February 24th Chief Instructor News

Upcoming Classes:
Intermediates Class February 28th - Sparring Night, so do not forget your gear
Intermediates’ Class March 10th – Aaron will run class; I will be out of town
Advanced Class March 10th – Brian will run class; I will be out of town
Advanced Class March 13th – Brian will run class; I will be out of town
No Advanced Class March 20th – Black Belt meeting, agenda will be sent out before the meeting

Book Reviews:
Below are two books related to various aspects of martial arts that I have read recently with my comments and my ratings along with descriptions usually taken from the book’s back cover when applicable or from Amazon.com Editorial Reviews (source is noted).

My Ratings:
Excellent – Would highly recommend
Very Good – Would recommend
Good - Might recommend unless found another book on same subject that was better
Not Very Good – Would not recommend

I, also, do not expect everyone to agree with my ratings or comments and welcome anyone’s thoughts or own comments if you get the chance to read them. I am also always looking for suggestions for books related to martial arts, so please pass on your recommendations as well.

While I do not advocate learning martial arts only through books, books can provide insight and new thoughts or echo one’s own current thinking related to the study of martial arts and can be valuable in your study and growth as a martial artist.

1. The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do: (Shorin-Ryu) by Shoshin Nagamine
Description (Back Cover)
A rich source on the technique and philosophy of traditional Okinawan karate. “The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do” presents the teachings of legendary karate master Shoshin Nagamine, world famous as the founder of the Matsubayashi school of Shorin-ryu karate-do. First published in 1976, this timeless work has long been a treasured reference source for martial artists around the world.
A systematic treatment of the technical aspects of karate-do using over 1,000 photographs to document eighteen classic karate kata (preset forms) abd seven yakusoku kumite (prearranged partner exercises), as well as basic techniques, this book is a precise and easily accessible pictorial guide to performance and perfection of traditional karate. The only book in English with photos of one of the great prewar masters demonstrating the proper execution of Okinawan karate, “The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do” is a bridge between karate’s legendary past and the practitioners of today. This ingenious and imaginative text explains the historic landmarks in the development of the style, vividly outlines its leading forms and techniques, and recalls note Okinawan karate men of the past, including the author’s teachers Ankichi Arakaki, Choki Motobu, and Chotoku Kyan.
My Comments:
Good reference book of techniques and applications of techniques used in karate which have a lot of similarity to Tae Kwon Do. Good illustrations as well. The write-ups were not quite as detailed as that of “Tae Kwon Do: Secrets of Korean Karate” by Sihak Henry Cho. What this book contains that Cho’s book does not is some history and perspective from a karate master on his views of karate. In addition, this book contains pictures stepping through karate kata (forms), many which are similar to the Han Moo Kwan style. What is lacks in the section on kata is any description. It is a good reference book, but I’d buy Cho’s book and Tae Kwon Do Classic Forms by Ted Hillson before this one only because they other two have more detailed descriptions. This book, though, enhances the others in my opinion.
My Rating: Very Good
Amazon Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (29 reviewers as of 12/22/07)

2. Strong on Defense by Sanford Strong
Description (portion of the Back Cover)
Despite what we know about today’s random violence, when it comes to violent crime most of us still tell ourselves, “It can’t happen to me.” But that mental wall-that unwillingness to face reality-can be your single greatest obstacle to surviving a violent crime. It’s been proved again and again, survival in a criminal assault demands immediate action, and in order to be able to react immediately and control your fear, you need to have survival decisions in place ahead of time. This crucial concept is what Sanford Strong, a twenty-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department and expert on defense and survival techniques, calls a mindset.
My Comments:
Sanford Strong gives no nonsense advice on how to prepare for and the dos and don’ts when encountering violent crime. While most of it sounds like common sense, the statistics and real-life scenarios drive home the fact you need to have made up your mind regarding a scenario before it happens so you can just react and not think in a real situation because there is no time to hesitate. The real life examples and discussion on what the people in the scenario did right and wrong also drive home Sanford’s advice.
My Rating: Very Good to Excellent
Amazon Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (34 reviewers as of 12/22/07)

Ragrds,

Kelly

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win. Sun Tzu, Art of War

Welcome to the Chief Instructor’s Blog

Welcome to the Chief Instructor’s Blog on the Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwan Do Club website. I will be using this blog to share information with the Club members regarding the art form, instructor tips, training tips, reminders, martial arts books reviews, recommended websites, or martial arts movie reviews.

This blog is also available for Club members or guests to post questions regarding the art form and I will post my responses.

Regards,

Kelly


“The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War.