SHOTOKAN KARATE: PRACTICAL COMBAT KARATE FOR THE STREET
By Joseph J. Truncale

Shotokan Karate is one of the most popular traditional Karate styles in the world. The standard Shotokan karate class consists of training in three primary areas. They are practice of the basics or Kihon, the practice of kata (forms) and sparring (kumite). The sparring practice may consist of five times sparring, three times sparring, one time sparring, semi-free sparring and free sparring. Though karate is one of the most effective systems of self-defense, this area of karate is practiced the least in most traditional dojos. This book will focus only on the self-defense aspects of Karate. This book is not aimed at the beginner but the intermediate and experienced Karate-ka who understands and knows the basics and kata of karate. Without the solid foundation in Shotokan karate basics, true self-defense skills cannot be developed. This book will briefly cover the basic weapons of the body and the difference between practical self-defense and dojo free sparring practice.