One of the many aspects of Aikido that I appreciate is how it combines individual effort with group support. In order to achieve any convincing level of skill in technique, the Aikidoist must make time to be in…
Recently I wrote about “The Way of the Bow” or “Kyudo” as one of the Japanese martial disciplines that developed out of previous fighting techniques into a path for life. As in all of the “Ways”, there is…
Earlier I have written about Iaido as modern form of training that derives from ancient traditions. Another Japanese Budo is “Kyudo”, the “Way of the Bow”. On the surface, it is a merely a formal method of shooting…
Keiko and Renshuu are two terms that usually come out in English as “practice”. However, they are not interchangeable. In fact, they should be constantly combined. As one instructor explained, etymologically, renshuu looks like this:練習 (れんしゅう) – the…
Previously I have written about books that attempted to uncover the background of Japanese martial arts. Another important book of this type is “Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryuu and Samurai Martial Culture” by Karl Friday, Ph.D. (1997)…
I started Aikido training in 1975 just as I was completing my M.A. While I had learned a lot about the history of Europe and North America, I was not well versed in the history of other parts…
In a discussion of Japanese swords I like to think of “lookers” and “swingers”. The “lookers” are those who collect swords to appreciate their beauty as works of art. They are guardians of swords that they intend to…
If previous entries have aroused an interest in Japanese swords, here are three books to consult. “The Craft of the Japanese Sword” by Leon Kapp, Hiroko Kapp and Yoshindo Yoshihara (1987) is a clearly written and well photographed…
In Part 1 of “Japanese Swordsmanship” (1982) Gordon Warner and Donn F. Draeger provide a good overview of the development of the Japanese sword within the culture of the samurai. Part 2 deals thoroughly with Iaido. While today…
Aikidoists who practise Aikiken often become interested in the Japanese metal sword in addition to the wooden sword (“Bokken” or “Bokutoh”). There are various types of swords. The two most recognized are the “Tachi” and the “Katana”. The…