Customer Rating:  
Summary: Good Book On The Traditional Kobudo Techniques
Comment: This is a very well done book on the traditional use of the nunchaku popularized by the late Bruce Lee in several of his movies. Originally used by farmer's on Okinawa to flail rice, this kobudo weapon is perhaps the most famous due to the exploits of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee.
The author does not teach you the "Hollywood" style of utilizing the nunchaku, but the more realistic and practical style that was originally developed on the island of Okinawa so many years ago.
This is accomplished through a series of well done photographs along with detailed foot positions and text to describe the intricacies of each move. The only complaint I have with this book, and admittedly it is a small one, is that there should have been even more detailed text accompanying each movement demonstrated by the author. Other than that, this is a very good book to have if you want to learn the traditional kobudo techniques for utilizing the nunchaku. Remember, as with any and all weapons, they are merely an extension of you.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Guide to a Misunderstood Traditional Kobudo Implement
Comment: Yes, this is Hirokazu Kanazawa of Shotokan fame. In this book Kanazawa demonstrated the nunchaku, or Okinawan rice flail (some argure it was part of a horses bit harness, but that's neither here-nor-there). I believe this is the only book written on a Kobudo weapon by a Shotokan Karate purist.
One of several traditional Kobudo weapons, the Nunchaku has long been a popular demonstration weapon. Kanazawa interestingly enough, demonstrates with a nunchaku held together with a chain, a' la Bruce Lee. His applications are for the most part traditional Kobudo (old-style weapons). This is NOT a traditionalist trying to cash in on a craze an looking like a fool. It is evident that the author has control and wields his weapon with precision in the photographs.
This book is perfect for the weapons buff, or for the Japanese Karate traditionalist who would like to take up kobudo practice. The stances shown here follow suite with Shotokan and tend to be wider.
Outside of Motokatsu Inoue's masterful works on kobudo, this is my favorite among English language nunchaku instructional texts. It is specific, the photos are clear and easy to understand, and the descriptions are a help. Like all the books I've seen that were published by Dragon books, a true work of quality.
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