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Koryu
Books and Resources Koryu, (literally, "old style") martial arts is relatively rare in the West, but it is making inroads as more and more students study in Japan and return to their homes with valid teaching licenses. There's been a dearth of really good koryu books available until recently, most especially due to the efforts of Diane and Meik Skoss, at Koryu Books. But there are also other resources. If you end up in the used book street in Kanda, Tokyo, there's a couple of books you should try to dig up. We've included Japanese language and English language books in case you want to wade through the Japanese to dig up some really great gems of knowledge. You can also check out buyubooks.com for rare and hard-to-find books in Japanese. Note: (J) denotes the book is written in Japanese. Furyu the Budo Journal and all material on this site are copyright © 2002 by Tengu Press and Wayne Muromoto. All US and international copyright laws hold. Anyone interested in using any material of the site must contact Wayne Muromoto at wmuromoto@hotmail.com or at Tengu Press Hawaii, PO Box 61637, Honolulu, Hawaii 96839 USA. |
The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship
by Niklaus Suino. Weatherhill, Inc. of New York and Tokyo. c. 1994. 252 pages, paperback. ISBN# 0-8348-0300-3. $19.95.Niklaus Suino spent years in Japan, continuing his study of judo and Muso Jikiden Eishini-ryu iaido. He studied iai under Yamaguchi Katsuo, and appears, from the book's contents, to be an excellent technician. Suino takes the student from a brief history of iai to basics techniques, then through the kata sets of the Eishin-ryu. Suino has ample written explanations of the techniques themselves, and there are simple drawings to illustrate each movement. The drawings show each step, but are small and do not have much detail, however. Thus, this book is best suited and properly used by someone who already has a teacher and is well along his/her way, and can use the book as secondary reference to training. I don't think it can, nor do I think it was meant to be, a primary source of refernce or training. There is also a glossary of terms at the back of the book.
Bokken, Art of the Japanese Sword
by Dave Lowry. Ohara Publications, Inc. Burbank, California. c. 1986. 192 pages, paperback. ISBN# 0-89750-104-7. $7.95.A concise manual of training for the bokken, the wooden practice sword. Dave Lowry is an accomplished writer (and, I must admit, a good friend of mine) who, in my opinion, can wax beautifully poetic in many of his essays. In this book, Lowry is less philosophical, more technical, and his writing skills enable him to produce a very clear training manual for the bokken. Drawing on his experience in aikido, Yagyu Shinkage-ryu swordsmanship, and iaido, Lowry compiles a series of exercies and partner-based exercises with the bokken that would be of interest to aikiken practitioners, and others who want an introduction in the use of the bokken.
Bugei Ryuha Daijiten (J)
by Watatani Kiyoshi and Yamada Tadashi. Tokyo Koppi Shuppanbu version, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo, Japan. 1979. 974 pages, hardbound.This is one of those books you would pay a couple hundred bucks for if you could ever get your hands on this, or any of the editions thereof. In this book is listed hundreds, if not thousands of koryu styles, with brief descriptions of the more widely desseminated ones, and some really interesting and intriguing notes about some styles and systems. Incredibly researched, cross-referenced, and mind-boggling in its thoroughness. It has been criticized by some who say that one thing or another entry is mistaken or unclear, but these complaints appear minor in comparison to the scope of the research, or the particular critics have some personal axes to grind, such as when Watatani and Yamada lay down their opinions on the validity of particular ryu or systems. If it ain't in this book, it is very, very probable that it ain't a real koryu. Simple as that.
The Deity and the Sword (Katori Shinto-ryu) v. I, II, III (In English and Japanese)
by Otake Risuke. Translated by Donn F. Draeger, Terue Shinozuka and Kyoichiro Nunokawa. Sugawara Martial Arts Institute, Inc., Tokyo, Japan. c. 1977. ISBN#s 0-87040-952-2, 0-87040-953-0, 0-87040-954-9.This is an incredible three-volume set about the philosophy, techniques and tactics of one of the oldest extant martial arts schools of Japan, the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. For the life of me, I'm grateful to have this set of books but can't figure out why Otake sensei saw fit to publish so much information about the school's techniques all at once. It would make things ripe for unscrupulous fakes to steal and incorporate the techniques into their bogus styles. On the other hand, it's probaby a great training manual for actual students of the ryu, and when I looked at the pictures more closely and compared them to what I remember Otake sensei demonstrating in Hawaii many years ago, I realized that there are a couple of gaps in between some of the sequential photographs that probaby were deliberately left out so as not to give away the whole kit 'n kaboodle. For any martial artist, this gives quite an insight into the practice and theories of koryu bujutsu, and why it is so complex and multi-sided.
Iaido Kyohan (J)
by Mitani Yoshisato. Japan Publications, Inc., Tokyo, Japan. c. 1982. 319 pages, hardbound. 7,000 Yen.This is another book that went out of print quickly, but I understand it is being reissued in a soft cover version because of its popularity. Mitani was one of the top ranking iaido teaches in the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu line. He covers the history of iai up to the development of the seitei iai. Even if you can't read Japanese, this is a great book to have if you are an iai enthusiast, especially if you're an Eishin-ryu stylist, because it is full of photographs of all the kata, from the standardized seitei iai gata to the different levels of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, including two-person sets. If you can read Japanese, his explanations are very thorough.
Japanese Swordsmanship
by Gordon Warner and Donn F. Draeger. John Weatherhill, Inc., New York and Japan. c. 1982. ISBN #0-8348-0146-9. 298 pages. Hardcover version reviewed, $29.95.I understand that this book has since been reissued in softcover. Good. It was one of the first books in English to extensively cover the art of iai, by two very important writers of Japanese martial arts, Gordon Warner and Donn F. Draeger. The section on actual techniques of the All Japan Kendo Federation's iaido, or seitei gata, is somewhat dated. The Kendo Federation over the years has tinkered with the iai forms, some of their tinkerings for the better, some for the worse, some for no real advantage or disadvantage. Thus, the illustration of the forms differ somewhat from the way I learned it and how it is presently being practiced in Japan. But it remains a very good general illustration of the entire seitei gata. The historical and technical section, though, remains quite thorough and full of important data. The authors give a detailed analysis of the two main lines of classical iai, the Muso Shinden-ryu and Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu. They also discuss the ethics and codes of swordsmanship as it related to the classical Japanese warrior, and include several photographs and insights into techniques of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu tradition of iai. All in all, quite a wonderful book.
Jo: Art of the Japanese Short Staff
by Dave Lowry. Ohara Publications, Inc. Burbank, California. c. 1987. ISBN# 0-89750-116-0. 192 pages, paperback. $11.95.A caveat: I know the author Dave Lowry personally, so what got my attention when I looked over this book for review was how he had more hair on the top of his head over 14 years ago. But then again, we all looked different 14 years ago. Heck, I was 20 pounds lighter then. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. Ohara is known for its series of small technical books on martial arts of varying qualities. This book is a good one, with logical series of photos and well-written explanations by the author. Lowry starts with a very good historical survey of the development of the short, approximately four-foot long staff in Japan, discusses Muso Gonnosuke's contributions, and then leads us to the aikijo. He then demonstrates exercises, techniques and applications derived from the aikijo and Shinto Muso-ryu jo. This is not, as Lowry says, a manual for the Shinto Muso-ryu, but it is a very good exposition of methods that an aikido practitioner could study to improve his studies, and gain insight into the wide variations possible with this seemingly humble implement.
Kyudo The Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery
by Onuma Hideharu with Dan and Jackie DeProspero. Kodansha International. c. 1993.160 pages hardcover. ISBN 4-7700-1734-0.This is a beautifully, lovingly rendered book on the art of kyudo, Japanese archery. The DeProspero's and Onuma sensei have put together a very tasteful book on the theory, practice and techniques of the Way of Archery for English speaking practitioners that will probably become the first and foremost training manual. It has professionally produced photographs, beautiful drawings, and even some color plates. Very thorough and very respectful of the art.
Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture
by Karl Friday. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i. 230 pages, paperback. $14.95 paperback. c. 1997. ISBN: 0-8248-1847-4.A very good book introducing the Kashima-Shinryu style and the surrounding general historical background to its development. Prof. Friday discusses Kashima-Shinryu history, theory, and practice. Kuni'i Zen'ya, one of the ryu's 20th century masters, was by all accounts an eccentric, colorful character, and there is some discussions I overheard from some Japanese martial arts historians who are my better about some of his tinkerings with the ryu's kata and his statements about his duels, combats and autobiographical details. This strain of the Kashima style passed from Zen'ya to Seik Humitake, who was Friday's teacher.
Also of note is the organization of the Kashima-Shinryu, which appears to be a combination of koryu style with modern, large-scale martial arts organizations, or at least it is an attempt to create such an organization to service a koryu, possibly the first attempt that I've heard of to address the organizational problem of maintaining a koryu in the internationalist 21st Century. Readers should be advised that the theories and philosophies of this ryu are not necessarily held by all koryu schools (each school holds to different methodologies, theories and approaches), but it does serve as an excellent intro to the general mindset and background of koryu bujutsu.
Nihon Bugei Shoden (J)
edited by Watatani Kiyoshi. Jinbutsu Oraisha, Tokyo, Japan. 1962. 600 pages, hardcover.This book is actually a compilation and reediting of several old texts by Watatani Kiyoshi, chief being the Bugei Shoden, and the Bujutsu Ryusoh Ryoku and Bujutsu Ryuha Binkan. These were among the earliest compilations of martial arts schools in Japan. Watatani supplies the original text, with commentary in modern Japanese. For researchers who can read Japanese, these are pretty darned good references to start with, along with Watatani and Yamada's Bugei Ryuha Daijiten.
The Principles of Ju Jutsu
by Pat Harrington. Harrington and Huxley, PO Box 216, Engadine, NSW 2233, Australia. ISBN# 0-646-32018-1. 134 pages, paperback.What with the massive popularity of "grappling" arts in mass media martial arts magazines, it's curious that at least a bit more interest haven't been given over to classical jujutsu schools. Perhaps part of the problem is there really aren't a lot of accredited teachers of such arts in the West. Pat Harrington and photographer Betty Huxley are the exceptions to the general case. Both are menkyo certificate holders in the Soshuishiryu school. Harrington has self-published this book. In it are chapters devoted to the history of jujutsu and judo in Australia, the history of the Sosuishiryu, and smoe basic techniques and applications. One of the minor problems I encountered was I wasn't sure if an illustrated technique was really orthodox kata from the Sosuishiryu or if Harrington had adapted it as a way to illustrate the methods in a modern situation, such as sections on pistol attacks, for example. There could have been more explanation regarding this. But that is aminor issue. The book is a rare look at an authentic system of classical jujutsu by a recognized and certified authority. (There have been problems with some people in the United States regarding their certification, according to the headmaster of the school.)
Sword & Spirit Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, v.2.
Edited by Diane Skoss. ISBN: 1-890536. Koryu Books, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. C. 1999. 192 pages, $19.95 plus postage if ordering. To order: call toll-free 1-888-ON-KORYU (665-6798), outside US: +1-973-283-4108, fax: 1-212-208-4366. Secure web site: www.koryubooks.com/ss2.html. email: dskoss@koryubooks.com.This is the second imprint of Diane Skoss' Koryu Books publishing company, and like the first, it's a great collection of short, pithy articles with excellent, tight editing. Featured writers include: Yagyu Nobuharu, Dave Lowry, Alexander C. Bennett, Meik Skoss,Liam Keeley, Karl F. Friday, Nishioka Tsuneo. Some really great stuff here, dealing with philosophy, technique, personalities, etc., that will give the reader a wonderful insight into the koryu. Also featured is a "field guide" to various extant koryu systems begun in the first volume.
Zen in the Art of Archery
by Eugen Herrigel. Pantheon Books. c. 1953, renewed 1981 by Random House, Inc. This edition c. 1997 by Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc. 110 pages, hardbound.This is considered a classic of Japanese martial arts philosophy and Zen philosophy. Eugen Herrigel was one of the first Westerners to go to Japan and study both Zen and kyudo at its source. He penned this modest little book and influenced generations of Westerners seeking martial arts enlightenment. There are some questions among modern critics that wonder how much Herrigel actually writes from what he learned from his teachers and what he personally romanticized, especially considering the more practical, mercantile aspect of martial arts these days, but he did introduce the mystique of Zen in martial arts, for good and for bad. It's still a good read.