Book Description
Kendo-the Way of the Sword-is one of the oldest of Japan's martial arts and the one most closely associated with the samurai. Immortalized in the action movies of Akira Kurosawa and in the bestselling novel Musashi, Kendo--originally a form of swordsmanship-has in recent years developed into a
popular and highly competitive sport enjoyed by thousands of men and women around the world.

Kendo: The Definitive Guide is the first book in English to provide a practical and truly comprehensive approach to the subject. Everything that the novice needs to know, from basic information about purchasing, wearing, and maintaining essential equipment to competing in international tournaments,
is explained in simple, straightforward language. Step-by-step explanations of fundamental techniques to be mastered to attain black belt level are illustrated in easy-to-follow line drawings.

With appendices giving the rules at international competitions and important information about Kendo clubs outside Japan, Kendo is the definitive guide for all non-Japanese Kendoists. A special section about the history and development of this martial art and guidelines for running practice sessions
also make it a unique resource for all teachers of Kendo.

The definitive guide includes
- basic Kendo principles and techniques
- official International Kendo Federation regulations
- list of Kendo clubs and national associations around the world ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

A well-rounded Introduction
Anticipating the start of Kendo classes, I ordered this book to get an overview of what to expect, what to do, and how to do them.The book is well translated by Angela Turzynski, and makes for a quick, easy read.Segmenting the chapters into snippets is perfect for one studying, and not looking to get an overly drawn-out explanation of procedure and custom.

Not looking to memorize the entire book, I went through the book rather quickly to pick up the basics and have a small understanding for the first lesson.Upon entering the class, after the first practice the sensei asked me if I had studied Kendo before, which I had not.I attribute this compliment to "Kendo-The definitive guide".When I learn something new, I can also come back to the book and review in more detail what the move entails without having to drag the class down with questions.

In the appendix you can even study scoring, refereeing, terminology, and get a list of Kendo associations near you.

Kendo
The book has good illustrations to show you the different strikes and the katas for Kendo. This is a good suppliment for any new student to help review what they learned in the dojo. It is also good for experts to have the names of the techniques and the rules for the tournaments. The book is a complete guide. The Heart of Kendo and Kendo: Elements, Rules and Philosophy is good if you want to know the history of Kendo.

Not exactly "definitive"
but still a very good guide yes... i have very much intrest in kendo but don't have the chance to do it here... no clubs near or far... i do iaido that is... and i can imagine how it must be...


but then again, i can not really tell if it's a good book for people with years of experience...

A must have
This guide is a must have for any kendoka, with correct and up-to-date information on the IJKF rules, techniques and theory. I highly recomend it.

A good introduction to Kendo
Hiroshi Ozawa's "Kendo the Definitive Guide" is a good introduction to the sport of Kendo.Ozawa covers all the technical details of the sport while also explaining the proper attitude and etiquette that a practitioner should develop.

After a brief history of Japanese swordsmanship and its transition into Kendo he gives a detailed step-by-step instruction on dressing in the traditional Kendo uniform, as well as its proper maintenance.He includes the Japanese names for equipment and the parts of the practice sword, as well as providing a guide to determine the proper size sword for the user.

The basic and more advanced techniques of the sport are explained in clear detail with numerous illustrations, as well as how a person should conduct themselves while at the dojo.One theme Ozawa stresses is the importance of keeping a single focus on the task at hand.He uses the Japanese proverb "if you run after two hares, you will catch neither" to make this point.

The appendix includes the official regulations from the Japan Kendo Federation, detailing everything one would need to know to actually participate in or knowledgably watch a Kendo competition

All in all it's a good book on Kendo covering basic and more advanced training techniques, proper attitude and etiquette and the tournament rules and regulations of the sport.
... Read more

Book Description
Derived from the ancient Japanese warrior art of the sword and imbued with the principle of Zen Buddhism, kendo has now gained worldwide popularity for its appealing combination of sport and meditation.In Looking at Far Mountain kendo expert Paul Budden explains the essentials of the art by offering:

* An extensive history of the kendo tradition

* Technical specifics such as form, positioning, and breathing

* Detailed explanations of the kata

* A listing of kendo schools

* A lineage chart of the great kendo masters

This comprehensive volume-endorsed by the premier Japanese kendo body-is sure to imporve and perfect the practice of kendo for students of all levels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A good, clear instructional manual
After many years of undertaking other martial arts, I've found myself having the opportunity to study Kendo. The club where I train has an emphasis on kata from the start of your training, and Budden's book provides nice clear illustrations of how to proceed with the long and short sword forms.

The pictures are clear, and the points of note useful when atempting to refine your practice. Overall a much better (and understandable) coverage of the kata than Ozawa's "Kendo: The definitive guide". The page lay-out includes both shidachi and uchidachi as they enter and exit, though I would have liked to have seen movement arrows (a la Yang, Jwing-Ming). Overall though, this has been a very useful purchace, and I recommend it for anyone interested in learning and refining their kendo kata.

If you want better information you need to go to Japan
This book contains detailed information on the kendo katas.It has all the notes one would like to have on how to perform each one.With this I do not need to worry about taking notes after classes and I can focus on performance.I especially like the shidachi and the uchidachi shown in opposing pages, so one can view the complete sequence at a glance.It also have interesting historical information with pictures.This book is a "must have" to practice far from Japan.

great details on kata
but.. i would rather suggest dvd rather than trying to read and learn from any book. best way to learn kata is, of course, from sensei at dojo.

Kendo Kata
This is a very informative book for those kenshi studying the Nihon Kendo Kata.Most do not devote enough time to the study and practice of the kata and this book is a valuable aid for this purpose.

A wonderful book for all kenshi.
I found this to be a wonderful book.I recommend it for all kenshi who do not read Japanese but want to make a throrough study of kata.The author lays the groundwork for understanding the theory and spirit behind the kata as well as deatailng the movements. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Enlightening
Being a new kendo enthusiast I found this book very good in presenting all the basic information. Excellent history backgrounder too, how kendo developed and what it means in Japan. Precise information on all major aspects, such as equipment, etiquette, forms and practice.

Excelent
Outstanding book, both for advanced kendoists and begginers. Pay close attention to everything those two authors and masters kendoists have written and you'll not regret.

on my second copy.. .
nothing can replace dojo when it comes to learning kendo, however, this book provides good over view about kendo. i do have number of different kendo books in my collection at this point.. however, this was my first book in english on kendo, and i still find it endearing.

Some excellent history
This is a reprint of the book originally published in 1964, if I remember correctly, and is definitely something of a classic, since there were few books available in the U.S. on the art of kendo at that time.

I read this book mainly for the history of kendo, in order to supplement the reading I'm doing on the history of iai, as I am mainly an iaido practitioner rather than a kendo-ka. I'd recently read Karl Friday's Legacies of the Sword, a scholarly work by an American professor of Japanese history on iaido, much of it impressively written from original Japanese sources. It was quite detailed as far as the history and philosophy of Kashima-Shinryu iaido goes, but other styles get discussed too, such as Jikishin Kage-ryu and Yagyu Shinkage-ryu. However, much of the information is relevant to other styles as well. But it was primarily, as I said, on iai, so I wanted to get some background in the kendo as well. I mention it because it would be a good book to read after this one. Just be advised, if you're familiar with Dave Lowry's lively and entertaining books on iaido, this is truly a academic tome, and the style is much denser and dryer than Lowry's works, but it's worth reading for the exhaustive detail and scholarship that went into it. The author says that it was the product of 20 years of research, and it shows.

I can't comment on the technical aspects of the kendo forms and techniques, but I thought the history was excellent despite a few things I found far-fetched, such as the author's mentioning of 9-foot swords. I note one of the other reviewers commented on this too, and he also had a problem with some of the author's facts on European armor. However, baring a few problems like that, I thought this chapter was excellent as a good introductory history and it contained much good information on many of the old kendo schools and the most famous masters, and dozens of famous masters are discussed along with the styles they originated, along with their exploits and some of the philosophy too. There still aren't many books discussing the history of iaido and kendo in English in much detail, and this chapter on the history is one of the better ones I've seen so far.

THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE YET.
This book, along with Fundamental Kendo (of the Zen Nihon Kendo Remmei) are still the most important kendo books around. Now, as we all know, Fundamental Kendo is out of print, so you should at least own a copy of this one. ... Read more

Book Description
All students of kendo--the formal art and practice of Japanese swordsmanship--will welcome this manual by an advanced practitioner with a deep understanding of the martial art. The work begins with a history of kendo in Japan, followed by a study of basic equipment and its proper care and use and a detailed description of forms and rules--essential aspects of any martial art. Beginners will find this section particularly helpful because of the close attention paid to fundamental techniques of kendo, including the rare two-sword form (nito ryu), largely unknown outside of Japan. Each technique is accompanied by clear, easy-to-follow instructions. The Nihon Kendo Kata and Shiai and Shinpan rules and regulations are useful references for those learning the Kata and participating in matches. The author, who is also a practicing physician, is attentive throughout to injury prevention and safety--concerns often overlooked in martial arts manuals.

The elements of kendo philosophy, which can mystify even experienced practitioners, are explained in simple terms to aid understanding. The manual concludes with biographies of Japan's most celebrated swordsmen, an extensive glossary of kendo terms, and a history of kendo in Hawai'i, where it has been practiced for more than a century and where some of the world's top practitioners can be found. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Exactly as the title states
The book is exactly as the title states. It explains the philosophy, history, and rules of Kendo. It also has illustrations for the techniques so you can learn them. You still need to study Kendo in person to learn it, but this book is good as a reference book in case you haven't practiced something in awhile. It also has the terminology, which is useful to know as a student.

this book is really useful
Dr. Tokeshi's book is great.It covers everything from the philosophy and history behind kendo to waza (techniques) and the basics of equipment care.Not to mention the comprehensive section on nitto ryu and the Nihon Kendo Kata.Using Dr. Tokeshi's book I've learned to take apart and maintain my shinai and how to fold my keikogi and hakama.I especially like the sections where he explains the reasons behind the different kamae and what the different kata is supposed to teach you.

Succinct guide to the art of Kendo.
Jinichi Tokeshi provides a succinct albeit comprehensive guide to Kendo and all that is entails. It begins with a short history of Kendo in an effort to familiarize the reader with the origins of the "sport". Tokeshi then spends some time on the necessities such as equipment and the correct manner in which to wear the kendogi and bogu! He also pays strict attention to appropriate etiquette and behaviour. The book deals with the movements, strikes, general philosophy, rules, regulations and ends with short biographies on historically significant samurai/Kendo masters! All in all the book amicably demonstrates the "elements, rules, and philosophy" of Kendo and as a new student to the Japanese art of fencing it has proved indispensable. ... Read more

Book Description
"The martial arts, if taught correctly, are limitless journeys with no final destination," writes martial arts master Darrell Craig. "They are a way of life." He begins that journey here with the basics: sitting, breathing, and the all-important bow, or rei. He describes kendo equipment and its care, then progresses to some of the basic features of a kendo practice session: warm-up exercises, assuming the proper stance, grip, strikes, and positioning. Only then does he move on to the seven long-sword forms, or kata, that are the foundation of kendo practice. But Craig's teachings go far beyond mechanics. Through stories and actual recorded conversations with his sensei, Harutane Chiba, thirty-seventh generation of a famous clan of samurai swordsmen, Craig brings you into the presence of a true legend from Japan's imperial dojo. He presents the history of kendo kata, including stories of the kendo duel of old and an appendix describing the goshi, or country samurai, about which little is known today even in Japan. Throughout, Craig emphasizes and demonstrates the respect, restraint, and discipline that lie at the heart of kendo, where the most important opponent to vanquish is oneself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Misleading Title
I am rarely as disappointed in a book as I was with this one.

Mr. Craig has a lot of love and respect for his teacher and his art(s) that come through in his writing. His reconstructed conversations and other stories are entertaining, but focus more on his personal growth inside of his art (a specific branch of Kendo practiced in few schools in the US) rather than as "A Comprehensive Introduction" to anything. I think this book would have been stronger as a memoir of his own philosophical development in the larger arena of the history of Kendo.

The "Practice" section is just as abysmal as other reviewers have mentioned. The line drawings are unhelpful and often misleading. In one instance, there are three drawings of foot positions which the text describes differently, but there are no obvious differences between the second and third drawings. Drawings of the kata seem to exist solely for filling up page space, as they fail to illustrate anything useful about the techniques themselves. Some sections were better than others, but the layout is so counter-intuitive that it makes finding anything impractical.

Not that finding anything is going to be a problem for me. I will probably reference it a few more times before I find a book to replace it. Personally, I was so turned off by the execution of this book that I am steering clear of the other manuals written by Mr. Craig in other disciplines. I do not recommend this book as a manual, but rather as an interesting read for one man's perspective on the philosophy and history of his art.

The structure of the book is mediocre, but decent book
I tend to agree with what was written in the "spotlight review". Darrell Max Craig appears to be highly competent in his many arts, of which organizing instruction doesn't seem to be included. There are plenty of good facts, cultural explanations, and the records of his dialogs with Harutane Chiba Sensei were great additions, but unfortunately it just wasn't well thought out for the purposes of instructing beginners.

Luckily, I bought this book for the philisophical explanations and to get an idea of what the "heart" or ideals of kendo was. The book does a fine job describing the history and ideals, and gives some direct testimony from the modern equivalent of a samurai.

The poor aspects of this book are the step-by-step instructions, which were very difficult to follow. The instruction didn't flow in many of the kata and technical instruction, and barely got the point across in the easier ones. I agree that real live pictures would have helped a bit, while the "3 column outline" would be ideal for most martial art book layouts. By 3 columns, think of one column being the shidachi, one the uchidachi (each of which are participants of the kata, and the last column for the word format of instruction. I also wonder why most kata include only about 8-12 picture and expect you to be able to follow adequately. I know that a book isn't the preferred way to train (especially to start), but I don't have any kendo school within 5 or 6 hours of my city. I just think it would be nice to include a picture for each and every step. if it's a long stroke (like a full sword swing) then maybe even a middle position picture would help. Instead this book shows a picture for every 4-6 steps in some instances, then shows a numbered diagram of footprints with arrows tracking all over the place. Some of these make absolutely no sense with the wording in the text, so one must be wrong!

I would suggest this book for a newer kendoka (kendo practitioners or students) who already has (or is about to have) a sensei they train with. It is really most helpful when seeking instruction in the history, philosophy, and motivation of traditional practitioners. Don't get this for the starting instruction on how to bow, and perform kata.....there has got to be a better way to learn that! Also, the writing is pretty well done, and the book is attractively put together, and thankfully, includes a glossary of all the new japanese terms, which gets used often.

fine read.
the first part of the book was well worth buying this book for. rest is about as good as any kendo books.

Beautiful Book
This interesting text about kendo is also available in hardback (or at least was, at one time). So be sure to read the reviews of the same material under the separate hardback listing.

The stories are inspiring, the text helpful. This is the most beautiful book I've ever seen devoted to a martial art.

the last samurai
Sorry to disagree with other reviews but I thought the book was not a good read.Pretty much just as worthless as watching "kill bill."
Just a lot of flash in the pan with no real substance.How could an american really be a true samurai anyways?That is like a Japanese man trying to play basketball here in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

I wouldn't be without it
I started studying Kendo with Dr Donohue after the purchase of this title. The class and thte book really compliment each other. I feel that this is as much about the art of the discipline as it is about the initial rudiments. I felt that this was a worthwhile read. It has definitely enhanced my practice.

Not a technical manual.
This book is more a literary piece rather than a technical book on Kendo.I've read the book of Five Rings and I'd prefer the original work.

I would reccomend this to those interested in the literature on interpretation of the "Five Rings".

A decent book for beginners
This book is slightly better for the beginner than the Heart of Kendo book because it presents materials in the order that most beginners would engage the sport/Way. Ie you learn etiquette, then foot motion, then how to hold a shinai, then basic exercises.

The weakness of this book is it's lack of pictures or pictures that are too small or unclear. I have often found myself ignoring the pictures and simply reading the text and envisioning it in my head because the pictures were so poorly depicted. Furthermore, the pictures are numbered but there is no reference to the numbering within the text.

In general I don't know why Kendo books don't do a better job at presenting technical material. For example, why are movements explained in long paragraphs rather than as enumerated lists that say: Step 1- do this.... Step 2- do this....
If they would just present, for example, the Katas (which involves the actions of 2 people) as tables with 3 columns, where column 1 is what the Uchidachi does; column 2 is what the Shidachi does; and column 3 is the representative photograph; that would make the study of technique so much easier!

Comparing this book against the Heart of Kendo book, I'd recommend the Heart of Kendo book in its descriptions of technique. Complete Kendo presents the material in a more logical order for beginners. Neither books have an index which means you have to hunt thru the book to find something.

The best book for beginers and intermediate students
This book is an excellent companion to Kendo: The Definitive Guide (KDG). While KDG cover ALL of the technical aspects down to the last detail, this book's focus is aesthetics and beginners Kendo. It was recommended to me by one of my school's Sensei who felt it covered ideas and concepts that you would normally only hear through the spoken word: the relevance of Kata, the formal apsects of the dojo, and why there is no defence in Kendo. The author is an antropoligist in NY, and I believe it gives him a nice perspective on the aesthics and ideas behind Kendo that you will not find in most other books, especially those translated from the east. I think begginers and advanced students will learn a lot from this book and I believe it is the perfect companion to Kendo: The Definitive Guide.

Very good for begginers
I appreciate how John tries to express the meaning that Kendo can have for people but I'm afraid that after reading the book and taking up Kendo it's not as formal as said in the book.There are also a few mistake I havefound in the glossary like Shimpan which is actually Shinpan. (referee) But overall this was a very informative book. ... Read more

Book Description
Kendo is the art of swordsmanship that was cultivated by the samurai in medieval Japan and it is an increasingly popular martial art studied in the West today. While most books on kendo focus primarily on kata, or the traditional movements or forms, The Shambhala Guide to Kendo provides a succinct overview of the art as a whole: its historical significance, spiritual teachings, and how it can be used by practitioners today as a means of strengthening the body and mind. The Shambhala Guide to Kendo (previously published in hardcover as Kendo: Its Philosophy, History, and Means to Personal Growth by Kegan Paul International, 1995), covers everything from the details of practice—such as strikes, shouts, and stances—to the history and philosophy of Japanese swordsmanship, including an overview of bushido, the code of the samurai. The author also demonstrates how the development of Buddhism influenced two important schools of Japanese swordsmanship. The Shambhala Guide to Kendo includes discussions of: Kendo as an expression of complete body-mind integrationThe historical development of kendo from the twelfth century to todayThe cultivation of the "mind of no-mind" in kendo, a state of egolessness and fearlessnessThe Buddhist "infrastructure" of kendoThe practice of kendo meditationThe significance of the dojo, or hall of practice The Shambhala Guide to Kendo also provides a useful glossary that includes the Japanese and English rendering of key terms and an informative list of ryu (or school) lineages. This accessible overview of the art will appeal to students of traditional Japanese culture as well as kendo practitioners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A misleading title
Only a very very general information on Kendo. You can easily get that much information from the net. No chance that you can get any serious hands on infromation.The title is misleading, the book could have been a short informative newspaper article.

Good Background Book
This book is very informative, and gives a clear background into Kendo practice. I highly recomend it to all who are intrested in Kendo, and Asian practices. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fundamental Kendo - condensed version.
I agree that this book is the first of its kind.However, its worth is mostly in its collector's value.There is so much of its contents that is out-of-date, not to mention the errors, that the going price hardly worth it; although, I have to admit that I have yet to see another book on kendo that comes close to quality and practical value of Fundamental Kendo.There is good news, however.The All Japan Kendo Federation has published a condensed version in two soft cover books under the title `Kendo Fundamentals - Condensed Publication'.Volume 1 (58 pages) is subtitled `Kendo Equipment, Courtesies, Basic Movements'.Volume 2 (120 pages) is subtitled `Personal Attack and Defense Skills.Training (Keiko).'Amazon may be able to special order these books, or you can try contacting the All Japan Kendo Federation.

Well, THIS is kendo.
I'm lucky. I have one. My kendo master offered me a shinning new copy about two months ago. Beg, borrow or steal it. Sell your car and your house; sell your mother and/or your wife; if your serious about your kendo, I dont know how, but you must get a copy of the book. You won't regret it.

One of the best reference books for kendo practitioners.
It is unfortunate that this book is out of print.This was once the required text for the International Summer Kendo Seminar held each year in Saitama, Japan.It is one of the best reference books for kendopractitioners.It contains step-by-step instructions and photographs onbasic kendo techniques and kendo kata.It also covers basic history,philosophy, and tournament rules and regulations in an easy referenceformat.You may hear rumors of an updated version in the works, but Iwouldn't hold my breath.This rumor has been around for as long as thebook has been out of print.Although some of its content is outdated, itis still worth getting a copy, if you can find one.There were versionsprinted in Japanese, English, and French.

A classic!
The book for every kendoist who is serious about their art. This book has it all ... Read more

Product Description
The heart of this work is the philosophy behind the creation of the All Japan Kendo Federation Kendo Kata. Inoue sensei looks at the history behind the formation of the kata using records taken at the time, and also examines the theoretical underpinnings of the kata. In addition, there is a full photo section covering all the kata from 1 to 10, and an analysis of the changes to the 2001 Kendo Seminar Guidelines for teaching the kata. A valuable resource for all beginner and experienced kendoka alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Really informative and useful
Goodstuff.This really relates to my study of the sword. ... Read more

Book Description
This book bridges the gap between modern Kendo as a sport and the old Kendo of the Samurai. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Impressive and insightful
This is a great book: enjoyable, entertaining, and enlightening. Craig's basic premise is that the way of kendo is something different to each and every student who picks up a Japanese sword. While traditional Kenjitsu had no rules per se, modern (sport) kendo does. He has fascinating insight into the differences and similarities between the two, asserting that to learn kendo properly practitioners must not think of it (or practice it) as a sport. If you don't already know, kendo uses bamboo shinai and padded armor for practice while kenjitsu uses live steel. To get the most out of these arts, Craig believes that you must think of them as a way of life, a perspective promulgated by most of the leading sword arts practitioners such as Dave Lowry as well.

Craig's writings will advance your sword skills imparting knowledge of equipment, exercises, applications, and kata (including the last three kata of the All Japan Kendo Federation, which use the wakizashi short sword). More specifically, topics include kendo clothing, equipment and care thereof, fundamental movements, advanced waza, and kodachi katas. There is also great information about samurai sword collecting, care, maintenance, and terminology. The illustrations enhance the text and facilitate the reader's ability to understand and internalize Craig's excellent points. I think that the target audience is experience practitioners so it might be a bit beyond some beginners though. Regardless, this is a great book, a worthy addition to any martial arts library.

Darrell Craig really knows his stuff. He holds a exceptionally impressive list of black belt ranks in several different martial arts, including kendo (renshi), karate (kyoshi), jujitsu (kyoshi); iaido (godan), kobudo (godan), judo (yodan), and aikido (yodan). He has worked as a martial arts choreographer on a number of feature films and is the author of several other martial arts books as well.

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

Excellent information
Reviewed by Bob Spears
Publisher and Chief Reviewer
Heartland Reviews

The author has writtena definitive work on the subject. Kendo,using padded armor and split-bamboo swords, is a sport. He covers its essentials. Kenjitsuis the much older code of sword fighting,which has no rules and uses real, metalswords for practice.

The book is remarkably well illustrated and the text provides excellent information on the topic. The author provides not only the movements, descriptions, and customs, but what to look for in collectible swords and other equipment.


 

More helpful to the practitioner but beautiful
Samurai seem to be everywhere. From the Oscar-nominated films The Twilight Samurai and Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai to anime marital arts sagas and the hit Emmy-winning Cartoon Network series, Samurai Jack, the robed, inscrutable, unstoppable warriors conquer our hearts with their martial arts and their dignity. The illustration of a black-robed Japanese gentlemen seated in a meditation pose with a katana by his side, one in his lap, sets the tone for Kendo and Kenjitsu practitioner Darrell Max Craig. Although Craig, like so many martial arts devotees, is a gai-jin (foreigner), he displays a reverence and knowledge of Japanese culture, samurai in particular, that is to be respected and admired. Craig goes into great detail about the katas, combat, clothing, equipment, and most of all, the swords of his art. He writes of the details with the same intricate deftness of a skilled samurai dueling with an adversary, and his strokes of the keyboard baffle and enlighten us as much as the strokes of the katana, or the other sword Craig introduces us to, the shinai.

Those readers who, like this reviewer, have not read Craig's previous book, The Heart of Kendo, and are not familiar with Kendo and Kenjitsu, may find the details difficult to master. This is not a casual read, but if you truly desire to learn martial arts, or at least collect Japanese swords, a pastime to which Craig devotes the last two chapters (perhaps recognizing, wisely, that some of his audience for the book may be Japanophiles and collectors), The Way of Kendo and Kenjitsu is a worthy place to start.

Another Great Buy
Here's another informative, instructive, and inspiring book by Darrell Craig - a great addition to your library if interested in kendo, iaido, kenjitsu, or simply martial arts in general.

Thanks to the helpful reviews below, I've gratefully added this book to my collection. One reviewer complained that the author was arrogant, which I was unable to determine from reading the text. To the contrary, the stories reveal a kind and generous man. If the author is arrogant, so what? His book is a great buy!

And so is "The Heart of Kendo," which I rate at 5 stars for being not only educational but also exceptionally beautiful.

Enjoyable read
Mr. Craig has again written another fine book and I can recommend it as a enjoyable read.It maintains the traditional Craig writing style that integrates authentic personal stories, but written around completely new information and insight into one of the more mysterious of the martial arts - kendo.This book is as good as, and in many ways much better, than Mr. Craig's previous books.If you don't read it for the diagrams and technical depth, it certainly should be read for his historical reflections.I found it particularly interesting to understand that the martial experience Mr. Craig has gained - enough to write an authoritative book on the subject, comes from his long relationship with a family in Japan that has been practicing kendo in one form or another for almost 800 years.

I only will point out an observation that Craig gets slowly around to making.He describes that kendo has a very pragmatic modern application.In spite of the list of ranks, skills and titles that Mr. Craig has (l)earned, he writes that the marital samurai is not a person brute bristling with weapons and bravado, but rather a courteous, indifferent person who carries within himself, unseen except when called to action, a martial spirit and a courage to battle for a right. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Simply amazing!
I worked with Jeff Broderick in Nagasaki, Japan, and can say without a doubt he is one of the finest Budoka I have ever had the privilege to know. His technical knowledge and humble devotion to the arts of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo are truly exemplary. He himself is ranked at least Yon-Dan in Iaido, and has been practicing the "art of the sword" for some time now, with grace and self-deprecation. This book is an excellent and well-informed guide to a revered Japanese art by someone who is truly well-versed and incredibly qualified to present it to us.

Cheers and enjoy life,

Mark Flanigan
Washington, DC ... Read more

Book Description
Meet Chris and Elliott.Both are hard working American students in high school.Both live normal lives like everyone else.Ya, right.After being accepted into one of the most prized private schools in Japan the two find themselves involved in an adventure that will rock the rest of their lives.Not only are the two not your average students, they are both exceptional martial artists with powers passed down for centuries, powers that both shock and baffle their exchange family's daughter, Yui.Add a little humor, a pinch of romance and a butt load of martial arts action and you've got one of the greatest martial arts epics of all time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Finn is highly qualified to write this book
Michael Finn is an Internationally recognized authority on Martial Arts. He has been training for some twenty-eight years and has 34 black belts in nine Martial Arts.Each of these exams were taken under the authoritative bodies in Japan.In 1967 he won the British National Police Judo Championships and in 1970 represented Great Britain in the World Kendo Championships. As an authority in his field he has appeared on various occasions on British television and even Japanese television.

SORRY, IT'S UGLY AND OLD.
I'd tried to get my hands on this book for years. I tried second hand bookstores all over the world. From Australia to Germany. One day I was in New York in this big japanese bookstore near the Rockfeller Center and there it was. I couldn't beleieve. It was to good to be truth. I bougth it imediatelly. I only opened it back in Europe a week or so after the purchase. My mistake. The book is old, ugly and not that accurate. There's more information in the kata chapter of John J. Donohue's Complete Kendo then in all of this kendo-no-kata... thing. Ok, it's a document. Ok, it's history. Ok, 2 stars.

The Best Kendo kata book (and only??)
All kendokas should have this book. This book is perfect for kata practise. Photos and text explains every kata. Plus drawings of footworks!! Also information about rei, some kamae, and more. ... Read more

Book Description
The spirit and technique of kendo as it is practiced in Japan are brought alive in this volume. This book covers basic and advanced techniques, history, philosophy and equipment usage. Whether you are a kendo expert or beginner, this book will serve as a valuable training guide and reference work. The author holds a 3rd dan in kendo with the All-Japan Kendo Federation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A reasonable attempt at explaining the complexities of Kendo
I pestered my local library to replace its lost copy of this book, therebydoubling its library of kendo books to two. However, I cannot get enthusedabout this work and it does not compete well with, or complement the textof, 'This is Kendo' for example. Ok, it is a reasonable overview of thesport but I find its layout, grammar, method and diagrams confusing. Isincerely doubt the ability of any reader to pick up this book and to beable to go off and 'do' kendo. Perhaps kendo, like many martial arts andsports, defies the printed word the ability to adequately convey itsessence, speed, vitality and books like this one make it all look so verydull. Kendo is an exciting, vibrant sport and this book does little to passthat on to the reader. If you want to learn or sample kendo, go to yournearest dojo! I have been a kendoka for twenty years, my daughter less than6 months- neither of us were inspired (although the epilogue does providethe best part of the book!). ... Read more

Product Description
The Kendo Name in History is a customized book offering a unique blend of fascinating facts, statistics and commentary about the Kendo name.The book is just one of an entire series of family name books in the Our Name in History collection.Each book in the collection is printed on demand and is compiled from hundreds of millions of records from the world's largest online resource of family history, Ancestry.com.This particular book follows the Kendo family name through history and makes the perfect gift for your family members and anyone interested in the Kendo name. In the book you'll find out about where people with the Kendo last name originated. You may discover the countries and ports they left behind, the ships they sailed and more. You'll get a better idea of where people sharing the Kendo name settled and where they may reside today in the United States, Canada, England and other countries.You'll get all this information and much more in your Kendo family name book. If your last name is not Kendo, then check out our collection of nearly 300,000 family name books to find other available names in the series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A helpful, if slightly dated, overview of the classic Martial Arts
[Review written Jun 2005]

It's a shame that this book is out of print, because it offers a nice overview (along with some engrossing photos) of many different martial arts: Swordsmanship (Kendo/Iaiado), Aikido, Judo, Karate, Ninjitsu, Kyudo, etc. The author does a fair job of leading the reader though the major historical branches of the martial arts ... although (if I recall) with a strong page count bias towards the Japanese branches.

The material that's there is still fairly current, but recent developments pertaining to things like the "Unlimited Fighting Championships" {aka 'MMA'}, and various big budget Hollywood movies (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, recent movies by Jet Li and Jackie Chan, etc.) have had a noticeable effect on the martial arts landscape in recent years ... causing interest to peak in areas like Brazilian JuJitsu and various sub-styles of Chinese Kung Fu.

In any case, it's still recommended, if you can find it ... particularly if you're on a journey of self discovery in the hobby, and you're looking for philosophical signposts and various stylistic spoor to help guide you on your way (in the direction of additional research and exploration). Case in point - I originally started out dabbling in hard styles, like Kenpo (and others), but after several years, I gravitated towards the "softer" styles styles, like Aikido and Tai Chi. They were a better fit for me, both physically, and spiritually. Everyone is different, and to each their own ... but that's what worked for me.

Anyway, it's a good book, if you can find it.
... Read more