'The secrets of karate are contained in the kata,' said the masters of old. What did they mean? For many years, people have struggled to understand where padwork, grappling, ground-fighting and even high kicks fit into traditional karate.While many people understand the purpose of individual kata, this book demonstrates how the various kata work together to create a logical fight progression from stand-up striking to close-quarter grappling and ground-fighting. "Four Shades of Black" decodes the kata in a radically different way, revealing how the traditional arts set out to develop a complete and rounded fighter. If you think you know karate, think again.
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Gavin Mulholland is one of those rare karate instructors who actually impresses me. It's common knowledge that the bulk of "traditional" martial artists can't make their stuff work in the real world due to the emphasis placed on sporting applications over the last thirty years. Luckily, there are people like Gavin still out there proving that Traditional Martial Arts do indeed work -- Nick Hughes, Chief Instructor of Fight Survival and Combat Karate
I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to find such a like soul, someone else that is speaking the same language. I highly recommend this authentic book, its contents and its author and I implore everyone who is `searching' to read this book - it is both valuable and long overdue. -- Geoff Thompson, sixth-degree black belt, writer, teacher, martial artist
I find Gavin a truly inspirational martial artist. He embodies all that I think is good and worthwhile in the arts and it is always a pleasure to be in the dojo with him. I cannot recommend his teaching highly enough
-- David Rubens, 5th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido
Regardless of style, all karateka should read and digest the information contained within this excellent book. Gavin Mulholland is someone who fully understands the realities of combat and kata and if you wish to practise karate as the pragmatic fighting system it was intended to be, you should familiarise yourself with Gavin's work. This is a thorough and accessible explanation of everything you need to know to make sense of kata and become a complete fighter. Four Shades of Black is a must-read book that is certain to become a modern classic. Enjoy! -- Iain Abernethy, fifth-degree black belt Author of Bunkai-Jutsu: The Practical Application of Karate Kata
I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to find such a like soul, someone else that is speaking the same language. I highly recommend this authentic book, its contents and its author and I implore everyone who is `searching' to read this book - it is both valuable and long overdue. -- Geoff Thompson, sixth-degree black belt, writer, teacher, martial artist
I find Gavin a truly inspirational martial artist. He embodies all that I think is good and worthwhile in the arts and it is always a pleasure to be in the dojo with him. I cannot recommend his teaching highly enough
-- David Rubens, 5th Dan Yoshinkan Aikido
Regardless of style, all karateka should read and digest the information contained within this excellent book. Gavin Mulholland is someone who fully understands the realities of combat and kata and if you wish to practise karate as the pragmatic fighting system it was intended to be, you should familiarise yourself with Gavin's work. This is a thorough and accessible explanation of everything you need to know to make sense of kata and become a complete fighter. Four Shades of Black is a must-read book that is certain to become a modern classic. Enjoy! -- Iain Abernethy, fifth-degree black belt Author of Bunkai-Jutsu: The Practical Application of Karate Kata
About the Author
Gavin Mulholland holds the rank of 5th Dan in Okinawan Goju Ryu karate. He is the Chief Instructor of Daigaku Karate Kai in London.
Gavin began training at an early age with his father, who taught judo and unarmed combat to British Forces in Northern Ireland during in the 1960s. When Gavin moved to the South of England, he began training in Goju-Ryu Karate. In over 30 years of training, he has travelled extensively throughout Asia and trained in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and China in arts as diverse as Aikido, Judo, Ju-Jitsu and Kyokushinkai.
Gavin is one of the most sought after Goju Ryu instructors in the UK and regularly teaches on nationwide seminars, appearing recently alongside Iain Abernethy in the new Practical Karate seminar. With 15 years' experience on the doors of pubs and clubs, he has been a regular instructor for one of the country's leading Bodyguard, Close Protection and Door Supervisor security companies.
Gavin has made numerous TV and film appearances, most notably a fortnightly slot on Bravo's Spy School. He is also a widely published author within the martial arts community and was inaugurated into The Combat Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By karatebarbie
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book. Not only is it beautiful to look at, it is a pleasure to read. Clear, concise, eloquent sentence structure and very accessible. So valuable for the kyu grade in that it explains what you should be trying to achieve with your training at each level, but also for the dan grade to ensure that nothing has been overlooked.
It's not a 'how to' book at all really, more something to make you think about what you are doing and why. Its premise is to give you the underlying principles behind the training for each kata. Suggestions for the padwork, partnerwork and conditioning drills required to work on the necessary mindset. And as you progress through each kata, those skills are reinforced and built upon so that, by the time you get to black belt, you have accumulated an instinctive set of reactions to varying situations that will come to the fore when under pressure.
I loved the little snapshots of violence that introduced each kata and, by the end of the book, I wanted to be that student taking his first steps in the dojo.
I shall certainly be approaching my future training with a very different way of thinking.
It's not a 'how to' book at all really, more something to make you think about what you are doing and why. Its premise is to give you the underlying principles behind the training for each kata. Suggestions for the padwork, partnerwork and conditioning drills required to work on the necessary mindset. And as you progress through each kata, those skills are reinforced and built upon so that, by the time you get to black belt, you have accumulated an instinctive set of reactions to varying situations that will come to the fore when under pressure.
I loved the little snapshots of violence that introduced each kata and, by the end of the book, I wanted to be that student taking his first steps in the dojo.
I shall certainly be approaching my future training with a very different way of thinking.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Doug
Format:Paperback
Whether you train in Goju or any other Martial Art , this book underlines the principles and mind set for a student as they progress through their training.
It's layout and classy use of black and white photos enhances the high standard of the information contained in this book.
Although not a "step by step" text book , as many books on Karate are , it gives many insights and ideas for training using bunkai , partner drills and padwork.Which all help to raise the skills of the students as they study the Kata.
I think this book is the best book on the first four Kata contained in the Goju Ryu system.
Here's hoping for another on the rest of the Goju Kata.
It's layout and classy use of black and white photos enhances the high standard of the information contained in this book.
Although not a "step by step" text book , as many books on Karate are , it gives many insights and ideas for training using bunkai , partner drills and padwork.Which all help to raise the skills of the students as they study the Kata.
I think this book is the best book on the first four Kata contained in the Goju Ryu system.
Here's hoping for another on the rest of the Goju Kata.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to say that has to be one of the best books on bunkai out there! Not only is the information superb, it's also the way the book is laid out that is so impressive (think "coffee table" quality).
I was privileged to be able to make a small contribution to the book by way of the foreword (Geoff Thompson wrote the preface) and hence I got to see the draft a few months ago. Brilliant information! The final book truly is something to behold and I can honestly say I don't think I've seen as stylish a martial arts book.
Can't recommend this one highly enough.
Iain Abernethy
I was privileged to be able to make a small contribution to the book by way of the foreword (Geoff Thompson wrote the preface) and hence I got to see the draft a few months ago. Brilliant information! The final book truly is something to behold and I can honestly say I don't think I've seen as stylish a martial arts book.
Can't recommend this one highly enough.
Iain Abernethy
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
quite ok
i'm goju-ryu newcomer with judo experience before. The book is written in an excellent way but pictures are too "artistic". Read more
Published 22 months ago by mwol
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important book for every martial artist
This book is essential reading for any serious karateka, and indeed any martial artist interested in maximising the potential of whatever system they practice. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2010 by Mr. S. Clinch
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book
I remember when I first started training in karate, I went into various bookshops to try and find a good book on Goju Ryu and Okinawan martial arts and apart from The History of... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2010 by Daniel Bard
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's All There In Black & White
The slow resurgence of Karate as a complete fighting system has taken a momentous leap forward with Gavin Mulholland's superlative work of art, Four Shades of Black. Read more
Published on 13 May 2010 by Andrew O. Brien
5.0 out of 5 stars
Four shades of black
Thought provoking book for karate practitioners with a focus on Goju Ryu. Waiting for the next book from Gavin.
Published on 12 Oct 2009 by Mr. David C. Abrehart
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Manual For A Fighting Mindset
This is not a martial arts instruction manual showing you a list of techniques move by move and frame by frame. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by S. Fagence
5.0 out of 5 stars
a simply brilliant book
Four Shades of Black: The Traditional Path to Building the Complete Fighter
I brought this book for my husband, he teaches goju karate and is a 4th dan black belt. Read more
I brought this book for my husband, he teaches goju karate and is a 4th dan black belt. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2009 by T. Langworthy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern classic
I have collected through dint of much effort and investment of time quite a comprehensive martial arts library. Read more
Published on 28 July 2008 by Basho
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique and interesting tome
Four Shades of Black is a feast for the eyes. Stark black pages with brilliant white text and lush monochrome photography worthy of any coffee table "art" volume aren't exactly... Read more
Published on 23 July 2008 by L. A. Kane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential reading
Anyone remotely serious about developing their knowledge and understanding of karate needs this book. I simply didn't realise how much I didn't know before I bought this book. Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2008 by Mr. D. Mcdonnell
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