Empty Hand. Kenei Mabuni

      

      Empty Hand

      Kenei Mabuni

      In cooperation with Masahiko Yokoyama

      Empty Hand

      The Essence of Budō-Karate

      Edited by Carlos Molina

      Translated from Japanese

       by B. Winter

      Palisander

      As to the notation of the Japanese personal names: On the cover and the title sheet the name of the author has been written according to the conventions of the English-speaking countries, i.e. in the order first name, last name. In the text of the book the usual notation of Japanese names is used, i.e. the last name followed by the first name.

      The publisher would like to thank Jörg Seidel, Chemnitz, for proofreading the English edition. Furthermore he thanks Patrick McCarthy, Brisbane (Australia) for putting the photograph of Itosu Ankō at his disposal.

      First English Edition

      1 st ed. May 2009

      Original title:

      武道空手への招待(»Invitation to Budō-Karate«)

      © 2001 by Sanko-sha Ltd.

      Translation from Japanese by B. Winter

      © 2009 by Palisander Verlag, Chemnitz

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher.

      Cover design: Anja Elstner, using a drawing by Matthias Stein and the Shitō ryū emblem.

      Publisher's editor: Frank Elstner

      Setting: Frank Elstner

      1 st Digital Editon

      Digital Publication by Zeilenwert GmbH

      ISBN 9783938305249

       www.palisander-verlag.de

      

Sōke Mabuni Kenei (2001)

      Union Shitō ryū Europe

      Internet: www.shitoryu-europe.org

      The Author

      Mabuni Kenei, holder of the 10th Dan, was born in 1918 on Okinawa, the birthplace of karatedō. As the son of Mabuni Kenwa, the founder of the Shitō ryū and one of the most important karate experts in history, from his childhood on he was in touch with karate and some of its greatest masters. At the age of 34 he became the head of Shitō ryū. Even today, in his old age, he holds seminars in different parts of the world where he teaches authentic karatedō.

      The Publisher

      Carlos Molina, the editor, holder of the 7th Dan, was born in 1947 in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. He became one of the first disciples of Mabuni Kenei in Latin America. Since 1976 he has introduced the Shitō karate in the Federal Republic of Germany. Today he is the Shitō ryū representative in Germany.

      

Sōke Mabuni Kenei und Shihan Carlos Molina (2007)

      Acknowledgement

      The editor thanks his disciple Mrs Silvia Pellegrini for her extraordinary efforts to realize this project.

      Illustrations

      The copyright for the photograph on p. 4 and for the photographs no. 5 to 10, 12 to 15, 20, 22, 24 to 80, 82 to 87 and 96 is owned by the author. The copyright for the photograph on p. 6 and photograph no. 21 is owned by Carlos Molina. The other photographs and illustrations are public domain. On many of the photos Mizuguchi Hirofumi – sometimes together with the author – can be seen demonstrating techniques.

      Table of Contents

       Cover

       Titelpage

       Copyright

       Sōke Mabuni Kenei

       Author

       Preface by the Editor

       Introduction

       A Martial for Everyone

       Karate as a Means for Physical, Martial and Spiritual Education

       The Emergence of Modern Karate

       Karate and Health

       The Physical Effects of Karate

       Karate in Dangerous Situations

       Karate as a Spiritual Martial Art

       The Breathing Techniques in Karate

       The State of Total Inner Calmness

       I Budō Karate

       1 The Development of Karate

       1.1 Karate as Fighting Technique

       Unarmed Fighting in Ancient Times

       Shaolin Kempō – the Fighting Techniques of the Warrior Monks

       The Influence of the Chinese Kempō on the Japanese and Okinawan Martial Arts

       Karate – the Fundament of Martial Arts

       1.2 The Emergence of Karate on Okinawa

       The Old Okinawa-te

       The