Karate is a Japanese martial art that can be used for self-defence, anger control, fitness training or simply a means to kicking the blues away. This illustrated step-by-step guide is full of advice and information on the subject.

Randall G. Hassell, seventh-degree black belt, is a first-generation American to pioneer Shotokan Karate and Chief Instructor of the American Shotokan Karate Alliance. He has written, edited, or contributed to 28 books on karate and more than 100 magazine articles.

Edmond Otis, director of martial arts at Riverside and chairman of the American JKA Karate Association (AJKA), is a sixth-degree black belt and one of the premier American karate instructors of his generation.

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Karate 

This CIG has:
— Lots of instructional photos to take the reader step by step through the process of learning karate.
— Information on using karate for self-defense, fitness, and just plain kicking the blues away.
— Practical advice on how to use karate to control anger and fear.
— Blow-by-blow descriptions of the various black belt ranks and how to achieve them.
— Information on karate schools — where you can go to get the most “punch” for your dollar.
— Answers on what to do if you feel you’ve mastered the sport and want to take it to the next level — competing!
— Background information on the history of karate in Japan, and how it became the popular sport it is today.