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…
Here are some further and final comments from ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE SAMURAI. You are welcome to borrow my copy of the book if cannot find one to buy. During the 16th century western sea powers tried…
[The second samurai clan to control Japan extensively was the Ashikaga, 1336-1573. The Ashikaga lived in the Kyoto suburb of Muromachi to keep an eye on the Emperor, but soon fell prey to the luxurious life of the…
[Samurai armour was generally made of strips (lamellae) of iron laced together with deerskin or silk. The iron strips were coated with lacquer to prevent rusting.] A wide range of colours was used for lacing. By far the…
If you are keen on the history of Japan during the period of warrior rule (c. 1200 –1850), there are many good books available. Here is one example of a well researched and beautifully illustrated study of one…
Book Review: MUSASHI by Eiji Yoshikawa (1892-1962) Published in Japanese in 1939; English translation in 1981 This novel presents the story of a young man, an orphan, whose wild energy and ambition are gradually channeled into a variety…
When I started training in 1975, there were almost no books in English on Aikido. Now there are manyas well as many fine sources of information on the internet. You cannot learn Aikido from a book; but a…