Karate Kata : Heian 1 Tekki 1- #1 in the Series

Tokyo and Palo Alto, California: Kodansha International Ltd., 1971. Third Printing . Trade Paperback. Very Good. 5 3/4" x 8. 140 Pages Indexed. This is the first book (orange) in the Karate Kata series, the Official Manual of the Japan Karate Association. The cover has a dust-jacket like flap with unclipped price $3.50. Each book in the series has a pictorial wrap-a-round cover with the top half having a unique identifiying color. Heian 1 Tekki 1 is orange, Tekki 2 Tekki 3 is yellow, Heian 2 Heian 3 is red, Heian 4 is green, Heian 5 is blue. The bottom half is black with black-and-white photographs of the author demonstrating six different martial arts stances. Each of these books has a pull-out with a top view of the numbered stances for that particular book. Kata are the formal exercises of karate, and they are the essence of this marital art. It is through the practice of these basic movements that the karateka (user) learns rhythm, coordination, balance, the principles of the application of power, techniques for self-defense, and self-discipline. This karate kata series has been officially endorsed by the Japan Karate Association. Proficiency in individual kata in this series is a prerequisite to advancement of kyu and dan under the associations's examination system. Kata also form an integral part of competition karate. Mastery of the kata taught in this book is a requirment of the Japan Karate Associations 8th kyu and 3rd kyu examinations.