Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques (Martial Arts) (Paperback)

The only reason to fault this book is as a historical reference. Mark Bishop himself in his introduction highlights the problems of oral history particularly in the ancestrally respectful culture of Okinawa. But more to the point, modern research has discounted many of the oral traditions. However, this is not Bishop's fault merely the result of later research and the oral traditions are interesting in what they reveal of Okinawan masters attitudes towards their teachers and with regard to other styles (some of which is not always pleasant to read).

As an account of the many and varied styles of Okinawa, however, this book is outstanding. Mark Bishop classifies the styles by origin and accounts his meetings with their various masters and teachers, masterfully introducing their ideas in a conversational tone which draws the reader into their world. One has a real sense of sitting at their feet as though one was there in person. Bishop's own comments serve both to clarify any obscure points or opposing views and also to highlight what he felt his teachers thought was important i.e. that Karate is about health and longevity not about combat as such.

The book is also entertaining in terms of its colourful (if ultimately unverifiable) anecdotes by which Mark Bishop seeks to convey that despite their preternatural physical prowess due to long practice many of the revered masters of the past were very much human beings, with all their faults and virtues, rather than the deities they are sometimes presented as being. Taken on this level, whether true or false, these anecdotes teach much.

For anyone seeking to improve their technical grasp of Karate do, the breadth and range of techniques and methods introduced is awesome, particularly the range of equipment that can be used or adapted for training. Bishop also, although cautiously, provides information on pressure points as used in the various schools (something which is the focus of great interest nowadays!).

Finally, the book links Karate to both Kobudo (weaponry) and its predecessors in the art of Okinawa Te and Chinese Gong Fu. In doing so, Mark Bishop did indeed set a historological precedent which others have followed discounting previous beliefs about the origins of Karate as a peasant art.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to look outside the narrow confines of their own style and to see the broad sweep of Karate do. I would also recommend it as a starting place for exploring and experimenting with different Karate training methods. Although I can no longer recommend it as a historical textbook, it is nevertheless still a useful source of oral traditions concerning Karate which tell much about the culture in which it was born.

In short, an excellent resource book on modern Karate do.