Nathan LigoKyokushin Beginner's Guide: Replicating Mas Oyama's Budo Karate in the Western

My husbmad found the book was traditional but that the author had a bit of ego. Overall good.

I thought I would see the Katas and bunkais

A very good book not only for the beginners.It helps to realize and feel the true spirit of karate, specially the karate kyokushin.

Where to start? Okay, the constant over use of typed "yelling". As a way to make a point at times, sure at times understandable. Using it as a device in literally every other, if not every paragraph gets old. It gets old mighty quick. All in all even for a beginning guide to Kyokushin Karate. It starts falling flat almost coming out of the gate. Constantly jumping back and forth from multiple concepts and subjects it fails to deliver any real insight into Karate, Kyokushin or not. Knowing some of the history of the subject Mr. Ligo seems to believe he has a rather lofty leg up on here in America. I can say quite a few of his "facts" are actually just his opinion or in some cases, literally just viewpoints in his own mind. Add on the very strange Americanization of a number of Japanese terms. The random fast forward, rewind, no wait! Go back to... and what you have is much more the author's often juvenile outlook on any number of people/places/things. As well as a huge amount of ego from the man who wasn't actually the first "live-in'" American student of Mas Oyama. Just more of the same ego from the man who as a youth fled in the night and was given an honorary diploma for the young Lion's course by Oyama. Not anything new or substantial to a beginning student of any school of Karate-do. Osu!

The single most important read for any Western practitioners of traditional Kyokushin Karate. Arguably the most important point delivered in this book is the importance of the "how" vs the "what". This book is the "how" in regards to one's approach to Kyokushin Karate, from decorum and proper dojo etiquette, and the practice as a whole. I have read many Karate books with many pictures, but none so profoundly painted the proper picture for me as this one did in helping to develop my Karate-do. A must read.