Good karate book and other things

Hi Nick

A couple of favours mate. One can you recommend some decent books for me. Mostly on karate but any are good. I hesitate to buy most of the ones I've seen in the shops but do like to read the odd gems that crop up.

Also I'm thinking of getting back into the karate again on the side of capoeira and self defence

Two I'm finally ready for that interview about he legion I was planning for last year. I'm back to writing and my dwarf like ex legionare is currently crawling about near a lake in Birmingham with out anything to say to make him look more authentic.

Thanks

Jagunco

Jag,

Couple of points...

One, a lot of the books available in the UK aren't on sale here (at least on the shelves in the bookstores) and vice versa so I'm not sure of recommendations per se.

Two: I don't actually pick up many karate books anymore because they either about classic TMA or sport TMA. If you find one allegedly about self defense it's full of techniques that illustrate nothing more than the author has never actually been in a fight.

The only one I could recommned therefore would be the one I mentioned recently which is the one by Gavin Mulholland. I've trained with Gav, he's done the business and is very much the real deal and his book really is excellent. (not just saying that 'cause he's a mate). It's called "Four Shades of Black" by the way.

Nick

PS: Some of the early Oyama books were good for solid demos of the techniques and their nomenclature etc. Don't know if they're still around or not, but they're worth a look.

I actually remember you mentioning that and I've just bought it off amazon. That's what actually sparked the question.

In all honesty I'm not dead set on the self defence side of karate just some good reads about it

I'll poke round on Amazon and at the book store next time I'm there and if I see anything that looks good I'll give you a shout.

Nick

Have you read Moving Zen by C.W. Nicol?

It's a very good read.

No.... any good? And thanks Nick

I'm not sure offhand what books are available, or what they are like, but Ian Abernathy has some superb material - especially if you are looking for a realistic focus.

Mick

Jag,

I concur with my esteemed colleague Mick...the little bit I've seen of Mr Abernathy's stuff looks great.

Right, I just went to the bookstore and noticed one called "Karate Masters" which looked awesome. Had a collection of American, UK and Japanese Sensei and their take on things pertaining to all things Karate.

The other one, which I've read years ago, and didn't think of because the guy is a Tae Kwan Do practitioner, is called "The Martial Way." The author was an Air Force officer here in the States and got it right with regards to the attitude to training etc.

Those should be a couple to be getting on with.

Links here

The Martial Way

http://www.amazon.com/Living-Martial-Way-Manual-Warrior/dp/0942637763/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209935317&sr=1-1


Karate Masters

http://www.amazon.com/Karate-Masters-Jose-Fraguas/dp/1933901225/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209935541&sr=1-1

You're a mars bar mate. Thanks a lot. Mick I can't believe I didn't think to look up some of Ian Abernat... aberna... Ian's stuff before. I met him briefly at a Geoff Thompson course and I was impressed by wht he had to say

Moving Zen is a great read if you like autobiographies. It's interesting from a historical point of view as well. The author met the young Enoda and I think Kanazawa.

His account of life in Japan, and training in karate is very absorbing. The author also talks about how karate training transformed him as a person into someone more balanced.

Good stuff. I sometimes wished I'd had more bottle and went abroad to train.

I thought you went to the States and Brazil at some point for Capoeria

Nick

I did mate but was for like a few weeks at a time. I would of loved to go for a six or twelve month stint and study properly. No offence to the British Caporistas I train with but the level's just not as high over here.

Just thought I'd drop a line to say I'm half way through Gavin's book and am very impressed. This guy knows his stuff