The Kids' Karate Book & Karate Belt

What a kick! American kids are crazy for karate. One of the fastest-growing kids' sports in the country, karate is taught to 2.5 million boys and girls in over 17,000 licensed karate schools, and the enrollment is increasing 20% a year. Now comes the first-ever book-and-belt set that teaches all the right moves for beginning and intermediate students.

Written by Michael J. Dunphy, a sixth-degree black belt and USA Karate Federation hall-of-famer, The Kids' Karate Book features clear, safe, basic instruction in karate and tae kwon do. Here are the stances, the blocks, the punches -- including backfist, hammerfist, swordhand, and ridgehand. And the kicks -- front kick, side kick, flying kick, hook, wheel, and axe. There are breathing exercises, drills, even a section on the four "c's" -- courage, commitment, courtesy, and confidence. Black-and-white, step-by-step photographs clearly break down each move and are shot by Joe Smithberger, a photographer and black belt, using real karate students as models.

Included with the book is a classic white cotton beginner's belt -- an obi to loop around the waist twice. Put it on and begin to feel not just the power, but the grace, discipline, fitness, and, irrepressible enthusiasm of karate kids.

Kiai! That's what your favorite karate kid will be yelling once presented with this inspiring karate kit. Kiai, meaning "spirited yell," is the Japanese word used to help karate students breathe properly while they're practicing their high blocks and hammerfist strikes. Karate champion and 7th degree black belt Michael J. Dunphy explains this and the rest of the yin and yang of becoming a karate or tae kwon do master in this practical and engaging book. Each page features photos of children demonstrating everything from how to tie a karate belt, or obi, to the correct form for punching a clean hole through newspaper. Karate is meant to train your mind and spirit as well as your body, and the book teaches not only the moves, but the importance of discipline, courtesy, and other values necessary to becoming a master of this martial art. While it may be hard for kids to maintain a long-term commitment to karate or tae kwon do using only The Kids' Karate Book, a final chapter offers tips and resources for going further with the practice. Packaged with a white cotton obi to tie on before each session, this is a great introduction to a discipline sure to build confidence as well as muscles! (Ages 6 and older) --Maria Dolan