- Visit the Sports Nutrition Store and find a huge range and great offers on top-brand products for all aspects of your fitness and never run out of 100s of products with Subscribe & Save.
The Karate Dojo: Traditions and Tales of a Martial Art
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details
|
Product Description
Synopsis
This guide discusses the dojo, the school where karate is taught.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
Karate is a martial art, a concept, a way of life new to the western world. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Karate is a martial art, a concept, a way of life new to the western world. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a classic on martial arts. For many of us who have been practicing for years, this was one of the first books we may have read.
It contains a collection of both interesting stories and pieces of information for students of martial arts that detail physical training regimens as well as martial philosophy and history. It is not a "how to" book but rather an introduction to martial arts training in general. As this book is a classic, written by an American martial arts pioneer, it is worth having in your personal library.
It contains a collection of both interesting stories and pieces of information for students of martial arts that detail physical training regimens as well as martial philosophy and history. It is not a "how to" book but rather an introduction to martial arts training in general. As this book is a classic, written by an American martial arts pioneer, it is worth having in your personal library.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
A martial arts classic
20 Jan 2000
Format:Paperback
This book is a classic on martial arts. For many of us who have been practicing for decades, this was one of the first books we may have read.
It contains a collection of both interesting stories and pieces of information for students of martial arts that detail physical training regimens as well as martial philosophy and history. It is not a "how to" book but rahter an introduction to martial arts training in general. As this book is a classic, written by an American martial arts pioneer, it is worth having.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Simple Book, Simple Stories, Simple Teaching - Nice
12 Jun 2005
Format:Paperback
Peter Urban was a pioneer in American karate and helped not only spread the art of goju ryu, but the ripple effect helped the promotion of other martial arts as well in the 60s and 70s. While a little eccentric, Urban was true to the bushido roots, while adapting karate for an American population.
This book covers karate philosophy in its mid-twentieth century form and promotes the positive aspects of discipline and etiquette. The book deals with attitude and motivation of spirit. The second half of the book has "dojo stories" that help embody the essences of karate training.
This is just a nice and simple book worth the read.
This book covers karate philosophy in its mid-twentieth century form and promotes the positive aspects of discipline and etiquette. The book deals with attitude and motivation of spirit. The second half of the book has "dojo stories" that help embody the essences of karate training.
This is just a nice and simple book worth the read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
"The Weaponless Weapon"
2 Jan 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a ShoDan assistant instructor of Shiho Karano Kenpo Karate, I strive to educate myself about the martial arts. I've found some good books on the subject, and I'm always on the lookout for more. Since "The Karate Dojo" has been in print since 1967, I figured it must provide valuable direction. It does, mainly by portraying a snapshot of martial arts history that challenges the budo practitioner to forsake mediocrity for mastery and character.
The book has three basic parts. First, the author provides a somewhat Karate-centric view of martial arts facets such as the dojo, belt ranking systems, and character self-analysis. In the second section are a number of martial arts parables that teach through historical narrative. Finally, Sensei Urban uses the last chapter to discuss the "contemporary" Karate scene (i.e. the mid-1960s). The overall theme is one of extreme discipline and perseverance within the martial arts, necessary to achieve a seemingly mystical level of physical, mental, moral, and spiritual ability. In other words, it takes hard work and commitment to become a "weaponless weapon."
"The Karate Dojo" is a quick read - I finished it in less than a day. There are a number of stylized line drawings and black-and-white photographs to complement the text. It's a portrait of an era in Karate that seems to be almost mythical - and mostly lost, at least in the West. The author fondly discusses harsh daily training under the strict discipline of a revered master in a dojo where everyone's practically family. I've tasted some of that, but nothing close to what Sensei Urban describes. And that's where I differed with the author. Yes, optimal mastery of any activity requires the type of commitment he advocates, and that's OK for some. But I believe it's possible to benefit from a consistent and disciplined practice of the martial arts without making an all-consuming religion out of it.
At any rate, despite some dated aspects and a monkish focus on martial arts that may be beyond what many would bear, "The Karate Dojo" contains worthwhile insights for the martial artist. If nothing else, its high standards may challenge one to take their current commitment and practice to a higher level.
The book has three basic parts. First, the author provides a somewhat Karate-centric view of martial arts facets such as the dojo, belt ranking systems, and character self-analysis. In the second section are a number of martial arts parables that teach through historical narrative. Finally, Sensei Urban uses the last chapter to discuss the "contemporary" Karate scene (i.e. the mid-1960s). The overall theme is one of extreme discipline and perseverance within the martial arts, necessary to achieve a seemingly mystical level of physical, mental, moral, and spiritual ability. In other words, it takes hard work and commitment to become a "weaponless weapon."
"The Karate Dojo" is a quick read - I finished it in less than a day. There are a number of stylized line drawings and black-and-white photographs to complement the text. It's a portrait of an era in Karate that seems to be almost mythical - and mostly lost, at least in the West. The author fondly discusses harsh daily training under the strict discipline of a revered master in a dojo where everyone's practically family. I've tasted some of that, but nothing close to what Sensei Urban describes. And that's where I differed with the author. Yes, optimal mastery of any activity requires the type of commitment he advocates, and that's OK for some. But I believe it's possible to benefit from a consistent and disciplined practice of the martial arts without making an all-consuming religion out of it.
At any rate, despite some dated aspects and a monkish focus on martial arts that may be beyond what many would bear, "The Karate Dojo" contains worthwhile insights for the martial artist. If nothing else, its high standards may challenge one to take their current commitment and practice to a higher level.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
