Читать книгу Shoto-Kan Karate. The Ultimate in Self-Defense онлайн

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The techniques of karate are called kata in Japanese. A kata consists of a number of offensive and defensive techniques with a minimum of twenty movements, with each kata more advanced than the last. Generally these kata are in a form of a style named after the person who perfected them. The thinking of one person created friction among the various karate masters.

In Shoto-Kan Karate these questions or conflicts of thought are eliminated, for the knowledge is not of one individual and one mind. Through the efforts and leadership of Karate Master Funa-koshi Gichin, there is the organization of movements and thoughts of many other karate masters of his time. Mr. Funakoshi spent many years of careful study of these masters' skills in developing Shoto-Kan Karate.

Shoto-Kan Karate involves twenty-nine kata, each of which is more intricate than the last, each involves entirely different and separate movements, and each is more beautiful than the last. Some kata are very strong, very violent, and very powerful, whereas others are very graceful, very smooth, and very beautiful. Each serves its own purpose, each has its own separate merits. The study and perfection of one kata prepares the student for the next, right up the ladder to the rank of black belt and finally to master.