Customer Reviews

Persimmon Wind: A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Several years ago, in "Autumn Lightning," Dave Lowry wrote of his experiences growing up as a young American whom had been informally "adopted" into the family of a Japanese martial arts teacher. It was a fascinating, semi-biographical account that delved into the true nature of the Japanese martial arts experience. Now, a number of years later, he has returned with a sequel-"Persimmon Wind-A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan." In "Persimmon Wind," Mr. Lowry details his first visit to Japan, to reunite with his old teacher of Japanese Shinkage Ryu swordsmanship. Despite his authorship of several fine books, including "Sword and Brush", this is easily Dave Lowry's finest work.

Lovers of fine biographies, martial arts enthusiasts, folks interested in Japanese culture--all will enjoy "Persimmon Wind." The biographical aspect of this work is entertaining. Dave Lowry's understanding of classical martial arts and ways is superb as well. He makes a point of explaining these arts in such a way that both experienced practitioners and the general public will be able to get something out of the text. And "Persimmon Wind" will evoke fond memories from anyone that have ever been to Kyoto, and it will fascinate those that have always dreamed of visiting the Japanese island nation.

The only weak point in the book is the publisher's failure to provide adequate proofreading. A surprising number of typos are found for a book issued by a mainstream publisher like Charles E. Tuttle.

This quibble aside, "Persimmon Wind" is a unique book-one that can be enjoyed by an unusually wide cross-section of readers. In short, it is much more than a typical "martial arts book."

First, let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Mr. Lowry's work and I have thoroughly enjoyed all his writings that I've read to date. I have been amused, inspired, and moved by each book. When I ordered this "sequel" to Autumn Lightning, I was expecting more of the same. It's not. It's distinctly different in style and in character, whether that be due to advances in writing technique, artistry, or simple maturation. I enjoyed the book immensely. What I most definately did NOT enjoy was the numerous typos, misspellings, and plain lack of work done by the publishing house to review the results of their process. There are paragraphs where there are 3-4 mistakes within 4 or 5 lines. This is unacceptable. I sincerely hope a second edition corrects these grevious errors, because they detract from Mr. Lowry's work. I think he especially would be ironically appreciative of the errors because they are like rocks placed incorrectly in a suieseki landscape. As a writer, Mr. Lowry rates a 5...but the lackadaisical efforts of the publishing house reduces that rating to a 3.

In the follow-up to his very worthwhile book "Autumn Lightning", Dave Lowry takes the reader to a Japan from centuries ago in an effort to explore his own roots in the Japanese Martial Arts. He accomplishes this in a sometimes long-winded and meandering way, but by the end of the book you feel like you were right along with him, walking ancient paths, visiting temples, cemeteries, and traditional martial arts halls. This is a good book for a martial artist interested in a time past, or anyone fascinated by the culture and history of feudal Japan.

This is the third book I've read, and it is the one that I enjoyed the least. Yet, I still give it 4 stars!

This is an account of the author's pilgrimage to Japan to visit his sensei in the art of swordsmanship and to visit various places important to his sensei and to their school of swordsmanship. Thus, the book is a kind of travelog of various obscure villages, gravesites and temples. Doesn't sound too promising, does it? Yet, the author infuses this account of his travels and experiences with sufficient insight and wisdom to entertain and inform. Also, it gives a finely textured account of the Japanese heartland that few westerners ever get to experience. Yes, at times the author is a bit long-winded and meandering.

To fully appreciate this book, it would be helpful to read Autumn Lighting, the wonderful biographical account of his training in Japanese swordsmanship, begun in the American Midwest when he was an adolescent. There is much information in Autumn Lightning about the traditions, history, and founders of the author's style of martial art that makes reading Persimmon Wind a much richer experience.

Several years ago, in "Autumn Lightning," Dave Lowry wrote of his experiences growing up as a young American whom had been informally "adopted" into the family of a Japanese martial arts teacher. It was a fascinating, semi-biographical account that delved into the true nature of the Japanese martial arts experience. Now, a number of years later, he has returned with a sequel-"Persimmon Wind-A Martial Artist's Journey in Japan." In "Persimmon Wind," Mr. Lowry details his first visit to Japan, to reunite with his old teacher of Japanese Shinkage Ryu swordsmanship. Despite his authorship of several fine books, including "Sword and Brush", this is easily Dave Lowry's finest work.

Lovers of fine biographies, martial arts enthusiasts, folks interested in Japanese culture--all will enjoy "Persimmon Wind." The biographical aspect of this work is entertaining. Dave Lowry's understanding of classical martial arts and ways is superb as well. He makes a point of explaining these arts in such a way that both experienced practitioners and the general public will be able to get something out of the text. And "Persimmon Wind" will evoke fond memories from anyone that have ever been to Kyoto, and it will fascinate those that have always dreamed of visiting the Japanese island nation.

The only weak point in the book is the publisher's failure to provide adequate proofreading. A surprising number of typos are found for a book issued by a mainstream publisher like Charles E. Tuttle.

This quibble aside, "Persimmon Wind" is a unique book-one that can be enjoyed by an unusually wide cross-section of readers. In short, it is much more than a typical "martial arts book."

Dave Lowry writes of an education which many martial artists would give their right arm to experience. His writing style allows the reader to feel as if he is right there experiencing the same moments. This is not a how to philosphy book for the beginning martial artist. It describes the experiences of a master practitioner getting to go to Japan and spend time with his Sensei.

Having been a student, instructor, and researcher of the martial arts for nearly a quarter of a century now, I always read Lowry's books, but am not always inclined towards them, due to his somewhat elitist and condescending attitude (at times). This book concerns his visit to see his Shinkage ryu sensei in Japan some time after his instructor returned to Japan. Those expecting to get technical presentations from Lowry's books are apt to be disappointed, since (frankly) he rarely concerns himself with training sequences or scenarios, and prefers to tell long winded explanations of stories which are mostly only relevant to those who've had extended training in ko-ryu bujutsu and in particular the Shinkage ryu. I found this to be an interesting read, and will keep the book in my collection, but (like much of Lowry's work) it is one of those tomes which are more suitable for the researcher in arcane Japanese arts and crafts than for either serious martial arts students or even the casual reader. Many reviewers have been overly concerned with the typos and proofreading errors (of which there are a few), but I did not find that they detracted from my enjoyment of the book, so the frustrated English teachers among us should read the book and not quibble.

I enjoyed Lowry's account of his travels in Japan, which he uses to explain and illuminate many aspects of Japanese martial (and also not so martial) culture, ranging from flower arranging to iaijutsu and naginatajutsu, and others. I especially liked his account of training in a rural iai school in which the teachers, although possessing decades of experience (as well as comparable skill), still described themselves as "students" since they were a rural dojo and many hadn't been able to formally test for high rank, although they probably would have qualified. That didn't keep them from finding and correcting the slightest faults with his technique, and he found the workouts both exhaustive and exhausting at this humble and bucolic dojo. You can't read one of Lowry's books without learning a lot about Japanese history, philosophy, and martial arts, and this one is no different.

The book was a very enjoyable read as it details the experiences of someone who has become totally immersed in the martial art, to the extent that they would travel to Japan. This experience alone sets it apart from most other journeys of discovery because it involves an immersion in a culture totally foreign.

I liked the narrative the author provided but found that towards the middle of the book it became too much about the history of the Japanese culture and history. This provided a distraction from what the book had started out to be, a story of a journey and discovery.

That should not detract from those interested in martial arts from adding this to their reading list as I believe it gives insight into the real 'traditional' martial arts of Japan all of which seems to be pretty much lost these days. The book demonstrates how that in even modern Japan you can still find corners of the world that have not changed.

A most enjoyable and easy to read book that for anyone interested in traditional martial arts is well worth reading.