Reviews for Way of KATA: A Comprehensive Guide to Deciphering Martial Applications

The average rating for Way of KATA: A Comprehensive Guide to Deciphering Martial Applications based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-02-25 00:00:00 Brian Lynch As a lifelong martial artist with a foundation in karate, kata has always been a part of my curriculum. This book gives insight into the true meaning behind the patterns and movements, and is a good step in examining your own kata forms if you practice karate. By learning the true applications and how they can be applied realistically, kata ceases to be just a ritualistic "dance", and instead becomes a catalog of fighting movements.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-11-02 00:00:00 Liat Blumberger For those that have already begun interpreting why and why they are doing kata, this book is stellar. Much of it is dedicated to the history of our art, explaining why kata developed the way it did. Once you understand a bit about why kata needs deciphering, it makes the thought far more enjoyable. The rules they provide seem very solid, and are backed up with examples throughout the book to help you understand. The edition I read even includes illustrations of many of the techniques. There's also some bonus material in the book, not directly related to kata. Basic vulnerability illustrations, opponent mindset identification techniques, etc. These are generally brief, and don't interrupt the flow much so they feel like bonuses rather than distractions. I've created a condensed list of some of the high level points, and am looking forward to trying to use them at the dojo.