Book Summary 

Complete Book of Karate by Bruce Tegner is a combined instructional manual that brings together two structured courses: a step-by-step sport karate program from beginner to black belt, and a practical guide to street self-defense techniques. The book is designed to teach karate in a clear, progressive way, making it accessible even to complete beginners.

The first part focuses on sport karate, covering stances, strikes, blocks, kicks, forms, and training drills. It guides readers through a structured progression of skills used in traditional karate practice, with an emphasis on physical fitness, discipline, coordination, and controlled technique development. The goal is to help learners move systematically from basic movements to advanced black-belt level understanding.

The second part shifts to practical self-defense, often described as “street defense,” where Tegner explains how karate principles can be applied in real-life situations. This includes defending against grabs, holds, and attacks using simple, efficient techniques based on timing, leverage, and body positioning. The emphasis is on effectiveness and safety rather than competition rules, showing how karate can be adapted for personal protection.

Overall, the book blends structured martial arts training with practical combat application, reflecting Tegner’s approach of making traditional fighting arts usable for modern learners.

About the Author

Bruce Tegner was an American martial arts instructor and prolific writer known for popularizing self-defense and martial arts training in the mid-20th century. Born into a family of martial arts teachers, he was exposed to judo and jujitsu from a young age and later expanded his training into multiple fighting systems, including karate, aikido, savate, and stick fighting. He authored numerous instructional books aimed at making martial arts accessible to Western audiences, often emphasizing step-by-step learning and practical self-defense applications. His works, including Complete Book of Karate, contributed significantly to the early spread of martial arts knowledge in the United States, especially among beginners and general readers seeking structured home study materials.