The Book of Five Rings

The Book of Five Rings was composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Along with Musashi's text, Cleary translates here another important Japanese classic on leadership and strategy, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori, which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior...


Type: BookResource
Author: Miyamoto Musashi 
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Kendo: The Definitive Guide

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. 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...


Type: Book
Author: Hiroshi Ozawa
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Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice

SAMURAI FIGHTING ARTS introduces the world of traditional Japanese martial arts and will provide readers with a deeper understanding of Bushido and Japan. Also known as Kobudo, these traditional martial arts can be seen as a continuation of samurai culture, and comprise a number of styles formulated in the samurai era that are still being taught today.
Aiming to develop Bujutsu (martial arts) and Hyoho (strategy) to the highest possible degree, the samurai devised a code consisting of over eighteen arts...


Type: Book
Author: Fumon Tanaka
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Musashi: An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era: The Bushido Code

Written in the early twentieth century, this indigenous Japanese novel recounts the life & times of old Japan's greatest swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi -- a man who began life as an over-eager and rather brutish young lout but who, through the discipline of Japan's "way of the sword," turned himself into a master of his chosen weapon...


Type: Book
Author:  Eiji Yoshikawa
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Armed Martial Arts of Japan: Swordsmanship and Archery

This unique history of Japanese armed martial arts-the only comprehensive treatment of the subject in English-explores swordsmanship and archery from ancient times to the present. The book examines the transformation of fighting skills into sports, the influence of Western athletic tradition on armed martial arts, and the ways martial arts remain distinctly Japanese...


Type: Book
Author:  G. Hurst I II
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Zen Bow, Zen Arrow: The Life and Teachings of Awa Kenzo

This is great stuff for anyone interested in Japanese language and culture as well as providing a springboard for deeper investigations of Zen, of archery as a form of "practice" and of martial arts in general. Includes detailed notes on sources and an excellent bibliography. Highly recommended...


Type: Book
Author: John Stevens
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Kyudo: The Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery

This is one of the best books out on the art of Kyudo. The book covers all areas of interest and is very detailed with step by step illustrations. My instructor refers to the book often to point out my mistakes and highlight my improvement. If you are learning Kyudo or just want to read about its history and cultural significance, then this book is for you. You will not be disappointed...

Type: Book
Author: Hideharu H. Onuma
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