Empty Hand

The Lifework of a Grandmaster of Karate

Budô is the path of the Japanese traditional martial arts. Mabuni Kenei has followed this path for almost eight decades until now. He belongs to the last masters taught directly by the founders of modern karated. The son and heir of Mabuni Kenwa the founder of Shitô-ryû has acquired a deep understanding of the essence of Karate as a budô art during his course of life. He communicates this extremely complex knowledge to the reader in a vivid and fascinating way. For this purpose he uses his own memories and experiences, technical descriptions, historical and philosophical considerations, legends and anecdotes of the lives of famous samurai and budka (masters of sword fighting, aikid, Okinawa-te and karate).

For the beginner the book provides an idea of the inexhaustible possibilities of bud as a school of life, and the experienced practitioner will find numerous stimuli for his further development and also for his own teaching activities.