Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and Karate
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Product Description
This brave new approach to the martial arts clearly demonstrates that the traditional movements of both Kung Fu and Karate grew from the spiritual practices of the Shaolin order of Buddhist monks and nuns. Contrary to popular assumption, Johnson contends that it was never intended to be an actual means of self-defense. Includes practical instructions for preforming kata. Over 400 photographs. 35 illustrations. 54 figures. Glossary. Index…. More >>
Categories: Kung Fu books
When I first looked at the title, I thought,”wow, someone has a great understanding of the movement from the Shoalin to other places of Asia, and eventually America.” But that was not the case. I feel that the title is misleading, for it hardly describes that at all. The author i felt was way to bias to his style of martial arts, not only, the original forms created in the Shoalin temple. His agruments is basically that all martial artists should learn the traditional Shoalin forms for they hold “special meaning,” or that they were created for a “better purpose.” In other words, no one must forget them. This is a kind of contradiction to the buddhist thought which is change is inevitable. I have a question, if the purpose of forms a state of focus, a state of meditation, and phyical training, than does it matter what form we as martial artis do? I feel that he is trying too hard to promote his style he trains. Had some good concepts in the book, but the rest has nothing to do with the title, therefore, i feel you need to retitle it. My opinion, Also i found many other things that seemed contratictory to the taoist, buddhist and zen thought, but i will let everyone else figure that out themselves.
Rating: 1 / 5
After reading and rereading this book, I cannot recommend it other than as a handy insect killer. If you want to hear that same old excuse about how Shaolin and Shaolin only created all the martial arts, then you will geek out on this book. Most of what he says (historically) is based on a legend that has been debunked so many times your grandma was a young girl when it first happened, if she was born in 1908.
I thought I was buying a book about a link between China and the Okinawan art. Instead I bought a book by a self absorbed Englishman who, in trying to destroy one art(or several), managed to show his ignorance of the concept of martial arts in totality.
I should give him credit though; Of all the books that proposed to to repurpose the Asian martial arts, his is the only one that does not mention Bruce Lee. Unless I missed it when my eyes began to cross.
Why?
Why mention a guy who was working on it 50 years ago when you, today, are trying to recreate a religious thingamajigger out of a monastery that seemed to be more interested in currying political favor from the imperial house and killing people despite the very plain Buddhist edict against killing? Power and greed gets people killed. He never explains why the Shaolin monks killed. He is to busy talking about himself.
Rating: 1 / 5
The parts of the book dealing with Sanchin and Tensho kata are useful if you have never examined them carefully. The author provides useful interpretations and details for karate students. Regretfully the author omits an entire area of the training in the aforementioned kata, namely internal training, which is the essence of these kata. The author would be well advised to research qi gong training, as would any reader who is determined to study these kata seriously.
Rating: 3 / 5
This book is a must have. It backs up what has been practiced for years at Ryukyu Budo-Kai. This book ties in Zen and Karate, and specifically the KATA. You will see complete examples of Kata and how the bunkai is suppose to be applied. barefoot zen also clearly demonstrates that the traditional movements of both Kung Fu and Karate grew from the spiritual practices of the Shaolin order of Buddhist monks and nuns. And follows through to Masters of our time, like Grand Master Nagamine. There is also a section to help you distinguish between what is traditional kata and what has been changed for the modern world. I believe that everything in this book is presented in a stright forward method. This book is a must for all true karateka.
Rating: 5 / 5
Nathan Johnson has done a wonderful job in preparing and presenting the material in this book. His ideas about and research into the truth behind the origins of Kung Fu and Karate kata is unique and insightful. He presents a carefully thought out and well supported argument; that the original kung-fu forms from Shaolin temple were not intended as a combat art. He argues (and I think proves) that forms developed from push hand techniques that were developed for Zen transmission. As a result the (sometimes ridiculous) applications for kata techniques that many of us were taught, are reexamined and more likely applications are presented. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 5 / 5