Customer Reviews

Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets of the Samurai

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Acclaimed samurai of old would while away their elder years writing scrolls to impart their wisdom unto the next generation. These scrolls, a mix of martial arts technique and personal philosophy, would then be the foundation for the various fighting schools. The most famous and acclaimed of these are Musashi Miyamoto's "The Book of Five Rings" and Tsunetomo Yamamoto's "Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai."

Hatsumi Masaaki is determined to continue in this tradition, walking as much as possible in the path of the Sword Saints, the near-mythical warriors of the warring states period. This latest book, "Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets of the Samurai," is a blend of martial arts photography and technique, ancient scrolls showing the heritage of this kind of work, warrior philosophies and ruminations on the Japanese language and how one can use it to unlock the fighter's path.

One thing this book is not is a history lesson. Anyone seeking further insight into the authentic samurai would be severely disappointed. Hatsumi's interpretation is not one of facts and dates, of reference books and University lectures. He is more interested in the spiritual and allegorical warrior, one who sharpens his soul so that it is straight and upright like the sword that is his symbol. Those who have read other of Hatsumi's books will know more or less what to expect, but its probably not the best book for a new reader.

What you do get, is heavy doses of how to be a warrior with your entire life, not just in the dojo. An inheritor of shared wisdom, passed down from his master Takamatsu Sensei, Hatsumi seems to want to share this with a wider audience and continue the link. Along with this are some striking photographs, a collection of ancient scrolls and photos of Hatsumi and his partners, wearing impressive sets of full samurai armor, demonstrating fighting techniques with a variety of weaponry.

Much of Hatsumi's wisdom comes from the Japanese language itself. The use of Chinese characters, where each individual character has a different meaning, is heavily tied up with what he has to say. One instance of this is his ruminations on the word shiki, which can alternately be read as "wisdom," "to respect the manner of death," or "the importance of determination." Hatsumi brings these together to mean that a warrior finds wisdom by respecting the manner of death, and through personal determination. While not necessary, those with Japanese language skills will be able to read "Japanese Sword Fighting" with a much greater depth.

Followers of Hatsumi will definitely find some insight into their sensei in this book, as will those who see martial arts as more of a spiritual path than a fighting technique. Casual readers, or those interested in the historical samurai and their fighting arts, would do best to seek elsewhere.

This is the best book yet about Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. The main subject as you may have figured out already is about sword fighting.

Soke is wring about true understanding of a real budoka, religion and budo, the real meaning of bugeijuhappan, what is gokui (the secrets), the meaning of kyusho, between densho and kyojitsu, and many many other things.

Many many pictures from old scrolls Tsukahara Bokuden, Yamaoka Tesshu, Saburi-ryu, Kashima shinden kage-ryu, Yagyu shinkage-ryu, Muso itto-ryu, Hokushin-itto-ryu, Oishi shinkage-ryu and many many other old schools. Also many paintings by Takamatsu Sensei.

There is also many techniques explained with pictures and text in both english and japanese names (with kanji). For example the Muto-dori techniques from Gyokko-ryu, many different sword kamae (many new ones I've never seen before), and the Kukishin-ryu sword techniques, and the kodachi techniques.

There is also many pictures and illustrations, for example fighting in yoroi (samurai armor), and nagabakama (the hakama with very long legs).

Also in the appendix the whole book is in its original language which is of course japanese.

If you are into Bujinkan this is the best book published. And Amazon have a good price, I payed 5600 Yen for the book (approximately 56 USD) and I think it is worth every penny. Buy the book!

Relatively little has been written covering Samurai sword fighting techniques: here ninja grandmaster provides both a history of the art of Japanese swordplay, rich in biographical surveys and cultural insight, and a survey of classical techniques used in two-sword fighting. Vintage and modern black and white photos and illustrations pack an account that blends step-by-step how-to photos with calligraphy, description, biographies, and background history. A 'must' for any serious not just about Japanese sword fighting, but Japanese culture and history as a whole.

Dr. Hatsumi shows swords and armour nobody else would posses and demonstrates tecniques in a way else would be able to master .

Great book. A must for anyone interested in Japanese Sword Fighting, Ninjutsu, or Budo Taijutsu.

One of the reviewers of this book used the fact that Soke's creative use of the Japanese language was the source of much of his wisdom. For those interested in language then this description would seem sufficient.

I would suggest to the would-be reader however, that Hatsumi-sensei is first and foremost a budoka and the source of his 'wisdom' stems from his martial art. Soke himself has written that it is his understanding of martial arts that allows him to successfully perform other arts. It is encumbent on the reader, certainly for those who are students of the Bujinkan, to see this book from the perspective of the martial arts.

This book is another testament to the persistance and creativity of Hatsumi-sensei. Forever finding the next step, Soke is always able to continue and, in his own words, 'keep going'. This book is a MUST for any student of Hatsumi-sensei's Bujinkan art.

Informatively written by renowned Budo and Ninja grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi and ably translated into English by Bruce Appleby and Doug Wilson, Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets Of The Samurai is an in-depth manual about the skill and art of traditional Japanese sword fighting. Black-and-white photographs by Minoru Hirata and Kyuzo Akashi copiously illustrate methods of drawing and resheathing swords, and sword strikes and cuts, while the skillfully translated text delves into the philosophical and spiritual aspects of swordsmanship as surely as the martial arts and physical aspects. Illustrations of traditional samurai dress and full armor, and an appendix of the original Japanese text round out Masaaki Hatsumi's Japanese Sword Fighting, a truly "must-have" manual for Japanese swordsmanship enthusiasts.

I have been waiting days for this book, and it finally came today. Honestly, I expected it to have your standard sword exercises and cuts, but it contains stances and techniques that I have never even heard of, while some are familiar to me. Thanks to having a hardwood bokuto (which I also purchased off of this website), I can now incorporate new exercises into my practice. Even though Hatsumi-Sensei is a ninja, he is well-versed in the culture of the samurai and the sword as well. I recommend it to all aspiring swordsmen.

I was really looking forward to reading this. Most of the published material coming out of the Bujinkan and Mr. Hatsumi holds little or no interest for me, but this one caught my eye and made me curious. Overall, I have mixed feelings about it and what it has to offer the reader.

After I finished the book, I had the feeling that there was little to do with history or anything having to do with the actual "bushi" or warrior class of Japan. On the surface it is sprinkled with some very elementary history (which is well done) but at the core it lacks any depth of serious criteria of said history. The sword work is nicely illustrated with clear photographs, accented by the wearing of armor, which looks very nice and authentic. Unfortunately, the techniques seem to be an afterthought, perhaps techniques which were made up entirely for this book or those based on a loose interpretation of existing ryuha, wholly manufactured from the outside in.

But it's not as bad as I make it sound. On the plus side, I found it easily read and to understand. Truth be told it is highly entertaining and even engaging at times. The book is formatted well, in an order which creates a tidy atmosphere in the text. Although I found myself skipping over sections that seemed a little too "out-there" for my taste, the warp and woof of the book is well done. To me this serves as an excellent introduction to basic history, an "ice-breaking" which snuffs the popular movie notions of the bushi but at the same time it does not relinquish a fascination with them. The book is excellent reading, despite my surface problems with the content.

Overall, I am not sure what to make of this book, what it is trying to say or why. It was worth reading, but yet I wonder what I can learn from it, if anything; furthermore, I wonder what others can take away from it.

To me it expounds on an "alternative" or a "modern" interpretation of a greater philosophy, one which is based on idealism rather than an exploration of history founded in pragmatic fact.
I'd buy it used if you are really curious and new only if you have a collection to add to.

This book is awsome!!! it not only shows you how to do difforent moves in japenes sword fighting but it also teaches you the backround or history of the sword style what the difforent swords are called and it teaches you at least 5 moves for each difforent one. All around this was a very good book and i'm glad i found it.