Book Review "The Spirit Of The Sword" Nakamura Taisaburo
Mar 19, 2014 9:51:14 GMT
Post by Richard Arias on Mar 19, 2014 9:51:14 GMT
The Spirit of the Sword
Price: $17.25 (as of today on amazon)
Overview:
The book is a collective work by Nakamura sensei. The book goes on to detail wisdom and view points Nakamura came to adopt over a lifetime in Martial Arts from Classical to Modern sport. The book in general assumes that the reader has a basic knowlege of Japanese Martial arts and goes over things quickly as if covering bases so you get the point of the story being told to you. The tone reminds me of talks I had at work with Ex war vets and Police very direct and easy to grasp, but some stories can raise a your eye brow.
The Book shifts between a story explaining history and view of a japanese sword, Nakamura's views and experience, an instruction manual (Iai, Kendo and Tameshigiri) and a treasure chest of stories, data, photos, footnotes and pages of forwards from other masters that knew Nakamura Sensei.
Thoughts:
The book is nothing short of AMAZING. There are so many things explained about the history of many of the Modern Federations and styles. The book sheds light on much of the lost history of the sword and its use from the 1930's to 1945. The book shows where and when many of the JSA that we know and love came to change. Also the reasons and people that brought about a change. You can see the footprints of the old views in the modern masters snd the roots of current JSA traditions.
There was a text included in the book that made me tear up a bit. It was a forgotten part of japanese military sword history that struck my core. Allot of the book is filled with stories and forst hand accounts of the Master that has "been there and done it". In many ways the book is a time machine to the sword of the past. But it shows how the bridge was built that stretched to the now in terms of the sword.
Dislikes: ZERO
Rating: 10/10
Final Advice: The book has something for everyone. I feel anyone who does not read it is really missing out on allot of really good Japanese Sword Wisdom.
Price: $17.25 (as of today on amazon)
Overview:
The book is a collective work by Nakamura sensei. The book goes on to detail wisdom and view points Nakamura came to adopt over a lifetime in Martial Arts from Classical to Modern sport. The book in general assumes that the reader has a basic knowlege of Japanese Martial arts and goes over things quickly as if covering bases so you get the point of the story being told to you. The tone reminds me of talks I had at work with Ex war vets and Police very direct and easy to grasp, but some stories can raise a your eye brow.
The Book shifts between a story explaining history and view of a japanese sword, Nakamura's views and experience, an instruction manual (Iai, Kendo and Tameshigiri) and a treasure chest of stories, data, photos, footnotes and pages of forwards from other masters that knew Nakamura Sensei.
Thoughts:
The book is nothing short of AMAZING. There are so many things explained about the history of many of the Modern Federations and styles. The book sheds light on much of the lost history of the sword and its use from the 1930's to 1945. The book shows where and when many of the JSA that we know and love came to change. Also the reasons and people that brought about a change. You can see the footprints of the old views in the modern masters snd the roots of current JSA traditions.
There was a text included in the book that made me tear up a bit. It was a forgotten part of japanese military sword history that struck my core. Allot of the book is filled with stories and forst hand accounts of the Master that has "been there and done it". In many ways the book is a time machine to the sword of the past. But it shows how the bridge was built that stretched to the now in terms of the sword.
Dislikes: ZERO
Rating: 10/10
Final Advice: The book has something for everyone. I feel anyone who does not read it is really missing out on allot of really good Japanese Sword Wisdom.