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| The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications | 
 enlarge | Authors: Lawrence A. Kane, Kris Wilder
Creators: Jeff Cooper, Iain Abernethy
Publisher: YMAA Publication Center
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $10.26
You Save: $14.69 (59%)
New (23) Used (8) from $10.26
Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 199904
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 300
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 7.1 x 1
ISBN: 1594390584
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.815
EAN: 9781594390586
ASIN: 1594390584
Publication Date: October 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Ships immediately! Perfect and New! 2005 Paperback.
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| Customer Reviews:
From a Kung Fu Practitioner May 29, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is a very good book for anyone trying to understand better forms or kata (kuen in Kung Fu).
As a martial artist you should be able to understand instructions and apply them to your own art.
I was looking for a book that would give me a better understanding of forms and application of forms (known as Bunkai in Karate) and this book did just that! Amazinly once you start thinking of the principles in General the book applies to all Martial Arts forms (kata).
My congratulations to the Authors, great work.
One of the most influential books a traditional martial artist could own! May 22, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I just finished reading Lawrence Kane's, "The Way of Kata" for the third time and boy let me tell you that I thoroughly loved this book. It is without a doubt one of the, if not the, finest books ever written on the subject of kata and what the techniques in a kata really mean.
This book should be required reading for any, and I do mean any, and all individuals who practice a martial art that incorporates kata as a requirement for advancement. Although I knew a quite a bit of information that Lawrence had provided in this book, there was just as much if not more that I didn't know, or had a slightly different outlook on. Needless to say I was very impressed with the information contained in this book.
This book provides information on the history of kata and the principles and strategy behind it more so than the actual techniques of each particular kata. As you may or may not know, the principles behind the techniques are far more important than the techniques themselves. Too often instructors tend to focus on the least important of the two being technique and totally neglect the most important part being the principles behind the technique. Often times this is not truly the fault of the instructors as they are often unaware of the true meaning behind the techniques in which they teach.
Now normally I do a pretty detailed analysis of a book when I review it in order to give the reader(s) of my review a good solid understanding of what the particular book I am reviewing is about, and what they can in turn learn from it. However, in this instance, that is not the case. Not that I am unable to do it, quite the opposite, I had initially wrote quite an extensive review. However, after much thought, I decided to forego that particular review in order to take a more direct approach.
If you are reading this review, "STOP" right now and go to your local bookstore, internet book store, or any where that you can purchase this book and buy it now! Literally, it is that simple, buy this book and sit down and read it cover to cover and then when you are finished read it again.
For traditional martial artists who practice kata, this book is easily one of the most influential books that you can buy to improve your skills as a martial artist. Because of the information contained in this book, I would say that it is one of the most important books concerning the traditional martial arts to be published in the last 20+ years.
As the old saying goes, "Practice a technique 1,000 times incorrectly and you will execute it incorrectly on the 1,001 time. However, if you practice a technique correctly 100 times, chances are you will execute it correctly on the 101 time."
Without hesitation I can say emphatically that you, and more importantly your instructor(s), will see a remarkable improvement in the execution of any of your katas once you have purchased, studied, and implemented the information provided in this outstanding book.
Shawn Kovacich, martial artist/author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
A testimonial from Patrick McCarthy, Hanshi 8th Dan, International Ryukyu Karate-jutsu Research Society November 16, 2006
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
Written by Patrick McCarthy
"With the recent upsurge and popularity of Brazilian Ju-jitsu [sic] and Mixed Martial Arts one often hears, or reads, that kata is a complete waste of time, an archaic practice which has absolutely no combative value, whatsoever. As a progressive traditionalist and having taught hundreds of hands-on seminars all over the world it is no surprise to me that those who make such claims know little or nothing about the true essence of this valuable, but highly misunderstood practice. Originally, kata were never developed as competitive practices or even to teach the art of self-defense for that matter. Conceived by early fighters/teachers searching to develop mnemonic practices with which to culminate functional self-defense templates already imparted, in two-person drills, kata were designed and popularized as collective solo routines with holistic implications. As such, early learners enjoyed a free licensee to reinterpret and recreate abstract versions of these routines depending entirely upon individual creativity, physical prowess, and personal experience.
There is little doubt about the increasingly dissatisfaction with modern karate's interpretation of kata, the dirty politics of big organizations, and of the conceited "our style is best" mentality, all of which permeate our tradition. Compounding this growing dissatisfaction is an inability for "qualified" teacher's to adequately respond to a student's question about the theory and technical application of kata. Even more disheartening is learning that such inquisitiveness is not openly encouraged and that enthusiastic students are more often than enough ostracized for looking outside their peer groups to find the answers their teachers are incapable of providing. Judging by the amount of ink spilt on this issue, and what a Google search brings up on the internet, it is obvious that we are at the dawn of a Renaissance eagerly seeking to penetrate its abyss, eliminate the ambiguity which has shrouded the inner-most intentions of this art, and restore its original teachings. This unprecedented desire for information has not only given rise to a generation of searchers it has also witnessed a plethora of whimsical writers with little or no understanding of the historical and tactical underpinnings of our tradition resulting in the exploitation of the all too often, gullible reader. Myth and ignorance, misunderstanding and rule-bound training methods, developed for the sport, and a narrow mindset, all too often disguised as a way to preserve the "purity" of this or that style, has lead to hypocrisy, fragmentation and isolation in karatedo.
In this time of politics and protectionism it is truly a rare occurrence to find teachers who think outside this box. Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder are two such instructors. I believe their grasp of the kaleidoscopic variations permeating today's martial arts culture will have a penetrating impact upon the readers of their work. In the same way that early pioneers sent their students forth to other instructors for the purpose of learning and improving their overall skills, so too do I believe that by encouraging our students to study the innovative works of other instructors capable of unlocking the source of new information do we continue to strengthen our art, rather than obscure or distort it.
This publication not only advocates open-mindedness, and thinking-outside-the-box, it literarily demands its readers seek out supporting information from the very best sources available. Although I have never met these two authors in person it is obvious that we share many identical thoughts and ideas. They clearly possess a far-reaching and eclectic range of knowledge. May I encourage readers to look beyond the techniques and labels displayed in this book and use it as an opportunity to examine all kata using the same advice, concepts, and principles which bring us all together.
So few practitioners truly understand the essence of kata and even fewer understand how to decipher its original fighting applications. Kane and Wilder are two young innovators who provide a functional framework with which to help unlock the secrets of these coveted time capsules. Echoing the words of Sir Isaac Newton, "If we are ever able to see any further, it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants." Here are two such giants and I hope this publication reflects favorably on their important contribution.
Patrick McCarthy
Hanshi 8th Dan
International Ryukyu Karate-jutsu Research Society
koryu-uchinadi dot com"
The Way of Kata April 4, 2006
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Great resource, and a must read for all Goju-Ryu practitioners at any Rank!
A must read for any serious student or practitioner March 29, 2006
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
For those just learning any martial art, this is a good book. But for those with some training already under their belt, this is even a greater book. And for fellow Yundasha, this book is where it's all compiled together in a "one stop shopping" book. Filled with relevant quotes, History & Fundamentals, Principles & Theory, Strategy & Tactics,, graphical illustrations and a few "There I was" stories, this book is a must read for any serious student or practitioner. Do not let yourself be limited by the title of this book, there's a wide swath of subjects covered, all relavant to "the source" (Kata).
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