Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course Paperback – January 1, 1998

Very interesting book.

I own a copy of the original book and it is excellent. If you own a copy of Mas Oyama's Essential Karate, this is just a reprint that has been renamed. If you don't already own a copy, I highly recommend that you purchase this book. In it, you'll find priceless information on basic techniques, conditioning, and BODY ALIGNMENT in punching and kicking, which I had found lacking in most other books on the subject. Also included in this volume is a brief introduction to breath training; Mas Oyama was famous for being one of the first Karateka to openly teach Kiko (Chi Kung).

Expectations were exceeded. Very happy and satisfied. Will buy it again and highly recommend to everyone. Fast delivery and great condition as described.

Classic text. Glad I could find it.

this is the same book previously titled "essential karate". i do owned the 2 books but this version "complete karate course" was on my martial arts library while the "essential karate" was on my own living room so that when i want to review some techniques i can look at them. great book from a great teacher. a five star rating for grandmaster oyama.

The title of this book sounds really promising, Mas Oyama's Complete Karate Course, but I would actually prefer to use the word Complement instead of Complete. It's a really good book and is definitively mandatory reading for any student of Kyokushin, even if the previous title of this book (Mas Oyama's Essential Karate) more reflects what it's about. This book explains the importance of the basics of Kyokushin, and it gets understandable what makes this style so special and different from the more traditional Okinawa styles. The reader gets information and valuable points about techniques, training, taming for blocking, punching, and kicking. This book is recommended reading for all students of Kyokushin.

Definitely a must-have for all karate-ka! This book was the first to give me a real insight into the intensity of the spirit of karate-do. I'm glad I read this one early on in my training; it helped me understand intensity much better durring my early years than I probably would have otherwise. If you practice kyokushin, then This book is a definite help if you like to practice your techniques on your own time, and I would also heartilly recommend this book for those who aren't from the kyokushin school. (I myself am not from their school, but I still found this book extremely helpful.) I first read this book a few years ago (then known as "Mas Oyama's essential karate," and I still come back to read it again and again frequently.

Any beginner student of karate and specially Kyokushin Karate can complement his initial studies with the use of this book. It is well illustrated and shows in good detail, the basic positions, punches, kicks and blocks the Kyokushin way. However it is not a substitute for actual classroom practice and learning. I definetely recommended for those who are taking their first steps in Kyokushin Kay Kan Karate.