Complete Kendo (Complete Martial Arts)

Description

A thorough introduction to the Japanese martial way of the sword, Complete Kendo covers each and every aspect of the discipline, from equipment and terminology to technique and strategy.

Complete Kendo is a thorough introduction to the Japanese martial way of the sword and a guided tour of the principles and philosophy upon which the art is founded. John Donohue covers the whole thing from the care and handling of hakama, the pleated trousers worn by kendoka (practitioners of kendo), to the methods of cultivating the meditative state of mushin (no mind), all in a very simple conversational dialogue that may be an ideal pleasure to read.

Structured to echo the organization of the Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, this kendo book is a brand new version of the swordsman’s primer by a martial artist skilled not only within the art of kendo but, like Musashi, in many traditional Japanese martial arts, and with a superior understanding of the martial tradition and culture of Japan. The creator uses lessons learned from a long career of teaching martial arts and academic subjects to impart clearly and concisely the fundamentals of kendo and the martial way.

With explanatory line drawings by Kathleen Sweeney illustrating significant points of discussion, kendo katas, a handy glossary of kendo terminology and related concepts, and an unusually helpful bibliography, Complete Kendo is an crucial volume for each and every kendoka’s personal library.