Kampai Budokai Reading List

5/21/2015 KampaiBudokaireadinglist

http://www.truefork.org/KampaiBudokai/Reading.htm 1/22

index

KampaiBudokai

KampaiBudokairecommendedliterature

ThispagelistsbooksIownorhavereadrecently,manyaregoodandsomearenotsogood(butlistedanywaysoyoucanavoidthem).Foryourinformation,shortdescriptionsareaddedtoeachtitle,reflectingmyopiniononthem.I'mlimitingthistobooksavailableinEnglish.Allopinionsaremyownofcourse.

Someoftheauthorshavetheirownwebpresence.IaddlinkstoeveryauthorIfind(pleaseletmeknowifImissedone).

WeusedtobeanAmazon.comassociate,butgivenhowthey'veshownthemselvestopracticebigotedformsofcensorshipandhavetoldpatheticliesaboutitwhencaught(theeventknownasAmazonFail)wecan'trecommendthemanymore.

ContentsRatingsystemBooksonAikidoBooksonJapaneseswordsmanshipBooksonJapaneseswordsandarmorHistory,philosophyandotherfunstuffBooksonotherartsSelfdefencebooksOfgeneralinterest



FictionMoviesMusic

Ratingsystem

Goodorexcellentbookscangetfromonetofivebeers: NobeersmeansIdidn'treallylikethebook.ReallybadbooksgettheHorribleGlassofWater:

NewReviews

BooksonAikido

GozoShioda

(visittheInternationalYoshinkanAikidoFederation)

TotalAikido,themastercourse.GozoShioda,YasuhisaShioda,Kodanshainternational1996.Shioda'sbooksaregood,offeringextensiveinstructionsandcommentswithclearandhelpfulphotographs.Theyarewellwrittenandusefulevenifyou'renotinYoshinkan.Recommended.

DynamicAikido.GozoShioda,Kodanshainternational1968.

AlsoaveryinstructiveAikidobook,thoughlesscompletethanthelater"totalaikido"(itfeatureslesstechniques).Itdoeshowevercontainasectiononselfdefence.

AngryWhitePyjamas,anOxfordpoettrainswiththeTokyoriotpolice.RobertTwigger.Indigo,1997.BooksonAikidobypeoplewhocanactuallywritearerare.Evenrarerarebooksthatdon'ttrytoidealiseallthingsJapanese.RobertTwiggertellsabouttheYoshinkansenshuseicoursehetookandlifeinTokyoingeneral.Somepeoplehavecommentedheputstoomuchemphasisonthenegativeaspectsofhisexperience,butIdon'tfeelhisaccountsoundsexaggeratedatall,it'sjustnotverycongratulatory.Weallknowmanypeoplequitmartialartsafterobtainingacertaingrade.Mostdon'twriteabookaboutitthough.

GakuHomma

(visittheNipponkan)



AikidoforLife.GakuHomma,NorthAtlanticBooks,1990.

MyfavoriteHommabook.CollectionofessaysonAikido,reflectingabeginner'scourse.Hisdebunkingoftheunbendablearmdemonstrationaloneisworththeprice.Illustratedbylinedrawings.

Childrenandthemartialarts,anAikidopointofview.GakuHomma,NorthAtlanticbooks,1993.WhatIlikeaboutHommaishishonesty,heusuallysaysexactlywhatit'sabout.ThisbookcouldbeblamedforaheavyAikidobias,butthenthetitlesaysso,doesn'tit?Whatdoyouwantyourchildtolearninmartialarts,Hommaasks,whatkindoftechniquesdoyouwantyourchildtouseonitsfriends?ThebookcontainsalargepartofautobiographicalreflectiononaJapanesechild'seducation.Thetechnicalsectionalsoincludesgamestomakeclassmoreinterestingtochildren.

ThestructureofAikido,vol.1,kenjutsu&taijutsu.GakuHomma,FrogLtd,1997.Hommaexplorestherelationbetweenswordandemptyhandmovementsinhisusualstraightforwardwritingstyle,withwelldonephotographs.

AikidoSketchDiary:Dojo365Days.GakuHomma,YutakaKikuchi(Translator).1994.ThisbookdescribestheoperationoftheNipponkanoveranentireyear.ItincludesalotofinformationonHomma'suchideshiprogram.IllustratedwithHomma'shumoristicdrawings.

TheFolkArtofJapaneseCountryCooking,atraditionaldietfortoday'sworld.GakuHomma,NorthAtlanticBooks,1991.Thisisn'tjustacollectionofrecipes,butanintroductiontoJapanesefolkartthroughcooking.InterestingforusmartialartistsbiasedtowardsupperclasssamuraiaspectsofJapaneseculture.ContainsmaterialonHomma'sworkattheLakeOgawarafolkartmuseum.IllustratedbyBWphotographsanddrawings(andithasatleastonephotographfromUeshiba'sIwamahideouttojustifyitsinclusionwiththeAikidobooks).AlsocommentsonthesupposedhealthvalueofJapanesecuisine.

Ueshibafamily

(visittheAikikaihombu)

BudotraininginAikido(Budorenshu).UeshibaMorihei,SugawaraMartialArtsInstitute,1997.165techniquesexplainedindrawings,andatheorethicalintroductionwhichappearstobealmostthesameasin"Budo",exceptthatinthistranslationitactuallymakessomesense(contrarytoStevens'work).

Budo,teachingsofthefounderofAikido.MoriheiUeshiba,introductionbyKisshomaruUeshiba,translationJohnStevens,



Kodansha,1991.AphotographicmanualbyMoriheihimself.AlsoaseriesofphotographsfromNomadojo,1936,contrastedwithpicturesfromWakayama,1951.Thesephotographsarewithoutcommentandsomeseemtobeplacedtogetherhaphazardly.Interestingbookforthepictures,butreadthetextinthenewBudorenshutranslationinstead.Iparticularlydislikethepretentiousphrasesonthecover.

ThespiritofAikido,UeshibaKisshomaru,Kodansha,1984.Someessaysonthepurpose,andhistoryofthedisseminationofAikido.Notechniques,somephotographs.IappreciatethesectionontheimportanceoftheswordtoAikidointhisbook.

Aikido,KisshomaruUeshiba,Hozansha,1985.ThebestreferenceforKisshomaru'sAikikaiAikido.

Other

AikidoinEverydayLife:GivingintoGetYourWay.TerryDobson,VictorMiller.NorthatlanticBooks,1993.Aninterestingpresentationofconflictresolutionintermsofcircle,triangleandsquare,whichissomehowrelatedtoAikidoaccordingtoDobson.Theexamplesareunfortunatelymostlyinarathersillyselfhelpbookstyle,probablyamarkofthetimethiswaswritten.

Aikido:TheWayofHarmony.JohnStevens,ShirataRinjiro.Shambala,1984.ThebiographyofUeshibaincludedinthisbookcontainssomecuriousanecdotes.ShirataRinjiroexplainsseveraltechniquesbypairedswordinterpretationoftheprinciples,whichisinteresting.

TheEssenceofAikido,spiritualteachingsofMoriheiUeshiba.JohnStevens,Kodanshainternational,1993.AnotheronebyJohnStevens,againwithalotofinterestingphotographs.ContainsdokainoriginalJapaneseandcalligraphybyMorihei.Thechapteron"theaikidouniverse"leavesonetothinkthataikidotechniquesareactuallyjustmysticalhandwavinginasystemofmagic.

Aikido,theartsofselfdefense.KoichiTohei,Rikugeipublishinghouse,1961.andThisisAikido.KoichiTohei,JapanPublications,1968.Thesetwobooksareverysimilarincontent,themorerecentoneismoredeveloped,soIwouldchoosethatonefirst.Bothareoutofprint.Theolderonehassomehistoricinterestpicturesthatarenotin"thisisaikido"however.Ithas50techniquesor"arts",whichareassembledin36groupsin"thisisaikido".Thetechniquesarenamed:ikkyo,nikyo,sankyo,shihonage,kotegaeshi,kokyunageandkaitennage.Eachhaveanirimiandomoteapplication.Toheifocusesheavilyonmindandbodyintegration,butthisdoesNOTmeanhalfofthetrainingtimeshouldbefilledwithtalkonkiorkokyu."IfIexplainyoumaythinkyouunderstand",hesays,"butwithoutexperienceitmeansnothing".Inotherwordsdon'ttalk,practice.NotethatToheiwasstill



withtheAikikaiatthetime.VisitKiAikidoUSA.

UnlockingthesecretsofAikijujutsu.H.E.Davey.MasterPress,1997.NotreallyanAikidobook,Iputithereforconvenience.DaveyiscurrentheadofSaigoryuAikijujutsu(thismaysounddubious,buttrustthisone).Hisbookhassomeminorlayoutdefects,butcontainsaverygoodexplanationonjutsuanddo(Draegerwasn'twrong,hewasmisunderstood),thehistoryofAikijujutsu,andagreatchapteronmythsandmisconceptions(Ihaveablackbeltinjujutsu,whatdoyoumean,"whichryu?"etc.),andexplanationsofAikiprinciplesthatmademerealiseafewmistakesinmyunderstanding.

CompleteAikido.AikidoKyohan:thedefiniteguidetothewayofharmony.RoySuenaka,ChristopherWatson.Tuttle,1997.Whilethetitlesoundsatadpretentious,Ifoundthisahighlyenjoyablebook.Thefirsthalfisthestoryoftheauthorsmartialartscareer,whichisparticularlyinterestingforthelightitshedsonthedisintegrationoftheAikikaiwhenToheiandUeshibaKisshomarugrewanimous.Thetechnicalsectioniswellpresentedandquitegood,buthardly'complete'.

AikidoandtheDynamicSphere:AnIllustratedIntroduction.AdeleWestbrook,OscarRatti.Tuttle,1994.Beautifullyillustratedbook,youhavetolikeitevenifyoudon'tagreewithWestbrook&Ratti'sviewonAikidophilosophy.Techniqueslistisrathercomplete,butthenamesgivenforthemareabitnonstandardIthink.

Bokken,ArtoftheJapaneseSword.DaveLowry,MikeLee(Photographer).Ohara,1985.Basicsofbokkenpractice,intendedasasupplementforunarmedAikidopractice.Mostlybasicmovementsandafewkumitachi.Illustratedbyphotographs.IfelementsfromLowry'sShinkageryutrainingwereincludedinthebook,itisn'tspecifiedinthetext.Notaterriblyimpressivebook.Notthatthereisanythingwrongwiththetechniques,butiftheauthorhadputabitmoreemphasisonthefactthatthereareotherauthenticwaystohandleasword,wemightencounterlessAikidokabelievingtheyknowtheOneTruewaytoholdaswordorperformzareiorcuttheair.

InvincibleWarrior:APictorialBiographyofMoriheiUeshiba,theFounderofAikido.JohnStevens.Shambala1997.ThisisaremakeofAbundantPeace:TheBiographyofMoriheiUeshiba,FounderofAikido,whichwaspublishedin1987.ItcontainsalotofinterestingphotographicmaterialillustratingthelifeofMoriheiUeshiba.ThebiographyaswrittenbyStevenscontainsalotofquestionableattemptstosuggestuncleO'Morrihadsomekindofsupernaturalpower.Thesestoriesseemtochangewitheachretelling.SomemightsaytheinfluenceofTakedaisdownplayed.Theretailpriceisabithighforthisbooktoo(Igotitonaspecialsale).

TrainingwiththeMaster,lessonswithMoriheiUeshiba,founderofAikido.JohnStevensandWaltherv.Krenner.Shambala,1999.Thisis



mostlyaphotoalbumbyKrenner,followingMoriheiaroundwhereverhegoes,sowegettoseehimwithandwithouthisdentures.Quitenice,butnotmuchaboutAikidotechniques.ThereisanintroductionbyStevens,andthebookcloseswiththecollectionofsayingsknownas'theartofpeace'.Expensivewhennotonaspecialsale.

TheSecretsofAikido,thehiddenteachingsanduniversaltruthsofAikido,astaughtbyitsfounder,MoriheiUeshiba.JohnStevens.Shambala1997.MoreofStevens'bizarretheories,linkingaikidowithalchemy,tantricsexmagic,andthenewtestament.Thetechnicalphotographs(includingsuchthingsasatengutobigirior"flyingtengucut")featureStevenshimself,sometimesShirataRinjiro.Contains4pagesof"secret"aikidokotodama.Somewhatamusing.

Aikido,itsheartandappearance.MorihiroSaito,SugawaraMartialArtsInstitute,1975.IsawSaito'smultivolumeseries"traditionalaikido"yearsago,andatthetimeIwasimpressed.Ididn'tpracticeakenorjoartyetatthetime.Thisbookisofcoursefarlessdetailed,containing7swordsuburi,7kumitachi,noaikijoatall,andonlyafewexamplesofeachofthemajorholdsandthrows.ThebookisanicereminderofSato'sswordforms,butI'mveryunimpressedwiththepeoplehegottoposewithhimonthepictures. IscannedthispictureasahopefullyadequateillustrationofwhatImean:

ThePrinciplesofAikido.MitsugiSaotome,Shambala,1989.Thisismostlyatechniquesbook,showingunarmedaswellassomeswordandsticktechniquesfromSaotome'ssystem.Techniquesqreshowninmanyclearphotographswithsomeexplanation,aswellassomehistoryandphilosophyeditedbyIreneWellingtonfromlecturesandwritingsofSaotome.AwellproducedbookbutratherspecifictoSaotome'sschool.

AikidoandChineseMartialArts.Volume2:AikidoandWeaponsTraining.TetsutakaSugawara,LujianXing,MarkB.Jones.SugawaraMartialArtsInstitute,1998.AratherstrangebookthefirsthalfdealswithsomekindofAikijo,thesecondhalfwithChinesestraightsword,andhardlyanyconnectionismadebetweenbothpartswhichIfoundratherdisappointing.Alsoincludedisaverysmallyetinterestingpartonthehistory



ofironsmeltingandforginginJapan.

SamuraiAikijutsu.ToshishiroObata.DragonBooks1987.Asmallbookof'aikijutsu'techniquesdemonstratedbyObatainclearphotographs.ItcontainsashortDaitoryuandAikidohistory.Iparticularlyliketheconclusionthough,whereObatavoicessomestrongopinionsoncurrentAikidopractice.

TheHiddenRootsofAikido:AikiJujutsuDaitoryu.ShiroOmiya,Kodansha,1998.Basic,intermediateandadvancedDaitoryutechniques,explainedinphotographs.Thebookdoesn'tsaymuchonOmiya'sbackground,buttheexplanationsareinteresting.Iparticularlyappreciatetheshortbitscalled'kuden'intermixedwiththetechniques.(example:guinomikudenraiseyouropponent'sfingersasiftakingasipofsake.)

BooksonJapaneseswordsmanshipJapaneseSwordsmanship,techniqueandpractice.GordonWarner,DonnF.Draeger,Weatherhill,1996.Thisbookfirstappearedin1982,andmanyofthetechnicaldetailshavesincechanged.Eachtechniquehasdualdescriptionsstrangelylabeled"formercombativeapplication"and"modernspiritualapplication".IllustratedbyphotographsofpeoplelikeMitsuzukaTakeshiandOtakeRitsukedemonstratingtechniques,aswellasvarioususefulskillssuchasdecorativelytyingthesageoaroundthesayaorthecordsaroundtheswordbag.MostinterestingthoughistheintroductionontheswordinJapanesehistoryanddevelopmentandmeaningofiaido,whichadmirablyrefrainsfromthemythologisationofthesamurairampantinmostmartialartsbooks.

Flashingsteel,masteringEishinryuswordsmanship.MasayukiShimabukuro,LeonardPellman,Frog1995.Thisbookcoversmostoftheryu,history,philosophy,omori,chuden,okuden,tachiuchinokurai,seiteiandtameshigiri.Idon'tpracticeEishinryumyself,butstillhavemyreservationsregardingsomeofthethingsgoingoninthephotographs,esp.intheseiteisection.Oftentherearetoofewphotographs,ortheyseempoorlychosen.Forexample,thethreevariationsofitomagoiareillustratedwithexactlythesamesequenceofpictures(alsousedfornukiuchi),whichisreproducedthreetimesandshowsnothingbetweenseizaandfurikaburi.Ausefulbookforthosewhowantaquickreminderforalltheseriesinonevolume,Iguess.

PracticedrillsforJapaneseSwordsmanship.NicklausSuino,Weatherhill,1995.Abookwithsingleandpartnerdrillsusingbokuto.Thepracticeoflettingthepointdropdownbehindthebackbeforestrikingcouldcauseproblemsinsomestyles.Drawingsareratherdullcomputergraphics.Hisadviceonadvancedpracticeisworthrepeating:advancedpracticeconsistsofthebasicdrills,performedbytheadvancedpractitioner!



Iai,theartofdrawingthesword.DarrellCraig,Tuttle,1981.Containsseiteikata17,withoutsageohandling(somewhatdated).ThebookalsocontainssomekatasfromMugairyu,andvariousstories(includingthe47retainers).Drawingsareratherunprofessionalanduneveninquality.Notthebestbookaround,butcertainlyworthhaving.VisitCraig'sHoustonBudokan.

Jodo.YonenoKotaroandHiroiTsunetsugu.EnglishtranslationoftheJodoKyotenbyEishinkandojo,1985.ZNKRJodo.Quitegood,thoughthechoiceislimitedconcerningtranslatedJodoliterature.

Kenjutsu:TheArtofJapaneseSwordsmanship.CharlesDaniel,UniquePublications,1991.Notverygood.Readthedetailedreviewhere.

ShinkageRyuSwordTechnique:TraditionalJapaneseMartialArts.TadashigeWatanabe.SomeShinkageRyukatasdemonstratedinphotographswithminimalexplanation.

JapaneseSwordDrawing:ASourcebookbyDonZier.UniquePublications,2000.ThefirstbookinEnglishonMusoShindenryuIaido.Itdescribesalmostallthekatafromtheshoden,chudenandokudenset,aswellasthestandardformsoftheZNKRandZNIR.Kanjiareprovidedforallkatanames,andphotographsarenumerousandclear.Explanationsareverysketchythough,andtheexecutionitselflookslikesomeonewhohaspracticedinisolationforthelastcoupleofdecades,andwouldbeconsidered"wrong"bymanypractitionersofthestyle.Theintroductionisratherweak.ThisbookisforMusoShindenryuwhatFlashingSteelistoEishinryu(thoughwithbetterpicturesbutlessphylosophy):anillustratedcatalogoftheryu'skatas.

LookingatafarmountainastudyofKendoKata.PaulBudden,Tuttle,2000.AdetailedexplanationoftheKendonoKata,illustratedwithphotographsanddrawings.Alsoincludessomehistory,lineagecharts,aglossary,andanumberofhistoricphotographs.RecommendedforanyoneinterestedintheKendokata.

BooksonSwordsandarmorTheCraftoftheJapaneseSword.Leon&HirokoKapp,YoshindoYoshihara,KodanshaInternational,1987.Abeautifulbookwithpicturesdealingwithswordforging,polishingandhabakiandshirasayamaking.Lackstsukaandtsubaproductionthough.

Armsandarmorofthesamurai,thehistoryofweaponryinancientJapan.Bottomley&Hopson,Crescentbooks,1996.Beautifulbook,alsocontainsarmorlacingdiagramsforvariousperiods.Jocktoldusthepublishercutatleastathirdofhistextinfavorofbiggerpictures.StilloneofthenicestbooksonJapanesearmsIknowof.



Theconnoisseur'sbookofJapaneseswords.KokanNagayama,Kodansha,1997.Avoluminousbookdealingsolelywithswordbladeappreciation,organisedaccordingtothe6traditions.Veryinterestingmannerofrepresentingthebladesurfaceinthedrawings.

SamuraiSword,aHandbookJohnM.Yumoto,1958.Goodintroductionforaspiringcollector,somewhatspecifictotheAmericanswordmarket.

Swords,andhiltweapons.Barnes&NobleBooks1993PeterConnelly,editor(variousauthors).Thisoversizeillustratedworkconsistsofanumberoflooselyrelatedessaysonswords,knivesandothercutlery.Thestartismoreorlesschronologicalwithmoreemphasisonpost1700history,endingwithmodernfightingknives.ThebookthenswitchestwoswordsofIslam,Japan,Asia,India,AfricaandpreconquestAmerica.ThepartontheJapaneseswordiswrittenbyVictorHarris(oftheinfamousgorinnoshotranslation).Thebookcontainsmanyinterestingandniceillustrationsandinformation,butissomewhatincoherentinitsorganisation.YouwillhavetogotoBarnes&Nobletoobtainthereprint(perhapsyouwouldgothroughKoryuBooksandsupportthem?)

ArmsandArmoroftheMedievalKnight,anillustratedhistoryofweaponryintheMiddleAges.DavidEdge,JohnMilesPaddock.CrescentBooks,1996.Anicelyillustratedhistory,containspicturesofmostofthefamoussurvivingswordsandarmors.Alsodealsbrieflywitharmorconstruction.

TheArmourerandhisCraft.FromtheXIthtotheXVIthCentury.CharlesFfoulkes.DoverPublications,1988.Thisisareprintfroma1912classicworkonthesubject.Itcontainsseveralauthentictextsinfull,apolyglotglossary,andaninterestingstudyoftheweightcarriedbysoldiersinhistory(1550:armorandhelmet25lb,clothesandarms15lb.1911:Britishinfantryserviceequipment59lb11oz).Italsodealswithleatherandtextilearmor.Recommended.

TheBookoftheCrossbow.RalphPayneGallwey.DoverPublications,1995(orig1903).Atreatiseontheconstructionanduseofthisoftenoverlookedweaponthroughthecenturies.Thedetailsonconstructionoftheseveralmodelsaresufficientlyexplicitthatoneistemptedtotryandbuildone.Thereisevenapreparationforpoisonarrowsincluded.Flanders'famouscrossbowsarenotneglected.ItalsoincludestheChineserepeatingcrossbowandsomematerialontheTurkishbow.Thereisanappendixonsiegeengines,withreconstructionplansbytheauthor.

Armsandarmourofthecrusadingera10501350WesternEuropeandtheCrusaderstates.DavidNicolle.GreenhillBooks,1999.Acollectionofsome2000linedrawingsdrawnfromartworkaswellasartefacts,organisedbycountry.Eachdrawingiscommented.Thoughthedrawingsoftenlacksomedetailcomparedtotheoriginalartworksandthetextisminimal,



thebookisneverthelessagreatreferenceforgraphicsourcematerial.

TechniquesofMedievalArmourReproductionthe14thcentury.BrianR.Price,PaladinPress,2000.Avoluminous,verynicelyillustratedworkonarmourmaking.Itdealswithmodernreproductionratherthanhistoricarmourersthough,andislimitedinscopeto14thcenturyarmour.Alsoscarceareactualpatterns.Ontheotherhandthebookhasdetailedinformationonmaterials,toolsandtechniques.

AncientChineseWeaponsamartialartist'sguide.YangJwingMing,YMAAPublications,1999.Alistofsome80Chineseweaponswithshortdescriptionsanddrawings,classifiedaslong,short,softandprojectileweapons,andshieldsandarmor.Thebookunfortunatelydoesnotcoverwarengines.Also,thedrawingsarenotverydetailedthisisparticularyevidentinthesectiononarmorandexplanationsontheuseoftheweaponsareverysketchy.

History,philosophyandotherfunstuff

KarlFriday

(visitKashimaShinryuNorthAmerica)

KarlFridayisaJapanesehistoryprofessorandkoryupractitionerwithadualmission:tobringsomesenseofhistoricalrealitytothemartialartsliterarycommunity,andtobringsomepracticalexperiencetothefieldofJapanesehistoricalresearch.

Legaciesofthesword,theKashimaShinryuandsamuraimartialculture.KarlF.FridaywithSekiHumitake,UniversityofHawaii,1997.Theimportanceofthisbookcan'tbestressedenough,thoughothershavedonesobetterthanIcan.Accordingtotheintroduction,thisbookstartedasatranslationofahowtobook,thatturnedouttobecomemuchmore.Iwishthetechnicalexplanation(whichwereofnecessitydownplayedinthecontextofthebook)willseeseparatepublicationsomeday.Highlyrecommended(youabsolutelymusthavethis).

Hiredswords,theriseofprivatewarriorpowerinearlyJapan.KarlF.Friday,StanfordUniversity,1992.Thehistoricalevolutionofconscriptarmiestosamurai.Notmuchonbudoassuchandnotreallyaimingatthegeneralpublic,butvaluabletothosewishingtounderstandtherootsofthesamurai.Fewillustrations,dissertationstyle(well,itISadissertation).

visitKoryuBooks

KoryuBujutsu,classicalwarriortraditionsofJapan,DianeSkoss,ed.KoryuBooks,1997.ThefirstcollectionofessaysandinterviewsonKoryu



collectedbyformereditorofAikidoJournal.Interestingly,thevariousauthorssometimescontradictentirely.MymainproblemwiththisbookisthatIwantedmore!KoryuBookshavetheirown(veryinteresting)website.

Sword&Spirit:ClassicalWarriorTraditionsofJapan,Vol2.DianeSkoss,ed.KoryuBooks,1999.isavailablenow.Theentriesintheryuguideareexpanded(asrequestedbymany).ThefirstpartstudiesTakedaclanwritingsthatshapedlaterthoughtsonBushido.MeikSkossdidapuzzlinginterviewwithSaitoSatoshionshurikenjutsu:Ithoughtthefanwasusedtomoveairorbashsomeoneonthehead,butitseemstheKoganinjausedittosolvetrigonometricanddifferentialequations???(andthenMeikjustswitchesthetopic!).LiamKeeleywritesonTatsumiryu,KarlFridaywritesonkata(mostlyrepeatingthechapterinLegaciesofthesword)andthebookendswithNishiokaTsuneodiscussinguchidachiandshidachiinShindoMusoryu.

Others

Thefaceofbattle,astudyofAgincourt,WaterlooandtheSomme,JohnKeegan,Pimlico,1976.Astudyofthreemajorbattlesfromthesoldiers'pointofview.Containsmanyvaluableobservations,althoughhisconclusionthat"battlehasalreadyabolisheditself"seemsatrifletoooptimistic.

Livesofmasterswordsmen.MakotoSugawara,theEastPublications,1988.Thisbookseemstobeoutofprint.GreatbiographiesofthemostimportantJapaneseswordsmen,foundersofsomeofthemostinfluentialryu.Interestingillustrations.

Abookoffiverings,MiyamotoMusashi,VictorHarris,1974.IwouldlikethatsomedaysomeonefamiliarwithNitenIchiryuwouldtranslatethegorinnosho.Also,don'treadHarris'introduction,it'sfullofhistoricalerrors.Read"livesofmasterswordsmen"insteadforabiographyofMusashi.

Thebookoffiverings,MiyamotoMusashi,ThomasCleary,Shambhala,1994.Slightlydifferenttranslation,andatleastdoesn'tincludeanybizarre"history".Becarefulwhenordering,thereisapocketeditionofthisbookwhichdoesn'tincludeYagyuMunenori'sfamilytraditionsontheartofwar,afactthatisn'texactlyemphasisedontheorderpage.

Legendsofthesamurai,HiroakiSato,Overlookpress,1995.Collectionofinterestingstories,anecdotesandsamuraiwritings,inwhichtheoldestavailablematerialwasconsistentlyused,insteadofamodernretelling.ItcontainsapartialtranslationofMusashi'sbookoffiverings.Withdrawings.



Autumnlightning,theeducationofanAmericansamurai.DaveLowry,Shambala,1995.AutobiographicalstoryofLowry'sYagyushinkageryutraining,mingledwithretellingsofbitsofYagyuhistory(whichcanalsobefoundinLivesofmasterswordsmen).Someillustrations.

PersimmonWind,amartialartist'sjourneyinJapan.DaveLowry,Tuttle,1997.Thesequeltoautumnlightning,inwhichDavevisitshissenseiinJapan.Illustratedwithphotographs(there'sevenanudescene!)Hiswritingseemstobeimproved.IthinkI'mgoingtohavealookathisotherbookssoon.

SwordandBrush,theSpiritoftheMartialArts.DaveLowry,Shambala,1995.Shortexplanationsof42wellknown(orlesswellknown)martialartsrelatedJapaneseconcepts,supportedbyananalysisofthecharacters.Alsocontainsaveryshortbackgroundoncalligraphy.

SecretsoftheSamurai,theMartialartsoffeudalJapan.OscarRatti,AdeleWestbrook,Tuttle,1973.Almostexhaustivesurveyofwesternpre1970martialartsliterature,withheavyaikidobias.Interestingmixoffactsandfictionandclassicdemonstrationthatoneshouldstrivetouseprimarysourceswhenwritingabook.Notthatit'sactuallybad,justbiasedandattimesmisleading.Theaverageparagraphstartswithmanydisclaimersbutneverthelessusuallyendsinsomeabsolutestatements.Illustrationsoftechniquesseemtodrawmostlyfromsamuraimoviesandarichimagination.

WarriorsofJapan,asportrayedinthewartales.PaulVarley,UniversityofHawaii,1994.Lotsofinfofromthewartales.Noattemptsatpoeticrenditionofthetalesthemselvesthough.Explainswhythewartalesareallsodepressing.

Musui'sstory,theautobiographyofaTokugawasamurai.KatsuKokichi,UniversityofArizona1988.ThebookthatshapedthemoralityandspiritofBudooftheTokugawasamurai.NOT!Musui'sstorytellsuswhatbeingsamuraiintimeofpeacewasreallyabout:brawls,extortion,pyramidschemes,etc.Illustratedwithperiodartwork.Thetranslationattemptstocaptureacertainflavor,whichI'mnotsurereallysucceedsifoneisnotfamiliarwiththeaffectedidiom.

Adaughterofthesamurai.EtsuInagakiSugimoto,Tuttle,1966.WhatlivinginaMeijieraformersamuraifamilywaslike.Anautobiography.EtsugoestotheUSwithherhusband,thenreturnstoJapanwithherchildrenafterhissuddendeath.Interestingcaseofmultiplecultureshocks.Containssomequestionablestatementsofhistorical'fact'thatshouldbetakenasauthor'sbelief.Averynicereadthough.

Theswordandthemind.HiroakiSato,Overlookpress1985.Translationoftheheihokadensho,fudochishinmyorokuandtaiaki.Includesoriginal



illustrationsandaveryinterestingintroductioncontainingsomedetailsontherelationbetweenMunenoriandIemitsu.Don'texpecttofigureoutallthecataloguedtechniquesthough.

SunTzu,theartofwarfare.ThefirstenglishtranslationincorporatingtherecentlydiscoveredYinch'uehshantexts.RogerAmes,Ballantinebooks,1993.RogerAmesisprofessorandheadoftheChinesestudiesdept.oftheuniversityofHawaii.ThetranslationhastheChineseoriginalononeside,andtherearenocommentsandexplanationsbytheauthor,itisjustatranslation.Theintroductionisinterestingandcontainssomeimportantpointsontranslating:Chinesewordshaveseveralpossiblemeanings,andmosttranslatorusethemeaningthatmakesthemostsenseinagivencontext.Amesarguesthatoneshouldinsteadtrytomakeallpossiblemeaningsfitinthecontexttounderstandthetruemeaningofatext,becausebynotdoingsoweonlyprojectourownculturebackontheChinesetext,andlearnnothingontheChineseworldview,whichshouldbethepointofthetranslation.Theadditionalmaterialisquitedifferentinstylefromthecoretext,andconsistsofquestionandanswersessions,someareveryfragmentary.

Foroldertranslations,AmesrecommendsGriffith,(andsodoI)whowasanexperiencedsoldierhimself,unlikeClearyforexample.GriffithalsoincludesananalysisoftheuseofSunTzubychairmanMaoandbytheJapaneseinWWII.

TheLostArtofWar,SunTzuII,ThomasCleary,Harper,1997.ThisisatranslationofSunBinthemutilated,thelonglostworkbyadescendantofSunWu,thatwasunearthedafewdecadesago.ThestyleissimilartothelostchaptersofSunTzu,andpartoftheworkcouldbeseenasanexplanationofthesometimescrypticstatementsintheolderwork.Partsofthetextarestillmissingorfragmentary.Apparentlythereweresomechangesinwartechnology,becauseSunBinbesiegeswalledcitiesonoccasion.Theformatconsistsoftranslationinbold,followedbycommentariesbyThomasCleary.TheworkconcludeswithasummaryofcommonconceptsinSunWuandSunBin.Someofthecommentariesseemtohavelittlerelationtothetranslatedtext,inmyopinion.Also,Cleary'sattemptstotranslatethestrategiesintobusinessmanagementtermsarecontrivedanddistracting.IneverdidlikethatTomCruisemovieeither.

SpecOps:CaseStudiesinSpecialOperationsWarfare:TheoryandPractice.WilliamH.McRaven,Presidio1998.Theauthorpresentsatheoryofspecialoperationsbasedontheconceptofrelativesuperiority,whichisachievedbysimplicity,security,repetition,surprise,speed,andpurpose,representedona"relativesuperioritygraph".Thecasestudiesareinteresting.

GreeceandRomeatWar.PeterConnolly,StackpoleBooks,1998.Thiscombinesstufffromearlierbooksbytheauthorwithnewmaterialandveryniceartwork.Reconstructsweapons,armorandtacticsofGreekandRomanarmies.AlsodescribestheCeltsandotherenemiesofRome.Recommended.



ZenandJapaneseCulture.DaisetzT.Suzuki,1993.Thebasicideaofthisbookisthatreligionshapescultureandnotviceversa.Toquote:"letusimagine(JapanwithoutBuddhism),thecountrywouldlooklikeadesertedhousewithnofurniture,nopictures,noscreens,nosculptures,notapestries,nogardens,noflowerarrangements,noNoplay,noartoftea,andsoon."SuzukiisaZenBuddhistandhe'sadvertising,andabitunconvincingattimes.Zenandthesamurai,andZenandswordsmanshipfillsalargepartofthisbook.Heputsastrangeemphasisonthe"virility"ofzen(presumablyasopposedto"effeminate"tendaiandshingon?),andhisuseoftheTaiHeiKiasdocumentingthereligiouspersuasionofitsprotagonistsratherthanofitsauthorsortheirpatronsissomewhatquestionable.Ithinkit'sstrangethatthereseemtobemorezenmastersreferringtoswordsmanship,thanswordsmenreferringtozen.Zenmastersinthestoriesarequicktoclaimmasteryofthesword,whiletheconnectionoftheswordsmantozenisoftenrathercontrivedifthesamuraikillswithoutasecondthought,it'sbecauseheviewstheenemyasanillusion,whichisveryzen.Ifhetriesnottokill,heiscompassionate,whichiszentoo.Ifhegetshimselfkilled,thatisevenmorezen.Seemsthepoorsamuraiisanexampleofzenwhetherhewantstoornot.Whatcouldbethecauseofthisfascinationfortheartofkillingfromthezenpractitioners,andtheirwillingnesstoascribezenmotivestoprofessionalkillers?

GayTalesoftheSamurai.IharaSaikaku,AlamoSquarePress,1995.Iwasn'tpayingattention,thinkingitweregoingtobemerrytales,butthebookdealswiththeJapanesepracticeofshudo(pederasty)asdescribedinextractsfromtheworksofIharaSaikaku.Thisbookisaretellingofa1930englishtranslationofafrenchtranslationbyKenSato,andthisdefinitelyshowsintheawkwardstyleandsomeofthemosthorridromanizationsonecanencounter.

TheArtofWarfareinWesternEuropeduringtheMiddleAges,fromtheeighthcenturyto1340.J.F.Verbruggen,TheBoydellPress,1998.EnglishtranslationofthisexcellentBelgianclassicfrom1954.Probablyoneofthebestbooksonthesubject,andinanenjoyabletranslation(whichcorrectssomeofVerbruggen'sschoolteacherstyle).

OnWar.CarlvonClausewitz.editedandtranslatedbyMichaelHowardandPeterParet,PrincetonUniversityPress,1976.Thisisaclassic,butunfinishedwork,it'shugeandsomewhatunstructured,butnotasinaccessibleasit'ssometimesdescribed.

TheBookofDeedsofArmsandofChivalry.ChristinedePizan,Pennsylvaniastateuniversitypress,1999.A1410bookdealingwithstrategy(mostlybasedonVegetius)andwithlawsofwar,alsogivingdetailedlistsoffortificationandsiegeequipment(andwrittenbyawoman).

TheArtofWar.NiccoloMachiavelli.IntrobyNealWood.DaCapo



Press,1965.TheintrobyNealWoodmakesmuchof'theartofwar',claimingittobeakindofsynthesisofMachiavelli'ssociopoliticaltheories,butIthinkthisisabitexaggerated.Originallypublishedin1521,it'sinterestingtocompareitwiththeBookofDeedsofArmsandofChivalrybyChristinedePizanfrom1410.PersonallyIliketheearlierworkmore,Machiavelli'semphasisonthesuperiorityoftheRomansinallthingsistiresomeattimes.

TheFightingSpiritofJapan.E.J.Harrison.OverlookPress,1982(orig.1955).Thisisoneofthose'classics'onthesubjectofJapanesemartialarts,andoneofthefirstintheWesttohighlightitsesotericsides(likeki).WhileHarrisonmayseemoverlycredulousattimes,hemakesacleardistinctionbetweenhisownexperienceandhearsay(unfortunatelylaterwritershavequotedhimwithfarlessrestraint).Asanaddedbonus,Harrisonactuallywriteswell.IfoundparticularlyfunnyhisaccountoforganisingjudovswesternmatchesbetweenaKodokanJudokaandsomeforeignsailorswillingtotakeupachallenge.ThisgoesonaslongastheJudokakeepswinning,butnosoonerdoeshegetagoodbeatingfromanAmericansailorwhoknewalittleboxing,orKanohimselfofficiallythreatenswithsummaryexpulsionallthoseguiltyof"degradingpracticesofthiskindcalculatedtosullythefairfameofjudo".

TheKnightandChivalry.RichardBarber,BoydellPress,1970.Aclassicworkonchivalry,itshistoryandliterature,anditsconnectiontoreligionandthestate.Alittleshallowonthe'practical'side,otherwiserecommended.

TheBookoftheCourtier.ConteCastiglioneBaldassare,1528.AbookonthecodeoftheRenaissanceknightandcourtier,andagreatworkofliterature.InterestingtocomparethiswiththeHagakure,codeoftheSamurai,andsimilarwritings.

TheMartialArtsofRenaissanceEurope.SydneyAnglo,YaleUniversityPress,2000.AlongoverdueanalysisofEuropeanmartialarts,mostly(butnotexclusively)fromRenaissancemanuals.Anglodiscussesswordfighting,stafffighting,barehands,daggersandknives,andmountedcombat,andbesidesthis,aconsiderablepartofthebookisdevotedtotheproblemofrecordingcombattechniquesinmanuals,andthevarioussolutionsadoptedbytheoldmasters.OneofthemainthemesofthebookisthatEuropeanmartialartistsattachedgreatimportancetoexplainingtheirart(withoutwhichabilityonewasneverconsideredarealmaster),whichpartlyexplainsthegreatabundanceofcombatmanualscreated.

SecretFightingArtsoftheWorld.JohnF.Gilbey,TuttlePublishing,1963.Twenty'secret'techniquesfromallovertheworld,frombadbreathtodelayeddeathtouches.Afarcesofarcicalthatitmustbereadtobebelieved.Wouldhavebeenhilariousifnottakenseriouslybysomany.



MovingTowardStillness.DaveLowry,TuttlePublishing,2000.Acollectionof45interestingDaveLowryessaysonmartialarts,originallypublishedascolumnsinBlackBeltMagazine.OccasionallytendstobeJapanworshipish,butrecommendednevertheless.

TheBookofChivalryofGeoffroideCharnytext,context,andtranslation.RichardW.Kaeuper,ElspethKennedy,UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,1996.ContainstheoriginaltextsidebysidewithanEnglishtranslation.Oneofthemostimportanttextonchivalryby"themostworthyandvaliantofthemall."

TheKnightinHistory.FrancesGies,HarperPerennial,1984.AshorthistoryofknighthoodthatincludesinterestingbiographiesofWilliamMarshal,BertrandduGuesclinandJohnFastolf.

CelticWarriors,thearmiesofoneofthefirstgreatpeoplesinEurope.DaithiOHogain,StMartin'sPress,1999.AratherdisappointingbookinthatitisbasedexclusivelyonGreekandLatinsources.Also,manyoftheillustrationsarefrom16thto19thcenturyartworkofveryquestionablehistoricvalue.ThechaptersonwarfareinTheCeltsbyJeanMarkalearesubstantiallymoreinteresting.

MartialMusings,aportrayalofmartialartsinthe20thcentury,RobertW.Smith,ViaMedia,1999.Thisisanicelyproducedbook,hardcover,highqualitypaper,andsepiacoloredphotographs.However,thetitleismisleading.Abetterdescriptionwouldbe"Anautobiography,withsomematerialonJudoandTaiji(andsomeboxing)aspracticedintheUSaccordingtotheauthor,withfrequentdigressionsintoAmericanpolitics,Americanjournalism,moviesandliterature,Americanreligion,andsoon,whichvarybetweenboringandoffensive.Theauthorunrepententlyboastofbeingthepseudonymousliar"JohnGilbey."Thereareinterestingbitsinthisbook,buttheyarefewandfarbetween.IfyouhaveanyconnectiontoMr.Smiththroughyourtraining,thenthiswouldbeafascinatinghistoryforyou,butIdon'tseewhyanyoneelsewouldcaresufficientlytowadethroughthesemartialramblings.

BooksonotherartsComprehensiveAsianFightingArts.DonnF.Draeger,RobertW.Smith.KodanshaInternational,1980.AsomewhatdatedbutclassicoverviewoffightingartsfromChina,Okinawa,Korea,Japan,IndiaPakistan,Burma,Thailand,IndonesiaandthePhilippines.

ThelittleCapoeirabook.NestorCapoeira,NorthAtlanticBooks,1995.Interestinglittlebookonhistory,philosophy,musicandtechniquesofCapoeira.



Stickfighting,techniquesofselfdefense.MasaakiHatsumi,QuintinChambers,Kodanshainternational,1971.Usefulsystemofstickdefense,couldbeintegratedwithoutmuchproblemsinone'saikidoorjujutsutraining.Textwithphotographs.Hatsumiisn'twearingblack.AlsotheonlyHatsumihowtobookinenglishinprintthatIknowabout(knifeandpistolfightingbeingoutofprint).

FightingwithSticks.NickEvangelista.Loompanics1998.Asuperficiallittlebook,mostlyonsinglestick.TheauthorhasbasicallytakenthesectionsonstickfromEgertonCastleandHutton,andmadeupasetofrulesbywhichthesebloodygamescanbepracticedsafely.Thebookalsooffersyetanother(andtotallyofftopic)repetitionofthe19thcenturyversionoffencinghistory.Whatlittletechnicaladviseheoffersisobviouscommonsense.ThereareextremelyshortsectionsoncanneandstaffyoucanlearnmorebywatchingRobinHood,themovie.Andthereareinstructionsonconstructingyourownsinglestick.Itrequiresastick,anicecreamcontainer,andlotsofducttape(eattheicecreamfirst).Iwasreallydisappointedbythisbook(especiallysinceitgotpositivereviewsfrompeopleIconsiderserious).Thedepthoftheauthor'sresearchisobviouswhenhedescribesEasternstickfighting,andidentifiesthestylefoundedbyMusoGonnosukeas"BlackSwordAikido."Thereisbetterinformationthanthisavailableontheinternet!

Stickfighting:selfdefense.BruceTegner.ThorPublishing,1982(orig.1972).IhaveheardsomerathernegativecommentsaboutsomeofTegner'sbooksandhisqualificationsforwritingthem,butapartfromdisagreeingwithhisopinionongundefense,Ifoundtheadviceandtechniquesinthisbooksimpleandsensible,especiallyfortheelderlyorlessfit.ItalsocontainssomeinterestingadviceontrainingtheblindordisabledthatIwasabletouseonoccasion.

TheMysticWarriorsofthePlains,ThomasE.Mails,Marlowe&co,1972.DiscussesthelifeofofthePlainsIndians,withsomeinterestingchaptersonweaponsandwarfare.

Kyudo,theessenceandpracticeofJapanesearchery.HideharuOnuma,Dan&JackieDeProspero,Kodansha,1993.History,equipmentandpracticeofkyudo.Theconversationswiththemasterareenoughreasontobuythisbook.Wonderful,evenifyou'renotinterestedinkyudo.(visittheMeishinKyudojoHomepagemaintainedbyDanandJackieDeProspero).

Thecomplete7katasofjudo,M.Kawaishi,Overlook1982.HistoricaldocumentshowingKawaishi'sinterpretationofthe7judokata'srandori,gonosen,kime,itsutsu,juandkoshikinokata.AlsomentionsShobunokataandGonokata,butunfortunatelythesearenotexplained.Translatedfromfrench.

FilipinoMartialArts,CabalesSerradaEscrima.MarkV.Wiley,Tuttle



1994.Interestingintroductiontoescrimabasicsandphilosophy.Cleardemonstrationsoftheanglesofattack.Photographs.

TheBalisongManual,JeffImada,KnowNow1984.AmanualonhowtohandlethebalisongbyastudentofDanInosanto.Containsseveralopeningandclosingsequences,andafewpracticalapplications.Coverthebladewithtapewhilepracticing.Maintainpressureuntilthebleedingstops.Interestingtoknowwhatyoumightbeupagainstsomeday.

Thearchaeologyofweapons,armsandarmourfromprehistorytotheageofchivalry.EwartOakeshott,Dover,1996.HighlyinterestingoverviewofthehistoryofEuropeanwarfarefromthearchaeologyofweaponsstandpoint.

Aknightandhisweapons.EwartOakeshott,Dufoureditions,1997.Alsodiscussesearlyfirearms.Readthearchaeologyonefirst.

Aknightinbattle.EwartOakeshott,Dufoureditions,1998.Adescriptionofwhathappenedat4battlesindifferentperiodsArsuf,Lincoln,MauronandMarigano.Fascinating.

Renaissanceswordsmanship,theillustrateduseofrapiersandcutandthrustswords.JohnClements,Paladinpress,1997.AsynthesisofhistoricalmanualsandpersonalexperienceoftheauthorattemptingtorecreateRenaissanceswordsmanship.Interestingthoughtheauthorspendsalotofpagesdenouncingtheapproachofotherrecreators,probablymorethanthegeneralreadercaresabout(visittheauthor'sHACAsite).

MedievalSwordsmanship,illustratedmethodsandtechniques.JohnClements,PaladinPress,1998.ThisbookisbetterstructuredthanClements'previouswork,itisalsoconsiderablylarger(300+pages)whichallowsamoredetailedtreatmentofthesubject.Thebookdealswithswordandshield,andtwohandedsword.Theauthorhascollectedhisrantsinanumberofappendicesinthisbook,insteadofspreadaroundlikeinRenaissanceswordsmanship.Thisgreatlyimprovestheflowofthetext.ThisbookisheavilygearedtowardstheHACAtrainingsystem,whichisbasedprimarilyonsparring.Thismaybeconsideredsomewhatlimiting:closefightingandarmedgrapplingissomewhatneglected,presumablyduetothedifficultyanddangerofusingtheminsparring.Inappendixareanumberofessaysandrants,someofwhichcanalsobefoundontheHACAwebsite.Whattherantsareabout:JohnClementswantstorecreatemedievalmethodsofcombat,someorganisationsofreenactmentengageinformsofrecreatedcombat,whichcouldprovidealargebaseforexperimentationandfeedbackforhisresearch.Unfortunately,itseems,mostmembersintheseorganisationsaremoreconcernedabouttheperiodoriginofthefibersintheirunderwearthanwithauthenticityoftheirrecreatedcombattechniques.Fortheresearcherthismustrepresentafrustratingcaseofmissedopportunities.Thebookisclearandtheillustrations,whileugly,arerelativelyeasyto



understand.Thisiscurrentlytheonlybookonthesubject,soit'scertainlyrecommended.Acomprehensivelistofexplanationsofterminologyusedinoldcombatmanualswouldhavebeenappreciated.LiketheRenaissanceone,sourcereferencesarelacking.(visittheauthor'sHACAsite).

EnglishMartialArts.TerryBrown,AngloSaxonBooks,1997.ThisbookdealswiththeLondonMastersofDefenceandtheirtechniquesandweapons.Coveredare:broadsword,quarterstaff,sword&dagger,vssword&buckler,thebill,andbarefistfighting.Illustratedwithclearphotographs.It'sinterestingtoseehowaclosedhandguardcansubstantiallychangeswordtechniques.Buthowcouldtheyfightwearingshoeslikethat?Iwouldhavelikedamoredetaileddiscussiononhowexactlythesetechniqueswerereconstructed,andhowmuchtheymightbeinfluencedbytheauthor'sKungFubackground.(visittheauthor'sCompanyofMaisterswebsite)

Thebookofthesword,with293illustrations.RichardF.Burton,1884.ReprintDover,1987.Part1ofanevercompleted3volumeseriesonthehistoryofthesword.FromprehistorytotheRomanera.Illustratedbydrawings.Oldbutcontainssomeinterestingbits(Iparticularlylikedtheboomerangchapter).

Theswordandthecenturies.AlfredHutton,BarnesandNoblereprint1995.Descriptionsofduelsselectedfroma500yearperiod,withsuchinterestingdetailsastypesofwoundsinflictedetc.Alsoincludesvariousoldmanuscripts,andmaterialontheLondonmastersofdefence.Theauthorbelievestheswordimprovedthroughthecenturiestoreachperfectioninthesmallsword,butthisdoesn'tmakethedueldescriptionsanylessinteresting.Thisbookmakesanicecompanionto"Legendsofthesamurai."YouwillhavetogotoBarnes&Nobletoobtainthereprint(perhapsyouwouldgothroughKoryuBooksandsupportthem?)

Thesecrethistoryofthesword,adventuresinancientmartialarts.J.ChristophAmberger,UniquePublications,1998.Veryinterestingbookonvariousswordrelatedtopics,includingthepsychologicalandinitiatoryaspectsofweaponscombat.AlsodiscussesmanyofthemythsandpseudohistorythatsurroundtheWesternmartialarts.Verymuchrecommended.Visittheauthor'sSecrethistoryoftheSwordwebsite.

TalesofOkinawa'sgreatmasters.ShoshinNagamine,PatrickMcCarthy,Tuttle,2000.Thebookisdividedinthreeparts.Thefirstpartcontainsbiographiesandanecdoteson10karatemasters,thesecondpartdescribesShoshinNagamine'sphilosophyofkarateandcontainssomebasiczazeninstruction.PartthreeisabouttegumiorOkinawansumo.Oneofthemoststrikingfeaturesofthebiographiesisthedistinctabsenceofthekindofsuperhumanfeatsthatseemtomakeupsomuchofregularkaratelore.

MedievalCombat.HansTalhoffer.Afifteenthcenturyillustrated



manualofswordfightingandCloseQuarterCombat.TranslatedandeditedbyMarkRector.GreenhillBooks,2000.AveryniceEnglishtranslationofTalhoffer's1467Fechtbuch.Thisisanexcellentbook,myonlycomplaintisthatitisbasedonarecentGermaneditionofthe19thcenturyeditionofHergsell,anddoesn'tincludeanythingfromtheotherworkspublishedbyHansTalhoffer.

Bubishi,thebibleofkarate.PatrickMcCarthy,Tuttle,1995.TranslationofsomewritingsfromthetimekaratewasimportedfromChinatoOkinawa,knownas"Bubishi".WhileIdidn'tfindmostoftheoldmaterialitselfparticularlyimpressive,thetreatmentbyMcCarthyandhisintroductionandcommentsareexcellent.Recommended.(visittheInternationalRyukyuKarateResearchSociety).

AnalysisofShaolinChinNa.Dr.YangJwingMing,YMAApublicationcentre,1991(4thprint).Chinnaisgrabbingandcontrollingtheopponent.InthisbookYangpresentsthetechniques,orderedbyprinciple,andinterestingly,givesanescapeandacounterforeachtechnique.TheChinnatechniquescanbeintegratedinanygrapplingart.Thebookalsopresentssomerathergruesometrainingexercises(jugglingconcreteblocks,fightingtreesetc).Illustratedbyphotographsanddrawings.VisittheYMAA

ComprehensiveapplicationsofShaolinChinNa.Dr.YangJwingMing,YMAApublicationcentre,1995.Inthisbook,thetechniquesareorganisedperattack.Recommendedaswell.Thebookusesnewphotographs,notthosefrom"analysis".VisittheYMAA

Muscle/TendonChangingandMarrow/BrainWashingChiKung:TheSecretofYouth.YangJwingMing,YMAApublicationcentre,1991.Historyandtranslationoftheseclassics,withextensivecommentary.Someofthebrainwashingtechniquesarequiteexplicitandnotfortheeasilyoffended.VisittheYMAA

TheFightingWeaponsofKoreanMartialArts.InHyukSuh,JaneHallander,UniquePublications,1988.Thisbookdescribestheweaponsof"Kuksoolwon".Alotofthecontentsis,let'ssay"slightlybiased"but,theauthormakesagoodargumentinfavoroftrainingwithweapons,whichIcanonlysecond.Thebookisabout70pagestextwithillustrationsshowingweaponsandsomesampletechniques,andabout100pagesfilledwithaswordformandastaffform.

SevillianSteel:TheTraditionalKnifeFightingArtsofSpainbyJamesLoriega.PaladinPress,1999.Aninteresting,ifsomewhatshortandsuperficial,accountoftheauthor'sknifetraininginSpain,withsometechniquedescription.

Selfdefencebooks



Killorgetkilled,forpoliceandthemilitary,lastwordonmobcontrol.RexApplegate,Paladinpress1976.Averycompletehandbookforpersonal(mostlyarmed)combat.Illustratedbyphotographsandsomedrawings.Usefulrealitycheckforwouldbemasters.Recommended.

Combatuseofthedoubleedgedfightingknife.RexApplegate,Paladinpress,1993.A37pagebook,includingadiscussiononthedevelopmentoftheApplegatefightingknife,andhowtobuildapracticedummy.Techniqueconsistofholdingtheknifeattheunsharpenedendandintroducingtheotherendintheenemy'sbody.Alwaysattackbysurpriseifpossible.Accordingtotheauthor,knifevsknifefightingalmostneveroccursinreallifeandthereisnopointintrainingforit:ifconfrontedwithaknife,run,shoot,oruseabaton,chairorotherimprovisedweapon.

Coldsteel,techniquesofclosecombat.JohnStyer,1952.ReprintPaladinpress,1974.Bayonet,knife,stickandunarmedfighting,aconsistentsystembasedonfencingmovements.Appendixonknifethrowing(forentertainment).Photographsandtext.

GetThough!Howtowininhandtohandfighting,astaughttotheBritishcommandosandtheUSarmedforces.CaptainW.E.Fairbairn.PaladinPress(orig.1942).Anicebookonhandtohand,withdrawingsofBritishandGermansoldiersasthegoodandbadguys.Includesblows,releases,holdsandthrows,theknife,thesmatchet,andpistoldisarms,andsomemiscellaneousadviceincludingsecuringprisonersandsomesticktechniques.Simpleandsensible(andbynow"historic")techniques.

Cheapshots,ambushesandotherlessons,adownanddirtybookonstreetfightingandsurvival.MarcAnimalMacYoung,Paladinpress,1989.Verygoodbookongeneralselfdefense.Mostlyonawareness,attitude,balanceandothermentalaspects,butalsoincludestechniques.Illustratedwithphotographsanddrawings.Authorwears'shithappens'Tshirtthroughmostofthephotographs(visitNoNonsenseSelfDefence).

Aprofessional'sguidetoendingviolencequickly.Howbouncers,bodyguards,andothersecurityprofessionalshandleuglysituations.MarcAnimalMacYoung.PaladinPress,1993.Whateveryoudo,makeitquick!Animalexplainshowtoneutraliseviolentpeoplewithoutdamagingthemtoomuch.Mostlyadiscussionofbalanceandtakedownmethods,withdrawings,withabigchunkoftheusualAnimalphilosophicaltalkadded.Thesystemisbasedontheprinciplesofwalking(youknowhowtowalk?)whichIfindaprettyneatidea(visitNoNonsenseSelfDefence).

TakingIttotheStreet:MakingYourMartialArtStreetEffectivebyMarcAnimalMacYoung.PaladinPress,1999.Thisisinasenseasynthesisoftheauthor'spreviousworks.Itpresentsanumberofvitalprinciplesandproposes(sometimesunusual)exercisesthatshouldhelpto



applytheminanyone'spreferredmartialart.

Kubotankeychain,TakayukiKubota,Dragonbooks,1984.Karatebasedselfdefensewithveryshortstick(readaninterviewwiththeauthorhere).Techniquesareratherobvious.

Closeencounters,thearrestingartoftaihojutsu,TakayukiKubota,DragonBooks1987.Arrestingtechniquesusingavarietyofbatonsandassortedweapons,someoftheminventedbytheauthor.

GeneLeBell'shandbookofselfdefense,ProActionHeritageseries,1996(originalfrom1964?).ThiswaswrittenatatimewhenkaratewasjustbeingintroducedandallAsianmartialartswereknownas"Judo".Containstechniquesfrommostlywrestling,boxingandjudo.Igotitforhistoricalinterestmostly.It'sinterestinghowthingsdon'treallychangethatmuch.

Howtodefendyourself,effectiveandpracticalmartialartsstrategies.Dr.YangJwingMing.YMAApublicationcentre,1992.Itisoftenasadexperiencetoreadselfdefencebooksbyhighrankingmartialartists,asmuchtoofrequently,theyseemtofeelthatselfdefencerequiresexactlythoseskillsthatarenotthefocusoftheirartandmostoftenpresentedinatotallydisorganisedfashion.ThisisnotthecaseinthisbookbyDr.Yang.Hisselfdefencestrategiesareconsistent,simpleandeffective.HistechniquesaretakenfromWhiteCrane(Baihe)andLongFist(Changquan),whichareinterestinglyalsoconsideredtherootsystemsofkarate,sopeoplepracticingkaratemayfindthisbookespeciallyuseful,oratleastinterestingtoseewhatYangconsiderstobethemostsimpleandmosteffectivetechniquesinthesesystems.Thepicturesareforthemostparteasytofollow(andhavesomekawaiigirls,forthoseofyouwhohavesuperficialmomentstoo).Theintroductionhasaninterestingsectiondescribing"martialmor

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