Wado Ryu Karate/Jujutsu

Explanation’s of kata are great

I really like this guide. It is very simple and easy to follow. I study Wado Ryu karate and this guide has helped me when I practice alone. The pictures are very clear and show the Kata from different angles.Oct 3, 2013I am now teaching Wado Ryu and this guide has proved priceless to me.I originally purchased the Kindle version.I'm now coming back to purchase the physical book.

This is a decent and refreshing book about Wado Ryu. It provides for an interesting and realistic reading. I especially liked the author's honesty about the need to carry a weapon, and his pointing it out to the readers that Bruce Lee stuff is dangerous when facing someone with any kind of weapon. Thus, he makes it clear that those concerned with self-defence should as a first choice carry a weapon. That is decent and honourable advice.As far as Wado Ruy content is concerned, the book focuses on forms, which are essentially the same as Shotokan forms, so the more realistic performance of the forms (shorter stances) is really not so relevant for Wado Ryu, as it does not have its own forms.One warning: the author provides three principles for the effective implementation of Wado Ryu as a self-defence system, I paraphrase: "Get them bleeding, stope them breathing, cause shock." The latter two are valid, but to "get them to bleed", especially as a first defence principle, is misplaced. A bleeding person is not an incapacitated person, and in fact getting them to bleed might just enrage them enough to take the victim to pieces rather than stopping them. Bleeding is not important for defence. Breathing is, shock is, and disturbance to balance also is, and the author does not mention it here. So, this supposedly "catchy" phrase should be edited slightly.Another two aspects of Wado Ryu that could and should be included in a future edition of this book: (1) the pre-emptive strike (the strike from normal stance while assuming the sparring stance, the front straight punch), and (2) nagashi zuki, which the author does mention, but does not give it sufficient attention, because it includes the now much-debated "tae sabaki" evasive pivot with the rear leg, and is a signature technique of Wado Ryu that has proven highly effective in competitions (I don't know about the street, don't have much experience there).So, all in all, you should definitely buy this book. This is good writing, good stuff, and with some editing it could be even better in the next edition.

I love this book it is one of the best guidesI could find on the Subject.I am now in the Process of Rankingwith the Solo Martial Arts Council,Wado Ryu has a lot of great moves and Iwork with the Katas with my son. They offerno distance learning so I whent withSolo Martial Arts Council

I agree with other reviewers and the author that there aren't nearly enough books about Wado Ryu. The book is well-written, and the concepts addressed are numerous and important to most martial artists. Mr. Cody is clearly an accomplished and dedicated martial artist.However, there are some issues with the book. While many concepts are covered, few are covered in any detail. For example, the section on "Methods of Body Shifting" is one page long containing six Japanese words and their definitions. The section on "Timing" is one page. The section on "Fighting Strategy" is two pages. Each contain little more than a few terms with definitions.The majority of the book is devoted to the Kata of Wado Ryu (pg. 87 - 312). While I appreciate the great care that Mr. Cody took with this section, it also is somewhat disappointing. On the positive side, the photographs are numerous and make following the text descriptions easy. This section could be a great benefit to students of Wado Ryu as a reference to supplement their in-class instruction as they are learning a new kata. As the author acknowledges, his stances are not as deep as most Wado schools would practice them, but this is a reasonable explanation.However, the photographs do not always depict good technique. Please understand that I do not expect perfection from any martial artist...no one performs every movement (arguably, *any* movement) in a kata perfectly. However, one benefit of photographs is that each movement can be re-shot until a good picture is captured, but Mr. Cody appears not to have done this. In nearly all of the stances that Mr. Cody describes as side-facing, the photos show the stance as half side-facing. The kicks that are described as chudan level in the kata are shown in the photos as being below the belt.The author provides a paragraph or so explanation of the performance of each movement with compass directions. This is particularly valuable in the explanation of kata beyond Chinto (Niseishi, Wanshu, Bassai, Jion, Jutte, and Rohai) as there is very little written about the Wado interpretations of these kata. (Master Otsuka's master text is published in English and provides an explanation of the performance of kata through Chinto.) The most disappointing aspect of the coverage of kata is the lack of explanation of bunkai or application of the movements of the kata. There are a few in the book, but very few.Overall, the coverage of the book is broad but shallow. Most of the concepts that are covered by Wado Ryu karate are addressed in this book. However, most of them are covered only in the detail that you would expect when the topic is first introduced to a student -- not any in-depth coverage. Even the coverage of the kata is shallow, like you would expect the first time an instructor shows you a new kata. If you want a shallow book that introduces many concepts then this one is well-written and pretty comprehensive. However, if you want a book with deep coverage that you can study at length, then you will have to look elsewhere.

Great book I am a Shotokan man and this is some good information we must always keep our eyes open and learn what is there about our Arts.

ordered the kindle version. pictures so small they cannot be made out to see the moves . Pictures are a measely 1/2 x 1/2 inch square. You cannot pinch out or zoom to see pictures. Also he did not provide phonetics for the japaneseterms. Leaving you to most likely mis pronounce the language.

Excellent book. A good overview of Wado Karate, Jujitsu and overall philosophy of martial arts. Well documented step by step of kata.

The product was delivered quickly and is very good value for money. Very pleased with the purchase and the buying experience.

i agree with previous reviewers that this book is fairly extensive..... but....that doesn't make it a brilliant must-have read.he covers many combinations from within the wado kata, and not neccessarily the whole kata, which many practitioners would prefer.whether he has upright stances, or low "shotokan/kata" stances is irrelevant. true wado generally has fairly upright stances anyway.i was not a fan of the fact that the writer does all his demos whilst dressed in the well-known traditional clothing of japanese peasants.... which look remarkably familiar to combat pants and a black t-shirt.clearly he is a soldier-of-fortune-wannabe, and looks like he is not passing any mystical knowledge, just peddling some complex looking defences which he will convince you they work in "all situations".his use of jujitsu in the title is nothing more than an opening to allow him to spend time showing throws, meaning he is unaware that wado contains throws, sweeps and take downs - - - because it was founded by ohtsuka sensei, who was a master of jujitsu before he learnt karate from funakoshi sensei !!!if you have all the other major titles about wado-ryu.....other styles of karate.....generic non-descript karate (for beginners)....all other martial arts.... and have a few quid lying around, then buy this book. but only for another frame of reference, and a lesson of what to avoid becomming.

Well written comprehensive guide to karate. Some photo's not that clear but overall good value for money.

Took up Wado Karate last year and its interesting to read of its origins. Well written and well researched book

Very disappointing quality