Best MA Books and DVDs

[Bruce7]

While I am looking for a new school, I am going to continue training until I find a school with a teacher I can learn from.

I want to relearn my old forms Pyung Ahn and Palgwae.
I remember all the techniques. I just don't always remember what comes next. It has been over 30 years,
so books or DVDs would be helpful.

I would also like to build my own small MA library of the best books and DVDs .

What is your favorite book or DVD set?

 

[Dirty Dog]

You're going to find that there is a great deal of variation between different schools performing these forms. So good luck finding one that does them the way you were originally taught.
My favorite books on the Palgwae forms are the ones I wrote, obviously.

 

[Bruce7]

I was looking throw old MA books I had in storage.
I found a mint condition 1973 first edition, print in Japan
KARATE-DO KYSHAN (the master text by Gichin Funakoshi translated by Tsutomu Ohshima)
This is one cool book.

Chapter 4 Kata starts on page 33 and ends page 208.
There is plenty to keep me busy.

 

[JR 137]

I was looking throw old MA books I had in storage.
I found a mint condition 1973 first edition, print in Japan
KARATE-DO KYSHAN (the master text by Gichin Funakoshi translated by Tsutomu Ohshima)
This is one cool book.

Chapter 4 Kata starts on page 33 and ends page 208.
There is plenty to keep me busy.

I’ve seen that book but haven’t really looked too closely. And while books written by people like Funakoshi are great, they’re limited to freezing time and not capturing true movement, which is the essence of this stuff.

If you’re going the Shotokan route, the Kanazawa series on YouTube will be your best bet. He’s the standard in Shotokan kata; there’s Kanazawa and there’s everyone else. Yes that’s a bold statement, but I haven’t seen anyone do all Shotokan kata to his level. Perhaps one or two kata are better by others, but not much better. Competitors put a unique spin on things, he doesn’t. Yes everyone does, but it’s hard to describe with him.

All IMO.

 

[Bruce7]

I’ve seen that book but haven’t really looked too closely. And while books written by people like Funakoshi are great, they’re limited to freezing time and not capturing true movement, which is the essence of this stuff.

If you’re going the Shotokan route, the Kanazawa series on YouTube will be your best bet. He’s the standard in Shotokan kata; there’s Kanazawa and there’s everyone else. Yes that’s a bold statement, but I haven’t seen anyone do all Shotokan kata to his level. Perhaps one or two kata are better by others, but not much better. Competitors put a unique spin on things, he doesn’t. Yes everyone does, but it’s hard to describe with him.

All IMO.

Your right the katas don't have enough pictures to show everything, I know the katas so it is not as big a problem.
I just need to be reminded what comes next sometimes.
Kanazawa series is good and complete.
Karin Prinsloo videos are very good, but does not have all the katas.

 

[Bruce7]

The Pyung Ahn forms I learn back in the 70's look more like heian katas from my book and the heian katas on youtube.
IMO Karate has not changed as much as Taekwondo.

 

[Bruce7]

Living The Martial Why was another book I found in storage.
I was not training in MA when I got the book as a gift in the 90's
and so I just now read the book.
I enjoyed reading it. It is a very interesting prospective on MA.
I agree with almost all of the book.
I think the book is useful for Martial Artist at any level.

 

[Blindside]

Try Rory Miller's "Meditations on Violence."

 

[dvcochran]

While I am looking for a new school, I am going to continue training until I find a school with a teacher I can learn from.

I want to relearn my old forms Pyung Ahn and Palgwae.
I remember all the techniques. I just don't always remember what comes next. It has been over 30 years,
so books or DVDs would be helpful.

I would also like to build my own small MA library of the best books and DVDs .

What is your favorite book or DVD set?

Y.K. Kim has an excellent book. It is probably 80's vintage.