Sabaki means staying open to the world at large and responding to others in a way that blends energies in new directions. Whether it is a question of repelling an attack or building relationships, the combined energy that comes from sabaki is an effort of cooperation, openness, and respect. Whether you are training for health, competition, or self-defense, The Sabaki Method can show you how to turn defense into offense, anticipate attacks, condition the body, and focus the mind. Kancho Ninomiya takes the mystery out of karate.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Fantastic Book Written By A Fantastic Martial Artist Comment: Having competed in the prestigious Sabaki Challenge on three separate occasions, I was very intrigued to finally obtain a copy of Kancho Ninomiya's book, "Sabaki Method." Imagine my surprise to see a picture of me competing in 1994 against an opponent from Japan (you can see the picture on page 39).
I found this book to be very well done and loaded with valuable information. Although the scope of this book is large and therefore it's not possible to spend a lot of time on any one particular technique, the author does a fantastic job at providing you with very valuable information in a limited amount of space. The photographs and illustrations are top-notch and the detailed information that accompanies them to be nothing short of fantastic. Here is an example of some of the techniques, in this case kicks, that are demonstrated in this book.
I personally found the strategy and principles to be very sound and, in my opinion, the best part of the book. Another stellar section in this book is the training and practice methods that the author demonstrates quite well towards the back of the book. I particularly liked the section dealing with the heavy bag.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone involved not only in the "hard" styles of Karate, but any martial art be it Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu, etc. There is something to be learned by everyone in this book.
Shawn Kovacich
Martial Artist/Author of the Achieving Kicking Excellence series. Customer Rating: Summary: No myths Karate! Comment: On the roots of Kyokushin and Ashihara Karate, there is an excellent book of Kancho Joko Ninomiya.
Over 2000 photos and diagrams. Every full contact Karate fighter will learn a lot from that book.
Customer Rating: Summary: a 'must have' for serious martial artists Comment: Required reading for my private students. This book mirrors in words, photo's and highly illustrated drawings, one of the first things I learned when sparring: move around and outside an incoming attack. This book then shows how to best utilize this movement. I got the book back in 2002 and am still trying to drill some of these techniques into my repertoire. The book does an excellent job of displaying the basic punching and kicking mechanics and then moves into intermediate and advanced tactics and techniques. Then the book shows how to use this method for a very effective self-defense. The section of breaking ice with the hands and one (or more!) baseball bats with the shin was fascinating. I just wish they had gone into a little bit more on the conditioning to make these breaks.
Even if you are not going to engage in full-contact sparring, the tactics and techniques are easily adapted for self-defense, point sparring, etc.
Customer Rating: Summary: Sabaki Method Comment: This book is one of the best you can find out there on Knockdown Full-Contact Karate. Very complete and with good explanations. The only lack you can find is some of the photos are a bit too small.
Really good. Customer Rating: Summary: the inner circle Comment: Circular motion is used in virtually all combat disciplines and sports. Wrestling, Judo, Boxing, Basketball, Ice Skating, Football etc. all utilize circular motion. Any athlete and or martial arts practitioner will tell you that circular motion is useful for a number of situations. The focus of this book is on Karate or more specifically a style of Karate called "Enshin". The premise behind Enshin Karate is that a smaller fighter can overcome a larger and stronger fighter by using his strength and momentum against him. One uses the opponent's momentum by utilizing circular motion to move out of the way of the attack, move to the opponent's blind spot and then counter. If one uses his imagination, the techniques are virtually limitless. One must keep in mind however that the techniques in this book are Enshin Karate techniques which means everything done is under that system's rules.
In most styles of Karate, you aren't allowed to grab but Enshin allows one-handed grabbing in order to generate more leverage from your opponent and to use circular motion better. The techniques of Enshin Karate are indeed beautiful, but most of these techniques are incompatible with other styles of Karate because of the no grabbing rules. So what works for Enshin Karate fighting will not work for Taekwondo, Kyokushin or point fighting. The idea of circular motion however is good to keep in mind for any martial artist especially when you are going against a larger opponent.
