The Way of Kendo and Kenjitsu: Soul of the Samurai

The Way of Kendo and Kenjitsu: Soul of the Samurai
by Darrell Max Craig

The Way of Kendo and Kenjitsu: Soul of the Samurai
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Book Summary Information

Author: Darrell Max Craig
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-04-14
ISBN: 1594390029
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Ymaa Publication Center

Book Reviews of The Way of Kendo and Kenjitsu: Soul of the Samurai

Book Review: Impressive and insightful
Summary: 5 Stars

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

Summary of The Way of Kendo and Kenjitsu: Soul of the Samurai

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

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