American Freestyle Karate: A Guide to Sparring

by Super Dan Anderson

Book Overview

By Dan Anderson. #303. 6 X 9, 126 pages, paperback. ISBN #0-86568-021-3. American Freestyle Karate is the tag Dan Anderson gave this method of instruction to convey the idea of a non-oriental approach... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0865680213
• ISBN13: 9780865680210
• Release Date: December 1981
• Publisher: Unique Publications
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Finally, not another "This is a kick, this is a punch." book!

Perhaps I was mistaken in assuming that a book titled "American Freestyle Katate A Guide to Sparring" would focus more on sparring and strategy and tactics over basics, but I'm glad I assumed the content would match the title. 'Cause it does. A typical MA book demonstrates basic punches and kicks, maybe has a brief section on sparring and then hits you with a half dozen forms/kata and calls it a day. It's a rare thing when the content is mainly focused on helping the reader develop those skills that the reader is interested in furthering, and rarer yet when that information is useful. The example techniques depicted aren't nearly as useful as the theories presented, as the theories can be mapped on to any style that practices point or continous sparring. If there's a better book on the subject, I haven't found it sitting on a bookstore shelf yet.

Great Book - Not For The Beginner

I have been involved in martial arts for 4 years (about to test for my black belt in American Karate). No first year player should be looking to a book for sparring instructions! Any beginner in any style belongs in a studio well past one year learning basics from an instructor before picking up a book and attempting to learn something new. I picked this book up about a year ago when I got to brown belt and have used it VERY effectively in sparring (both free and point). The presentation of the critical distance range and effective monitoring range were great! This is an aspect of sparring that is not taught well or emphasized enough (at least in my school), but without mastering it you will not win.

Possibly the Greatest Sparring Book Available

This book is a must for anyone who wants to take sparring seriously. This book is not a standard "primer" on martial art movements and technquies, but instead, is a masterpiece in giving the karateka tools, both mentally and physically, to enhance their sparring abilities. The book discusses everything from entry and retreat to attacking and defending. Ideas are explored such as offensive and defensive attacking postures.The book discusses sparring for tournament, the dojo (training hall) and self-defense. This book was published in 1982 and still remains the epitome of sparring manuels. An absolute must!

Outstanding

As a collector of over 300 books on the martial arts, Anderson's book is the best I have seen on sparring. A top tournament competitor in the '60s, '70s and '80s, Anderson has crammed his book with tons of information gathered from his vast experience sparring countless fighters nationally and internationally. American Freestyle is an encyclopedia of techniques and concepts proven in the ring over many years of tough, competitive experience. I highly recommend this book.

the best book on sparring I have ever read

I have been involved in the martial arts for over nine years and I have never come across a better manual for sparring than this!!! Mr. Anderson goes beyond the typical martial arts primer found in most martial arts books to explaine strategy, angles of attack, different attacking modes... this is an excellent book for the experienced martial artist as it doesn't spend much time on the basics. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in improving their sparring. this book is geared to compitition sparring but with a small ammount of imagination the reader can apply it to street fighting!!! a wonderful book!!! ps. if anyone knows of others like it please let me know!!!