CompleteMartialArts.com - American Freestyle Karate (Unique Literary Books of the World)
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List Price: $11.95
Our Price: $29.95
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Unique Publications
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.8153
EAN: 9780865680210
ISBN: 0865680213
Label: Unique Publications
Manufacturer: Unique Publications
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: 1981-06
Publisher: Unique Publications
Studio: Unique Publications
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Just As Relevant Today As It Was 26 Years Ago!
Comment: Having started my own martial arts training the same year that this book was published, I find a bit of nostalgia creeping in as I read and then subsequently started writing this review. I don't recall every reading this book during my early years of training, although I am sure that I had seen it a time or two. In retrospect, I wish I had read this book way back when as I am sure that it would have helped me in my training.
What makes this book so unique is the simple fact that it is loaded with page after page of solid relevant information on various strategies and principles on how to maximize the effectiveness of your technique in a sparring situation. Although the majority of the information in this book is geared towards the tournament competitor, there is a lot of information that is applicable to actual use in a self-defense situation. However, some of the techniques and principles shown in this book would need to be modified slightly in order to be effective.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Finally, not another "This is a kick, this is a punch." book!
Comment: Perhaps I was mistaken in assuming that a book titled "American Freestyle Katate A Guide to Sparring" would focus more on sparring and strategy and tactics over basics, but I'm glad I assumed the content would match the title. 'Cause it does.
A typical MA book demonstrates basic punches and kicks, maybe has a brief section on sparring and then hits you with a half dozen forms/kata and calls it a day. It's a rare thing when the content is mainly focused on helping the reader develop those skills that the reader is interested in furthering, and rarer yet when that information is useful. The example techniques depicted aren't nearly as useful as the theories presented, as the theories can be mapped on to any style that practices point or continous sparring.
If there's a better book on the subject, I haven't found it sitting on a bookstore shelf yet.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Book - Not For The Beginner
Comment: I have been involved in martial arts for 4 years (about to test for my black belt in American Karate). No first year player should be looking to a book for sparring instructions! Any beginner in any style belongs in a studio well past one year learning basics from an instructor before picking up a book and attempting to learn something new. I picked this book up about a year ago when I got to brown belt and have used it VERY effectively in sparring (both free and point). The presentation of the critical distance range and effective monitoring range were great! This is an aspect of sparring that is not taught well or emphasized enough (at least in my school), but without mastering it you will not win.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Synthtcboy03 and the reader from TX are both right --
Comment: The book IS hard to read, with its font size 9 (!!) print and Unique Publication's usual B&W photography. However, Mr. Anderson did add arrows to his pics to show the original position of limbs b4 movement and their destination (head of the arrow)is represented in the subsequent photographs. The material is NOT adequate for a beginner in my opinion. The TX reader speaks true in this regard. However, if you are intermediate to advanced, seeking to refine, and CAN STAND READING FONT SIZE 9 PRINT with small B&W photos, then, Dan's work smacks of sincere intent to TEACH GOOD SPARRING TACTICS just as Synthtcboy03 says. (Thanks for the recommend, btw) and I would recommend it too, though I probably shouldn't as I have a competition later this month and my opponent might be looking for something just like this to make our encounter more challenging on me. ;)
Customer Rating:
Summary: I wouldn't say it was the greatest book on sparring.
Comment: I was disappointed in the book honestly. Dan Anderson unquestionably knows what he is doing. But with this book he is trying to teach you exactly how to move and execute sparring techniques, which is very difficult to do so with text. Although there are many pictures, 3/4ths of the book are pages full of small black and white pictures of Dan executing techniques, they are laid out in a fashion that is very hard to follow. I feel that if you want to learn how to spar better, your best bet is to get personal instruction. This book is basically just the text of a karate class describing the various techniques. A much better book in my opinion is "The Fighter's Fact Book" by Loren W. Christensen, that not only covers the techniques but also the mindset and drills to help you become better at fighting.The book has a terrible layout with almost no chapters or sections. It makes finding specific information hard. I will not be buying any more books from Unique Publications. My background is 1 year in Tae Kwon Do - so what do I know. :)
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