Books on kendo....

[IRJ]

Hey everyone,

I've been looking for a good book on kendo that has diagrams for everything: proper footwork, waza, kata, etc.

Does such a book/text exist in English?

[alexpollijr]

Yes, it's called "KENDO - The Definitive Guide" ( Ozawa ). You can get it at most internet bookstores.

Has anyone seen the new "Kendo - Rules, Elements & Philosophy" which is being published by the University of Hawaii ?

- Alexandre

[kancho]

KENDO - The Definitive Guide" ( Ozawa )
I think that is a great book for every kendo player. I am still a beginner and I think it helped me improve my kendo.

[roc_kendo]

I have the KENDO - The Definitive Guide-, and is well written English Kendo book.. I didn't find any a good English Kendo book like that..

[angryshinai]

here is a direct link to it on amazon..

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/4770021194/qid=1059061479/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/102-1710893-1845722?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Its even on special :)

[Phlebas]

The Ozawa book is a good investment, and I also like a book on the kata -- "Looking at a Far Mountain: A Study of Kendo Kata" by Paul Budden. It has good photographic descriptions of the kata and is endorsed by the AJKF. It contains a history of the kata, backgrounds on the schools, and a decent glossary too.

[Old Warrior]

Any known works on"Nito" that are in English or replete with pictures?

[alexpollijr]

Old Warrior,

There are no nito sources in english. The closest you can get is "This the Kendo" which has two pages and two pictures of nito.

The new "Kendo - Elements , Rules and philosophy" supposedly has a nito chapter but I don't have this book yet.

If you can learn some japanese you can try 'Musashi no Ken - Kendo Nito Ryu', a book that has recently being published, so it has very up to date information on nito kendo. It's a very good book for nito fighters.

And then there's moocow (USA) over there, who was one of the very few nito players in the WKC.

Good luck,

- Alexandre

[alexpollijr]

Correction, "This IS Kendo".

[Steve]

Kendo: The definitive guide, ozawa (english)

Fundamental Kendo, AJKF (english) hard to get as its out of print, but a great book if you can get your hands on it.

This is Kendo (english)

As for Nito, i was told by a Japanese Sensei that a kendo magazine (from japan) featured a section on Nito and it was so popular, that they are going to publish a separate "Nito Manual" by expanding on those magazine articles. I'll see ifi can contact him to get more information reagarding this. It won't be in english, but material on things other than Chudan based Kendo are quite rare.

[KATSUJIN]

??? i would like that magazine...but I dont know japanese....:(

[IRJ]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm ordering Kendo the Definitive Guide right now.

[xvikingx]

There is a very good kata book called "Looking at a far Mountain". If you are interested in kata I highly recommend it.

[xvikingx]

Whoops, just realized Phelbas already posted that book.

[Phlebas]

Glad to hear someone else read the Paul Budden book and liked it. I need all the help I can get with kata!

I forgot to mention that I once had a chance to peruse a book called "The Heart of Kendo" by Darrell Craig (I think) and it seemed very good too. It covers etiquette, equipment, kata, and waza, and the diagrams and descriptions are clear (there's a really cool photo of a wicked tsuki... if you ever see the book look for that!) The kata section is complete with history and diagrams, and the glossary is good too. Seems to be as comprehensive as The Definitive Guide by Ozawa, but I noticed the following differences:

Ozawa's book has the complete set of regulations for competition, Craig's doesn't

Craig's book has a more detailed section for bogu

Ozawa's book has a larger section on stretching

Craig's book has a larger section on etiquette

Ozawa's book has a larger section on waza

Craig's book has more historical information

NOTE: Craig's book has another interesting section -- conversations and memoirs from the author's relationship with Harutane Chiba Sensei of the Hokushin Ryu. I wish I'd had time to read the entire section when I flipped through the book, but alas, I hadn't the time.

[kendomushi]

Personally I disliked Graig's book.
I felt it paid too much attention to the authors own assessment of his skills. I really don't care to know how good or important he thinks he is. Also, if I recall properly the jacket explains that he is a shihan, "the equivalent of a European knight" which it definitely is not. I felt these things undermined the other useful parts of the book.

[hamish]

We have our sights on the Japanese book on Nito that was mentioned above, but that's down the list a little bit. The best information is still in Kendo World, though!!

Stay tuned for our kata book (by Inoue Yoshihiko, Hanshi 8th dan, and head of the AJKF kata committee.) Due for release shortly.

Hamish

[lewis]

Old Warrior, Hamish, and Alex

Kim Taylor sells an excellent book on Niten Ichi Ryu that includes the nito kata and waza of that school. I have a copy and I recommend it. It is about 33% nito. But the katana-only and wakizashi-only techniques are very interesting as well.

The description from the website is:

This book contains all the kata from the three levels of the Niten Ichi-ryu, long vs long sword, short vs long sword and "long and short" vs long sword. There are quick descriptions, detailed descriptions and over 200 illustrations. The book is cerlox bound for easy opening and use. Also included is a detailed history of Musashi, genealogy tables, and an interview with Sei Do Kai instructor Matsuo Haruna.


You can order it from Kim Taylor's website at:
http://sdksupplies.netfirms.com/cat_manual.htm

[hamish]

I'm sure its a great book on Niten Ichi-ryu, (as all of Kim Taylor's work is) but I wouldn't think it's of specific use to someone wanting to do nito kendo. I stand to be corrected, so if anyone's read it maybe they'd like to do a review for us?

[alexpollijr]

Well, I've never seen Kim Taylor's book, but I own 'Musashi no Ken - Kendo Nito Ryu' and it's a great book for nito kendo.

Still, it features one chapter with the Niten Ichi Ryu two-sword kata.

- Alexandre

[eKenshi]

Any known works on"Nito" that are in English or replete with pictures?

but if you knew japanese maybe you should check out Musashi's Go Rin No Sho

[kanyil]

I came across a book called "kendo, elements, principles and (rules?)". it was published by the University of Hawaii press. It's in English and has some fairly interesting read on nito kamae (chudan, jodan, jiuji, zangetsu) and nito wazas and complete with illustrations. Although it is not a book devoted exclusively to nito.

be warned that some parts of it may be...different than what you've heard on this forum.

[Budokan]

The book THIS IS KENDO has alot of great history to it and is a great read.I recently bought and am about to start reading the heart of kendo,i feel since my sensei is darrell, I might as well read his book and get some good insight on the man.

[shotoblogger]

Old Warrior,

There are no nito sources in english. The closest you can get is "This the Kendo" which has two pages and two pictures of nito.

The new "Kendo - Elements , Rules and philosophy" supposedly has a nito chapter but I don't have this book yet.

If you can learn some japanese you can try 'Musashi no Ken - Kendo Nito Ryu', a book that has recently being published, so it has very up to date information on nito kendo. It's a very good book for nito fighters.

And then there's moocow (USA) over there, who was one of the very few nito players in the WKC.

Good luck,

- Alexandre
Sir, the book mentioned above (Kendo Elements Rules and Philosophy has sections on nito waza and nito kamae.

[shotoblogger]

Personally I disliked Graig's book.
I felt it paid too much attention to the authors own assessment of his skills. I really don't care to know how good or important he thinks he is. Also, if I recall properly the jacket explains that he is a shihan, "the equivalent of a European knight" which it definitely is not. I felt these things undermined the other useful parts of the book.
I agree. I have both of his books on kendo. At first, I thought he was talking about himself to establish his credentials in writing a book. But I've decided that he just likes talking about himself. On the other hand, his books present a lot of information better than other kendo books and have some things you can't find other places.

[shotoblogger]

We have our sights on the Japanese book on Nito that was mentioned above, but that's down the list a little bit. The best information is still in Kendo World, though!!

Stay tuned for our kata book (by Inoue Yoshihiko, Hanshi 8th dan, and head of the AJKF kata committee.) Due for release shortly.

Hamish
This book hasn't been released? I just ordered a few weeks ago and was looking forward to its delivery. How long 'til it's released? Thank you.

[Twobitmage]

Any mods here? could you delete my post in the concepts forum? it has this same topic title :(

I got a question for you guys though. I notice that at the amazon link for "kendo, the definitive guide" has an offer for another book to go along with it. I'm a sucker for bargains and I want to know of that companion book is worth buying?

[shotoblogger]

Any mods here? could you delete my post in the concepts forum? it has this same topic title :(

I got a question for you guys though. I notice that at the amazon link for "kendo, the definitive guide" has an offer for another book to go along with it. I'm a sucker for bargains and I want to know of that companion book is worth buying?
Right now, they are offering Complete Kendo from Tuttle by John J. Donohue. It's an okay book, but it mostly just covers the same material as the Ozawa book. The Ozawa book is hardcover and the Donohue book softcover. The Ozawa book has nicer layout, etc. Get the Ozawa book, but not the Donohue book.

[akahige]

We have our sights on the Japanese book on Nito that was mentioned above, but that's down the list a little bit. Hamish,
any idea on an estimated time we might see that nito book?

thanks