Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice (Hardcover)

~ Fumon Tanaka (Author) "Kobudo has a long history, with swords like tsurugi (with double cutting edge) and katana (single cutting edge) appearing in Japanese mythology, as recorded in..." (more)
Key Phrases: committing seppuku, downward cut, Miyamoto Musashi, Koden Enshin, Yagyu Shinkage (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

SAMURAI FIGHTING ARTS introduces the world of traditional Japanese martial arts and will provide readers with a deeper understanding of Bushido and Japan. Also known as Kobudo, these traditional martial arts can be seen as a continuation of samurai culture, and comprise a number of styles formulated in the samurai era that are still being taught today.

Aiming to develop Bujutsu (martial arts) and Hyoho (strategy) to the highest possible degree, the samurai devised a code consisting of over eighteen arts. A samurai was expected to have impeccable manners and be an expert in martial arts, but never to be a killer. His words contained his soul, which he cultivated by learning poetry and art, and by practicing Zen meditation.

Fumon Tanaka is the world-famous Kobudo grandmaster. He knows all the Kobudo styles, and his teaching of arts such as Iaijutsu and Jujitsu fascinates many students around the world. This is his first book in English and it offers readers around the world the opportunity to learn the lesser known arts of Kobudo, particularly the way of Nito Ken - the two swords technique established by the famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi - and to further understand his spirit.

Lavishly illustrated with around 1200 photographs and pictures, SAMURAI FIGHTING ARTS reveals many secret skills of Kobudo.

From the Author

"I will be very happy if the reader, through this work, gains a better understanding of the spirit and culture of the samurai."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 230 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha International (May 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770028989
• ISBN-13: 978-4770028983
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #515,666 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An assiduous effort towards a clear presentation, August 6, 2003

By	G. Mccaskey - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A lot of books on martial science include pictures and photographs for they are needed to illustrate stances, moves, and techniques. Too often the photographs are of poor quality and they do not clearly represent the move. But the care to produce quality photos in this book is unmatched. There are approximately 1200 photographs in SAMURAI FIGHTING ARTS and each one lucidly shows what the author intended to depict. The process of selecting just-the-right photo reveals the expertise and wisdom of the author.

Mr. Fumon Tanaka has done a wonderful job at presenting the beauty, grace, honor, and power of a traditional Japanese art.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, a comprehensive and valuable text!, June 16, 2005

By	L. A. Kane (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Fumon Tanaka sensei's mastery of kobudo, iaijutsu, and jujitsu is well articulated in this excellent work. The writing is much clearer than many Asian master's first works in English. The layout is extraordinarily well done with outstanding photos and illustrations that really augment the text. Content includes budo (martial arts) history, jujutsu, kenjutsu, and samurai tradition. The nito-ken (two-sword) techniques included herein are not widely taught and rarely described in other texts. Basic, intermediate, and advanced Honmon Enshin Ryu applications are well laid out, with many okuden (secret) mastry level techniques portrayed. The focus is primarily on sword to sword applications though there is also a small section on sword vs. yari (spear), naginata (halberd), bo (staff), and shuriken (throwing star) as well. There is also a bit of muto dori (no sword) techniques covered as well.

The author really knows his stuff and communicates it effectively. Tanaka sensei has been studying martial arts since 1956, achieving an 8th dan black belt in kobudo, 7th dan in jujutsu and kyoshi iai suemonogiri kenpo, 5th dan in Bojutsu, and 4th dan in kendo among other accomplishments. While you cannot learn any martial art solely from a book, this work is an excellent place to learn about these systems or augment your dojo training. Highly recommended!

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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal Book, July 25, 2005

By	Joe Bretz "The Ronin" (Canada, Ontario) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Worth every dollar I've spent. Detailed chapters on all aspects of samurai fighting arts; such as Kobuto, Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, and classical and modern Budo. This book also contains information on the sword against other weapons, such as the Yari, bo staff and Naginata. Includes information on Japanese medieval historical eras. This book is also includes detailed illustration for all chapters. Best Samurai book out on the market, a must own for all sword enthusiasts.