PhilMcLaughlin
24th July 2003, 08:27 PM
I was lucky enough to get one of the first copies of this KWF publication at 12 WKC so I thought Id review it for those of you who have got to wait a while ;-)
My opinion: This is a gem of a book, Well done KWF for reprinting it
It is not practical to go into detail as the book is quite short and I'd reccomend anyone with an intrest to buy it anyway.
This is not a manual, it wont improve your Kendo (or Ju Jutsu or Sumo for that matter). What it does offer is a fascinating insight into turn of the century Japan and the experiences of possibly the first Englishman to study kenjutsu serisously.
The book is a fairly short read split into 4 sections, an overview by Alex bennet (including a challenge to readers to follow up the life story of FJ Norman), Japanese Military History, Kenjutsu and Jujutsu / Sumo).
Being familiar with these from a post war perspective, this book is quite revealing about the attitudes to study and practise prevalent at the time & they were quite diffeerent from today. Norman makes some very sharp observations about the true nature of Kenjutsu and "stuff and nonesense" written about Bushido by the contemporary western press of the time. Put in context of what was to follow - it is clear that Norman was ahead of his time.
Im not sure how much this will appear to the US audience because Norman is quintessentially english and the language is antique even by British standards But I enjoyed reading it immensley.
I have a background intrest in this kind of account because I originate from Gillingham in Kent - Birthplace of Will Adams - but Id still reccomend everyone to buy this.
Well Done Alex and the KWF team
cheers
My opinion: This is a gem of a book, Well done KWF for reprinting it
It is not practical to go into detail as the book is quite short and I'd reccomend anyone with an intrest to buy it anyway.
This is not a manual, it wont improve your Kendo (or Ju Jutsu or Sumo for that matter). What it does offer is a fascinating insight into turn of the century Japan and the experiences of possibly the first Englishman to study kenjutsu serisously.
The book is a fairly short read split into 4 sections, an overview by Alex bennet (including a challenge to readers to follow up the life story of FJ Norman), Japanese Military History, Kenjutsu and Jujutsu / Sumo).
Being familiar with these from a post war perspective, this book is quite revealing about the attitudes to study and practise prevalent at the time & they were quite diffeerent from today. Norman makes some very sharp observations about the true nature of Kenjutsu and "stuff and nonesense" written about Bushido by the contemporary western press of the time. Put in context of what was to follow - it is clear that Norman was ahead of his time.
Im not sure how much this will appear to the US audience because Norman is quintessentially english and the language is antique even by British standards But I enjoyed reading it immensley.
I have a background intrest in this kind of account because I originate from Gillingham in Kent - Birthplace of Will Adams - but Id still reccomend everyone to buy this.
Well Done Alex and the KWF team
cheers