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Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat

Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat
From Tuttle Publishing

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Product Description

Treasured for centuries by karate's top masters, Bubishi is a classic Chinese work on philosophy, strategy, medicine and technique as they relate to the martial arts. Referred to as "the bible of karate" by the famous master Chojun Miyagi, for hundreds of years the Bubishi was a secret text passed from master to student in China and later in Okinawa. No other classic work has had as dramatic an impact on the shaping and development of karate: all of karate's legendary masters have studied it, applied its teachings or copied passages from it.

This beautiful new hardcover edition features over 250 line drawings, photographs and calligraphy throughout. Along with additional commentary and a new foreword from Patrick McCarthy, the first person to translate the Bubishi into English, this book is an excellent addition to anyone's library.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #236229 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-10-01
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 256 pages

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

About the Author

Karate historian and authority Patrick McCarthy has spent over twenty years researching and studying the Bubishi and the arts associated with it. He is also the author of Ancient Okinawan Martial Art volumes 1 and 2.

Customer Reviews

Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat4
Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat

Patrick McCarthy's newest translation of the Okinawaden Bubishi (his 4th) is the best yet. Not only has he treated us to an updated translation, he has included information on a number of related topics: the Chinese origins of the text, its relationship to various systems of Okinawan karate, some of the various editions of the text in Okinawa, his own attempts toward translations of the text over the years and the editions he has produced in English, etc.

I found McCarthy's newest edition of the Okinawaden Bubishi to be well-researched, well-referenced, and a treasure trove on information regarding the title text and McCarthy's own extensive research into the origins of Okinawan karate. The only down side is his need for a good editor who can better organize the information into logical sections and a consistent method of Romanizing the various languages that he has to deal with in this marvelous piece of research.

For example, in PART ONE: HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY, McCarthy presents us with a superb history of karate in addition to a number of theories on the origins and evolution of the Okinawaden Bubishi. However, he allows his own historical monograph to run into a similarly titled, first section of the translated text. Consequently, it is difficult to determine where McCarthy ends and the translated text begins. This method of presentation is repeated in each section. A better editing job would have more clearly defined the sections of McCarthy's research and the actual text translation.

Following the textual translation McCarthy includes a substantial Bibliography, helpful glossary, and decent Index. The glossary section, entitled "List of Chinese and Japanese Terms", could also use an editor. Here and throughout the text, McCarthy sometimes gives terms in Japanese, sometimes in Chinese (Romanized in Pinyin), and sometimes he includes terms in English with the original Chinese characters but without the original sounds. More standardization and a clear distinction between Chinese and Japanese terms in the glossary would have made the glossary easier to understand.

In summary, I give McCarthy 4 stars for this one. The book is chock full of useful information but could be better edited and organized.

The Bible of Karate4
THis was one of the versions regarding this subject. It used it for a few references and have not had the chance to look through the whole book. It seemed like it is clear and fairly easy to follow in it's decription about Bubishi as a fighting manual. There has yet to be a totally comprehensive book about this subject because of the unknowns of the subject though Patrick McCarthy is one of the best in this area and makes his books readable and easy to understand. Much is left to interpretation which is good because this text should be used only as a reference and guide to draw one's own conclusions about Martial Arts and respected for the text it is.

Mastering Wisdom5
Patrick McCarthy is one of those rarities in the martial arts; the talented martial artist turned martial arts scholar. Way back during the dinosaur era I knew and competed against him in fighting, forms and weapons and you know what? I always came up short but then I wasn't alone. The former Canadian National Champion swept across the tournament scene racking up a phenomenal amount of trophies and acclaim for his impressive skill and ability.
When he left British Columbia for Japan he went with the focused goal of learning more about his art, its origins and its future. The tournament champion went on to become the serious scholar. These days while we tend to use the words "Professor' or 'Master' lightly in McCarthy's case they both equally apply and this book is only one example of why they fit.
I had the chance to preview some of this material decades ago with him and while I had to pretend I understood its value then he was as excited as Indiana Jones discovering...well, pick any one of the movies. Anyway, that's Patrick McCarthy. This book is easily five stars for its historic value and for O-Sensei McCarthy giving it new life.
If your are a serious martial artiststhen check out the rest of his martial arts books and tapes. I enthusiastically encourage you to do so.