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What Is Karate?
Book by Oyama, Masutatsu
- GenresMartial Arts
176 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1966
5 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Masutatsu Oyama
56 books48 followersMasutatsu Oyama (大山 倍達 Ōyama Masutatsu, July 27th, 1923 – April 26, 1994), more commonly known as Mas Oyama, was a karate master who founded Kyokushinkai Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate. He was born Choi Yeong-eui (Korean: 최영의 in Korea, Hanja: 崔永宜). A Zainichi Korean, he spent most of his life living in Japan and acquired Japanese citizenship in 1964. He is an alumnus of Waseda University in Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 25, 2008
Ini adalah buku pertama saya mengenai Martial Arts, yang saya dapatkan dari seorang master yang telah memperkenalkan tentang strategi dan seni dalam pertarungan jalanan yang tidak akan pernah saya lupakan seumur hidup.
July 16, 2025
This is the weakest of Oyama’s classics and not worth acquiring over something like the far superior ‘This is Karate’. It is too short and undetailed in almost all the sections and doesn’t give a satisfying representation of the classical conception of Kyokushin Karate or the iconic personality of Mas Oyama. It will likely have nostalgic value for some, and it is certainly not boring, with its best sections being those on breathing, pad training, and self defence.
Depth - Limited
The technique chapter photos are only shown executed solo rather than with an opponent. Never quite seems to give further detail when the meaning of something is brought up. Often mentions that a particular technique is of paramount importance but never justifies why with examples or analysis. The principle of circular movement is alluded to as a key idea, and could have been used as a central theme to answer the book’s titular question, but alas it remains as just an occasional reference.
The kata are not given any applications, and the various self defence scenarios don’t have much discussion of variations. Any historical content is a little too brief and anecdotal to be truly informative.
There is a good level of detail for breathing techniques and equipment methods for practicing thrusting techniques.
One of the more compelling chapters looks at free-style practice fight postures, and interestingly shows Oyama in a stance resembling that seen in Muay Thai or Pankration. However, there is a limited analysis of the stance itself, with more attention being given to the variations of the hand positioning, and even this does not have visual demonstrations or explanations.
Breadth - Limited
The book is quite limited in scope. Most of the karate arm and leg strikes are shown, but only very few blocks. No exploration of flexibility or weight training of any sort. No section on information pertinent to dojo sparring or competition.
The self defence section is nicely varied, with perhaps some considerations not often included in other works of that subject matter, though the depth issue outlined earlier keeps this from being a standout positive.
Objectivity - Uncompelling
Most of the statements of fact are given just on the authority of the author and not justified with any kind of deeper empiricism or theory. This is expected of any old fashioned martial arts treatise, but some of the claims are unintuitive or specific enough that it becomes an issue. For example, sanchin dachi is claimed to be the stance best suited to actual fight situations, but this certainly goes against one’s obvious experience and intuition. Maybe something else was meant but without any analysis it just seems like an incorrect belief.
The weapon self defence techniques aren’t fanciful by any means, but aren’t realistic at the attack ranges shown, though the first pistol defence does wisely involve acting before the pistol is drawn. Such a consideration indicates a sense of assessing when action is actually appropriate that doesn’t get carried over to the other techniques.
The autobiographical account of Oyama’s famous fight with the bull at the end comes off a little less objective when you watch the real footage, though it can still be taken as an earnest expression of his emotions at the time.
Clarity - Very good
The descriptions are generally very clear in all regards, and the photos are well taken. It is a very easy to read book.
The only section where the clarity suffers is the chapter on kata, where the photos become a little too small, and too many photos are given for one step. It would have been clearer to employ more overlayed photos and movement arrows as used in the rest of the book.
Effect - Neutral
Any of Oyama’s books will motivate you to improve your karate, or learn it if you are a true beginner, but this one carries the least motivation simply for its overall lack of content. It cannot really claim to have compellingly answered the titular question, and I don’t believe someone would come away from this book with a significantly more spiritual or precise understanding of Karate. The short essays at the end perhaps best address the title, but are too brief to truly change your perspective.
Depth - Limited
The technique chapter photos are only shown executed solo rather than with an opponent. Never quite seems to give further detail when the meaning of something is brought up. Often mentions that a particular technique is of paramount importance but never justifies why with examples or analysis. The principle of circular movement is alluded to as a key idea, and could have been used as a central theme to answer the book’s titular question, but alas it remains as just an occasional reference.
The kata are not given any applications, and the various self defence scenarios don’t have much discussion of variations. Any historical content is a little too brief and anecdotal to be truly informative.
There is a good level of detail for breathing techniques and equipment methods for practicing thrusting techniques.
One of the more compelling chapters looks at free-style practice fight postures, and interestingly shows Oyama in a stance resembling that seen in Muay Thai or Pankration. However, there is a limited analysis of the stance itself, with more attention being given to the variations of the hand positioning, and even this does not have visual demonstrations or explanations.
Breadth - Limited
The book is quite limited in scope. Most of the karate arm and leg strikes are shown, but only very few blocks. No exploration of flexibility or weight training of any sort. No section on information pertinent to dojo sparring or competition.
The self defence section is nicely varied, with perhaps some considerations not often included in other works of that subject matter, though the depth issue outlined earlier keeps this from being a standout positive.
Objectivity - Uncompelling
Most of the statements of fact are given just on the authority of the author and not justified with any kind of deeper empiricism or theory. This is expected of any old fashioned martial arts treatise, but some of the claims are unintuitive or specific enough that it becomes an issue. For example, sanchin dachi is claimed to be the stance best suited to actual fight situations, but this certainly goes against one’s obvious experience and intuition. Maybe something else was meant but without any analysis it just seems like an incorrect belief.
The weapon self defence techniques aren’t fanciful by any means, but aren’t realistic at the attack ranges shown, though the first pistol defence does wisely involve acting before the pistol is drawn. Such a consideration indicates a sense of assessing when action is actually appropriate that doesn’t get carried over to the other techniques.
The autobiographical account of Oyama’s famous fight with the bull at the end comes off a little less objective when you watch the real footage, though it can still be taken as an earnest expression of his emotions at the time.
Clarity - Very good
The descriptions are generally very clear in all regards, and the photos are well taken. It is a very easy to read book.
The only section where the clarity suffers is the chapter on kata, where the photos become a little too small, and too many photos are given for one step. It would have been clearer to employ more overlayed photos and movement arrows as used in the rest of the book.
Effect - Neutral
Any of Oyama’s books will motivate you to improve your karate, or learn it if you are a true beginner, but this one carries the least motivation simply for its overall lack of content. It cannot really claim to have compellingly answered the titular question, and I don’t believe someone would come away from this book with a significantly more spiritual or precise understanding of Karate. The short essays at the end perhaps best address the title, but are too brief to truly change your perspective.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews