's Review of KTJW

The karate book industry is seemingly one in which anyone who has a camera and knows how to kick higher than their own shoulders can write a short book, containing a virtual copy of everything already published on the subject, publish, and be recognized from that point forward as an expert and industry leader. Today, thanks to the authors of most karate books regurgitating the same, old, tired wive’s tales and very basic tutorials and explanations, the shelves are littered with karate books that have little to offer a real karate enthusiast other than pictures of the author and a repeat of most other books on the subject.

Once you have purchased one karate book, you have purchased them all.

The typical karate book is lamentably predictable. The history of karate, from Shaolin Monks to the only “official” Japanese karate on Earth, always comes first. Next is a lecture on the necessity to never use karate wrongly. Instructions on making a fist, pictures of stances, and finally, terribly inadequate directions on techniques, a few kata, and some sparring follow, always in the same order. The photos in these books may as well be glossy 8×10 publicity work, because that’s about all the function they serve.

Thanks to the Internet, karate publication is starting to open up to a more diverse, less conservative group of people who are more interested in telling their own story than copying and pasting the contents of every coffee table book out there. Instead of being confined to the underwhelming contents of the the bookstore shelves I used to prowl looking for something unique, new authors are starting to emerge who tell the story of their own training. They speak from their experience, rather than moralize to us and write about The Official Way.

Mark Groenewold is one of those emerging authors. A writer who expresses himself in a mature, composed, and educated way, Mark has written a marvelous book called Karate The Japanese Way that is a fine example of how karate writing ought to be done. Karate the Japanese Way is for someone who is interested in karate - someone who wants to know more than they are learning in their classes. If you are starting karate lessons, pick up this book, and you will find the answers to most of the typical questions that annoy beginners.

Appropriately, the rear cover does have a picture of the author: a picture of Groenewold being corrected by his teacher. Well, now there’s something different. The author is unafraid of his status as an advanced student, and does not promote himself as the next famous instructor to whom we should look to for all answers. This tone is evident throughout the book.

Groenewold has aimed his writing at people interested in doing karate rather than talking about it or theorizing. Groenewold does not get into a lot of theoretical mumbo-jumbo and does not suffer from ivory tower syndrome. He doesn’t care why the techniques do what they do. He focuses on what he has been doing in Japan as an act of documentation.

I especially enjoyed reading the section where Mark participates in a karate rank examination following a particularly grueling workout.

But Mark makes it clear that he does karate to have fun, not to become a Samurai Warrior, and he takes an informal, casual, and very friendly tone toward the reader. He unpretentiously regards karate tradition as something that may be useful at times and at others without any use at all. He gently guides the reader by recommending they pay attention, ignore, or take-or-leave things they will witness in a karate class. Groenewold is thankful to his teacher in the book, almost to the point of being effusive, but he is not worshipful, and he does not try to sell us lessons with Taniguchi or convince us to train in Ishikawa prefecture. He asks the questions of himself that we were wondering, and he answers them.

I must say that this book has impressed me mightily. It is another step in the right direction for karate publications. It is a fresh, friendly, unique, well-written, and most importantly healthy look at the hobby of karate.

I have to wonder what if I had this book when I was first starting karate lessons? How different things would have been for me in so many ways.

Get out your credit card and order this book. Read it cover to cover. No matter how long you have been training, this is an important must-have book to read and place on your shelves. Mark Groenewold joins a select few authors who have written works that will never lose their appeal or usefulness. I think if I met someone beginning karate lessons, I would want to give them a copy of this book as a present. I give this book my highest recommendation.

Rob Redmond's Review of KTJW

Reviewer: Rob Redmond

Book Review: Karate the Japanese Way

Author: Mark Groenewold