There is no joining fee no annual subscription no need to purchase a suit - merely a training fee of 1.00 per two hour session. Black belts train free, but in return, are occasionally asked to do some instructing when necessary. Reading It is now possible to learn techniques of karate from video as well as from books, and some excellent video guides are available. However, they cannot really put across the feeling and philosophy of the art. Most accomplished martial artists say that the biggest developmental changes take place inside your head and this is not easy to demonstrate on video - so you have to read the books.
Essential reading is in red.
The zen way to the martial arts. London A technical master text . It tells you how to do karate but doesn't include kata. Every karateka should read this mixture of autobiography and philosophy. The quiet humili ty of the man shines through and emphasises that the philosophy is essential to the true martial artist.