from dust jacket Here are all the basic karate techniques that a woman needs to know. Also included are applications for the techniques to specific situations where self-defense is called for, and exercises related to karate practice, which are excellent for developing the body and maintaining health and beauty. Completely illustrated in simple step-by-step sequence, the techniques-beginning with the proper stances-are the ones most commonly used in this art of self-defense: blocking, punching, striking and kicking. Stability, balance and the application of power are stressed; through mastery of the fundamentals, arms and legs become veritable weapons. Considering a variety of situations in which a woman may be attacked, the author indicates the response to each situation. From these, the trainee can image other situations and the applications of basics to them. The exercises are those most appropriate for improving the body's suppleness, strengthening the muscles and developing their stamina, learning how to concentrate and control power, and developing the stamina of the body as a whole. This is a simple, easy-to-follow guide that will prove of great value to any woman who feels the need for knowing self-defense techniques, or who simply wishes to improve or maintain health and beauty. The author, Jun Sugano, was born in Kobe in 1928 and graduated from Hosei University in Tokyo. He was appointed as a judge of national karate championship tournaments in 1957 and then became a permanent judge for international karate tournaments. Holding the seventh-grade rank in karate, he is an instructor of the Japan Karate Association and president of the Osaka-Kobe area Federation of Karate Associations. Assisting the author: Junko Hirakawa (second grade), Keisuke Tsuda (fourth grade), Shusaku Ikeda (third grade), Kunio Yoshimura (fourth grade), Masaharu Fujita (fourth grade), Kuniharu Oshida (third grade), and staff members of the Japan Karate Association, Hyogo Prefecture Headquarters.

Contents Foreword Preface Dojo Motto 1 Fundamentals Parts of the body used Stances Blocking Punching Striking Kicking 2 Self-defense 3 Calisthenics Exercises for flexibility Exercises to increase muscular power Exercises to increase muscular stamina Exercises to increase concentration of power Exercises to control power Exercises to increase body stamina Reinforcing muscular power