The Essential Karate Book: For White Belts, Black Belts and All Levels In Between [DVD Included] Hardcover – August 12, 2014

I got the paperback version which is never my favorite since it doesn't hold up well normally (they were out of the new copies for hardback). Good book though and easy to read. The moves are explained well with great pictures included. Not a huge book so it's easy to carry around. I took a picture of it with my hand to kind of help you get an idea of how big it is. This is simple enough for someone (like me) who just watches her daughter from the sidelines. My daughter has been in the class for almost a year but when they are off (like for holidays etc) I thought it would be nice to start learning more and practicing using a book. She's five so all their moves are basic. I think it's great for this purpose.

Another book for the collection, this book does have a lot about karate basics and some history. I am an instructor in karate do and found this book a little surprising that the book mention kubo (weapons) of the Okinawa people and was quite happy to see the illustrations of weapons also. This book is great to have for a reference and to have in your collection, if you are a serious karatea and teach whole hearted to your students the inner meaning of moves (katas) this book also has the bunki basics to refer to, the video was not as per book but very basic and was over quickly but did some stretching and run through kicks and punches. This book has all rules for competition in several different events but mainly shotokan roots.

Excelente libro para refrescar los conocimientos o reforzar para una clase. Muy bien ilustrado. Solo esperaba algo más de técnicas de mano.

Nice Pictures but the book is too heavy on a very hard bonded cover and it is quite big 9 X 11 inches; not a pocket. Easy to understand step by step pictures.

Very enjoyable and well structured. Highly recommend

Love the book but disappointed that the dvd wasnt included.

Marvelous

Good condition

I wanted a book to help me understand the underlying principles of Karate. This book is very good , there are clear diagrams and pictures that explain the stances and the kicks & punches. It has chapters that suggest the best exercises to get fit, and stay safe. I also liked the chapter on pressure points, something I have not seen in Karate books before. I also liked the honest approach to using Karate as a defense system - if you don't know how to translate movements from the Kata into real life scenarios of self defense then it's not going to be much use to you. I would have liked a section devoted to self-defense for women as I think knowing which Karate moves are more effective than others when you are perhaps at a significant height/weight/strength disadvantage would have been very useful. I was impressed with this book, I found the diagrams/pictures very helpful in understanding how to block effectively, the correct way to aim kicks, without making yourself vulnerable. The MMA chapter again was helpful in relating Karate to Judo & Jiu jitsu & Akido training to MMA figters. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to start Karate or to people who need to refine their techniques.

Very useful book. Explains moves well. Also covers the history of karate. Has helped me as a reference book for when I have my gradings as well as practice between lessons.

I am so glad I bought this although I'd rather be wanting to take Karate classes with an actual Sensei but we are in a pandemic anybody know any good ones in Glasgow? If you do please message me on info thanks.

Some obvious omissions like some punches, blocks, and kicks. Other than that, it’s ok

Book is great, I bought hard copy for my little one; I was influenced by fact that it contains dvd; however am bit disappointed when slot the dvd into player and the quality was not what I expected of dvd. Very poor quality video and audio indeed; but great book.