The Shotokan Karate Handbook: Beginner to Black Belt (Fifth Edition): Beginner to Black Belt

"I've been carrying Gursharan's books around in my bag now for the last ten years and swear by them. Of all the hundreds of book that I have about Shotokan karate, I always fall back and end up using Gursharan's two books for simplicity and ease of use.

Yes, there are other kata books on the market which may be better pictorially (e.g. Nakayama) but Gursharan's have everything you need as a quick reference guide in just two volumes. The content is very neatly and logically laid out. If you're already practising karate, Gursharan's books will be the perfect handy reference guide for you.

I agree mostly with the other positive reviews here too. As for different moves etc in one review, even though we're all learning Shotokan, you will naturally find slight variations from style to style and association to association. The art is hundreds of years old and has been passed down from a variety of different masters, each of whom have added to or taken away parts of the kata that they favoured or disliked the most.

If you can find an association that follows the traditional line of teaching that focuses more on kata & bunkai, as opposed to sport or competition, then you'll be on the right path. As Supreme Grand Master Funakoshi said - "Karate will take a life time". Karate is more importantly about perfection of character and less about kicking & punching etc.

As for teaching yourself karate from a book, you can't teach yourself just by looking at a few pictures, but if you're already attending classes, Gursharan's book (and videos) will help you revise, keep up or even get ahead of your class mates. The pictures and diagrams are quite adequate. No book could ever replace an instructor and teach you about the proper timing and kime that's involved in performing your kata.

These two volumes have stood the test of time, are as complete as they should be and very affordable, considering the amount of content that they offer. They contain all of the 27 kata from the Shotokan canon and all of the associated stances, kicks, blocks, & punches etc that you need to become a very competent karate-ka and much much more."
~ Written on 2008-06-22

"This is an excellent book that covers virtually all the basics and Kata you will need to go from beginner to black belt. Like previous reviewers have said though, don't buy this thinking you can teach yourself Karate. You need to go to classes as well.

I bought this as a complete beginner (at the age of 45) in 2005. The Kata photographs are good but some sometimes difficult to follow (even with directional arrows) because when Sahota is facing you and steps forward to punch with his right-hand you tend to want to punch with your left hand.

The other problem is that whilst the number of Kata covered is very comprehensive, at neither of the two clubs I've belonged to have the Katas been exactly the same as in this book. My advice would to any beginner would be to join a club first, and then get your Sensei to advise whether a book like this is worth purchasing. "
~ Written on 2007-03-03

"Bought this book in 1999 and never looked back. This book (in conjunction with regular classes, and the instructional video's that go hand in hand with the book) helped me achieve my black belt (Shodan) in Shotokan Karate.

In my opinion this is one reference book that everyone in Shotokan Karate should have on their shelf.

-Ken"
~ Written on 2006-10-08

"overall the book is very good. but following some techniques are difficult to follow due to a lack of directional arrows. this book has an excellent page of different fists."
~ Written on 2005-09-01

"This book was writen by the 6th dan cheif instructor of TISKA senseiGursharan Sahota. It is an excellent book and invaluable training aid. Itshould only be used as a guide and not a replacement of a regular sensei.It features all kata needed to get to green belt including bassai dai,wankan and bunkai for all kata. It also has a guide to about 10 differentblock, lots of kicks including Mae Tobi Geri (front jumping kick) and YokoTobi Geri (Flying Kick). It includes all grading syallabi belt ranks andwarm up exercises as well as a chapter dedicated to self defence. Itsglossary means you can look up prenounciations of all japaneese words usedin the book. For more information try searching TISKA on a search engine"
~ Written on 2004-04-23