Shotokan Karate Handbook: Advanced (Advanced Edition)

I've been carrying Gursharan's books around in my bag now for the last ten years and swear by them. Of all the hundreds of book that I have about Shotokan karate, I always fall back and end up using Gursharan's two books for simplicity and ease of use.Yes, there are other kata books on the market which may be better pictorially (e.g. Nakayama) but Gursharan's have everything you need as a quick reference guide in just two volumes. The content is very neatly and logically laid out. If you're already practising karate, Gursharan's books will be the perfect handy reference guide for you.I agree mostly with the other positive reviews here too. As for different moves etc in one review, even though we're all learning Shotokan, you will naturally find slight variations from style to style and association to association. The art is hundreds of years old and has been passed down from a variety of different masters, each of whom have added to or taken away parts of the kata that they favoured or disliked the most.If you can find an association that follows the traditional line of teaching that focuses more on kata & bunkai, as opposed to sport or competition, then you'll be on the right path. As Supreme Grand Master Funakoshi said - "Karate will take a life time". Karate is more importantly about perfection of character and less about kicking & punching etc.As for teaching yourself karate from a book, you can't teach yourself just by looking at a few pictures, but if you're already attending classes, Gursharan's book (and videos) will help you revise, keep up or even get ahead of your class mates. The pictures and diagrams are quite adequate. No book could ever replace an instructor and teach you about the proper timing and kime that's involved in performing your kata.These two volumes have stood the test of time, are as complete as they should be and very affordable, considering the amount of content that they offer. They contain all of the 27 kata from the Shotokan canon and all of the associated stances, kicks, blocks, & punches etc that you need to become a very competent karate-ka and much much more.A word of warning!! - be very suspicious & sceptical of negative reviews where the writer has not had the courage of their convictions to leave their name.

Lots of step by step pictures and instructions

Great book to complement my kids training. Helped them get their 2nd Dan black belts.

Very good book easy to read and learn recommend

This was an excellent book - exactly what my son and family need to continue our training. Thanks can recommend

Clear pictures of the kata's are extremely helpful

The book is severely dated and the author makes the most basic fundamental errors when demonstrating his kata applications.If you believe you will be attacked form 6 feet away by a Karate-ka using Oi-zuki, and you will "block" his attack and then he will stand perfectly still like a statue whilst you counter, if you believe you can magically sense attacks from behind and repel them without even turning round (I kid you not, this is actually one of his kata applications), if you believe your kata teaches you to turn in 8 different directions because you are training you to fighting 8 people at once, or it is teaching you to fight on boats or down alleyways with your back to the wall, if you believe Karate contains blocks, then this book is for you.This is the sort of nonsense that was being banded about 30 years ago, but if you have any common sense it is best avoided, go buy something by Iain Abernethy instead.

Gursharan has done a great job with demostrating the advance shotokan karate kata. Each kata has been broken down to show clear pictures of each technique. I have always use this book to refer to as a guide. The only downside to this book is the bunkai that is explained at the end of each kata. The bunkai shown would never help you in the real world, which is a shame because some of these kata have some great moves in.Overall a great book to refer to when you forget a move in a kata and need a quick fix. As for kata bunkai, steer clear.