This unique book is the first known to exist on the new fighting art and combat sport of freestyle karate: the refinement and development of a classical martial art to the pont that it now enjoys worldwide participation.

With origins in the karate practitioners of America, freestyle broke new ground by taking aspects of the old techniques and refining them according to their own rules, importantly involving new methods of restraint and adapting judo and aikido moves to elaborate and expand freestyle to an all-embracing system. The book is both a history of he movement and a practical handbook showing and explaining what to do, with comprehensive detail on all major aspects of the activity: stance, punching and kicking, blocking and sparring techniques are all described in clear text and illustrated with crisp photography, as well as guidance to the philosophical demands of freestyle karate.

The first evaluation of the new variant of karate techniques will be welcomed by freestylers as the definitve reference to their art, whilst traditional classicists will recognise their own form as the roots of the new karate movement.

Trained in martial arts form an early age, the author's name is well known in the karate world through posts on the Martial Arts Commission and English Karate Counciil, and is now an honorary member of the World Union of Karate Organisations. Active in getting karate recognised as an Olympic sport he has written extensively for international martial art publications and now lives in Lancashire.

Freestyle karate is a term from America where karate practitioners took aspects of the sport and refined them according to their own rules. The freestyle form is based on the central principles of karate but the actual moves have been continually adapted to be more elaborate and advanced. This book provides a critical evaluation of this sub-variant of karate techniques. It provides details of technique alongside photography showing and explaining what to do.

Contents

Foreword
Chapter 1 A short history of karate and its development
Chapter 2 A philosophy of karate practice
Cahpter 3 Getting the best from karate training
Chapter 4 Working with stances
Chapter 5 Developing high-energy punches
Chaptre 6 Developing effective striking techinques
Chapter 7 Freestyle kicking techniques
Cahpter 8 Foot sweeps and hooks
Chapter 9 Freestyle blocking techniques
Chapter 10 Combination techniques
Cahpter 11 Throws, hold-downs and locks in freestyle karate
Chapter 12 Effective sparring
A freestyle grading syllabus