Book Description
You've been given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go to Japan and study the ancient art of kendo, a form of fencing using bamboo sticks. When your martial arts master gives you the good news, he also lets you in on a secret. He has a mysterious sword that once belonged to a famous Japanese general named Hideyoshi. But he refuses to discuss the sword any further with you. Why does your sensei have this sword--and why does everybody else seem to want it? There's not much time to think though--Yakuza gangsters are chasing you down, and you'd better be ready to use your kendo skills! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

awesome.
It's spellbinding. Very intriguing.

Have to admit it has more adventure and better and moreendings than the book Master of aikido. ... Read more

Product Description
Written in English/Japanese ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM KENDO?
When you start reading this book you almost feel like facing a kendoka with a very strong kamae. He reaches you easylly but you cannot, no matter what, reach him. It's not a book about kendo techniques, kata or whatever. It's about everything else that's around kendo. It's roots, it's principles, and yes, as Minoru puts it in the cover, it's philosophy. It's hard too read, specially if you're a westerner kendo student, practicing it as if you were doing aerobics or tae-bo. So, my advice is: wait a year or two until you realize if kendo is really your DO.

Scholarly work
First the warning: DO NOT buy this book if you're after a reference book on technique -- you'd be very sadly disappointed, and considering the price of this book, it could be a rather costly mistake. This is not to say that the book is bad - quite to the contrary, on topics that the author covers he does so rather well. My only real complaint is that it is slightly uneven, different themes are not very well related and connected.

The book is broken down to five major chapters:

I. What is Kendo? II. The Impact of Buddhist Thought on the Development of SwordmanshipIII. The Development of SwordmanshipIV. The Development of Bushido, the Code of the SamuraiV. The Modern Period

The first chapter is one of the best overviews of fundamental kendo concepts that I have seen anywhere, dealing with issues like mushin, ki-ken-tai-ichi, kiai, zanshin, suki and dojo reigi. The author has explained and evaluated those concepts through a buddhist point of view, which in my opinion proved to be a very good approach.

The second paragraph takes this approach further and deals with general issues of buddhist thought and meditation as a way of achieving mental calm and thus being closely related to japanese sword arts.

The next two chapters dive into history, and take a seriously dedicated reader to work through. And the last chapter attempts to sum it all up, but doesn't quite manage it.

There's a lot of interesting information in there for serious and dedicated reader -- but it's probably not enough to justify the hefty price but to select few. However, if you are really interested in the development of the swordmanship in medieval Japan, it might be just your cup of tea. ... Read more

Product Description
RARE SET OF PLAYS. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 630 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Kendo: Elements, Rules, and Philosophy.(Book Review)
Author: Tsuneharu Gonnami
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: 77Issue: 2Page: 351(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One well made guide about Kendo
The Kendo related with talent by someone who have a complete understanding of this way, the spiritual dimension, the techniques , the history of this martial art, the body work, nothing was forgetted in this book, the authorwas an architect and his book is like his realisations very well build. Butin FRENCH! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Great for ANY player...
I love this book because you don't just read it once. The first thing I did was look at all the pictures. Next, I read the introduction. Then, I read the teamwork section. Then, I read the conclusion. Then, I tried someof the drills. Then, I showed the plays to my coach. And I still use thisbook, it's not just sitting on my bookshelf. This book will last you a longtime, and is well worth the money. It's great for ANY basketball player,and it's even more ideal if the basketball player is an NBA fan. ... Read more

Book Description
Normally you would find poetry in anything but a supermarket.In this book, a cashier turned poet, transcends his low paid job by writing about real and imaginary characters and making connections between supermarket related items and the human condition.Funny and witty, Tristan Kendo has been influenced by the periodic table of elements of Primo Levi, Andy Warhol's pop art, western and oriental philosophy, the Bible, the monologues of Robert Browning, and Japanese poetry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Truly Witty: Tristan Kendo Has Produced a Modern Masterpiece
I was at first intrigued by the title of Tristan Kendo's collection of poetry and this was my initial reason for buying it.Soon, however, I became entranced by his wit and hyper-energetic activity.The poems, initially appearing simplistic, reveal a depth of character now rare in contemporary poetry. Both poignant and inspiring, they are a pleasure to read.This is a brilliant, complex and compelling analysis of emotions and their significance in personal and social life.Kendo is a masterly thinker of immense learning whose convincing argument culminates in the affirmation of the daily reality of the reader.Pick up Tristan Kendo's book-- it will make you laugh and cry all night long.

... Read more

Book Description
This poetic prose miscellany is the creation of two kindredspirits a 13th century Japanese monk-poet and a 20th century Canadianbackwoodsman both serious followers of the Zen way. Together, Kenko andSwitzer elegantly and insightfully express their joint reflections onlife death the transience of things friendship the seasons honesty thepursuit of the spiritual way simplicity love and solitude. A work ofsensitivity and depth informed by the astringent spirit of Zen. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

NBA basketball basics by mark vancil
Wonderful book for youngsters and coachs. Clear list of basketball practice principles, drills and plays with color pictures. It also appeals to youngsters by knowing the superstars of NBA, but this book is way too old 1995. Look forward to having a new revision.

Got Skills? You do now!
Dear reader,
I a read a book called Basketball Basics by Mark Vancil. I liked this book because it gives the steps on how to shout, dribble, and pass. It also gives some drills to practise at home. I give this book 4 stars because it's a good learner book, but it only has 124 pages. So if you are a beginner, this is the book for you! ... Read more

Product Description
Kendo Dictionary created by All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF). It contains most commonly used Kendo Terms, translated into English for easy understanding. A must dictionary for all Kenshis. It also contains methods of folding Hakamas, and basics about Kendo. The cover is made of strong synthetic material for durability. Language: both Japanese and English in one book Size: 128mm x 182mm 196 pages The date of issue: 2000/2/1 Language - Japanese & English ... Read more

Product Description
Hanshi Speaks, Breath Control, Speed and timing are but some of the lectures in this book/magazine that fill the nearly 90 pages of Traditional Japanese martial arts information second to none.Printed on high quality high gloss paper these are the ones that every lover of the classical Japanese art will love to have in their collections.This is the type of lectures you will surely read over and over again as they are brilliantly edited by Professor Alex Bennet and along with his partner Hamish Robinson who both live in Japan have come up with a winning combination that few will be able to come close to in the areas of quality. ... Read more