Customer Reviews

Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book performs its function perfectly, as a supplement to iaido or kendo training, not as a comprehensive guide to these other arts. The drills are excellent, the illustrations clear and concise, especially to a proponent of the art. The book is NOT a stand-alone manual to any specific art, and shouldn't be read as such. For something like that, try "Kendo:The Definitive Guide" or Suino's "The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship;" both of these are as close as I've found to "definitive" works.

I found this book valuable for the Author's insistence and emphasis on the basic techniques of swordplay.My only experience with swordsmanship is in the European tradition, but I found the authors drills to be helpful, in terms of illustrating the importance of timing and distance. The drills are not flashy, but were never represented as such.My experience in fencing suggests that the best and most succesful swordsmen do simple moves, very fast, very accurately, and at just the right time. I believe the drills in this book will help any swordsman develop such skills.This is not a book for someone with no experience or no teacher, but If you want to learn some valuable insights into real swordsmanship, this book will be helpful, especially at this price.

This book, when used as it was intended, is an excellent source for practice drills. When use as a companion book with Suino Sensei's other book (the art of the japanese sword - Eishin Ryu Iaido) it is invaluable. This book is not meant, however, to be a stand alone book for teaching swordplay.

For the record...
This book is NOT for someone that is trying to learn on their own.
You need to be around someone that has taken some lessons & has at least a basic idea of what they are doing. (Or know yourself)

There are a few details left out that but if you're in a school they tell you what this book doesn't.
This book is what it says "practice drills" nothing more.

Others have comments about footwork not being able to tell which foot is left & right.
I have taken kendo but was also shown some iaido by a friend.
In both, your rt. foot is always forward. (Unless you're doing something special like sonyko) (I probably spelled that wrong but it is the bowing sequence you do in kendo before you spar)

I only give this book a 4 because the pictures are really small.
The information in the text is good & deserves a 5.

As a side note I am not sure this book is worth more then 10 dollars. (my friend bought his used for 7, I would not pay more myself after seeing it)
But it is a good book.

This book is great for new students to the art of Iaido,it tells you step by step instructions on almost all of the drills to be practiced and is one of the best books to start with

Despite the fact that it claims to have some advanced techniuqes this really is a very basic book of sword drills. The writing is adequate, the knowledge is for the most part correct, the pictures while small and elementary are serviceable, and the information is okay but frankly nothing in this book stands out as special at all. There are stepping/footwork drills, solo drills, and two person drills that are usable as a supplement for just about any Japanese sword art. There is nothing truly wrong with this book but in my mind it is about 100 pages of extraordinary averageness. Find it used if you want to pick up a copy.

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

While this book presents an average knowledge, and basic drills, it does so with hard to see images-B/W of maximum 5/8 inch tall or 1.5 cm tall. The quality of the media is very poor, they could have make full-size or half-size page images for better viewing of the gripping, sword cutting angles, etc. I cannot recommend this book, when much better quality production are available on this website. Sorry.

There is a reviewer that doesn't like this book because it has drawings instead of pictures.
It is true what he says about the drawings, they are small and do not convey the movements of
Iaido very well. However, the point about needing to practice the basics comes through load
and clear. Finding a good teacher is also essential to learning how to handle a true Samurai
sword.

The book is not trying to be anything more than a companion to training and to the importance
of practicing the basics. Sensei Nicklaus has written a fine book that, anyone wanting to someday
Master the Art of the Sword, should add to their library. It's a good introduction until you
can find a good teacher.

Sensei Nicklaus style is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido, the same style that I have just started
however, the drills in this book pertains to any style. I give this book four stars because
of those drawings but use the practice drills as often as possible.

This book really helped my groundwork (seated and kneeling kata.) I really recommend this book for anyone who has just started any form of Iai or Ken. It really focuses on the details and core fundamentals of footwork, moving while kneeling and seated, and cutting with your entire body. It is as it's title suggests: a primer on practice drills. It answers all those questions you cant get answered in an hour and a half class. It is really aimed at the novice or someone who has been away from their art for a while. Either way, it is a good buy.

Rather pointless book. The images provided are utterly useless, being a few cm in size, badly drawn and providing no information whatsoever. I utterly regret buying this book. For kendo kata in particular I would recommend 'Looking at a Far Mountain: A Study of Kendo Kata'.