Simply Karate [With DVD]

by Mark Richardson

Book Overview

Generations ago, the banning of weapons in Okinawa created the need for the study of an unarmed style of self-defense, and so the early forms of karate were born. Karate literally translated is 'kara'... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1741570131
• ISBN13: 9781741570137
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Hinkler Books (AU)
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.7" x 11.2"

Customer Reviews

An Intense Workout!

This DVD provides a comprehensive, intense martial-arts workout. I have been a practicing karateka for the past 11 years and am advanced in rank. This workout can still challenge me! The strikes, blocks, and kicks are similar (almost the same) as those used in the Bushidokan system in which I train. Even if you are new to martial arts, you will find this DVD helpful. Just take it more slowly than the more advanced student. You will find yourself building strength, stamina, and confidence. Mark Richardson provides an excellent workout and an excellent replacement to the dojo on the days I cannot be there. I highly recommend this DVD--and get it while you can, while supplies last. It is not easy to get a copy!

Stimulating Introduction to Karate

I bought this because I knew almost nothing about karate, there was little cash risk, and I thought it would supplement my (even cheaper) karate flash cards, which weren't too satisfactory. This DVD is probably one of the best investments, all things considered, I have ever made regarding any topic. It is at once a work of art (you won't believe the "dojo"), interesting (regarding the warmups and the karate techniques demonstrated), and useful (for working out, at least). I find following along with Mark and doing the things he demonstrates on one foot to be quite challenging and fun at my advanced states of age and blubber. In fact, I bought another copy, one to give to a deserving warrior candidate, probably a grand-offspring. I am not quite ready for a makiwara, but I can posture much more convincingly than with just the flash cards, and I am toying with the idea of visiting a dojo when I get firmed up a bit. If you are a total but interested novice, Mark Richardson's DVD is a great source of information without having to wade through mystical history, hype, and other "bologna". I don't believe Mark mentions which style he demonstrates, I had no idea, and I thank the other reviewers for their remarks about this.

This is a pretty good introduction to karate as a workout

I've just looked through the written material and watched the dvd. This is a perfectly good dvd for a number of purposes. On the one hand, if you're looking for a Christmas present for a kid who likes karate, this won't be far off. On the other hand, karate enthusiasts are sometimes totally focussed on their own particular styles, and hate anything that's not in exactly that style. Especially if they're young. Another use for this dvd/book combo is as an overview. If you're thinking of taking karate, and you wonder what it's all about, this is a useful overview of a bunch of techniques. The production values are very good, by the way. Good audio, good camera (it doesn't move much, but the camera angle is fine, and the picture is clear). There are occasional closeups of a foot position or hand position, when that is appropriate. The materials I have don't set out a clear martial arts bibliography for the author/demonstrator (essentially, the materials say he's been studying since he was a kid). Usually, this sort of dvd tells you the instructor, his style, and the specific instructors who trained him. Frankly, that's not terribly important for most purposes for which you'll use this dvd. There's another purpose for this dvd, and it's what I was looking for; I can use this as a sort of warmup, aerobic, basic technique dvd. I can pop it in, and just follow along until I get warmed up and out of breath. Essentially, I plan to use this dvd as a sort of a tai-bo substitute. That is, for me this'll be an exercise video instead of an overview video. There are a lot of different karate styles. Most people aren't able to tell the difference between them because the legit styles all use the same basic techniques, and the major differences show up in emphasis and differences in techniques. Some styles use higher stances, some lower. The demonstrator appears to be a student of a Mas Oyama student (Kyokushinkai), and his style is close enough to the style I've studied that I can mindlessly follow along and get a pretty good workout. Is it perfect? Well, no, but little in this world is perfect. But as an overview of basic karate techniques, or a sort of mostly aerobic exercises/karate exercises/stretching/warmup video, it's better than a lot that's on the market. In fact, it's the best I've seen, but while I plan to use this for my off days as a workout, I'm still looking for a dvd that's specifically a workout using good quality karate technique. This is pretty close, and it's cheap as dirt, so I'm giving it four stars.