A must have book for anyone interested in martial arts and Isshinryu karate in general. For the first time in history a first generation student of Tatsuo Shimabukuro (1908-1975), founder of Isshinryu Karate-do, is sharing his remembrances, knowledge and insights in book form. Shihan Harry G. Smith (9th dan Isshinryu karate) studied with the founder of Isshinryu karate in Okinawa from 1956-1958. He was one of the first American students to receive his karate lessons directly from the founder of the system. Today he is the most senior Isshinryu karate practitioner in the world. This book...

Striped Moons is Harry Smith's autobiography. Written at the request of Government shrinks to get rid of his demons. It is true, honest and hard core. Starting in 1937 you follow the author through his early life, his enlistment in the Marine Corps, as a karate pioneer, and his exploits with the CIA in Cuba, Congo and Vietnam. His tough life brought him in prison more than once, thus the title of the book.

This book is a combination of the teachings of Sensei Tatsuo Shimabukuro, many hours of the study of Zen, Zazen breathing methods and many hours that needed to be spent in a productive non-wasteful manner. When attempting to understand the eightfold path of Zen Buddhism it became very clear that the eightfold path matches exactly what we call the Kenpo Gokui or the Code of Isshinryu. In order to understand what I mean you must accept the fact that the Code of Isshinryu consists of 8 koan or codes if you so desire. It must also be understood that there are many answers to each code or koan and...