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Four Shades of Black: The Traditional Path to Building the Complete Fighter | 
 enlarge | Author: Gavin Mulholland
Publisher: Summersdale Publishers
Category: Book
List Price: £20.00
Buy New: £10.96
You Save: £9.04 (45%)
New (17) Used (4) from £10.00
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 136604
Media: Paperback
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 7.4 x 0.8
ISBN: 1840246502
EAN: 9781840246506
ASIN: 1840246502
Publication Date: April 7, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. Shipped from UK Mainland. Delivery is usually 2 - 3 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
A modern classic July 28, 2008
Basho (Travelling the world)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have collected through dint of much effort and investment of time quite a comprehensive martial arts library.I have the great pleasure in adding Sensei Mulholland's work to this list and not least of all because it is comprised entirely of crystal clear prose.
I think that Karate has had a large share of punishment from the press and on the internet from other more "modern" arts such as MMA and Systema. However, of all the "Te-based" arts that I have studied, Goju is the most complete in both its development of spirit and that it has not just tacked on the trappings of grappling as a reaction to the criticisms of the present. As Sensei Mulholland writes so eloquently these things have been part of Goju from the very beginning and the proof, maps and compass are found in the kata.
Whether new to Goju, new to Karate or crossing from another art this book is vital reading as an accessory to training. As a martial arts work on its own I proudly display it on my shelf alongside my other great works of combative writing.
A unique and interesting tome July 23, 2008
L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA)
Four Shades of Black is a feast for the eyes. Stark black pages with brilliant white text and lush monochrome photography worthy of any coffee table "art" volume aren't exactly what you'd expect to find in an ordinary martial arts book, but then again this tome is no commonplace karate book either. It illuminates the traditional path to becoming a complete fighter in a unique and very exciting way.
British Combat Association Hall of Fame member Gavin Mulholland does a fantastic job of showing how karate was developed as a complete and comprehensive fighting system, with kata (formal exercises) as the map and gradings as the compass to develop real-life fighting skills in a logical progression that builds from kata to kata throughout the curriculum. He ties seemingly disparate kihon (fundamental basics), bunkai (fighting applications), conditioning exercises, padwork, and partner drills together to demonstrate a complete package that helps practitioners ingrain the essential teachings of four Goju Ryu karate kata.
Goju Ryu is an Okinawan empty-hand fighting style that blends both hard and soft techniques. The key to learning this system is understanding its kata, four of which are explained in the book: gekisai dai ichi, gekisai dai ni, saifa, and seiyunchin. Gekisai dai ichi roughly translates as "attack and smash number one." It is generally the first form taught to new practitioners, hence utilizes a straightforward blitzing-style approach. Gekisai dai ni is the second kata of this series, showing more refined, non-linear movements and advanced open-hand techniques. While gekisai is a fairly modern kata, saifa is an ancient form that essentially means "smash and tear." Seiyunchin can be translated as "trapping battle," a grappling/close-quarter fighting form.
Each of these four kata is examined thematically, showing the principle, mindset, and applicable area of combat stressed by the form. Fascinating vignettes at the beginning of these sections give readers a real-life image of their utility as well. This approach breathes life into the text, helping readers visualize all the essential elements in a way that makes it easier to turn-around and practice them on the dojo (training hall) floor.
Although some of the examples used to demonstrate the bunkai are not necessarily the optimum applications for use in a street fight, they do serve to highlight the themes and principles of the kata they represent. Since the goal of the book is not so much deciphering fighting applications from kata, but rather demonstrating the holistic fighting system and logical progression of the art, this is easily forgiven.
Mulholland is an extraordinarily skillful practitioner, a guy with more than 30 years of training under his belt who has honed his fighting prowess working the doors of pubs and clubs throughout the United Kingdom. Readers can truly feel this experience in his writing. The book transcends the training hall bringing modern utility to the ancient art of karate. It is a well-written, unique, and interesting tome that should appeal to most any karateka, but especially Goju Ryu practitioners.
Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults and Martial Arts Instruction; co-author of The Way of Kata, The Way to Black Belt, and The Little Black Book of Violence
Essential reading June 23, 2008
Mr. D. Mcdonnell
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Anyone remotely serious about developing their knowledge and understanding of karate needs this book. I simply didn't realise how much I didn't know before I bought this book. An absolute gem!
Not jsut for Karate guys May 8, 2008
S. Jabbar
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
A superb book that explains how to train a complete beginner to a competent fighter using traditional Karate methods; and it's not just for Karate guys either. I'm a Ju Jitsu instructor and I'm already incorporating allot of the thoughts and processes from the book into my own teaching and training.
Great stuff, I can't recommend it enough.
A "must have" book May 3, 2008
Doug (Poole)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Whether you train in Goju or any other Martial Art , this book underlines the principles and mind set for a student as they progress through their training.
It's layout and classy use of black and white photos enhances the high standard of the information contained in this book.
Although not a "step by step" text book , as many books on Karate are , it gives many insights and ideas for training using bunkai , partner drills and padwork.Which all help to raise the skills of the students as they study the Kata.
I think this book is the best book on the first four Kata contained in the Goju Ryu system.
Here's hoping for another on the rest of the Goju Kata.
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