Karate In Action II:
Kata & Self Defense:
One on One
at Amazon.com
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This is the second book that I own of this series of six. Regrettably, I do not have the other 4 volumes. That is really a shame because I thoroughly enjoy the two volumes I have. Should anyone reading these reviews actually have access to the other four volumes, I will gladly send you tasty soy snacks from Japan in exchange. Please send me email, verification that you have located these volumes, and name your terms. We can chat. Remember, soy snacks are on the line here.
Anyway, I think that this book is fun, much for the same reasons that I liked the first book. The introduction to this book boasts that kata is really the key to learning all about self-defense. I could not agree more. Yes, kata is beautiful and lovely to look at, but each movement has a lethal economy of movement which, with proper focus and attention, can really illuminate some of the most essential elements of karate. Some karate researchers and instructors are very much concerned with karate applications in kata. Heed their words, try out their suggestions, and seek them out as best as you can.
Karate in Action II is divided into eleven sections:
Most of these sections are good. There are, unfortunately, a couple sections which I think are questionable. First, on to the good stuff. Defense against Bear Hug is quite interesting, the techniques and leverages explained in the book seem to be right on the money. One thing that needs to be underlined though, is that explosive reaction is necessary, particularly when your assailant is much bigger than you. This requires a lot of practice and tooling around with in the dojo. Defense against Two-Handed Wrist Twist is a little beyond most brawlers so I am not too keen on focussing on that. But the material on headlocks, full-nelsons and some of the defenses against punching is pretty cool.
The bad stuff is, as mentioned in other reviews of such self-defense material, is that I think that things like X-blocks and nukite is not really so practical in real-life situations. I suggest just whacking someone with a closed fist. If you break your fingers by accident while doing nukite you can be in a whole lot of trouble. This book also has weird self-defense techniques that you can use when your hands get tied together in front of you. Hmmm. Not particularly practical or likely. So scrap that stuff too.
This book also has the typical menacing gaijin attackers trying to mess around with Asai-Sensei in his JKA blazer and tie pin, and some funky stuff with Asai-Sensei in tight pants and shoes with big heels. Forgive him. The '80's were not kind to everyone. Although Asai-Sensei's fashion sense may be forgiven we must take a few moments to mock the menacing gaijin motif:
“Hello there Asai-Sensei. I notice that you are wearing your JKA karate blazer with matching tie pin. Both offend me terribly. Prepare to do battle!”
“Battle you say, you foolish menacing gaijin? I shall thwart your nefarious intentions and use my advanced karate technique to make you cry like a little girl! As a member of the race of Yamato I am unstoppable! I am a demi-god and you, like all foreign devils will pay the price for your impudence!”
I am just making up this dialogue by the way. You can't really see these guys say anything in the pictures.
Get this book if you can. It is a fun read and apparently, quite a collectors item. Remember, if you come across volumes 3,4,5, or 6, let me know!
Soy snacks!
Mark Groenewold
Kanazawa, Japan
November, 2002.
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