This stunning English translation of a medieval Japanese text is an
illustrated martial arts manual and a historical account of the
teachings of a samurai grandmaster
Available for the first time in English, this book explores the
essential practices of the samurai school known as Mubyoshi Ryu.
Complete with more than 350 images, The Lost Samurai School collects
and translates ancient documents that contain the teachings of
grandmaster Hagiwara Juzo--revealing for the first time to western
readers the enthralling martial arts, secret weapons, magic, and
espionage as they were practiced by samurai in their daily lives.
The ancient Mubyoshi Ryu scrolls contain fascinating descriptions of
"civilian" samurai skills--which concentrate more on personal protection
than battlefield warfare--including the full ninja curriculum and
elements of esoteric magic. Martial arts expert Antony Cummins
contextualizes these translated documents by providing a history of the
era and the school itself. The abundant illustrations form a useful
martial arts manual, bringing to life the skills required to master
everything from jujutsu and shuriken-jutsu (throwing blades) to swords,
chain weapons, and the quarterstaff. The Lost Samurai School is a
journey into the past that will preserve such skills for future
generations and will appeal to anyone interested in martial arts or
Japanese history.
