• Samurai Sword Book
• by Gordon Warner
• and Donn F. Draeger
• Hardback Book
• Great read

'On the Back' of Japanese Swordmanship

The Japanese sword, long famous in history and admired throughout the world, has often been a subject for Western writers, but the technique of its use has never been adequately explained outside Japan. In this explicit and abundantly illustrated book, two outstanding experts in the Japanese martial arts furnish an introduction to the art of swordsmanship known as iai-do. To accomplish their purpose, they place the sword and swordsmanship in historical perspective, dividing their book into two major parts: "The Sword in Japanese History' and "Tai-do: The Way of the Sword."

lai-do is a modern noncombative physical and mental discipline based on the proficient use of the traditional Japanese sword. It is perhaps the most philosophically oriented of all Japanese martial arts. The present book, by serving as a primer, should make possible a better understanding of Japanese swords and swordsmanship as representing a unity of thought and action now only imperfectly known to Westerners.

In the words of the authors, "Tai-do is an art that enables the exponent to contrast the concept of 'life' with 'a life worth living.' It is a system of character building that can be explained in the elaborate terms of intellectual education, moral education, or physical edu-cation, but its purpose, stated in the simplest possible terms, is to build a spiritually harmonious person possessed of high intellect, sensi-tivity, and resolute will."

The immensely practical value of the book lies in its second part, in which the authors present in easy-to-understand detail the formal etiquette of iai-do and the ten basic techniques that comprise the modern iai-do curriculum.

Here, in a wealth of sequential photographs, are the fundamental procedures in the making of a skillful swordsman. These illustrations are supplemented by a number of others dealing with the history of swordsmanship and the character of the sword itself, bringing the total to well over 600.

The book, in addition to its straightforward presentation of history, etiquette, and techniques, gives attention to such matters as the choice of a sword, the proper costume for iai-do, and other essentials. It is the first book in English to deal in thoroughgoing fashion with Japanese swordsmanship in iai-do style.
GORDON WARNER is an experienced swordsman who specializes in kendo and iai-do. He is an instructor of top rank in both of these arts, is a frequent contributor to magazines and scholarly journals, and is co-author, with the late Junzo Sasamori, of This Is Kendo, the first book in English on the subject.

DONN F. DRAEGER is the first and only non-Japanese to hold the title of budo kyoshi, or full professor of classical martial arts and ways. His numerous books include the three volumes in the series Martial Arts and Ways of Japan: Classical Bujutsu, Classical Budo, and Modern Buju-tsu and Budo.

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