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Product Description
Product Description
Focusing his expertise on the techniques and history of the bokken - the wooden training sword used by both ancient samurai and today's swordsmen - the author maintains that training with the bokken is important on two levels for the modern practitioner: to build the physical stamina, rhythms, and adroit body movements of traditional swordsmanship and to achieve something of the animating spirit of the traditional swordsman. This history of the bokken combines the author's concise, eloquent writing style with over 100 photographs to provide the reader with the traditional and modern perspectives of this vital, historically rich practice tool.
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In the past few years, there has been an exceptional interest shown in the various cultural facets of traditional Japan. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
In the past few years, there has been an exceptional interest shown in the various cultural facets of traditional Japan. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book, written with a fair amount of humour, and a large amount of knowledge - encourages the martial artist - even one whose art/tradition does not include the sword to 'pick up the boken'.
Several reasons are given for this - the perspective that a weapon can give to unarmed fighting systems, exercise, historical interest etc. Quite convincing really!
The book doesn't even pretend to make you a swordsman, but does show how the movements using the boken, are related to kenjitsu.
Practicing these movements will almost certainly improve your unarmed skills - and also (if you do enough of them) your cardiovascular fitness.
One of the better 'teach yourself' books around.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Some other books on this subject wrongfully encourage competetiveness and emphisize on the opponent getting hurt. Instead, this book stays true to it's ancient Japanese roots- emphizing throughout to focus on Kirihaku, or to "Cut at the impurities" within the self. Approached this way, and with easy to understand picture secuences with great photographs, helpful sections on clothing and equipment, and a great learning curve with plenty of different forms, strikes, and techniqes with a partner makes this a fantastic book for any begginer and perhaps for others as well. A very complete section on the origins of the Bokken, along with the famous tale of Miyamoto Musashi's fight with Sasaki Kojiro, round it out for much better understanding of the art overall. If you are interested in Bokken, THIS IS THE BOOK TO GET.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It covers all the basics, with excellent pictures and step by step explanations. You can actually understand the graphic sequences of the movements (in most books you can't). Tries to cover most common errors and how to detect them and work on them. It has some single katas, and some Kumitache Katas (katas with a partner). It's definitely worth reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Shipping
I am very dissapointed. i ordered this in febuary and it still hasnt shipped. This is the worst service i have ever recieved and i probably wont be buying from this shipper again. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Erix Zhao
Bokken training
Useful beginner's guide with helpful pictures. The author dwells on the esoteric and is somewhat condemning of others, but that is not necessarily a bad thing for a beginner who... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mr. Paul Leader
Disappointing
Nice clear pictures and good descriptions. Not bad on stances and movement but the Kumitachi chapter did not show how to control the adversary's weapon. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Tugajin
Bokken
`Bokken' is an excellent book by Dave Lowry exploring the history of the Bokken and it's use in martial arts. Read more
Published on 31 May 2006 by Spider Monkey
Typical introductory fare
For those who don't know what to do with a sword. It covers the very preliminary basics (of the Yagyu style) in pictures.
Published on 24 Aug 1999
One of the worst books on the sword I have ever seen.
This book was horrible. The photographs were of very low quality and the explanation of technique was dubious at best. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 1999
Excellent review materials for basic forms.
This particular treatise provides an excellent source for the trainee in either kenjutsu or iado to work on his/her basic forms. Read more
Published on 1 July 1998
Excellent book good coverage of essential basics
An impressive book as it gives a good exposure to the art with a slick introduction and historical background the book does well in illustrating the techniques of the art of... Read more
Published on 9 April 1998
Excellent text from a humble budoka.
Dave Lowry is a most humble budoka in his presentation of the bokken. Mr. Lowry presents a general history of the weapon and the basics to the path of the bokken. Read more
Published on 3 April 1998
A good introductory book for bokken
Bokken Art of the Japanese Sword is a good introductory book. It shows all of the basics of stance, movement, and the basic cutting moves. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 1998
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