Karate's History & Traditions PDF Download

Author: Jonathan Clements
Publisher: Robinson
ISBN: 1472136470
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
'If I had to pick a single general martial arts history book in English, I would recommend A Brief History of the Martial Arts by Dr Jonathan Clements' RICHARD BEITLICH, Martial History Team blog From Shaolin warrior monks to the movies of Bruce Lee, a new history of the evolution of East Asian styles of unarmed combat, from Kung Fu to Ninjutsu Folk tales of the Shaolin Temple depict warrior monks with superhuman abilities. Today, dozens of East Asian fighting styles trace their roots back to the Buddhist brawlers of Shaolin, although any quest for the true story soon wanders into a labyrinth of forgeries, secret texts and modern retellings. This new study approaches the martial arts from their origins in military exercises and callisthenics. It examines a rich folklore from old wuxia tales of crime-fighting heroes to modern kung fu movies. Centre stage is given to the stories that martial artists tell themselves about themselves, with accounts (both factual and fictional) of famous practitioners including China's Yim Wing-chun, Wong Fei-hong, and Ip Man, as well as Japanese counterparts such as Kano Jigoro, Itosu Anko and So Doshin. The history of martial arts encompasses secret societies and religious rebels, with intimate glimpses of the histories of China, Korea and Japan, their conflicts and transformations. The book also charts the migration of martial arts to the United States and beyond. Special attention is paid to the turmoil of the twentieth century, the cross-cultural influence of Japanese colonies in Asia, and the post-war rise of martial arts in sport and entertainment - including the legacy of Bruce Lee, the dilemma of the ninja and the global audience for martial arts in fiction.

Author: Mark I. Cramer
Publisher: Blue Snake Books
ISBN: 1623172403
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
A concise yet comprehensive history of traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate, with biographies of the great karate masters This concise-yet-comprehensive history of traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate includes authoritative biographies of the great karate masters of the past and the philosophical issues they faced as karate changed and evolved. Bringing a fresh understanding to the study of the martial arts, Mark I. Cramer dispels many of the often-repeated martial-arts myths as he details the lineages of the modern styles of karate and describes the social, cultural, and political events that influenced them. While most books focus on a single style of karate or the biography of just one of the great teachers, this book offers a well-researched and detailed overview. By bringing all of this knowledge together in one volume, Cramer—an award-winning inductee into the USA Karate Federation’s Hall of Fame—fills a crucial gap.

Author: Andrew O'Brien
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
ISBN: 1609117174
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description
"The Little Bubishi tells the story of karate and the amazing tales of its legendary masters in an enjoyable way that is intended for children. But the story is enjoyable for readers of all ages. The legends of Karate-Do are brought to life in its beautifully descriptive stories that tell of the heroics and steely determination that embody karate history. The peaceful philosophies behind this multi-layered martial art are too often overlooked, while its graphic fighting forms more often take center stage. Karate is explained simply, so children may gain a greater understanding of the true meaning and nature of Karate-Do"--Page 4 of cover.

Author: Hidetaka Nishiyama
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 146292073X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
"The first complete and most authoritative book on the technique of unarmed self-defense…A fully illustrated manual giving step-by-step explanations of all the fundamentals of karate. --Robert Klaverkamp, UPI"

Author: Michael Cowie
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781326796211
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
This short history of karate makes no claim to comprehensiveness. Its only purpose is to give the practitioner a broad idea of the origins of his or her art. The final chapter is intended to stimulate thought and reflection on what modern karate is, can be and should be.

Author: GICHIN. FUNAKOSHI
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781715628048
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 148

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Book Description
Linking the time when karate was a strictly Okinawan art of self-defense shrouded in the deepest secrecy and the present day, when it has become a martial art practiced throughout the world, is Gichin Funakoshi, the "Father of Karate-do." Out of modesty, he was reluctant to write this autobiography and did not do so until he was nearly ninety years of age. Trained in the Confucian classics, he was a schoolteacher early in life, but after decades of study under the foremost masters, he gave up his livelihood to devote the rest of his life to the propagation of the Way of Karate. Under his guidance, techniques and nomenclature were refined and modernized, the spiritual essence was brought to the fore, and karate evolved into a true martial art. Various forms of empty-hand techniques have been practiced in Okinawa for centuries, but due to the lack of historical records, fancy often masquerades as fact. In telling of his own famous teachers--and not only of their mastery of technique but of the way they acted in critical situations--the author reveals what true karate is. The stories he tells about himself are no less instructive: his determination to continue the art, after having started it to improve his health; his perseverance in the face of difficulties, even of poverty; his strict observance of the way of life of the samurai; and the spirit of self-reliance that he carried into an old age kept healthy by his practice of Karate-do.

Author: Bruce Haines
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462901395
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
A classic text treasured by martial artists for over twenty years, Karate's History & Traditions was long recognized as the most authoritative source on martial arts history and technique. Now Bruce Haines, historian and martial artist, has updated this rich source to reflect changes that have taken place in the last two decades. This detailed but well–rounded martial arts guide covers the history of the Asian fighting arts from antiquity to modern times, answering many of the questions currently being debated by martial artists around the world. Each chapter describes the fighting arts of masters in many areas, including: Okinawa Japan China India Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Cambodia Vietnam Korea The Philippines Undertaking years of arduous research using the most reliable historical data, Haines has filled in many of the gaps in the histories of the fighting arts and has proven false many popular myths.

Author: Antonio (Tone) Resende
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1483684407
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
For several years, I have wanted to write the history of karate in Southeastern Massachusetts. However, there always seemed to be other priorities that distracted my focus. In 2009 I retired from my position as a police detective, and having been retired from the armed forces, I now had no legitimate reason not to devote as much time as possible to such a good karate idea well, except for a brief period of hospitalization due to a serious surgery that kept me hospitalized for twenty-seven days and then at home for three weeks under nurses' care with months of recovery. Karate history, in general, is, in some cases, somewhat obscured, including in the United States. I am willing to bet that not many people have thought of or proceeded to put in writing any historical account of karate in specific communities of the United States other than the Armed Services Judo and Jujitsu Academy in Pensacola, Florida, and the paper Helium by Can Tran. There are a number of historical writings as to how karate was introduced to the United States; however, I have not come across any historical account that takes us from Japan to the United States and to a particular community. There are also a number of historical accounts, but only pertaining to individual organizations or instructors. For this reason, I decided that this may spark the interest of other practitioners of martial arts to write factual accounts to the best of their abilities so that other young martial artists may draw some knowledge from these written facts or events. Even if this does not occur, at least the Shotokan practitioners can have some guidance as to the historical facts, at least in a certain US community. The reason I emphasize the Shotokan practitioners is because I have a greater involvement with the Shotokan system of karate. Perhaps this can be used as the basis of historical research or studies, especially among the college clubs and even dojos. I hope to keep your interest from beginning to end as I will cover a short history of karate in general and Shotokan karate to the history of karate in Southeastern Massachusetts. This will also be useful in recognizing specific individuals, masters, and instructors that deserve the credit and acknowledgment since karate remains a sport with less recognition compared to other sports. As Gichin Funakoshi often reminded his students, "The spirit of karate-do is lost without courtesy." Therefore, this written account expresses the acknowledgment of those who brought karate to us, beginning at the grass roots of the communities, for this is how it manifested to national participation. This is one courtesy we often forget; it is like not knowing, or forgetting, where we come from. So often I have come across karate practitioners that are black belts and instructing karate classes and they do not know much, if anything, about how and where karate began and how it spread to all parts of the world. Sure, if you should ask any person with some karate interest as to where karate originated and how it spread, they almost always give the basic knowledge that it started from Dharma in India to China to Okinawa but not a whole lot more than that. In Japan, karate is a culture, not just instructions on how to kick and punch. As to this, I quote Funakoshi's writing: "The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant." Through this, there are a number of dojo kun to be followed, and the five most important are the following: seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor to excel, respect others, and refrain from violent behavior. These are usually found posted on a wall in the dojo. Additional dojo kun will be listed at the end of the book in both Japanese and English.

Author: Chris Thompson
Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
ISBN: 1607654776
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
Since the 1950s, karate has exploded in popularity the world over. Initially developed for self-defence, karate is now practised for many other reasons - fitness, discipline and general wellbeing amongst them. This book is for people who have mastered the basics, but want to develop and improve their skills and techniques so that they can progress to a higher level. There is a generally accepted progression of learning - stance, balance, co-ordination, form, speed, power and reflex. This book looks at these aspects and shows the practitioner how to hone their skills and make their training and sparring more effective. There is also a section on competition karate.

Author: Jane Hamilton
Publisher: Anchor
ISBN: 0307764079
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
Walter McCloud is a boy with dreams unlike most. Introduced as a child to the genius of Balanchine and the lyricism of Tchaikovsky, Walter has always aspired to be a dancer. As he grows older, it becomes clear that despite his desire, he lacks the talent, and he faces the painful knowledge that his more gifted friends have already surpassed him. Soon, however, that pain is overshadowed when his older brother, Daniel, finds a strange lump on his neck and Walter realizes that a happy family can change overnight. The year that follows transforms the McClouds, as they try to hold together in the face of the fearful consequences of Daniel's illness, and Walter makes discoveries about himself and his friendships that will change him forever. Decades later, after Walter has left home and returned, he must come to terms with the memories of that year, and grapple once and for all with the challenge of carving out a place for himself in this all-too-familiar world. A moving story of the torments of sexuality and the redemptive power of family and friendship, The Short History of a Prince confirms Jane Hamilton's place as a preeminent novelist of our time.