Customer Reviews

Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts

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The work is extremely well researched, clear, and comprehensive; describing things I've never heard of in 30+ years of martial arts. The photographs and illustrations complement the wonderful text. While you can never truly learn any martial art solely from a book, no matter how well-written, this is a very worthwhile tome. It offers unique insight into the lessor-known weapons of feudal Japan, including kobuki (small/minor weapons), hibuki (secret weapons), and kakushibuki (hidden weapons).

Weapons addressed in detail include stuff like jitte, marohoshi, chidorigane, shuriken, and kusari-gama. Content includes bladed weapons (e.g., wakizashi, tanto, kubizashi, kama, jitte, marohoshi), small hand-held weapons (e.g., shutogane, tessho, dokko, suntetsu, tekken), truncheons (e.g., kabutowari, tetto, nashi, tetsuniyoi, hanbo, tanbo), miscellaneous hand weapons (e.g., kanamuchi, tamazue, hogu, kakute, kaginawa), chain weapons (e.g., konpi, kusariryuta, mijin, kusarigama, kursaibo, kusarijutte), shuriken (e.g., yarihogata, tanogata, kuji, senban, shiken, kamagata, tetsumari), deceptive weapons (e.g., yatate, shikomibue, tessen, jutte). A brief introduction on the history and use of each type of weapon precedes each section.

The book is easy and fun to read. I'm really impressed.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

At last, a decent book on Japanese feudal weaponry. Sure, there are many good books on the subject, but none of them are in English. If you want to know about the history of a lot of weapons, this is the definitive source. It's almost like looking through a catalog of lethal toys, and many times I found myself stopping to draw diagrams and write out dimensions so I can make some of them myself. As always, Amazon has the best price, so buy it now!

This book is nothing short of amazing. Incredibly detailed and thoroughly researched, it is the Magnum Opus on the subject of non-sword weaponry in ancient Japan. Swords have been covered extensively in many books, so it is very worthwhile to give the rest of the arsenal their due.

A history lesson as well as a weapons guide, "Classical Weaponry of Japan" compiles the secret scrolls of the various fighting schools of old Japan, along with the collections of noted weapons-scholar Fumon Tanaka and the authors personal collection of ancient weapons. From these, Serge Mol not only describes the weapons, their fighting styles, their lineage, but also the historical genesis behind the creations.

The sword being the legal property of the Samurai class, and its wearing and use highly proscribed, the non-Samurai citizens of Japan were incredibly creative in their adaptation of daily implements into lethal weapons. Also, each fighting school, in order to attract students, created a unique and secret arsenal of weapons available only to their high-ranking adherents. In this way, a warrior could unveil a weapon that his opponent had never seen, and thus would be unsure as to how to defend against.

The book is divided into seven categories of weapons, such as bladed weapons, small hand-held weapons, truncheon-like weapons, shuriken and shurikenjutsu, and deceptive weapons. Each category then contains sub-categories, with several weapons described. Altogether, more than 100 different weapons are showcased, along with their histories and uses. Most weapons are accompanied by photographs, and several are shown in use. Some favorites include the spectacular Kusarigama (Sickle and Chain), which I have seen used in several films due to its visual flair, and the beautifully decorated Omamorito (Protection Knife) which high-ranking women carried in order to kill themselves should they be "dishonoured" during a castle raid.

A necessary book for weapons and martial arts enthusiasts, it is also a perfect reference book for writers and readers of ancient Japan, including those interested in Samurai films and comics.

I just finished reading "Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts by Serge Mol", But I know this book wont get covered by dust. The content of this book is so rich that I will just have to return to it again and again. I placed it at my Dojo'd library and my students were very impressed too.

The techniques and weapons in the book are described in clear photos and always followed by fascinating historical and practical explanation. This book together with Serge Mol's other book -"Classical Fighting Arts of Japan: A Complete Guide to Koryu Jujutsu", are now like a treasure box for my practice and study.

This book needs to be on any budoka shelf when it comes to buki/kakushi buki
Its good to see a writer actually back his writing up with clear pictures and demos
Not to mention back it up with scrolls and densho that has been transcribed in part in ENGLISH!

Thank you sir!!!!!

Obviosly well researched with good photos. Beats the hell out of Cunningham's book.