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Barry O'Sullivan
Barry O'Sullivan's picture
Reading material recommendations.

Evening all,

As my time has been freed up lately I'm starting to read again on a regular basis. To cut a long story short could any of you be kind enough to point me in the right direction for any good Karate (or any good martial arts books) whether they be instructional or memoirs. I've got a decent sized library already so may of already read what's recommended but I'm sure there's many that I haven't. 

Many thanks and best regards 

Barry O

Elmar
Elmar's picture

Well, I can always be crass and suggest my books :)  To be specific, if you want a primer for kata analysis written 10+ years ago for the audience of classical shotokan practicioners (using the 3 tekki kata), then what I wrote might be of use.  If you want a primer on shotokan kihon, etc., the other book I wrote might be useful as well.  I can post the links if there is interest and if the moderator is not opposed :) - Elmar

Marcus_1
Marcus_1's picture

Anything by Gichin Funakoshi (Karate-Do my way of like, Kyohan etc) - but I guess you may have them already

Waking Dragons

Working with Dragons

Blue Eyed Samurai

Anything by Geoff Thompson

I am currently reading the translation of The Bubishi by Patrick McCarthy which (so far) is excellent reading!

Hope that helps

Wastelander
Wastelander's picture

Well, I'm going to assume that Iain's books are a given, since we're on his forum :P

I always highly recommend Bill Hayes Sensei's book, My Journey with the Grandmaster. It's a memoir about his time training on Okinawa during his military service, and it's an excellent read. You can't get it on Amazon for a reasonable price, but you can order it directly: http://www.ikigaiway.com/2014/new-printing-of-my-journey-with-the-grandm...

Another book I always recommend is Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder Sensei's book, The Way of Kata, which is instructional in nature and a great resource for those looking to explore their kata.

Andreas Quast's Karate 1.0 is the definitive karate history textbook, which is a good reference to have.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Barry O'Sullivan wrote:
… could any of you be kind enough to point me in the right direction for any good Karate (or any good martial arts books) whether they be instructional or memoirs

I did a podcast a few years ago on recommended reading (“10 Books for the Pragmatic Karateka”) which you may find useful:

https://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/bonus-podcast-10-books-pragmatic-karateka

The books discussed in that podcast are:

Karate-Do: My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi

The Way of Kata by Kris Wilder and Lawrence Kane

Streetwise by Peter Consterdine

Dead or Alive by Geoff Thompson

Meditations on Violence by Rory Miller

Karate-Do Kyohan by Gichin Funakoshi (Neptune Publications edition)

Karate-Do Taikan translated by Mario McKenna

Four Shades of Black by Gavin Mulholland

The Bubishi (as translated by both Patrick McCarthy & George Alexander)

Pavement Arena by Geoff Thompson

You will also find loads of recommendations in the “Recommended” section of this forum:

https://iainabernethy.co.uk/forums/recommended-section

You can’t beat a good book, but also remember all the online content there is to read. My articles section will keep you busy. There’s also Noah’s blog (http://www.karateobsession.com/), John Titchen’s blog (https://johntitchen.wordpress.com/), and loads more besides.

Wastelander wrote:
Andreas Quast's Karate 1.0 is the definitive karate history textbook, which is a good reference to have.

You’re the second person this week to recommend that book to me so a copy has been ordered :-)

Elmar wrote:
I can post the links if there is interest and if the moderator is not opposed :) - Elmar

I’m never opposed to good information being shared. Please do post links :-)

All the best,

Iain

Barry O'Sullivan
Barry O'Sullivan's picture

Brilliant! Thanks for the responses gents, that's a vast list for me to have a look at. I already own a few mentioned but there's lots I haven't.

Iain I'm a newbie to your podcasts (only actually started Monday morning listening to them in my van) so working my way through them. Your podcast of de-escalation is one of my personal favourites so far and I think if people just listen to that 30 odd minutes it could be the difference in a potential situation.

Thanks again and feel free to share any links or information that would be of interest.

Barry 

Elmar
Elmar's picture

Iain Abernethy wrote:

Elmar wrote:
I can post the links if there is interest and if the moderator is not opposed :) - Elmar

I’m never opposed to good information being shared. Please do post links :-)

All the best,

Iain

Thanks, Iain, but it is always polite (imho) to ask first :) - here are the links:

Advanced Karate-Do $17.95 (188 left)   http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0911921354   The Tekki Series $16.95 (16 left)   http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0911921362

[edited to add] forgot the one somld by Trafford https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1412013577/102-5704187-8500951#p...

- Elmar

calaveraz
calaveraz's picture
Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Barry O'Sullivan wrote:
Iain I'm a newbie to your podcasts (only actually started Monday morning listening to them in my van) so working my way through them. Your podcast of de-escalation is one of my personal favourites so far and I think if people just listen to that 30 odd minutes it could be the difference in a potential situation.

I’m pleased you liked that one! One of the most important topics I’ve covered.

Thanks for the support of the podcasts and I hope you enjoy working through them.

All the best,

Iain

Marc
Marc's picture

On my website I keep a list of karate relevant books that I liked.

See: http://www.kata-karate.de/index.php/quellen/en

Most are in English, some are in German.

I just finished "ConCom: Conflict Communication" by Rory Miller and Marc MacYoung, which will definitely go on the list. - A very useful book.

At the moment I'm reading "Scaling Force: Dynamic Decision Making Under Threat of Violence" by Rory Miller and Lawrence Kane. Another sure candidate for the list.  

Barry O'Sullivan
Barry O'Sullivan's picture

Thanks Marc

That's an impressive list on your website. 

Iain's "Bunkai Jutsu" is a classic. That's one that gets dipped into often. The same with "Dynamic Karate" by Master Naykayama.

All the best 

Kevin73
Kevin73's picture

I will second "Blue Eyed Samurai" (got it for my kindle).  Very good read about being in the Uchi-Deshi program under Oyama in Japan.

The Way of Knockdown by Chamberlin, also on kindle.  Good bio about karate in the 60's in england

My Journey in Karate by Ninmiya, autobiography on the founder of Enshin karate

George Mattson has a 4 volume kindle book series on Uechi-Ryu and his time training there and brining karate/uechi-ryu to the US after his time in the military.  Good over view of Okinawan training etc.

I enjoy the biography type books more so than the "how to" type books.

Lenny718
Lenny718's picture

Quick question.  What is the difference between the Neptunes Publication Edition of Karate-Do: Kyohan and the Kodansha International version?

Tau
Tau's picture

Well now since this thread has been revived I'd be a fool to not point you in the direction of my own book which has been available for a year now:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1095571184/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1 

Ninja Nurse - the Essential Guide to Injury Management in Martial Arts.

Other forum members have also published books in the last couple of years so the potential buyer should consider their works too. Les Bubka and David Hogsette spring to mind.

sarflondonboydo...
sarflondonboydonewell's picture

Hi re books,

Karate Beginer to Black by H.D Plee  published in 1967 interesting book, writen by the man that founded the first full time dojo in France in 1956. Who he trained with and was graded by is a whos whos of former masters.

Budo masters by Micheal Clarke - PH Crompton publishers ( 2000) an excellent mix.

Two falls, two submissions or a knockout by Judo Al Marquette - 60s and70s wrestling story with Judokas; made  famous by the Itv world of sport!

The dragon's mask by the late Trevor Leggitt - Judo short storys in the Zen tradition.

working with warriors by Dennis Martin- Dennis martin's experinces working with Terry Oneill and the late Gary Spires on the doors in Liverpool. Plus semi autobigrophical great read.

Street Survival by Fumio Demura and Dan Ivan a late 70s take on self defence.

Higher Judo by M. Feldenkrias . bascially an excellent introducing into Judo groundwork but old style so includes leglocks etc. lined drawings as is a reprint of the 1952 orginial.

Blink- Malcom Gladwell- thinking without thinking!!

Bob Davis
Bob Davis's picture

Hi Barry,

If you missed it you could do worse than Andi Kidd's "From Shotokan to the Street", I believe it on special at present.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/andi-kidd/from-shotokan-to-the-street/paperback/product-22214787.html

or "The Problem of Pratical Karate" edited and complied by Andi Kidd

https://www.lulu.com/shop/andi-kidd/the-problem-of-practical-karate/paperback/product-23724207.html

All the best

Bob  D.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Lenny718 wrote:
What is the difference between the Neptunes Publication Edition of Karate-Do: Kyohan and the Kodansha International version?

I would get both if you can because they are both useful, but for differing purposes. The Neptune version contains all the original photos of Funakoshi doing all the methods. It also contains a few chapters that are missing from the Kodansha section (i.e. Women’s self-defence section). The Kodansha version is the one translated into English by Tsutomu Ohshima, and it is he who performs the kata etc. They have changed quite a bit from Funakoshi’s book. Comparing and contrasting the two is very interesting.

All the best,

Iain

Kiwikarateka
Kiwikarateka's picture

Another new book from Mario Mckenna, Nakasone Genwa’s ‘The Story of Karate’ recently became available, it's only a few dollars on Amazon which is steal for the length and quality of translation.

I found it to be quite an interesting read which sheds further light on the state of Karate in the 1930s.

https://www.mariomckenna.com/nakasone-genwas-the-story-of-karate/