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Secrets of the Samurai is a definitive study of the martial arts of feudal Japan, illustrating in detail the weapons, techniques, strategies, and principles of combat that made the Japanese warrior a terrible foe.
Secrets of the Samurai is a definitive study of the martial arts of feudal Japan, illustrating in detail the weapons, techniques, strategies, and principles of combat that made the Japanese warrior a terrible foe. It is the only book of its kind in a Western language.
Beginning with a panoramic survey of the tumultuous early struggles for political ascendancy, Secrets of the Samurai first outlines the fascinating and relentless progression of the military class toward absolute power. Each of the major ancient martial arts is then examined in detail and its evolution followed through the roles of famous masters of arms and fighters. The authors also discuss certain lesser-known training methods (generally considered esoteric and often even of divine origin) that were intended to help develop a man's inner power and fuse all his energies into one concentrated force. The book reaches its conclusion on the threshold of modern times, thus providing a background for a better understanding of the current modes of the ancient arts, which have spread in recent years from Japan to almost every country in the world.
Profusely illustrated throughout, this study provides an insight into the various forms of armed and unarmed martial arts that have developed and been systematically applied within Japanese society throughout the centuries. This insight, expanded and applied beyond national boundaries, is particularly relevant today, as men and women everywhere strive to understand and ultimately resolve the problem of human violence in universal terms.
Collectors of arms and armour, in particular, will find this book a delight: for not only is it an absorbing and significant reading experience in itself, but it is also an invaluable aid in the difficult task of identifying specific examples of Japanese weapons and equipage.
Binding | Hardcover |
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Publisher | Tuttle Publishing |
Country of Origin | Japan |
Number of Pages | 483 |
Pubilcation Date | 1989 |
Condition | used - like new |
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