Reviews for Wado-Ryu Karate, Vol. 4

The average rating for Wado-Ryu Karate, Vol. 4 based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-02-24 00:00:00 Natalie Lamere A collection of interviews with various karate masters. I like format, and I guess Fraguas has done this several other times for other books, which interests me. However, the interviews themselves were a mixed bag. Some of these guys were really interesting, seasoned men with plenty to say about training, about fighting, about life. A lot (most?) of these guys were self-aggrandizing chest-thumpers promoting themselves and karate in terms of how bad ass they are. I don't doubt they know how to kick ass; I also don't think it's good form to brazenly sound your own horn. It's hardly the dignified attitude that respected martial artists generally display in public, and I was really turned off by several of the men interviewed. Fraguas also seemed to be talking them up in his comments preceding each chapter. Also, I thought it was strange that there was not a single woman interviewed. For a better, more balanced account of karate or any other martial art masters, check out The Warrior's Path, or Karatedo: My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi, or most anything by Dave Lowry, or Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman, or anything by Bruce Lee.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-08-30 00:00:00 Nicholas Evans Solid collection of interviews with karate men from different styles. Best interview was with Stan Schmidt, best known to non-martial artists as "The Fly" in KILL AND KILL AGAIN. He's studied Shotokan since 1963 and is still going strong after a severe car crash and having both hips replaced.