Many of the kata performed today in Shotokan Karate were created centuries ago by the pioneering karate masters as a means of practising and remembering the myriad of basic techniques that made up their style. The kata are of vital significance as they provide a vehicle for understanding and developing skill in performing these techniques.

This clearly written and easily comprehensible book presents an important insight into the first six Shotokan Karate kata taught: Taikyoku Shodan, Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan and Heian Godan. It provides detailed instruction on each move , including its physical application against some of the more frequently used forms of attack.

Topics covered include:· A detailed exploration of the history of karate, tracing its roots back to China's Shaolin Temple.· An introduction to the contributions of the pioneering masters who helped shape karate and the kata.· A description of many of the secret pressure points and their locations.· An analysis of the kata in which each one is broken down and depicted pictorially, and also described in detail so that the moves can be fully understood.· A description of at least one kata bunkai [application] for every move in the six kata.

Availability: Temporarily out of stock.