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(More customer reviews)When the author says that the "Japanese" meaning for Shodan is 1st degree, I should have know that this person doesn't know much about Japanese arts. 1st degree in Japanese is ikidan. Shodan means beginner grade, nidan means second grade and so on. Kyu means before graded, in this context, and that is why they count down. e.g. yonkyu is 4 tests before they are graded.
The reader would be better served by reading the idiots guide to martial arts or the idiots guide to karate along with Peter Urban's 'Karate dojo', or Jigoro Kano's 'Mind over Muscle'.
Many of the other Japanese words that he uses are wrong. When writing a book I would think that he would have done some research in this especially if he puts it in the index. He puts the Japanese word for 4 as Chi, which is quite different from what the Japanese use for the number 4. They use Shi or Yon. Also 8 is not sichi, it is shichi or Nana. Although it may sound like sichi when slured.
This book would have been better if the author knew what the title of his own book meant and he had done some research in to the information that he put in his index. the premise of the book is a good one, but he needs a lot more experience before writing a book about a journey that he is still tying to understand himself.
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The Road To Shodan: A Guide To Reaching First Degree Black BeltThis book covers the quest for black belt like no other book before. It is not about individual techniques or styles. Instead, it's about the common experiences that occur across all major styles of martial arts on the road to black belt. It is a concise manual of best practices that will help you to: - Understand your motives and goals for training - Progress faster and with deeper understanding - Identify your dominant method of learning - Develop physical discipline and mental strength - Be aware of important developmental milestones - Gain a deeper understanding of martial arts as a whole - Apply martial arts training to daily life - See past the allure of trophies and awards - Discover the ultimate goal of martial arts. The primary audience for this book is anyone interested in practicing a martial art who has not yet reached the rank of black belt. It can also be a valuable guide for advanced martial artists who are instructing others on their "Road to Shodan".
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