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index

KampaiBudokai

KampaiBudokairecommended
literature
ThispagelistsbooksIownorhavereadrecently,manyaregoodandsome
arenotsogood(butlistedanywaysoyoucanavoidthem).Foryour
information,shortdescriptionsareaddedtoeachtitle,reflectingmyopinion
onthem.I'mlimitingthistobooksavailableinEnglish.Allopinionsaremy
ownofcourse.
Someoftheauthorshavetheirownwebpresence.Iaddlinkstoeveryauthor
Ifind(pleaseletmeknowifImissedone).
WeusedtobeanAmazon.comassociate,butgivenhowthey'veshown
themselvestopracticebigotedformsofcensorshipandhavetoldpatheticlies
aboutitwhencaught(theeventknownasAmazonFail)wecan'trecommend
themanymore.

Contents
Ratingsystem
BooksonAikido
BooksonJapaneseswordsmanship
BooksonJapaneseswordsandarmor
History,philosophyandotherfunstuff
Booksonotherarts
Selfdefencebooks
Ofgeneralinterest
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Fiction
Movies
Music

Ratingsystem
Goodorexcellentbookscangetfromonetofivebeers: NobeersmeansI
didn'treallylikethebook.ReallybadbooksgettheHorribleGlassofWater:

NewReviews
BooksonAikido
GozoShioda
(visittheInternationalYoshinkanAikidoFederation)
TotalAikido,themastercourse.GozoShioda,YasuhisaShioda,
Kodanshainternational1996.Shioda'sbooksaregood,offeringextensive
instructionsandcommentswithclearandhelpfulphotographs.Theyarewell
writtenandusefulevenifyou'renotinYoshinkan.Recommended.
DynamicAikido.GozoShioda,Kodanshainternational1968.
AlsoaveryinstructiveAikidobook,thoughlesscompletethanthelater"total
aikido"(itfeatureslesstechniques).Itdoeshowevercontainasectiononself
defence.
AngryWhitePyjamas,anOxfordpoettrainswiththeTokyoriot
police.RobertTwigger.Indigo,1997.BooksonAikidobypeoplewhocan
actuallywritearerare.Evenrarerarebooksthatdon'ttrytoidealiseallthings
Japanese.RobertTwiggertellsabouttheYoshinkansenshuseicoursehetook
andlifeinTokyoingeneral.Somepeoplehavecommentedheputstoomuch
emphasisonthenegativeaspectsofhisexperience,butIdon'tfeelhis
accountsoundsexaggeratedatall,it'sjustnotverycongratulatory.Weall
knowmanypeoplequitmartialartsafterobtainingacertaingrade.Mostdon't
writeabookaboutitthough.

GakuHomma
(visittheNipponkan)
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AikidoforLife.GakuHomma,NorthAtlanticBooks,1990.
MyfavoriteHommabook.CollectionofessaysonAikido,reflectinga
beginner'scourse.Hisdebunkingoftheunbendablearmdemonstrationalone
isworththeprice.Illustratedbylinedrawings.
Childrenandthemartialarts,anAikidopointofview.GakuHomma,
NorthAtlanticbooks,1993.WhatIlikeaboutHommaishishonesty,he
usuallysaysexactlywhatit'sabout.Thisbookcouldbeblamedforaheavy
Aikidobias,butthenthetitlesaysso,doesn'tit?Whatdoyouwantyourchild
tolearninmartialarts,Hommaasks,whatkindoftechniquesdoyouwant
yourchildtouseonitsfriends?Thebookcontainsalargepartof
autobiographicalreflectiononaJapanesechild'seducation.Thetechnical
sectionalsoincludesgamestomakeclassmoreinterestingtochildren.
ThestructureofAikido,vol.1,kenjutsu&taijutsu.GakuHomma,Frog
Ltd,1997.Hommaexplorestherelationbetweenswordandemptyhand
movementsinhisusualstraightforwardwritingstyle,withwelldone
photographs.
AikidoSketchDiary:Dojo365Days.GakuHomma,YutakaKikuchi
(Translator).1994.ThisbookdescribestheoperationoftheNipponkan
overanentireyear.ItincludesalotofinformationonHomma'suchideshi
program.IllustratedwithHomma'shumoristicdrawings.
TheFolkArtofJapaneseCountryCooking,atraditionaldietfor
today'sworld.GakuHomma,NorthAtlanticBooks,1991.Thisisn'tjust
acollectionofrecipes,butanintroductiontoJapanesefolkartthrough
cooking.Interestingforusmartialartistsbiasedtowardsupperclasssamurai
aspectsofJapaneseculture.ContainsmaterialonHomma'sworkattheLake
Ogawarafolkartmuseum.IllustratedbyBWphotographsanddrawings(and
ithasatleastonephotographfromUeshiba'sIwamahideouttojustifyits
inclusionwiththeAikidobooks).Alsocommentsonthesupposedhealthvalue
ofJapanesecuisine.

Ueshibafamily
(visittheAikikaihombu)
BudotraininginAikido(Budorenshu).UeshibaMorihei,Sugawara
MartialArtsInstitute,1997.165techniquesexplainedindrawings,anda
theorethicalintroductionwhichappearstobealmostthesameasin"Budo",
exceptthatinthistranslationitactuallymakessomesense(contraryto
Stevens'work).
Budo,teachingsofthefounderofAikido.MoriheiUeshiba,
introductionbyKisshomaruUeshiba,translationJohnStevens,
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Kodansha,1991.AphotographicmanualbyMoriheihimself.Alsoaseriesof
photographsfromNomadojo,1936,contrastedwithpicturesfrom
Wakayama,1951.Thesephotographsarewithoutcommentandsomeseem
tobeplacedtogetherhaphazardly.Interestingbookforthepictures,butread
thetextinthenewBudorenshutranslationinstead.Iparticularlydislikethe
pretentiousphrasesonthecover.
ThespiritofAikido,UeshibaKisshomaru,Kodansha,1984.Some
essaysonthepurpose,andhistoryofthedisseminationofAikido.No
techniques,somephotographs.Iappreciatethesectionontheimportanceof
theswordtoAikidointhisbook.
Aikido,KisshomaruUeshiba,Hozansha,1985.Thebestreferencefor
Kisshomaru'sAikikaiAikido.

Other
AikidoinEverydayLife:GivingintoGetYourWay.TerryDobson,
VictorMiller.NorthatlanticBooks,1993.Aninterestingpresentationof
conflictresolutionintermsofcircle,triangleandsquare,whichissomehow
relatedtoAikidoaccordingtoDobson.Theexamplesareunfortunatelymostly
inarathersillyselfhelpbookstyle,probablyamarkofthetimethiswas
written.
Aikido:TheWayofHarmony.JohnStevens,ShirataRinjiro.
Shambala,1984.ThebiographyofUeshibaincludedinthisbookcontains
somecuriousanecdotes.ShirataRinjiroexplainsseveraltechniquesbypaired
swordinterpretationoftheprinciples,whichisinteresting.
TheEssenceofAikido,spiritualteachingsofMoriheiUeshiba.John
Stevens,Kodanshainternational,1993.AnotheronebyJohnStevens,
againwithalotofinterestingphotographs.ContainsdokainoriginalJapanese
andcalligraphybyMorihei.Thechapteron"theaikidouniverse"leavesoneto
thinkthataikidotechniquesareactuallyjustmysticalhandwavinginasystem
ofmagic.
Aikido,theartsofselfdefense.KoichiTohei,Rikugeipublishing
house,1961.andThisisAikido.KoichiTohei,JapanPublications,
1968.Thesetwobooksareverysimilarincontent,themorerecentoneis
moredeveloped,soIwouldchoosethatonefirst.Bothareoutofprint.The
olderonehassomehistoricinterestpicturesthatarenotin"thisisaikido"
however.Ithas50techniquesor"arts",whichareassembledin36groupsin
"thisisaikido".Thetechniquesarenamed:ikkyo,nikyo,sankyo,shihonage,
kotegaeshi,kokyunageandkaitennage.Eachhaveanirimiandomote
application.Toheifocusesheavilyonmindandbodyintegration,butthisdoes
NOTmeanhalfofthetrainingtimeshouldbefilledwithtalkonkiorkokyu."If
Iexplainyoumaythinkyouunderstand",hesays,"butwithoutexperienceit
meansnothing".Inotherwordsdon'ttalk,practice.NotethatToheiwasstill
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withtheAikikaiatthetime.VisitKiAikidoUSA.
UnlockingthesecretsofAikijujutsu.H.E.Davey.MasterPress,1997.
NotreallyanAikidobook,Iputithereforconvenience.Daveyiscurrenthead
ofSaigoryuAikijujutsu(thismaysounddubious,buttrustthisone).His
bookhassomeminorlayoutdefects,butcontainsaverygoodexplanationon
jutsuanddo(Draegerwasn'twrong,hewasmisunderstood),thehistoryof
Aikijujutsu,andagreatchapteronmythsandmisconceptions(Ihaveablack
beltinjujutsu,whatdoyoumean,"whichryu?"etc.),andexplanationsofAiki
principlesthatmademerealiseafewmistakesinmyunderstanding.
CompleteAikido.AikidoKyohan:thedefiniteguidetothewayof
harmony.RoySuenaka,ChristopherWatson.Tuttle,1997.Whilethe
titlesoundsatadpretentious,Ifoundthisahighlyenjoyablebook.Thefirst
halfisthestoryoftheauthorsmartialartscareer,whichisparticularly
interestingforthelightitshedsonthedisintegrationoftheAikikaiwhenTohei
andUeshibaKisshomarugrewanimous.Thetechnicalsectioniswell
presentedandquitegood,buthardly'complete'.
AikidoandtheDynamicSphere:AnIllustratedIntroduction.Adele
Westbrook,OscarRatti.Tuttle,1994.Beautifullyillustratedbook,you
havetolikeitevenifyoudon'tagreewithWestbrook&Ratti'sviewonAikido
philosophy.Techniqueslistisrathercomplete,butthenamesgivenforthem
areabitnonstandardIthink.
Bokken,ArtoftheJapaneseSword.DaveLowry,MikeLee
(Photographer).Ohara,1985.Basicsofbokkenpractice,intendedasa
supplementforunarmedAikidopractice.Mostlybasicmovementsandafew
kumitachi.Illustratedbyphotographs.IfelementsfromLowry'sShinkageryu
trainingwereincludedinthebook,itisn'tspecifiedinthetext.Notaterribly
impressivebook.Notthatthereisanythingwrongwiththetechniques,butif
theauthorhadputabitmoreemphasisonthefactthatthereareother
authenticwaystohandleasword,wemightencounterlessAikidokabelieving
theyknowtheOneTruewaytoholdaswordorperformzareiorcuttheair.
InvincibleWarrior:APictorialBiographyofMoriheiUeshiba,the
FounderofAikido.JohnStevens.Shambala1997.Thisisaremakeof
AbundantPeace:TheBiographyofMoriheiUeshiba,FounderofAikido,which
waspublishedin1987.Itcontainsalotofinterestingphotographicmaterial
illustratingthelifeofMoriheiUeshiba.ThebiographyaswrittenbyStevens
containsalotofquestionableattemptstosuggestuncleO'Morrihadsome
kindofsupernaturalpower.Thesestoriesseemtochangewitheachretelling.
SomemightsaytheinfluenceofTakedaisdownplayed.Theretailpriceisabit
highforthisbooktoo(Igotitonaspecialsale).
TrainingwiththeMaster,lessonswithMoriheiUeshiba,founderof
Aikido.JohnStevensandWaltherv.Krenner.Shambala,1999.Thisis
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mostlyaphotoalbumbyKrenner,followingMoriheiaroundwhereverhegoes,
sowegettoseehimwithandwithouthisdentures.Quitenice,butnotmuch
aboutAikidotechniques.ThereisanintroductionbyStevens,andthebook
closeswiththecollectionofsayingsknownas'theartofpeace'.Expensive
whennotonaspecialsale.
TheSecretsofAikido,thehiddenteachingsanduniversaltruthsof
Aikido,astaughtbyitsfounder,MoriheiUeshiba.JohnStevens.
Shambala1997.MoreofStevens'bizarretheories,linkingaikidowith
alchemy,tantricsexmagic,andthenewtestament.Thetechnical
photographs(includingsuchthingsasatengutobigirior"flyingtengucut")
featureStevenshimself,sometimesShirataRinjiro.Contains4pagesof
"secret"aikidokotodama.Somewhatamusing.
Aikido,itsheartandappearance.MorihiroSaito,SugawaraMartial
ArtsInstitute,1975.IsawSaito'smultivolumeseries"traditionalaikido"
yearsago,andatthetimeIwasimpressed.Ididn'tpracticeakenorjoart
yetatthetime.Thisbookisofcoursefarlessdetailed,containing7sword
suburi,7kumitachi,noaikijoatall,andonlyafewexamplesofeachofthe
majorholdsandthrows.ThebookisanicereminderofSato'sswordforms,
butI'mveryunimpressedwiththepeoplehegottoposewithhimonthe
pictures. IscannedthispictureasahopefullyadequateillustrationofwhatI
mean:

ThePrinciplesofAikido.MitsugiSaotome,Shambala,1989.Thisis
mostlyatechniquesbook,showingunarmedaswellassomeswordandstick
techniquesfromSaotome'ssystem.Techniquesqreshowninmanyclear
photographswithsomeexplanation,aswellassomehistoryandphilosophy
editedbyIreneWellingtonfromlecturesandwritingsofSaotome.Awell
producedbookbutratherspecifictoSaotome'sschool.
AikidoandChineseMartialArts.Volume2:AikidoandWeapons
Training.TetsutakaSugawara,LujianXing,MarkB.Jones.Sugawara
MartialArtsInstitute,1998.Aratherstrangebookthefirsthalfdealswith
somekindofAikijo,thesecondhalfwithChinesestraightsword,andhardly
anyconnectionismadebetweenbothpartswhichIfoundrather
disappointing.Alsoincludedisaverysmallyetinterestingpartonthehistory
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ofironsmeltingandforginginJapan.
SamuraiAikijutsu.ToshishiroObata.DragonBooks1987.Asmallbook
of'aikijutsu'techniquesdemonstratedbyObatainclearphotographs.It
containsashortDaitoryuandAikidohistory.Iparticularlyliketheconclusion
though,whereObatavoicessomestrongopinionsoncurrentAikidopractice.

TheHiddenRootsofAikido:AikiJujutsuDaitoryu.ShiroOmiya,
Kodansha,1998.Basic,intermediateandadvancedDaitoryutechniques,
explainedinphotographs.Thebookdoesn'tsaymuchonOmiya'sbackground,
buttheexplanationsareinteresting.Iparticularlyappreciatetheshortbits
called'kuden'intermixedwiththetechniques.(example:guinomikudenraise
youropponent'sfingersasiftakingasipofsake.)

BooksonJapaneseswordsmanship
JapaneseSwordsmanship,techniqueandpractice.GordonWarner,
DonnF.Draeger,Weatherhill,1996.Thisbookfirstappearedin1982,and
manyofthetechnicaldetailshavesincechanged.Eachtechniquehasdual
descriptionsstrangelylabeled"formercombativeapplication"and"modern
spiritualapplication".IllustratedbyphotographsofpeoplelikeMitsuzuka
TakeshiandOtakeRitsukedemonstratingtechniques,aswellasvarious
usefulskillssuchasdecorativelytyingthesageoaroundthesayaorthecords
aroundtheswordbag.Mostinterestingthoughistheintroductiononthesword
inJapanesehistoryanddevelopmentandmeaningofiaido,whichadmirably
refrainsfromthemythologisationofthesamurairampantinmostmartialarts
books.
Flashingsteel,masteringEishinryuswordsmanship.Masayuki
Shimabukuro,LeonardPellman,Frog1995.Thisbookcoversmostofthe
ryu,history,philosophy,omori,chuden,okuden,tachiuchinokurai,seitei
andtameshigiri.Idon'tpracticeEishinryumyself,butstillhavemy
reservationsregardingsomeofthethingsgoingoninthephotographs,esp.in
theseiteisection.Oftentherearetoofewphotographs,ortheyseempoorly
chosen.Forexample,thethreevariationsofitomagoiareillustratedwith
exactlythesamesequenceofpictures(alsousedfornukiuchi),whichis
reproducedthreetimesandshowsnothingbetweenseizaandfurikaburi.A
usefulbookforthosewhowantaquickreminderforalltheseriesinone
volume,Iguess.
PracticedrillsforJapaneseSwordsmanship.NicklausSuino,
Weatherhill,1995.Abookwithsingleandpartnerdrillsusingbokuto.The
practiceoflettingthepointdropdownbehindthebackbeforestrikingcould
causeproblemsinsomestyles.Drawingsareratherdullcomputergraphics.
Hisadviceonadvancedpracticeisworthrepeating:advancedpractice
consistsofthebasicdrills,performedbytheadvancedpractitioner!
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Iai,theartofdrawingthesword.DarrellCraig,Tuttle,1981.Contains
seiteikata17,withoutsageohandling(somewhatdated).Thebookalso
containssomekatasfromMugairyu,andvariousstories(includingthe47
retainers).Drawingsareratherunprofessionalanduneveninquality.Notthe
bestbookaround,butcertainlyworthhaving.VisitCraig'sHoustonBudokan.

Jodo.YonenoKotaroandHiroiTsunetsugu.Englishtranslationofthe
JodoKyotenbyEishinkandojo,1985.ZNKRJodo.Quitegood,thoughthe
choiceislimitedconcerningtranslatedJodoliterature.
Kenjutsu:TheArtofJapaneseSwordsmanship.CharlesDaniel,
UniquePublications,1991.Notverygood.Readthedetailedreviewhere.
ShinkageRyuSwordTechnique:TraditionalJapaneseMartialArts.
TadashigeWatanabe.SomeShinkageRyukatasdemonstratedin
photographswithminimalexplanation.
JapaneseSwordDrawing:ASourcebookbyDonZier.Unique
Publications,2000.ThefirstbookinEnglishonMusoShindenryuIaido.It
describesalmostallthekatafromtheshoden,chudenandokudenset,aswell
asthestandardformsoftheZNKRandZNIR.Kanjiareprovidedforallkata
names,andphotographsarenumerousandclear.Explanationsarevery
sketchythough,andtheexecutionitselflookslikesomeonewhohaspracticed
inisolationforthelastcoupleofdecades,andwouldbeconsidered"wrong"by
manypractitionersofthestyle.Theintroductionisratherweak.Thisbookis
forMusoShindenryuwhatFlashingSteelistoEishinryu(thoughwithbetter
picturesbutlessphylosophy):anillustratedcatalogoftheryu'skatas.
LookingatafarmountainastudyofKendoKata.PaulBudden,
Tuttle,2000.AdetailedexplanationoftheKendonoKata,illustratedwith
photographsanddrawings.Alsoincludessomehistory,lineagecharts,a
glossary,andanumberofhistoricphotographs.Recommendedforanyone
interestedintheKendokata.

BooksonSwordsandarmor
TheCraftoftheJapaneseSword.Leon&HirokoKapp,Yoshindo
Yoshihara,KodanshaInternational,1987.Abeautifulbookwithpictures
dealingwithswordforging,polishingandhabakiandshirasayamaking.Lacks
tsukaandtsubaproductionthough.
Armsandarmorofthesamurai,thehistoryofweaponryinancient
Japan.Bottomley&Hopson,Crescentbooks,1996.Beautifulbook,also
containsarmorlacingdiagramsforvariousperiods.Jocktoldusthepublisher
cutatleastathirdofhistextinfavorofbiggerpictures.Stilloneofthenicest
booksonJapanesearmsIknowof.
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Theconnoisseur'sbookofJapaneseswords.KokanNagayama,
Kodansha,1997.Avoluminousbookdealingsolelywithswordblade
appreciation,organisedaccordingtothe6traditions.Veryinterestingmanner
ofrepresentingthebladesurfaceinthedrawings.
SamuraiSword,aHandbookJohnM.Yumoto,1958.Goodintroduction
foraspiringcollector,somewhatspecifictotheAmericanswordmarket.
Swords,andhiltweapons.Barnes&NobleBooks1993PeterConnelly,
editor(variousauthors).Thisoversizeillustratedworkconsistsofa
numberoflooselyrelatedessaysonswords,knivesandothercutlery.The
startismoreorlesschronologicalwithmoreemphasisonpost1700history,
endingwithmodernfightingknives.Thebookthenswitchestwoswordsof
Islam,Japan,Asia,India,AfricaandpreconquestAmerica.Thepartonthe
JapaneseswordiswrittenbyVictorHarris(oftheinfamousgorinnosho
translation).Thebookcontainsmanyinterestingandniceillustrationsand
information,butissomewhatincoherentinitsorganisation.Youwillhaveto
gotoBarnes&Nobletoobtainthereprint(perhapsyouwouldgothrough
KoryuBooksandsupportthem?)
ArmsandArmoroftheMedievalKnight,anillustratedhistoryof
weaponryintheMiddleAges.DavidEdge,JohnMilesPaddock.
CrescentBooks,1996.Anicelyillustratedhistory,containspicturesofmost
ofthefamoussurvivingswordsandarmors.Alsodealsbrieflywitharmor
construction.
TheArmourerandhisCraft.FromtheXIthtotheXVIthCentury.
CharlesFfoulkes.DoverPublications,1988.Thisisareprintfroma1912
classicworkonthesubject.Itcontainsseveralauthentictextsinfull,a
polyglotglossary,andaninterestingstudyoftheweightcarriedbysoldiersin
history(1550:armorandhelmet25lb,clothesandarms15lb.1911:
Britishinfantryserviceequipment59lb11oz).Italsodealswithleatherand
textilearmor.Recommended.
TheBookoftheCrossbow.RalphPayneGallwey.DoverPublications,
1995(orig1903).Atreatiseontheconstructionanduseofthisoften
overlookedweaponthroughthecenturies.Thedetailsonconstructionofthe
severalmodelsaresufficientlyexplicitthatoneistemptedtotryandbuild
one.Thereisevenapreparationforpoisonarrowsincluded.Flanders'famous
crossbowsarenotneglected.ItalsoincludestheChineserepeatingcrossbow
andsomematerialontheTurkishbow.Thereisanappendixonsiegeengines,
withreconstructionplansbytheauthor.
Armsandarmourofthecrusadingera10501350WesternEurope
andtheCrusaderstates.DavidNicolle.GreenhillBooks,1999.A
collectionofsome2000linedrawingsdrawnfromartworkaswellasartefacts,
organisedbycountry.Eachdrawingiscommented.Thoughthedrawingsoften
lacksomedetailcomparedtotheoriginalartworksandthetextisminimal,
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thebookisneverthelessagreatreferenceforgraphicsourcematerial.
TechniquesofMedievalArmourReproductionthe14thcentury.Brian
R.Price,PaladinPress,2000.Avoluminous,verynicelyillustratedworkon
armourmaking.Itdealswithmodernreproductionratherthanhistoric
armourersthough,andislimitedinscopeto14thcenturyarmour.Alsoscarce
areactualpatterns.Ontheotherhandthebookhasdetailedinformationon
materials,toolsandtechniques.
AncientChineseWeaponsamartialartist'sguide.YangJwingMing,
YMAAPublications,1999.Alistofsome80Chineseweaponswithshort
descriptionsanddrawings,classifiedaslong,short,softandprojectile
weapons,andshieldsandarmor.Thebookunfortunatelydoesnotcoverwar
engines.Also,thedrawingsarenotverydetailedthisisparticularyevident
inthesectiononarmorandexplanationsontheuseoftheweaponsarevery
sketchy.

History,philosophyandotherfunstuff
KarlFriday
(visitKashimaShinryuNorthAmerica)
KarlFridayisaJapanesehistoryprofessorandkoryupractitionerwithadual
mission:tobringsomesenseofhistoricalrealitytothemartialartsliterary
community,andtobringsomepracticalexperiencetothefieldofJapanese
historicalresearch.
Legaciesofthesword,theKashimaShinryuandsamuraimartial
culture.KarlF.FridaywithSekiHumitake,UniversityofHawaii,1997.
Theimportanceofthisbookcan'tbestressedenough,thoughothershave
donesobetterthanIcan.Accordingtotheintroduction,thisbookstartedasa
translationofahowtobook,thatturnedouttobecomemuchmore.Iwish
thetechnicalexplanation(whichwereofnecessitydownplayedinthecontext
ofthebook)willseeseparatepublicationsomeday.Highlyrecommended(you
absolutelymusthavethis).
Hiredswords,theriseofprivatewarriorpowerinearlyJapan.KarlF.
Friday,StanfordUniversity,1992.Thehistoricalevolutionofconscript
armiestosamurai.Notmuchonbudoassuchandnotreallyaimingatthe
generalpublic,butvaluabletothosewishingtounderstandtherootsofthe
samurai.Fewillustrations,dissertationstyle(well,itISadissertation).
visitKoryuBooks
KoryuBujutsu,classicalwarriortraditionsofJapan,DianeSkoss,ed.
KoryuBooks,1997.ThefirstcollectionofessaysandinterviewsonKoryu
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collectedbyformereditorofAikidoJournal.Interestingly,thevariousauthors
sometimescontradictentirely.MymainproblemwiththisbookisthatI
wantedmore!KoryuBookshavetheirown(veryinteresting)website.

Sword&Spirit:ClassicalWarriorTraditionsofJapan,Vol2.Diane
Skoss,ed.KoryuBooks,1999.isavailablenow.Theentriesintheryu
guideareexpanded(asrequestedbymany).ThefirstpartstudiesTakeda
clanwritingsthatshapedlaterthoughtsonBushido.MeikSkossdidapuzzling
interviewwithSaitoSatoshionshurikenjutsu:Ithoughtthefanwasusedto
moveairorbashsomeoneonthehead,butitseemstheKoganinjauseditto
solvetrigonometricanddifferentialequations???(andthenMeikjustswitches
thetopic!).LiamKeeleywritesonTatsumiryu,KarlFridaywritesonkata
(mostlyrepeatingthechapterinLegaciesofthesword)andthebookends
withNishiokaTsuneodiscussinguchidachiandshidachiinShindoMusoryu.

Others
Thefaceofbattle,astudyofAgincourt,WaterlooandtheSomme,
JohnKeegan,Pimlico,1976.Astudyofthreemajorbattlesfromthe
soldiers'pointofview.Containsmanyvaluableobservations,althoughhis
conclusionthat"battlehasalreadyabolisheditself"seemsatrifletoo
optimistic.
Livesofmasterswordsmen.MakotoSugawara,theEastPublications,
1988.Thisbookseemstobeoutofprint.Greatbiographiesofthemost
importantJapaneseswordsmen,foundersofsomeofthemostinfluentialryu.
Interestingillustrations.
Abookoffiverings,MiyamotoMusashi,VictorHarris,1974.Iwould
likethatsomedaysomeonefamiliarwithNitenIchiryuwouldtranslatethe
gorinnosho.Also,don'treadHarris'introduction,it'sfullofhistoricalerrors.
Read"livesofmasterswordsmen"insteadforabiographyofMusashi.
Thebookoffiverings,MiyamotoMusashi,ThomasCleary,Shambhala,
1994.Slightlydifferenttranslation,andatleastdoesn'tincludeanybizarre
"history".Becarefulwhenordering,thereisapocketeditionofthisbook
whichdoesn'tincludeYagyuMunenori'sfamilytraditionsontheartofwar,a
factthatisn'texactlyemphasisedontheorderpage.
Legendsofthesamurai,HiroakiSato,Overlookpress,1995.Collection
ofinterestingstories,anecdotesandsamuraiwritings,inwhichtheoldest
availablematerialwasconsistentlyused,insteadofamodernretelling.It
containsapartialtranslationofMusashi'sbookoffiverings.Withdrawings.

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Autumnlightning,theeducationofanAmericansamurai.DaveLowry,
Shambala,1995.AutobiographicalstoryofLowry'sYagyushinkageryu
training,mingledwithretellingsofbitsofYagyuhistory(whichcanalsobe
foundinLivesofmasterswordsmen).Someillustrations.
PersimmonWind,amartialartist'sjourneyinJapan.DaveLowry,
Tuttle,1997.Thesequeltoautumnlightning,inwhichDavevisitshissensei
inJapan.Illustratedwithphotographs(there'sevenanudescene!)Hiswriting
seemstobeimproved.IthinkI'mgoingtohavealookathisotherbooks
soon.
SwordandBrush,theSpiritoftheMartialArts.DaveLowry,
Shambala,1995.Shortexplanationsof42wellknown(orlesswellknown)
martialartsrelatedJapaneseconcepts,supportedbyananalysisofthe
characters.Alsocontainsaveryshortbackgroundoncalligraphy.
SecretsoftheSamurai,theMartialartsoffeudalJapan.OscarRatti,
AdeleWestbrook,Tuttle,1973.Almostexhaustivesurveyofwesternpre
1970martialartsliterature,withheavyaikidobias.Interestingmixoffacts
andfictionandclassicdemonstrationthatoneshouldstrivetouseprimary
sourceswhenwritingabook.Notthatit'sactuallybad,justbiasedandat
timesmisleading.Theaverageparagraphstartswithmanydisclaimersbut
neverthelessusuallyendsinsomeabsolutestatements.Illustrationsof
techniquesseemtodrawmostlyfromsamuraimoviesandarichimagination.
WarriorsofJapan,asportrayedinthewartales.PaulVarley,
UniversityofHawaii,1994.Lotsofinfofromthewartales.Noattemptsat
poeticrenditionofthetalesthemselvesthough.Explainswhythewartales
areallsodepressing.
Musui'sstory,theautobiographyofaTokugawasamurai.Katsu
Kokichi,UniversityofArizona1988.Thebookthatshapedthemorality
andspiritofBudooftheTokugawasamurai.NOT!Musui'sstorytellsuswhat
beingsamuraiintimeofpeacewasreallyabout:brawls,extortion,pyramid
schemes,etc.Illustratedwithperiodartwork.Thetranslationattemptsto
captureacertainflavor,whichI'mnotsurereallysucceedsifoneisnot
familiarwiththeaffectedidiom.
Adaughterofthesamurai.EtsuInagakiSugimoto,Tuttle,1966.What
livinginaMeijieraformersamuraifamilywaslike.Anautobiography.Etsu
goestotheUSwithherhusband,thenreturnstoJapanwithherchildrenafter
hissuddendeath.Interestingcaseofmultiplecultureshocks.Containssome
questionablestatementsofhistorical'fact'thatshouldbetakenasauthor's
belief.Averynicereadthough.
Theswordandthemind.HiroakiSato,Overlookpress1985.Translation
oftheheihokadensho,fudochishinmyorokuandtaiaki.Includesoriginal
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illustrationsandaveryinterestingintroductioncontainingsomedetailsonthe
relationbetweenMunenoriandIemitsu.Don'texpecttofigureoutallthe
cataloguedtechniquesthough.
SunTzu,theartofwarfare.Thefirstenglishtranslationincorporating
therecentlydiscoveredYinch'uehshantexts.RogerAmes,Ballantine
books,1993.RogerAmesisprofessorandheadoftheChinesestudiesdept.
oftheuniversityofHawaii.ThetranslationhastheChineseoriginalonone
side,andtherearenocommentsandexplanationsbytheauthor,itisjusta
translation.Theintroductionisinterestingandcontainssomeimportantpoints
ontranslating:Chinesewordshaveseveralpossiblemeanings,andmost
translatorusethemeaningthatmakesthemostsenseinagivencontext.
Amesarguesthatoneshouldinsteadtrytomakeallpossiblemeaningsfitin
thecontexttounderstandthetruemeaningofatext,becausebynotdoingso
weonlyprojectourownculturebackontheChinesetext,andlearnnothing
ontheChineseworldview,whichshouldbethepointofthetranslation.The
additionalmaterialisquitedifferentinstylefromthecoretext,andconsistsof
questionandanswersessions,someareveryfragmentary.
Foroldertranslations,AmesrecommendsGriffith,(andsodoI)whowasan
experiencedsoldierhimself,unlikeClearyforexample.Griffithalsoincludes
ananalysisoftheuseofSunTzubychairmanMaoandbytheJapanesein
WWII.
TheLostArtofWar,SunTzuII,ThomasCleary,Harper,1997.Thisisa
translationofSunBinthemutilated,thelonglostworkbyadescendantof
SunWu,thatwasunearthedafewdecadesago.Thestyleissimilartothelost
chaptersofSunTzu,andpartoftheworkcouldbeseenasanexplanationof
thesometimescrypticstatementsintheolderwork.Partsofthetextarestill
missingorfragmentary.Apparentlythereweresomechangesinwar
technology,becauseSunBinbesiegeswalledcitiesonoccasion.Theformat
consistsoftranslationinbold,followedbycommentariesbyThomasCleary.
TheworkconcludeswithasummaryofcommonconceptsinSunWuandSun
Bin.Someofthecommentariesseemtohavelittlerelationtothetranslated
text,inmyopinion.Also,Cleary'sattemptstotranslatethestrategiesinto
businessmanagementtermsarecontrivedanddistracting.Ineverdidlike
thatTomCruisemovieeither.
SpecOps:CaseStudiesinSpecialOperationsWarfare:Theoryand
Practice.WilliamH.McRaven,Presidio1998.Theauthorpresentsa
theoryofspecialoperationsbasedontheconceptofrelativesuperiority,which
isachievedbysimplicity,security,repetition,surprise,speed,andpurpose,
representedona"relativesuperioritygraph".Thecasestudiesareinteresting.
GreeceandRomeatWar.PeterConnolly,StackpoleBooks,1998.This
combinesstufffromearlierbooksbytheauthorwithnewmaterialandvery
niceartwork.Reconstructsweapons,armorandtacticsofGreekandRoman
armies.AlsodescribestheCeltsandotherenemiesofRome.Recommended.
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ZenandJapaneseCulture.DaisetzT.Suzuki,1993.Thebasicideaofthis
bookisthatreligionshapescultureandnotviceversa.Toquote:"letus
imagine(JapanwithoutBuddhism),thecountrywouldlooklikeadeserted
housewithnofurniture,nopictures,noscreens,nosculptures,notapestries,
nogardens,noflowerarrangements,noNoplay,noartoftea,andsoon."
SuzukiisaZenBuddhistandhe'sadvertising,andabitunconvincingat
times.Zenandthesamurai,andZenandswordsmanshipfillsalargepartof
thisbook.Heputsastrangeemphasisonthe"virility"ofzen(presumablyas
opposedto"effeminate"tendaiandshingon?),andhisuseoftheTaiHeiKias
documentingthereligiouspersuasionofitsprotagonistsratherthanofits
authorsortheirpatronsissomewhatquestionable.Ithinkit'sstrangethat
thereseemtobemorezenmastersreferringtoswordsmanship,than
swordsmenreferringtozen.Zenmastersinthestoriesarequicktoclaim
masteryofthesword,whiletheconnectionoftheswordsmantozenisoften
rathercontrivedifthesamuraikillswithoutasecondthought,it'sbecausehe
viewstheenemyasanillusion,whichisveryzen.Ifhetriesnottokill,heis
compassionate,whichiszentoo.Ifhegetshimselfkilled,thatisevenmore
zen.Seemsthepoorsamuraiisanexampleofzenwhetherhewantstoor
not.Whatcouldbethecauseofthisfascinationfortheartofkillingfromthe
zenpractitioners,andtheirwillingnesstoascribezenmotivestoprofessional
killers?
GayTalesoftheSamurai.IharaSaikaku,AlamoSquarePress,1995.I
wasn'tpayingattention,thinkingitweregoingtobemerrytales,butthebook
dealswiththeJapanesepracticeofshudo(pederasty)asdescribedinextracts
fromtheworksofIharaSaikaku.Thisbookisaretellingofa1930english
translationofafrenchtranslationbyKenSato,andthisdefinitelyshowsinthe
awkwardstyleandsomeofthemosthorridromanizationsonecanencounter.
TheArtofWarfareinWesternEuropeduringtheMiddleAges,from
theeighthcenturyto1340.J.F.Verbruggen,TheBoydellPress,1998.
EnglishtranslationofthisexcellentBelgianclassicfrom1954.Probablyoneof
thebestbooksonthesubject,andinanenjoyabletranslation(whichcorrects
someofVerbruggen'sschoolteacherstyle).
OnWar.CarlvonClausewitz.editedandtranslatedbyMichaelHoward
andPeterParet,PrincetonUniversityPress,1976.Thisisaclassic,but
unfinishedwork,it'shugeandsomewhatunstructured,butnotasinaccessible
asit'ssometimesdescribed.
TheBookofDeedsofArmsandofChivalry.ChristinedePizan,
Pennsylvaniastateuniversitypress,1999.A1410bookdealingwith
strategy(mostlybasedonVegetius)andwithlawsofwar,alsogivingdetailed
listsoffortificationandsiegeequipment(andwrittenbyawoman).
TheArtofWar.NiccoloMachiavelli.IntrobyNealWood.DaCapo
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Press,1965.TheintrobyNealWoodmakesmuchof'theartofwar',
claimingittobeakindofsynthesisofMachiavelli'ssociopoliticaltheories,but
Ithinkthisisabitexaggerated.Originallypublishedin1521,it'sinteresting
tocompareitwiththeBookofDeedsofArmsandofChivalrybyChristinede
Pizanfrom1410.PersonallyIliketheearlierworkmore,Machiavelli's
emphasisonthesuperiorityoftheRomansinallthingsistiresomeattimes.

TheFightingSpiritofJapan.E.J.Harrison.OverlookPress,1982
(orig.1955).Thisisoneofthose'classics'onthesubjectofJapanesemartial
arts,andoneofthefirstintheWesttohighlightitsesotericsides(likeki).
WhileHarrisonmayseemoverlycredulousattimes,hemakesaclear
distinctionbetweenhisownexperienceandhearsay(unfortunatelylater
writershavequotedhimwithfarlessrestraint).Asanaddedbonus,Harrison
actuallywriteswell.Ifoundparticularlyfunnyhisaccountoforganisingjudo
vswesternmatchesbetweenaKodokanJudokaandsomeforeignsailors
willingtotakeupachallenge.ThisgoesonaslongastheJudokakeeps
winning,butnosoonerdoeshegetagoodbeatingfromanAmericansailor
whoknewalittleboxing,orKanohimselfofficiallythreatenswithsummary
expulsionallthoseguiltyof"degradingpracticesofthiskindcalculatedtosully
thefairfameofjudo".
TheKnightandChivalry.RichardBarber,BoydellPress,1970.Aclassic
workonchivalry,itshistoryandliterature,anditsconnectiontoreligionand
thestate.Alittleshallowonthe'practical'side,otherwiserecommended.
TheBookoftheCourtier.ConteCastiglioneBaldassare,1528.Abook
onthecodeoftheRenaissanceknightandcourtier,andagreatworkof
literature.InterestingtocomparethiswiththeHagakure,codeofthe
Samurai,andsimilarwritings.
TheMartialArtsofRenaissanceEurope.SydneyAnglo,YaleUniversity
Press,2000.AlongoverdueanalysisofEuropeanmartialarts,mostly(but
notexclusively)fromRenaissancemanuals.Anglodiscussesswordfighting,
stafffighting,barehands,daggersandknives,andmountedcombat,and
besidesthis,aconsiderablepartofthebookisdevotedtotheproblemof
recordingcombattechniquesinmanuals,andthevarioussolutionsadoptedby
theoldmasters.OneofthemainthemesofthebookisthatEuropeanmartial
artistsattachedgreatimportancetoexplainingtheirart(withoutwhichability
onewasneverconsideredarealmaster),whichpartlyexplainsthegreat
abundanceofcombatmanualscreated.
SecretFightingArtsoftheWorld.JohnF.Gilbey,TuttlePublishing,
1963.Twenty'secret'techniquesfromallovertheworld,frombadbreathto
delayeddeathtouches.Afarcesofarcicalthatitmustbereadtobebelieved.
Wouldhavebeenhilariousifnottakenseriouslybysomany.
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MovingTowardStillness.DaveLowry,TuttlePublishing,2000.A
collectionof45interestingDaveLowryessaysonmartialarts,originally
publishedascolumnsinBlackBeltMagazine.OccasionallytendstobeJapan
worshipish,butrecommendednevertheless.
TheBookofChivalryofGeoffroideCharnytext,context,and
translation.RichardW.Kaeuper,ElspethKennedy,Universityof
PennsylvaniaPress,1996.Containstheoriginaltextsidebysidewithan
Englishtranslation.Oneofthemostimportanttextonchivalryby"themost
worthyandvaliantofthemall."
TheKnightinHistory.FrancesGies,HarperPerennial,1984.Ashort
historyofknighthoodthatincludesinterestingbiographiesofWilliamMarshal,
BertrandduGuesclinandJohnFastolf.
CelticWarriors,thearmiesofoneofthefirstgreatpeoplesinEurope.
DaithiOHogain,StMartin'sPress,1999.Aratherdisappointingbookin
thatitisbasedexclusivelyonGreekandLatinsources.Also,manyofthe
illustrationsarefrom16thto19thcenturyartworkofveryquestionable
historicvalue.ThechaptersonwarfareinTheCeltsbyJeanMarkaleare
substantiallymoreinteresting.
MartialMusings,aportrayalofmartialartsinthe20thcentury,Robert
W.Smith,ViaMedia,1999.Thisisanicelyproducedbook,hardcover,high
qualitypaper,andsepiacoloredphotographs.However,thetitleis
misleading.Abetterdescriptionwouldbe"Anautobiography,withsome
materialonJudoandTaiji(andsomeboxing)aspracticedintheUSaccording
totheauthor,withfrequentdigressionsintoAmericanpolitics,American
journalism,moviesandliterature,Americanreligion,andsoon,whichvary
betweenboringandoffensive.Theauthorunrepententlyboastofbeingthe
pseudonymousliar"JohnGilbey."Thereareinterestingbitsinthisbook,but
theyarefewandfarbetween.IfyouhaveanyconnectiontoMr.Smith
throughyourtraining,thenthiswouldbeafascinatinghistoryforyou,butI
don'tseewhyanyoneelsewouldcaresufficientlytowadethroughthese
martialramblings.

Booksonotherarts
ComprehensiveAsianFightingArts.DonnF.Draeger,RobertW.
Smith.KodanshaInternational,1980.Asomewhatdatedbutclassic
overviewoffightingartsfromChina,Okinawa,Korea,Japan,IndiaPakistan,
Burma,Thailand,IndonesiaandthePhilippines.
ThelittleCapoeirabook.NestorCapoeira,NorthAtlanticBooks,1995.
Interestinglittlebookonhistory,philosophy,musicandtechniquesof
Capoeira.
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Stickfighting,techniquesofselfdefense.MasaakiHatsumi,Quintin
Chambers,Kodanshainternational,1971.Usefulsystemofstickdefense,
couldbeintegratedwithoutmuchproblemsinone'saikidoorjujutsutraining.
Textwithphotographs.Hatsumiisn'twearingblack.AlsotheonlyHatsumi
howtobookinenglishinprintthatIknowabout(knifeandpistolfighting
beingoutofprint).
FightingwithSticks.NickEvangelista.Loompanics1998.Asuperficial
littlebook,mostlyonsinglestick.Theauthorhasbasicallytakenthesections
onstickfromEgertonCastleandHutton,andmadeupasetofrulesbywhich
thesebloodygamescanbepracticedsafely.Thebookalsooffersyetanother
(andtotallyofftopic)repetitionofthe19thcenturyversionoffencinghistory.
Whatlittletechnicaladviseheoffersisobviouscommonsense.Thereare
extremelyshortsectionsoncanneandstaffyoucanlearnmorebywatching
RobinHood,themovie.Andthereareinstructionsonconstructingyourown
singlestick.Itrequiresastick,anicecreamcontainer,andlotsofducttape
(eattheicecreamfirst).Iwasreallydisappointedbythisbook(especially
sinceitgotpositivereviewsfrompeopleIconsiderserious).Thedepthofthe
author'sresearchisobviouswhenhedescribesEasternstickfighting,and
identifiesthestylefoundedbyMusoGonnosukeas"BlackSwordAikido."
Thereisbetterinformationthanthisavailableontheinternet!
Stickfighting:selfdefense.BruceTegner.ThorPublishing,1982
(orig.1972).Ihaveheardsomerathernegativecommentsaboutsomeof
Tegner'sbooksandhisqualificationsforwritingthem,butapartfrom
disagreeingwithhisopinionongundefense,Ifoundtheadviceand
techniquesinthisbooksimpleandsensible,especiallyfortheelderlyorless
fit.Italsocontainssomeinterestingadviceontrainingtheblindordisabled
thatIwasabletouseonoccasion.
TheMysticWarriorsofthePlains,ThomasE.Mails,Marlowe&co,
1972.DiscussesthelifeofofthePlainsIndians,withsomeinteresting
chaptersonweaponsandwarfare.
Kyudo,theessenceandpracticeofJapanesearchery.Hideharu
Onuma,Dan&JackieDeProspero,Kodansha,1993.History,equipment
andpracticeofkyudo.Theconversationswiththemasterareenoughreason
tobuythisbook.Wonderful,evenifyou'renotinterestedinkyudo.
(visittheMeishinKyudojoHomepagemaintainedbyDanandJackie
DeProspero).
Thecomplete7katasofjudo,M.Kawaishi,Overlook1982.Historical
documentshowingKawaishi'sinterpretationofthe7judokata'srandori,
gonosen,kime,itsutsu,juandkoshikinokata.AlsomentionsShobunokata
andGonokata,butunfortunatelythesearenotexplained.Translatedfrom
french.
FilipinoMartialArts,CabalesSerradaEscrima.MarkV.Wiley,Tuttle
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1994.Interestingintroductiontoescrimabasicsandphilosophy.Clear
demonstrationsoftheanglesofattack.Photographs.
TheBalisongManual,JeffImada,KnowNow1984.Amanualonhowto
handlethebalisongbyastudentofDanInosanto.Containsseveralopening
andclosingsequences,andafewpracticalapplications.Coverthebladewith
tapewhilepracticing.Maintainpressureuntilthebleedingstops.Interestingto
knowwhatyoumightbeupagainstsomeday.
Thearchaeologyofweapons,armsandarmourfromprehistorytothe
ageofchivalry.EwartOakeshott,Dover,1996.Highlyinteresting
overviewofthehistoryofEuropeanwarfarefromthearchaeologyofweapons
standpoint.
Aknightandhisweapons.EwartOakeshott,Dufoureditions,1997.
Alsodiscussesearlyfirearms.Readthearchaeologyonefirst.
Aknightinbattle.EwartOakeshott,Dufoureditions,1998.A
descriptionofwhathappenedat4battlesindifferentperiodsArsuf,Lincoln,
MauronandMarigano.Fascinating.
Renaissanceswordsmanship,theillustrateduseofrapiersandcut
andthrustswords.JohnClements,Paladinpress,1997.Asynthesisof
historicalmanualsandpersonalexperienceoftheauthorattemptingto
recreateRenaissanceswordsmanship.Interestingthoughtheauthorspendsa
lotofpagesdenouncingtheapproachofotherrecreators,probablymorethan
thegeneralreadercaresabout(visittheauthor'sHACAsite).
MedievalSwordsmanship,illustratedmethodsandtechniques.John
Clements,PaladinPress,1998.Thisbookisbetterstructuredthan
Clements'previouswork,itisalsoconsiderablylarger(300+pages)which
allowsamoredetailedtreatmentofthesubject.Thebookdealswithsword
andshield,andtwohandedsword.Theauthorhascollectedhisrantsina
numberofappendicesinthisbook,insteadofspreadaroundlikein
Renaissanceswordsmanship.Thisgreatlyimprovestheflowofthetext.This
bookisheavilygearedtowardstheHACAtrainingsystem,whichisbased
primarilyonsparring.Thismaybeconsideredsomewhatlimiting:close
fightingandarmedgrapplingissomewhatneglected,presumablyduetothe
difficultyanddangerofusingtheminsparring.Inappendixareanumberof
essaysandrants,someofwhichcanalsobefoundontheHACAwebsite.
Whattherantsareabout:JohnClementswantstorecreatemedievalmethods
ofcombat,someorganisationsofreenactmentengageinformsofrecreated
combat,whichcouldprovidealargebaseforexperimentationandfeedback
forhisresearch.Unfortunately,itseems,mostmembersinthese
organisationsaremoreconcernedabouttheperiodoriginofthefibersintheir
underwearthanwithauthenticityoftheirrecreatedcombattechniques.For
theresearcherthismustrepresentafrustratingcaseofmissedopportunities.
Thebookisclearandtheillustrations,whileugly,arerelativelyeasyto
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understand.Thisiscurrentlytheonlybookonthesubject,soit'scertainly
recommended.Acomprehensivelistofexplanationsofterminologyusedin
oldcombatmanualswouldhavebeenappreciated.LiketheRenaissanceone,
sourcereferencesarelacking.(visittheauthor'sHACAsite).
EnglishMartialArts.TerryBrown,AngloSaxonBooks,1997.Thisbook
dealswiththeLondonMastersofDefenceandtheirtechniquesandweapons.
Coveredare:broadsword,quarterstaff,sword&dagger,vssword&buckler,
thebill,andbarefistfighting.Illustratedwithclearphotographs.It's
interestingtoseehowaclosedhandguardcansubstantiallychangesword
techniques.Buthowcouldtheyfightwearingshoeslikethat?Iwouldhave
likedamoredetaileddiscussiononhowexactlythesetechniqueswere
reconstructed,andhowmuchtheymightbeinfluencedbytheauthor'sKung
Fubackground.(visittheauthor'sCompanyofMaisterswebsite)
Thebookofthesword,with293illustrations.RichardF.Burton,1884.
ReprintDover,1987.Part1ofanevercompleted3volumeseriesonthe
historyofthesword.FromprehistorytotheRomanera.Illustratedby
drawings.Oldbutcontainssomeinterestingbits(Iparticularlylikedthe
boomerangchapter).
Theswordandthecenturies.AlfredHutton,BarnesandNoblereprint
1995.Descriptionsofduelsselectedfroma500yearperiod,withsuch
interestingdetailsastypesofwoundsinflictedetc.Alsoincludesvariousold
manuscripts,andmaterialontheLondonmastersofdefence.Theauthor
believestheswordimprovedthroughthecenturiestoreachperfectioninthe
smallsword,butthisdoesn'tmakethedueldescriptionsanylessinteresting.
Thisbookmakesanicecompanionto"Legendsofthesamurai."Youwillhave
togotoBarnes&Nobletoobtainthereprint(perhapsyouwouldgothrough
KoryuBooksandsupportthem?)
Thesecrethistoryofthesword,adventuresinancientmartialarts.J.
ChristophAmberger,UniquePublications,1998.Veryinterestingbookon
variousswordrelatedtopics,includingthepsychologicalandinitiatoryaspects
ofweaponscombat.Alsodiscussesmanyofthemythsandpseudohistorythat
surroundtheWesternmartialarts.Verymuchrecommended.Visitthe
author'sSecrethistoryoftheSwordwebsite.
TalesofOkinawa'sgreatmasters.ShoshinNagamine,Patrick
McCarthy,Tuttle,2000.Thebookisdividedinthreeparts.Thefirstpart
containsbiographiesandanecdoteson10karatemasters,thesecondpart
describesShoshinNagamine'sphilosophyofkarateandcontainssomebasic
zazeninstruction.PartthreeisabouttegumiorOkinawansumo.Oneofthe
moststrikingfeaturesofthebiographiesisthedistinctabsenceofthekindof
superhumanfeatsthatseemtomakeupsomuchofregularkaratelore.
MedievalCombat.HansTalhoffer.Afifteenthcenturyillustrated
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manualofswordfightingandCloseQuarterCombat.Translatedand
editedbyMarkRector.GreenhillBooks,2000.AveryniceEnglish
translationofTalhoffer's1467Fechtbuch.Thisisanexcellentbook,myonly
complaintisthatitisbasedonarecentGermaneditionofthe19thcentury
editionofHergsell,anddoesn'tincludeanythingfromtheotherworks
publishedbyHansTalhoffer.
Bubishi,thebibleofkarate.PatrickMcCarthy,Tuttle,1995.Translation
ofsomewritingsfromthetimekaratewasimportedfromChinatoOkinawa,
knownas"Bubishi".WhileIdidn'tfindmostoftheoldmaterialitself
particularlyimpressive,thetreatmentbyMcCarthyandhisintroductionand
commentsareexcellent.Recommended.(visittheInternationalRyukyu
KarateResearchSociety).
AnalysisofShaolinChinNa.Dr.YangJwingMing,YMAApublication
centre,1991(4thprint).Chinnaisgrabbingandcontrollingtheopponent.
InthisbookYangpresentsthetechniques,orderedbyprinciple,and
interestingly,givesanescapeandacounterforeachtechnique.TheChinna
techniquescanbeintegratedinanygrapplingart.Thebookalsopresents
somerathergruesometrainingexercises(jugglingconcreteblocks,fighting
treesetc).Illustratedbyphotographsanddrawings.VisittheYMAA
ComprehensiveapplicationsofShaolinChinNa.Dr.YangJwingMing,
YMAApublicationcentre,1995.Inthisbook,thetechniquesareorganised
perattack.Recommendedaswell.Thebookusesnewphotographs,notthose
from"analysis".VisittheYMAA
Muscle/TendonChangingandMarrow/BrainWashingChiKung:The
SecretofYouth.YangJwingMing,YMAApublicationcentre,1991.
Historyandtranslationoftheseclassics,withextensivecommentary.Someof
thebrainwashingtechniquesarequiteexplicitandnotfortheeasilyoffended.
VisittheYMAA
TheFightingWeaponsofKoreanMartialArts.InHyukSuh,Jane
Hallander,UniquePublications,1988.Thisbookdescribestheweaponsof
"Kuksoolwon".Alotofthecontentsis,let'ssay"slightlybiased"but,the
authormakesagoodargumentinfavoroftrainingwithweapons,whichIcan
onlysecond.Thebookisabout70pagestextwithillustrationsshowing
weaponsandsomesampletechniques,andabout100pagesfilledwitha
swordformandastaffform.
SevillianSteel:TheTraditionalKnifeFightingArtsofSpainbyJames
Loriega.PaladinPress,1999.Aninteresting,ifsomewhatshortand
superficial,accountoftheauthor'sknifetraininginSpain,withsome
techniquedescription.

Selfdefencebooks
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Killorgetkilled,forpoliceandthemilitary,lastwordonmobcontrol.
RexApplegate,Paladinpress1976.Averycompletehandbookfor
personal(mostlyarmed)combat.Illustratedbyphotographsandsome
drawings.Usefulrealitycheckforwouldbemasters.Recommended.

Combatuseofthedoubleedgedfightingknife.RexApplegate,
Paladinpress,1993.A37pagebook,includingadiscussiononthe
developmentoftheApplegatefightingknife,andhowtobuildapractice
dummy.Techniqueconsistofholdingtheknifeattheunsharpenedendand
introducingtheotherendintheenemy'sbody.Alwaysattackbysurpriseif
possible.Accordingtotheauthor,knifevsknifefightingalmostneveroccurs
inreallifeandthereisnopointintrainingforit:ifconfrontedwithaknife,
run,shoot,oruseabaton,chairorotherimprovisedweapon.
Coldsteel,techniquesofclosecombat.JohnStyer,1952.Reprint
Paladinpress,1974.Bayonet,knife,stickandunarmedfighting,a
consistentsystembasedonfencingmovements.Appendixonknifethrowing
(forentertainment).Photographsandtext.
GetThough!Howtowininhandtohandfighting,astaughttothe
BritishcommandosandtheUSarmedforces.CaptainW.E.Fairbairn.
PaladinPress(orig.1942).Anicebookonhandtohand,withdrawingsof
BritishandGermansoldiersasthegoodandbadguys.Includesblows,
releases,holdsandthrows,theknife,thesmatchet,andpistoldisarms,and
somemiscellaneousadviceincludingsecuringprisonersandsomestick
techniques.Simpleandsensible(andbynow"historic")techniques.
Cheapshots,ambushesandotherlessons,adownanddirtybookon
streetfightingandsurvival.MarcAnimalMacYoung,Paladinpress,
1989.Verygoodbookongeneralselfdefense.Mostlyonawareness,attitude,
balanceandothermentalaspects,butalsoincludestechniques.Illustrated
withphotographsanddrawings.Authorwears'shithappens'Tshirtthrough
mostofthephotographs(visitNoNonsenseSelfDefence).
Aprofessional'sguidetoendingviolencequickly.Howbouncers,
bodyguards,andothersecurityprofessionalshandleuglysituations.
MarcAnimalMacYoung.PaladinPress,1993.Whateveryoudo,makeit
quick!Animalexplainshowtoneutraliseviolentpeoplewithoutdamaging
themtoomuch.Mostlyadiscussionofbalanceandtakedownmethods,with
drawings,withabigchunkoftheusualAnimalphilosophicaltalkadded.The
systemisbasedontheprinciplesofwalking(youknowhowtowalk?)whichI
findaprettyneatidea(visitNoNonsenseSelfDefence).
TakingIttotheStreet:MakingYourMartialArtStreetEffectiveby
MarcAnimalMacYoung.PaladinPress,1999.Thisisinasensea
synthesisoftheauthor'spreviousworks.Itpresentsanumberofvital
principlesandproposes(sometimesunusual)exercisesthatshouldhelpto
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applytheminanyone'spreferredmartialart.
Kubotankeychain,TakayukiKubota,Dragonbooks,1984.Karatebased
selfdefensewithveryshortstick(readaninterviewwiththeauthorhere).
Techniquesareratherobvious.
Closeencounters,thearrestingartoftaihojutsu,TakayukiKubota,
DragonBooks1987.Arrestingtechniquesusingavarietyofbatonsand
assortedweapons,someoftheminventedbytheauthor.
GeneLeBell'shandbookofselfdefense,ProActionHeritageseries,
1996(originalfrom1964?).Thiswaswrittenatatimewhenkaratewas
justbeingintroducedandallAsianmartialartswereknownas"Judo".
Containstechniquesfrommostlywrestling,boxingandjudo.Igotitfor
historicalinterestmostly.It'sinterestinghowthingsdon'treallychangethat
much.
Howtodefendyourself,effectiveandpracticalmartialartsstrategies.
Dr.YangJwingMing.YMAApublicationcentre,1992.Itisoftenasad
experiencetoreadselfdefencebooksbyhighrankingmartialartists,asmuch
toofrequently,theyseemtofeelthatselfdefencerequiresexactlythoseskills
thatarenotthefocusoftheirartandmostoftenpresentedinatotally
disorganisedfashion.ThisisnotthecaseinthisbookbyDr.Yang.Hisself
defencestrategiesareconsistent,simpleandeffective.Histechniquesare
takenfromWhiteCrane(Baihe)andLongFist(Changquan),whichare
interestinglyalsoconsideredtherootsystemsofkarate,sopeoplepracticing
karatemayfindthisbookespeciallyuseful,oratleastinterestingtoseewhat
Yangconsiderstobethemostsimpleandmosteffectivetechniquesinthese
systems.Thepicturesareforthemostparteasytofollow(andhavesome
kawaiigirls,forthoseofyouwhohavesuperficialmomentstoo).The
introductionhasaninterestingsectiondescribing"martialmor

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