Shotokan Literature

The following books are my personal favorites. These are the books that I feel should be in any Shotokan practioners library. These are by no means the only books available on the subject of Shotokan karate, but they are the best of the ones I have come across. Also, while some of these books are Shotokan specific, others are more general, but I still feel that are good enough to be part of this list and any martial artists library.

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Karate-Do Kyohan - The Master Text
Written by Gichin Funakoshi himself, if you can only get one Shotokan book, this is the book to get. Kyohan deals with most aspects of the art. Some history, some philosophy and alot of technique. In fact, the book lays all 15 of the original kata Funakoshi-sensei put into Shotokan.

Published by Kodansha International Ltd. Copyright 1973
ISBN 0-87011-190-6

Karate-Do NyuMon
As a way to simplify just what karate is and was all about, Gichin Funakoshi wrote this introduction to karate. With a brief history of karate, some kata (Ten-No-Kata, specifically) and some anecdotes thrown in, this is a book that should be on the shelf of all shotokan practitioners.

Published by Kodansha International Ltd. Copyright 1994
ISBN 4-77001-891-6

Karate-Do: My Way of Life
Gichin Funakoshi's autobiography. A very good and well-written book that tells what Funakoshi's life was like.

Published by Kodansha International Ltd. Copyright 1975
ISBN 0-87011-463-8

25 Shoto-Kan Kata
Sugiyama-sensei knows how to teach kata. Well illustrated, with information on movements, direction, hand placement, hip rotation, plus, this book covers it all. If you have a question about how to perform a kata, this is the place to turn.

Published by Shojiro Sugiyama Copyright 1984
ISBN 0-96690-480-X

Shotokan Karate: Its History and Traditions
A VERY informative book written by Randall Hassell. Explains where Shotokan came from, the book has a chapter about the life of Funakoshi. It even gives an explanation of why the tiger is the symbol of Shotokan. The appendices are quite good. They list everything from the arts kata, to All-Japan Karate champions, to the lineage of almost any martial art that is in any way related to Shotokan

Published by Focus Publications Copyright 1984
ISBN 0-911921-05-2

Moving Zen: Karate as a Way to Gentleness
A wonderful story by C.W. Nicol. It chronicles the authors metamorphosis from a street tough who moves to Japan to a man who finds inner and peace and enlightenment, all through the practice of karate. Every time I read this book, I get something new from it.

Published by Quill Copyright 1975
ISBN 0-688-01181-8

Best Karate Vol. 1 - Comprehensive
The first book in what is arguably the best series of Shotokan books around.

Published by Kodansha Copyright 1978
ISBN 0-870113-17-8

To view the rest of the Best Karate series, click here.

Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting
Nishiyama-sensei does a superb job of explaining the basics of karate. While there is some history and philosophy covered, that's not what you want this book for. This book lays it all out, stances, kicks, punches and blocks. What's really cool are the training schedules. Definitely get this book.

Published by Tuttle Reprint 1991
ISBN 0-804-81668-9

Martial Arts Explorer
Not a book, but a CD-ROM. Study twelve popular martial arts - including karate, judo, taekwondo, jujitsu, tai chi chuan and aikido - interactively via your personal computer with the CD-ROM. Tansakusha, the Explorer, leads you through your study, using split-screen technology, 3D animation, instructive videos, sound, music and art. Along the way, take fully interactive diversions to libraries, theatres and books to find a wealth of information on the history, philosophy, art and medicine of the Far East. With the Martial Arts Explorer, you can view different types of Far Eastern art, view a real action self-defense movie sequence, access over 100 video clips featuring demonstrations and interviews and observe a 3D view of Far Eastern history.

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