankaku, Jion (Best Karate)
Best Karate, Vol.9: Bassai Sho, Kanku, Sho, Chinte (Best Karate)
Best Karate, Vol.10: Unsu, Sochin, Nijushiho (Best Karate)
Best Karate, Vol.11: Gojushiho Dai, Gojushiho Sho, Meikyo (Best Karate)
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Click Here to see more reviews about: The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible: Black Belt and Beyond
Easy-to-use guide on advanced levels of the world's most popular martial art.
The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible is an authoritative, illustrated training guide and companion book to The Shotokan Karate Bible: Beginner to Black Belt. It concentrates on the black belt level and rankings beyond it, dispelling common misconceptions about earning a black belt.
More than 400 crisp color photographs plus concise text outline the author's advanced syllabus. Organized progressively by black belt degree, the book features:
Kata (sequencing) and kumite (sparring) -- shown step-by-step in double-page spreads
Outlines of the requirements for achieving each new level
Useful progress and technique summary tables
Tips on taking grading examinations, training and development
Etiquette and sparring safety tips.
The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible is a brightly illustrated and clearly written guide that will attract and benefit the millions of students of the sport.
Click here for more information about The Advanced Shotokan Karate Bible: Black Belt and Beyond
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