at Amazon.com
|
|
| Thomas Sensei |
|
|
|
Buy this book at Amazon.com |
“Karate the Japanese Way” written by Mark Groenewold is truly a wonderful book. Groenewold Sensei has torn asunder concepts of what Western Karate practitioners conceive how Karate is done in Japan. Mark has given us, best described in his own words, an “unadulterated perspective of what karate is like in Japan, how the Japanese train, and what are the key elements of karate from a Japanese perspective.” Not many of us “Dans” have ever trained in Japan, so we repeat what we have been taught by our American/Japanese Sensei's here in America. Not realizing that they may be modified due to the fact we are not a Japanese culture but Western (Question: is that the reason for repeating the Dojo Kun for adults???). So we repeat the customs of what were taught under the guise of “Well, that's how they do it in Japan.” Guess what! We are very wrong on some of our concepts and that not how they do it!
Groenewold Sensei takes through a tour of Karate in Japan chapter by chapter. Answering many questions we might have about types of dojos, etiquette, types of instructors and so many other topics. By interweaving his own experiences through out the book makes the reading not only fun but very interesting. To be honest with you all, I am so glad my Shodan testing was nothing like Groenewold Sensei's. Please, do not misconstrue my previous statement. My exam was very demanding and grueling but it was not insane. What am I talking about?. well, buy this book and find out!
I recommend this book to one and all. No matter what your rank is, one will learn from it. So, get off your duff and go to Marks Web Site http://www.karatethejapaneseway.com/ and find the details of ordering your copy because you are not having mine!
Frank Thomas Muskegon Karate Association Muskegon, Michigan
This review is Copyright ©2003 by its author.
This page is Copyright ©2003 Mark Groenewold
| Site Home | Book Reviews Home |