Part Samurai history, part martial arts guide, this is THE book for
anyone interested in Japan's fabled Samurai culture.
Author Alexander Bennett is the ultimate insider--holding multiple black
belts in Kendo and Naginata, as well as a Ph.D. in Japanese literature
and history. In this book he shares his vast personal experience and
knowledge with readers seeking to undertake their own personal quest in
the Japanese martial arts.
Bennett outlines the Japanese history of Bushido and the Samurai--from
early times up until the present. Then, as only someone steeped in this
world can, he surveys the contemporary martial arts scene and provides
the essential knowledge young foreigners need to find a teacher and
learn successfully. Unlike any other book on this subject, Japan The
Ultimate Samurai Guide is written by a Japanese speaker who has studied
and taught martial arts in Japan for many decades.
Chapters include:
- The Real Samurai
- The Concept of Bushido
- Development of the Japanese Martial Arts
- Martial Arts Masters You Should Know About
- Budo in Japan Today
- Key Martial Arts Concepts
- Life in a Japanese Dojo
- A Japan Survival Guide
Written in a down-to-earth and easy-to-read style, this book will
captivate anyone interested in Japan, as well as martial arts teachers
and practitioners around the world. With both history and humor, this
vividly illustrated book has a more personal touch than many (for
example, read up on "Fifteen Famous Japanese Cultural Indiosyncrasies"
and Bennett's favorite martial arts movies).
As Bennett says, "This book is supposed to be genuinely from the heart.
Without the pretense...misconceptions or romantization that often
accompanies martial arts."
