Shoto-Kan Karate
The Ultimate in Self-Defense
Published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.
of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
with editorial offices at
Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032
© 1970 by Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc.
All rights reserved
LCC Card No. 71-104205
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0421-1 (ebook)
First edition, 1970
First paperback edition, 1990
Fifth printing, 1995
PRINTED IN SINGAPORE
To the memory of all Karate Masters:
who, through their patience, wisdom,
and understanding in the teaching of
Karate, have made it possible for the
art to continue to the present day.
explanation of the emblem
Pure white background with the red circle
SYMBOL: The Japanese Flag
The gate
SYMBOL: Serenity
The black belt on the white background
SYMBOL : A reminder of the beginning of the study of Karate to the stage of black belt. The end is the beginning and the study has just begun.
He who claims to know all is a fool,
for his learning has ceased.
He who knows naught and knows he knows
naught is the enlightened one,
for his wisdom will be great.
CONFUCIUS
Table of Contents
| FOREWORD | page 11 |
| INTRODUCTION | 13 |
| DYNAMIC TENSION | 18 |
| Warm-up Exercises | 20 |
| STANCES | 28 |
| Forward-Leaning | 29 |
| Straddle-Leg | 30 |
| Back | 31 |
| BLOCKING TECHNIQUES | 34 |
| Low Block | 35 |
| Upper Block | 37 |
| Forearm Block | 40 |
| Knife-Hand Block | 41 |
| KICKING TECHNIQUES | 44 |
| Front-Snap Kick | 45 |
| Side-Kick | 48 |
| Back Kick | 50 |
| KATA | |
| Bassai No. 1 | 55 |
| Tekki No. 1 | 121 |
| DEPTHS OF KARATE MOVEMENTS | 151 |
| CONCLUSION | 155 |
| INDEX | 157 |
Foreword
There are many books on karate today, and what they generally contain is a maze of pictures showing dramatic and spectacular techniques. Where the techniques come from is very rarely explained. All techniques in karate are contained in the kata, or forms.
This book is, I feel, unique, for there has never been one written on such advanced kata as those contained here and, more important, their proper application. In understanding this book, it is essential for the reader to bear in mind that the kata is on the left-hand page executed by one model. The actual application of the same technique is on the opposite page executed by two models. Thus a person wishing to study this book in earnest will be able to see at a glance the techniques of the kata and their proper application.
The purpose of this is to show the effectiveness of karate through the study of the various forms and their application as they were intended. The book specializes primarily on two kata, the presentations of which, it is hoped, will enable the average person to see and understand what actually takes place in an attack.
The kata, Bassai No. 1 and Tekki No. 1, contain advanced movements which, with enough practice, anyone can learn and properly apply. I wish to show that the study of karate can be a very satisfying and rewarding experience without fear of injury to one's self or his partner, by the control of every physical movement made by either party.
I wish to acknowledge my thanks to Frank Cronin for posing for the photographs; to Ralph Moxcey for his skill and patience in taking the pictures, and to Anne Ventresca for the tremendous amount of typing performed to complete this book.
Ralph Moxcey
Peter Ventresca
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
Shoto-Kan Karate Association of Massachusetts
Headquarters—Ventresca Studio of Japanese Karate,
Boston, Mass.
Introduction
Karate is the defense of one's self from an attack without the aid of any weapon, such as a club, knife,