Customer Reviews

The Way of the Living Sword: The Secret Teachings of Yagyu Munenori

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And lastly I have read `the Way of the Living Sword', by D.E. Tarver. Here we find another wonderful short guide not only for martial arts training but, more importantly, for life and how we should think.

A few key points here:
Pick the right leaders to guide others
Know who's around you at all times - you must be aware and stay alert
There is but one rule for all to follow
You must read the intentions of others
As much as you read, you must be able to think for yourself (to read it - to live it)
There is a process to all things, so allow ALL to flow naturally

Probably the most important note I would like to add:
Do as though you were doing nothing and all things will flow from their own accord. Do not have a set goal where you think you can control the outcome - you will falter. Rather, release this thought of control, and just react to the "instant" (the current situation), and you will accomplish anything without the `appearance of effort'. Such is nature - the natural flow of all things...

Naturally, I can't explain everything here, but there is plenty of discussion concerning fighting tactics - some which are very interesting. There is some very useful information in here depending on where you are in your training. I do not practice karate anymore; however it has left a valuable imprint on my life in more ways than one. However, I completely comprehend some of the important lessons in this book. I think it is a valuable tool to have handy. Once again - good job to the author...

Minimalist, simple and direct. If you know the japanese culture, these three words are complements for this book. As the yagyu shinkage ryu, the book is the essence of a fantastic and very effective art. If you practice Yagyu ryu as we do or you're a martial artist, this book is just as mandatory as Inato Nitobe's Bushido, Tsunetomo's Hagakure or even Musashi's GoRi no Sho

The author/translator provides a clear translation of the original Japanese writing. Not a lot of details or explanations; simply provides the original text. I highly recommend this to be read alongside The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun.

From the the start to the end of the Art of Advantage it is the Way of the Longsword and the Side Arm.
For those men/women at Arms this is the cycle.