The classical budo, or "martial ways," of Japan are not sports like modern judo, kendo, aikido, and karate-do; nor are they combat systems like their forerunner the bujutsu, or "martial arts." The classical budo are first and foremost spiritual disciplines whose ultimate goal, achieved through rigorous and systematic physical training, is self realization and self-perfection in the Zen sense.
In this book the author, the foremost Western authority in the field, concentrates on the historical development of the classical budo, their underlying philosophy, the method of training, and the evolution and salient characteristics of a number of classical budo systems using weapons, as well as of the weaponless, or "empty hand," systems known collectively as jujutsu. Finally, he discusses the status and practice of the classical budo today.
Taking form between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, the classical budo were the product of a relatively stable and peaceful society marked by social change and great intellectual ferment. Thus, the budo stress values leading to spiritual development of the individual rather than the cultivation of warlike virtues. The traditional weapons of the Japanese warrior-sword, halberd, bow and arrow—are transformed from instruments of combat into tools of spiritual training.
Zen concepts and attitudes permeate all the classical budo disciplines, as the author clearly shows in his detailed analysis of how the trainee actually works and progresses even today. The entire method of training, and particularly the trainee's total commitment to his master and to his master's way of teaching, is designed to develop the quality called, in Zen terms, "no-mind": the complete self-mastery that permits direct and appropriate action unhindered by calculation or forethought. This is the goal of the classical budo as of Zen, and this is the hallmark of the true budo master no less than of the Zen master.
As in Classical Bujutsu, the first volume of this series, a combination of old woodblock prints and unique photographs of modern masters in action complements the authoritative text, vividly illustrating the development and techniques of the classical budo.
DONN F. DraGer, formerly a regular officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, is a research historian, author, and lecturer on Asian martial disciplines, in which he holds a large number of expert ranks and teaching licenses. He travels extensively in Asia and has made Tokyo his base for a number of years. Mr. Draeger is technical director of the journal Martial Arts Inter-national, is an editor of Judo Illustrated, and contributes regularly to a number of other periodicals.
Among his numerous books are Classical Bujutsu, Asian Fighting Arts, and Weapons and Fighting Arts of the Indonesian Archipelago. He is currently preparing the third and final volume of the Martial Arts and Ways of Japan series, dealing with modern martial disciplines. He is also engaged in research for his doctoral dissertation in hoplology, the science of weapons.