Читать книгу Complete Shotokan Karate. History, Philosophy, and Practice онлайн

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Anthony Mirakian: pp. 30, 34, 35, 37, 47

Philadelphia Museum of Art: p. 57 (Edmund L. Zalinsky Collection and gift of Mr. C. O. von Kienbusch); p. 58 (gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller); p. 63 (print purchased by subscription, supplemented by the Lola Downin Peck Fund); p. 77 (gift of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller) University Museum, University of Pennsylvania: p. 25

West Coast Karate Association: p. 41

The work that follows is my sole responsibility and any shortcomings are my own.

ROBIN L. RIELLY

Toms River, N. J.

Introduction

Since the end of the Second World War there has been an increasing involvement on the part of Westerners in the study of the traditional Japanese martial arts of judo, kendo, aikido, and karate. The great increase in the practice of these arts has led to a significant interest in the culture of the country that generated them. Along with this interest has come a plethora of self-appointed experts who claim to have great insights into the nature of the warrior class in Japanese society. Using their "knowledge," they have passed themselves off as masters in the various combative arts and have led others to believe that they are subscribers to and propagators of some grand warrior ethos. Their actions have been significant, since they have quantitatively, if not qualitatively, given to the Occidental world a glimpse of the martial traditions of Japan. For the most part, these presentations have been incorrect, leading many Westerners to view martial arts practitioners as fakes. On the other hand, many who have little knowledge of Japan accept the assertions of these "experts" as correct and thus assist in the propagation of misconceptions. The end result is that there exists within the Western world today a considerable misunderstanding of Japanese martial arts and related aspects of Japanese society.