The Kata and Bunkai of Goju-Ryu Karate: The Essence of the Heishu and Kaishu Kata

Challenging timeworn conventions of karate training and revealing the original intent of classical kata—or forms—through detailed descriptions of self-defense applications known as bunkai, this is a crucial addition to any martial-arts library. Containing more than 265 photos, the book is divided into chapters that illuminate each of the ten classical kata of Goju-ryu.
 
Drawing on more than forty years of experience in the martial arts, Giles Hopkins Sensei takes us on a journey into the Goju-ryu karate system, providing a principles-based method for analysis of kata practice. Arguing against the commonly held notion that kata techniques can have multiple interpretations, he insists that a kata cannot simply mean what the user wants it to mean, but contains specific martial principles that must be followed for it to work effectively.
 
The step-by-step descriptions of the receiving, controlling or bridging, and finishing techniques contain in-depth analysis of commonly misunderstood aspects of kata. Each chapter concludes with an engaging anecdote from the author’s time in Okinawa, the birthplace of Goju-ryu, connecting it with the kata under discussion. Equally useful for the novice and for more advanced karate practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of kata and bunkai.

• Goju-Ryu Toudi Jutsu Nyumon
• Legend of the Fist
• Karate Jutsu: Kumite
• The Essence of Goju Ryu - Vol I (Volume 1)
• Principle-Driven Skill Development: In Traditional Martial Arts
• Karate ~ My Art by Motobu Choki: Watashi no Karate-jutsu (Legend of the Fist)
• Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat
• The Essence of Goju Ryu - Vol Ii (Volume 2)
• Classical Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Jutsu Complete
• Bu No Michi: My Journey Through Okinawan Karate