The Way of Karate

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:05 pm

gmattson wrote: Based on what is happening to the martial art book market, I would think the most valuable of all books (aside from the Kyhon), will be the special 1st edition hardcover book, signed and numbered. I believe 750 were made and sold out within a couple months.

I've got one, I'd have to see what number it is. Actually it was the first Uechi book I found. That was pre-internet times, and I found a book store that had a copy of "Books in Print" and did special orders. On a whim I looked up "Uechi" under titles and found George's book and immediately ordered it. I wasn't concerned about the format, I was just happy to find something on Uechi in print. Turned out to be the limited edition hardcover. It was just lucky timing on my part.

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:47 pm

Bill Glasheen wrote: You really should spend some of that "retirement" time taking what prints you have left to make another edition. The problem with books getting rare is that you feel guilty opening them up any more. They almost get too valuable to use.

I used my copy of the hardcover at first, due to it being the only Uechi book I had at that time, but I realized its value and eventually picked up a red softcover copy to use and haven't opened the hardcover since. Fortunately even with some use I have managed to keep the hardcover copy in very good condition.

Post by **gmattson** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:58 pm

Re the Uechi film. Charles and I made 3 copies from the negative film. One was mine, Charles kept one and one was a gift to the Uechi family from us. (I consider it a gift from us both, since I paid for half the cost of film and developing.)

Charles retained the negative film and I suspect his estate will have this as well as the film copy.

Ironically, since I transferred all my video to DVD, the quality of all my old videos, including the Uechi tapes, have improved quite a bit. Although the 16mm tapes were considered high quality back in the 60s, today I don't believe they would be as good as the DVD version I now sell in the store.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:14 pm

George wrote:
Ironically, since I transferred all my video to DVD, the quality of all my old videos, including the Uechi tapes, have improved quite a bit. Although the 16mm tapes were considered high quality back in the 60s, today I don't believe they would be as good as the DVD version I now sell in the store.

While one can do quite a bit with black and white such as enhance the contrast or do digital "sharpening" of the image (a.k.a. high frequency enhancement), you can't really improve the information content when copying. That's the equivalent of spontaneous generation, and that went out the window as a concept generaions ago. In general, any "copy" of an analogue format involves some loss of information.

I'm sure the digital copies of the 16 mm film look pretty good though. And getting it in the digital format probably gave someone opportunities to clean things up that weren't available in the analogue format.

The problem is, I recall your copy of the film got beat up pretty badly via the various people who borrowed the film and - in some cases - outright pirated the content and profited off it. I even remember rescuing the film once from a certain someone so you could get it back. When you do a digital transfer, it's always best to get as close to the source as possible. Best of all is to get a copy of the original negative. Second best would be of a positive that was rarely used.

There is however the issue of the "aging" of the silver emulsion film. Color has more of an issue than B&W, but these films can degrade over time. The earlier the digital transfer, the better.

I only ask because I think it's important to get a digital transfer of as good a quality copy as soon as possible - for history's sake. Then the original should frankly be archived somewhere - perhaps stored in a library specializing in the preservation of such media.

Just a thought...

If you know the Earle family, it might be worth a conversation.

- Bill

JaySal · Post by **JaySal** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 12:10 am

Hey George.

I have a number of copies of your book " Uechi Ryu Karate - Do".
The first one is yellow and lists all the dan ranks like you said from 1958 to 1974. Some of the dates listed are very intresting. I also have the same book not only in yellow, but also - Gold, Red, and hard cover Black cloth.

Uechi Triva Question to all - Why is July 13th 1969 such an inportant date in Americal Uechi Ryu History?

Take care - Jay

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:07 am

When the internet first started one of my students saw a book on bookfinder.com and ordered it for $10.00. It is one of the original series of small pamphlet books. I saw this only once on E-bay and it went pretty high. I stopped bidding at $60.oo or so.

f.

Post by **gmattson** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:52 pm

the 10 "booklet" series! Anyone have a complete set?

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:40 pm

George, I didn't know that your book was still in print, so I just ordered it. Looking forward to reading it.

BTW, Who is the kid in the picture?

JaySal · Post by **JaySal** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:43 pm

Hi George.

I do not remember the 10 small book series. However, I do remember the 5 small book series. That series I still have. Many of the photo's that are in the small 5 book series are the ones in " Uechi Ryu Karate Do" book.

Take care - Jay

Post by **gmattson** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 5:01 pm

The Way of Karate is still in print, as a softcover.

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 6:18 pm

Softcover, hardcover or no cover, it's the content that matters to me.

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 9:48 pm

Here are some other sources for George's now-rare books:

Ebay
Uechiryu Karate Do (softcover)
4 copies ranging from $9.99 starting bid (with 6 days left) to $249.99 "buy-it-now"
http://search-desc.ebay.com/search/sear ... =&saprchi=

Way of Karate (hardcover)
1 copy for $24.99 "buy-it-now"
http://cgi.ebay.com/The-way-of-karate_W ... dZViewItem

Half.com
Uechiryu Karate Do (softcover)
1 copy for $99.00
http://product.half.ebay.com/Uechiryu-K ... prZ2633903

Way of Karate (hardcover)
3 copies ranging from $5.50 to $22.40
http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Way-of ... QprZ209026

Abebooks.com
Uechiryu Karate Do (softcover)
9 copies ranging from $100.00 to $250.00
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea ... 3&sortby=2

Way of Karate (hardcover)
40 copies ranging from $5.00 to $49.50
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea ... 6&sortby=2

*****
Way of Karate (softcover) is frequently listed on all 3 of these sources for a variety of prices, but it is still available new.

Interestingly Abebooks.com has 2 copies of The Black Belt Test Guide (softcover) listed, one for $112.95 and the other for $181.30, with one listing it as out-of-print...apparently those two sellers do not know it is still in print for $25!

http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/Sea ... k+belt&x=0

And of course George still has copies of Uechiryu Karate Do (softcover), as well as Way of Karate (softcover) and The Black Belt Test Guide (softcover), available
http://karateworld.safeshopper.com/2/cat2.htm?801

RACastanet · Post by **RACastanet** » Sat Mar 04, 2006 11:20 pm

Based on what is happening to the martial art book market, I would think the most valuable of all books (aside from the Kyhon, will be the special 1st edition hardcover book, signed and numbered. I believe 750 were made and sold out within a couple months.

I have #523!

Rich

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:46 am

One of the sad parts of reading is I have been told of one or two Kyhons which have been stolen after the persons death.
Leave it in the Dojo also and someone may "borrow" it.

Would be nice if the photo's were online so we could enjoy them.

F.

sgoss1 · Post by **sgoss1** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:06 pm

GEM--

Happy to say that I found a first edition copy--yes, the "grass-like" cover, of the Way of Karate.

Even better, it's signed by the author!

Thanks....

Steve

The Way of Karate

Re: Tuttle

Bill...

I forgot about

Mike..