Category Archives: Book Reviews

Motobu Chōki: “My Art and Skill of Karate” (1932)

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Andreas Quast

This translation was created in close cooperation with the author’s grandson, Motobu Naoki sensei. It also includes a congratulatory address by the author’s son, Motobu Chōsei sensei, the current head of the school. Moreover, this year marks the 150th anniversary of Motobu Chōki’s birth. In other words, three generations of the Motobu family were involved in this new translation, connecting the history and tradition of karate from the 19th to 21th century. Continue reading →

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OKKJ, Part 1: Karate. Chapter 1 – Definition and Categories of Karate. 2. The Classification of Karate. (2) Competition (sport) karate (kyōgi karate).

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Andreas Quast

Translated from: Takamiyagi Shigeru, in: Okinawa Karate Kobudō Jiten, 2008, p. 81 – 84. Karate became a discipline of the National Athletic Meet in 1981, at the Shiga National Athletic Meet. In Okinawa, competition karate (kyōgi karate) has received attention … Continue reading →

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The most important source to assess and to reinterpret the old narratives of karate schools

Posted on January 13, 2020 by Andreas Quast

A narrative is a report that adds meaning to, and influences the perception of events among a target group. It is related to a specific field (cultural, political, etc.), conveys values and emotions, and is subject to modification over time. … Continue reading →

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Okinawan “young men groups” and traditional pastimes

Posted on January 11, 2020 by Andreas Quast

Okinawa Kobudo is presented as an almost ancient martial art originally meant for combative purposes. In contrast to this, there are the numerous traditions of Mura-bo (village bojutsu), which are considered non-combative entertainment which developed from older, combative kobudo. Unsurprisingly, … Continue reading →

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Periodization of Ryukyuan History

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Andreas Quast

Recently I have been asked about a periodization of Okinawa. Surely there are various, often based on different approaches and perspectives. In 1989, Takara Kurayoshi presented an update of the usual perdiodization. I think it still did not reach the … Continue reading →

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The 2nd Okinawa Karate Academy — An unknown group of early modern Karate persons (1) — Haraguni Seishō

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Andreas Quast

“This prefecture’s usage of fists is what the martial arts of fencing (gekken) and the spear (sōjutsu) are for the other prefectures. It is also called karate and its techniques have names like “Passai,” “Kūsankun,” “Naihanchin,” and the like. Certain educated Ryūkyūans formerly all trained this method, by means of which one can prepare for emergencies.”

From: The Odd Accident of this Party’s Member, Harakuni Seishō. Ryūkyū Kyōiku, issue 4, 1896. Continue reading →

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Siamese Boxing and Karate – Fact check!

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Andreas Quast

In the January 1965 edition of Black Belt, Karate has been technically compared with Muay Thai. Today there is no karate blogger or vlogger who didn’t touch this topic. There is usually a staccato logic underlined by pictorial comparisons. Of … Continue reading →

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140 Years Ago: The “Law of Fifteen Injunctions” and the Written Oath First Published in Western Sources

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Andreas Quast

The “Law of Fifteen Injunctions” as well as the vows taken by king and councilors (sanshikan) were first given in English translation in 1879 in the Japan Daily Herald on 3rd October 1879, three days later again in the Japan Gazette, and on … Continue reading →

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Of bulls and mice

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Andreas Quast

“Famous persons are inherently accompanied by various romantic anecdotes. The same thing can be said about Matsumura Sōkon. While anecdotes are handed down in exaggeration, important truths are sometimes not handed down. As for anecdotes related to Matsumura, and while … Continue reading →

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Der Kernpunkt der Karatetechnik: Sēpai, Teil 1-4. Gōjū-ryū Kaishugata. In persönlicher Unterweisung erlernt von Chōjun Miyagi.

Posted on November 17, 2019 by Andreas Quast

Vorführung und Erklärung: Gôjû-ryû Karate-dô, Kisaki Tomoharu (unter Schriftleitung von Nagoya Shigeru) Man sagt, Kata sei eine Kombination verschiedener, unabhängiger Angriffs- und Verteidigungstechniken. Das wichtigste Element bei der Ausführung von Kata ist jedoch die sich dabei widerspiegelnde Energie, d.h. die … Continue reading →

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