Luana Metil

For many today, karate is a form of exercise, a method of self-defense, a way of fighting using only one's body. Karate dojos (training centers) are tucked into shopping malls or school gymnasiums. Athletes compete in karate tournaments to win prizes and awards. Black belt heroes, such as Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, are popular in television and cinema.

But karate began, hundreds of years ago, as a way of living that included mastering the mind as well as training the body. Buddhist monks learned exercises to stay fit and healthy, and fighting skills to protect themselves. Okinawan peasants gathered secretly in fields to learn how to disable attackers. Korean farmers used karate methods to save their food and their lives.

This thorough and lively history traces karate's development from the meditations of Chinese Buddhist monks to the dramatic power and flair of modern practitioners. You will discover how karate's rich and complex history, with its roots in Chinese Okinawa, Korea, and Japan, have shaped karate into the demanding and rewarding pursuit it is today.

Luana Metil received her post-graduate degree in social science from the University of Wisconsin and is a former social services director. A tai chi practitioner, she is especially interested in Asian cultures and has traveled throughout China. Luana encourages her own chiildren to participate in sports, incuding karate. She is a volunteer parent leader in her children's many activities, ranging from scouting to art appreciation. She lives with her husband, daughter, and son in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Jace Townsend holds a second degree black belt. He also regularly competes in archery tournaments and has set several world records in that sport. He received his bachelor's degree in business from Texas Wesleyan College. Jace lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Contents

Introduction
1 The legend of Bodhidharma
2 Shaolin Monks and kung fu
3 Karate on Okinawa
4 Korean karate
5 Japan's ninjas
6 Modern karate
7 American karate pioneers
8 Hollywood's karate legends
9 Karate today
Further reading
Glossary
Index… (más)