Click on the “maneki-neko,” lucky cats to see this week's special offers!!!

Most recently updated
November 11, 2021 11:59
Inquiries and all business:
(818) 889-3856
Mon - Sat: 8AM - 8PM
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Dragon Associates Inc.

NEWS BRIEFS:

•Congratulations to the 20 instructors and students who graduated from our Spring Course in Okinawa with certificates of completion. Full details of our Japan/Okinawa Seminars can be found here: www.karatedata.org

• The Higaonna Dojo (Naha, Okinawa) has launched its own website. www.iogkfhonbu.com

New Products!

SENPAI Cotton Black Belt

Our recently introduced, 1.75 inch SENPAI cotton black belt is made to the the same excellent quality as our standard black belt, but is frequently the choice of instructors who like a wider belt that offers a more stable and attractive background for custom embroidery.

1.75 inch SENPAI Cotton Black Belts.
size 3 - 7 $9.95 each.
size 8 - 9 $10.95 each.

Order SENPAI Black Belts sizes 3-9 online here.

Or call our office:
1 818 889 3856
8 AM - 8 PM Mon - Sat PST.

Okinawa Karate - The Exquisite Art “Okinawa Karate: The Exquisite Art” exhibits all the hallmarks of a book produced in a more erudite age. The design is excellent and influenced by Renaissance conventions as can be seen from the use of the “Divine Proportion” in the choice of page size and layout. The quality of both the English and Japanese text is first class, the typography appropriate, and the quality of the historical photos, superb.

A little research yielded the facts that not only were the photos professionally restored using the latest software but many of them were scanned from originals on loan from the families of famous karate pioneers featured in the book, such as Choki Motobu. The result is a level of quality and richness of detail that is never seen in the multi-generational copies we are all accustomed to.

This volume also offers a preface, a prologue by the noted Sinologist, Stanley Henning, a chronology, and a full set of endnotes in English and Japanese. If you are a connoisseur of beautiful books, a few of the following details will delight you. The hardcover has top and tail bands and is blocked with Japanese gold calligraphy. The endpapers are printed with copies of late 19th century scenes of life in Okinawa, and the dust jacket is wrap-around coated for durability. Finally, for the true collector, the book is supplied in a library cover and, I couldn’t believe it at first myself, there is a bookmarker ribbon bound into the spine.

This is an extremely valuable book that resulted from the cooperation of a consortium of karate historians, researchers, linguists and instructors on four continents. It contains information that is very important to all karateka, because it will broaden and deepen your appreciation of karate. In an age of mediocrity it is a thing of beauty that is, at the same time, useful and inspirational.

Don’t hesitate!

Hardbound with gold blocked cover, dust jacket and library case. Printed endpapers, 228 pages in international A4 size (8.27” x 11.69”), dual language volume ( English and Japanese). $89.00 plus shipping.

FREE WHILE STOCKS LAST:

When we ship your copy of this book, we will send you a mint condition set of uncirculated Ryu Islands (Okinawa) karate stamps published in 1963-65. At this time, Okinawa was still U.S. controlled, hence the “cents” denomination. The models used for the stamp illustrations were members of the Matsubayashi Ryu Dojo of Shoshin Nagamine Sensei.

When the book was first published, a set of these stamps was supplied to all book purchasers customers but soon ran out. Even though they were published almost exactly 60 years ago, we recently found a few more sheets of stamps which we are giving away until they are all gone. However, they are in very short supply and may not last long. We do not have exact numbers to make three stamps sets; you may only receive two or even one stamp if you do not act quickly.

The book price is $89.00

	Meditation Beads (mala) Mala can be made of many materials ranging from the increasingly rare wenge wood, to jade. However, most traditional mala are made from simple wooden beads separated into sections by colored markers with an embellishment such as a vajra (thunderbolt, the Buddhist symbol of irresistible power) at the knot or tassel. Seven styles to choose from

We now offer a low cost, high quality, precision STYLE and NAME embroidery service for Polo Shirts purchased from us. Each job is individually hand crafted, the embroidery is oversewn so it will not come undone, and "layered" for a thick and luxurious appearance.

Because of limited space on shirts, the size of the embroidered designs are 25 to 50% smaller than on karate uniforms. Therefore the price of embroidery on polo shirts is 50% less than karate uniforms.

HAND TOWEL FOR MARTIAL ARTS TRANNING

Cotton tenugui (手拭い), literally “hand wipes,” were introduced during the Edo Period (1603-1868), and became one of the “Seven Essential” items for Japanese travelers, and martial artists.

Ours are limited edition exclusive designs made in Japan by dyeing (not printing) 100% cotton gauze (momen) by hand. To suit international karate exponents, they are 7” longer (14” x 39”) than the standard Japansese size.

The first in the series bears the characters, Hyaku Ren Jitoku, literally “hundred practice self benefit,” a favorite saying of the late swordmaster, Taizaburo Nakamura, or if you prefer, “practice makes perfect”. Supplied in a plastic bag printed with a “noshi” greetings.

$11.95 each.

To order by phone call our office
818 889 3856
8 AM - 8 PM Mon - Sat PST.

• SHOTOKAN KARATE A PRECISE HISTORY Second expanded edition.
AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
The second edition of Shotokan Karate-A Precise History is now available. Supplies of this beautiful book are limited, and it is only available from the U.S. distributor, Dragon Associates Inc.

• 504 pages (180 pages more than the first edition) & 100+ new photos and illustrations.
• Large format A4 size (12" x 8.5")
• Hardbound collector's edition with gold blocked covers.
• Printed on the finest 100 gsm coated art paper “Pavarotti Silk.”Overall weight 4.25 lbs.
• Introduction by Morio Higaonna, 10th Dan Hanshi.
• Printed end papers with matching top and tail bands.
• Full colour, laminated dust jacket.
• Extensive appendices and a full index.

$125 + Shipping.

This volume is distributed exclusively in the U.S. by Dragon Associates Inc. It is NOT available from bookstores, book dealers, or internet suppliers.

Order your copy here:
Shotokan Karate - A Precise History
Read the reviews of the first edition and remember the second edition is larger, better illustrated, and much, much more comprehensive!
Journal of Asian Martial Arts - Dragon Times