Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts: Koryu Uchinadi, Vol. 1

Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts: Koryu Uchinadi, Vol. 1 by McCarthy, Patrick. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780804820936.

A collection of documents written by and about Okinawas most famous karate and kobudo (traditional weapons arts) masters, this anthology includes previously untranslated texts by Miyagi Chojun (founder of Goju Ryu karate), Mabuni Kenwa (founder of Shito Ryu karate), Taira Shinken (founder of Ryukyu Kobudo), Chibana Choshin (founder of Kobayashi Shorin Ryu), and Motobu Choki (the notorious scrapper who in his maturity went on to teach many who became masters in their own right). McCarthy, a renowned martial arts researcher, has also included the findings of his extensive research on these masters and the systems they founded, as well as of the prewar era establishment of the Okinawan karate tradition in the main islands of Japan. Volume 1 comprises Taira Shinkens "Ryukyu Kobudo Taikan: An Encyclopedia of Ancient Ryukyuan Martial Arts" and McCarthys commentary "Taira Shinken: The Father of Modern Kobudo." Patrick McCarthy is, at 7th dan, hanshi, the highest ranking Westerner in the Dai Nippon Butokukai, Japans elite traditional martial arts organization. A well-known historical researcher, instructor, and former tournament champion, McCarthy has written several books, including Tuttles best-selling (10,423 copies) Bible of Karate: Bubishi. His writing has appeared in The Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Inside Kung Fu, Black Belt, Karate International, Australasian Martial Arts, Fighting Arts International, and Budo Dojo.