Learn how the hard-style karate that became shotokan took shape in 19th century Okinawa as an embattled king with an unarmed force of bodyguards faced an armed invasion from overseas. In this new 328-page book, author Bruce D. Clayton, Ph.D., uses rare sketches, footnoted historical research, archival lithographs, period photographs and contemporary technique demonstrations to reveal shotokan's deadly intent and propose modern practical applications of such knowledge. Achieve a new level of theoretical understanding and fighting ability by learning Shotokan's Secret for yourself!
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
AWESOME BOOK!!!:
What a great book! Imagine staring at a picture you had never seen before, into the eyes of someone you had never met, only to find out later that the person was your great great great great great grandfather? Shotokan's Secret gave me a very similar experience, although the person was not my relation by blood, but perhaps by something even stronger. Even though he lived a hundered and fifty years ago and half a world away, he was in a very real way my martial arts master, teacher of my teachers, and the... more info
A "must have" for every Shotokan practitioner:
I have been involved in Shotokan Karate for 46 years. I have taught thousands of students, and because I am a voracious reader and student, would have told you I knew a great deal about Shotokan Karate. This book proved me wrong. Oh sure, I knew the stories we are all told, but those stories are just passed along as gospel from one person to another. Author Bruce Clayton did the research himself, even teaching himself to read the Japanese characters. This book will open your mind in a way in which NO... more info
Service so bad it didn't exist:
The money, once again, was taken from my bank account for payment, but the book was never delivered. Regardless of my efforts, there seems to be no willing effort to work with me on returning my money or sending me the book.
Poorly researchered amateur effort:
This author of this book admittedly rented or bought a number of videos on Okinawa karate, supposedly watched the videos and then wrote a book based on his limited experience in Shotokan ryu, a Japanese off-shoot of the original Okinawan arts. The author make some fairly outrageous claims that he attempts to pass off as historically correct without one shred of primary research or evidence. It is outrageous that a publishing house would even bother putting this diatribe in print. Readers interested in... more info
