Review: Karate 1.0 (Parameter of an Ancient Martial Art), by Andreas Quast
Karate 1.0 is an extensive exploration into the history of Ryukyuan culture and fighting traditions. Author Andreas Quast guides the reader through a wide array of historical documentation and evidence describing the likely environment in which the precursors of karate developed. To date, Karate 1.0 is the most complete examination of early Okinawan fighting culture I have seen and is a milestone in research depth.
What’s In Karate 1.0?
Individuals looking for brief snippets of martial philosophy or pictorial diagrams of kata should not come hunting here. Karate 1.0 leaves trodden ground behind and instead digs deeply into the earliest periods of Okinawan development. Starting with foggy eras like “The Shell Mound Period” and moving into tumultuous times like the “The Meiji Restoration”, author Quast describes archeological finds as well as documented history of how Okinawan people lived, fought, and died.
This book is separated by general time periods where great advancements or cultural changes occurred. Quast, an able researcher, utilizes multiple sources (not just oral storytelling) to draw likely conclusions about the behavior of the native Okinawans and the technologies they had at their disposal.
Despite the name, Karate 1.0 really covers both karate and kobudo with equal fervor. The armed and unarmed combative methods of the Okinawans are closely related to each other and were both affected by the internal and external influences that shaped the country. Quast explores the internal military action and politics of the Ryukyus as well as the external influence of China, Japan, Europe, and more.
Karate 1.0, weighing in at over 500 pages, spares no expense in detail and is a gift to individuals unsatisfied by the normal routine of storytelling and myth sharing.
From the Author
This one minute video was created by the author. It quickly describes what the reader gets out of the book and why it was created:
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Readers can also get a free preview of the book here. The preview is quite sizable at over 50 pages, so you’ll get a good sense of writing style and content before ever having to purchase the book.
Who is This Book For?
I think it’s important to note that this book is best suited for individuals that are further along in their research process. Students looking for an introductory text to the history of karate might be better served elsewhere (consider The Essence of Okinawan Karatedo or Okinawan Karate: Teachers, Styles and Secret Techniques). That being said, individuals that are already on a research journey may find that this text fills in gaps that have otherwise proven frustrating.
Final Critiques for Karate 1.0
The author Andreas Quast is thorough in his work, methodical and logical. It shows in his writing style. Quast doesn’t spend time on flourish and banter. Some readers will find this direct approach completely appropriate for the topic while others may find it more dry than they are accustomed to. Personal taste will dictate the amount of enjoyment you get while reading, but the value of the content really can’t be debated.
One thing I personally like about this work is that it relies on multiple sources of evidence before aiming at a conclusion. It does not seem as if the author started with a desired conclusion and simply found evidence to support it (a flaw in research methodology that many previous works have fallen into). Furthermore, Quast takes on a lot of topics that are generally considered fact but are based mostly on stories handed down and altered by generations of opportunistic storytellers.
I would have loved to see more images associated with the content. This could mean illustrated examples of weapons, clothing, and especially maps. At times I had to refer back to other resources in order to understand where exactly events were taking place. It would have been convenient if the author included that in the book. Certainly, with over 500 pages of information, he may have been mindful of trimming length where needed, but I believe if you’re going for 500 you might as well keep going and add in everything.
The only real stumbling block I could see deterring a committed karateka from purchasing this book is the price tag. Coming in at $75 some people simply don’t have those kinds of funds to drop on research material. That being said, I think you get every penny’s worth if you do purchase it.
