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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: $12.20
You Save: $12.75 (51%)
New (19) Used (6) from $12.20
Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 334591
Media: Paperback
Pages: 300
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 7.1 x 1
ISBN: 1594390584
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.815
EAN: 9781594390586
Publication Date: October 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: . Ships in a sturdy box with delivery confirmation (in US). Free giftwrap upon request. Brand new, not a used item. Will upgrade to expedited mail within US when ordering any 2 items from us.
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Product Description
The ancient masters developed kata, or "formal exercises," as fault-tolerant methods to preserve their unique, combat-proven fighting systems. Unfortunately, they deployed a two-track system of instruction where an outer circle of students unknowingly received modified forms with critical details or important principles omitted. Only the select inner circle that had gained a master s trust and respect would be taught okuden waza, the powerful hidden applications of kata. The theory of deciphering kata applications (kaisai no genri) was once a great mystery revealed only to trusted disciples of the ancient masters in order to protect the secrets of their systems. Even today, while the basic movements of kata are widely known, advanced practical applications and sophisticated techniques frequently remain hidden from the casual observer. The principles and rules for understanding kata are largely unknown. This groundbreaking book unveils these methods, not only teaching you how to analyze your kata to understand what it is trying to tell you, but also helping you to utilize your fighting techniques more effectively both in self-defense and in tournament applications. Fifteen general principles to identify effective techniques Twelve discrete rules for deciphering martial applications Comprehensive insights into kata history, strategy and tactics Vital physiological considerations Well organized materials for easy reference and comprehensive understanding
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
A valuable find March 24, 2008
Zach Zinn (Olympia, WA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Rather than presenting a book worth of random applications or cool looking sequences, the authors go much deeper and present you with a methodology for actually understanding kata application.
I have found this book to be very valuable, i've owned it for something like two years and I still open it up regularly, it is defnitely a book that you will use frequently.
Excellent, must have for serious martial artist March 3, 2008
bio boy
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Perhaps the best book on the martial arts I have read. The authors help remind us that forms are not a dance, they are deadly techniques in a transmittable form. The book helps you achieve the right mindset for analyzing kata of any style (though the authors are based in Goju-Ryu) to uncover the practical, dangerous moves that have been hidden. A wonderful tool for those looking to develop fighting skill from their chosen art.
 Extremely good February 18, 2008
J. C. Bullard (Memphis, TN)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I would recommend this book to any serious martial artist, regardless of their style. I have read plenty of books that discuss interpreting kata moves, and at first glance this would appear to be "just another kata book." However, this book goes a step further and discusses determining the strategy of a particular style, and concentrating on finding kata interpretations that fit that strategy.
The only reason I did not give it a 5-star rating comes from some of the "optimized" versions of kata interpretations contained in one of the later chapters of the book. Most of them are quite good, but I was disappointed to see a "2-hand press block" being used to deflect an incoming punch. As one of my old teachers put it, "If you need two hands to block one punch, you're in the wrong fight!"
Must have for advanced Martial Artists December 12, 2007
T. Pray
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a must have for any Martial Artist. Having trained in Martial Arts for 20 years I feal that this book will help any student in any style look more deeply at the style they are studying. This is not a beginners book. This is for people who have trained for 3 or 4 years or Brown belt level and up.
An uncannily close reflection... July 10, 2007
Mr. B. E. Woodland
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Lawrence Kane lives and trains on a different continent to me, and although his style is much the same as the one that I train in, I would have expected to see differences in small particulars of dojo ettiquette, training conventions, kata interpretations and the like.
In reading his book, I felt that he had been watching our school for years and almost every fine nuance in ethos, discipline, terminology and so many other aspects reflected in his book could have been taken from where I learn.
Kane seems to have retained the traditional aspects of Goju training in a world where professional dojo's easily lose the essence of their roots in order to be more commercially acceptable and/or sport orientated. On almost every page I smiled with a mixture of incredulity (is that a word?) and satisfaction as he managed to both confirm the direction of my teachers, and at the same time, offer so much further insight that has given me material for my class planning and personal growth.
I recommend this book without hesitation.
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