New to praciticing Kendo... so what to read first?

[blur]

I have recently started Kendo in the practical sense and also picked up a few books for some extra-curricular learning outside of the dojo. It might seem weird for a beginner to go in this direction right from the start, but I have to say that the philosophies, etc, lurking beneath the surface of the "sport" are just as attractive to me as the actually training, swinging the shinai, etc, which is extremely attractive in itself!

The books I have grabbed are: Ozawa's "Kendo: The Definitive Guide"; Kiyota's "The Shambhala Guide to Kendo" and Warner's "This Is Kendo" and I was wondering if any of these stands out as the most useful or easy to read of the three? The reason I ask is that I have started reading The Shambhala Guide and it's quite enjoyable, but I keep glancing over at the other two books and wondering if they'd be more useful to read first, or in general?

Just the excitement of a beginner bursting out here. Thoughts appreciated :)

[ben]

They're all good and all serve slightly different purposes. Why not read all of them? They're hardly Proust. My current favourite BTW is the ZNKR's Bilingual Kendo Dictionary.

In the final analysis however, what you learn in the dojo will be much more enduring and relevant to you than anything you find in a book.

b

[blur]

Originally posted by ben
Why not read all of them?

Oh I definitely intend doing that - I'm not one of those people who buys expensive books just to go on the shelf ;)

I'm really just interested in knowing from the people who've read them whether one is by far and away the best thing a beginner can read. If so, it would be logical to read that one first.

Which would you recommend, Ben?

[Inouye02]

I think everyone in this forum will agree the best reading is "Winning Stratagies in Kendo " by Mrkurukuru..

1 of my favorites...

[blur]

Thanks for that, Inouye02, I'll jot it down. Might be a good one for when I'm a little more advanced?

[samurai999]

Reading books on Kendo should be good. But, it should be a supplement to what you do in the dojo. The only true way to learn kendo is to "do". Also take the opinions in the books for what they are plus with a couple grains of salt. Again, you learn via sensei and on your own.

Tim

[Luis Trabuco]

The Bilingual (Japanese-English) Dictionary of Kendo by All Japan Kendo Federation is my favouite and the best. Also, the two books of Kendo Fundamentals (Vol.1 and Vol.2) from AJKF are very useful, also. I do recommend you those books!

[KhawMengLee]

I liked Warner's and Ozawa's books...Kiyota's...well...I didn't really like. Try Paul Budden's "Looking at a far mountain" pretty good text on kendo kata. I also got two japanese books on kendo which are both pretty good but unfortunaltely I have to be content with just the pictures and not the words...hopefully I can get 'em translated soon.


I think everyone in this forum will agree the best reading is "Winning Stratagies in Kendo " by Mrkurukuru..

Hell Yeah! Great book...

Kurukuru steps to victory:

1) Proclaim in a loud and boastful voice to anyone who is in earshot how good your "smackdown" skills are. Expounding such ditties like "kurukuru waza".

2) Furthur boost ego by proclaiming upcoming victory in an upcoming takai.

3) Upon loosing the takai further boost ego by proclaiming the following:

i) The judges should not judge. They should be out eating bento. They are gay.

ii) I was robbed.

iii) The judges are corrupt.

iv) My opponent had the easier group.

v) etc...wank, excuses, whine, dribble...

4) Upon using these excuses one should have constructed one's own little world in the land of make believe, away from harsh reality, where one is King of All.

5) VICTORY!

I especially like his other book, "How I fit my head through the Dojo doors; A modern day miracle" by Mr KuruKuru.:D

[Inouye02]

sounds like jealousy to me khaw, but from what i heard you put out kendo keiko's funniest video ..

[KhawMengLee]

:confused:

jealousy?...yeah, I wish I could whine as well as kuru does.

[KhawMengLee]

but back on topic:

the classical fighting arts of japan series by koryu books are particularly interesting.


Get 'em at:

www.koryu.com

[blur]

Thanks for all your great advice, guys. Am always happy to hear more!

[alexpollijr]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

I especially like his other book, "How I fit my head through the Dojo doors; A modern day miracle" by Mr KuruKuru.:D [/B]

Very funny. :D
This KuruKuru guy is lots of fun.

Anyway, I found Ozawa's book to be the most useful one.
Also, the ZNKR teaching stuff (dictionary and videos) are very nice.

But don't read too much. Get your carcass over to the dojo and practice.

Regards,

Alexandre

[kendomushi]

Warners book is the more basic primer on kendo, but now a bit dated. Ozawa's is perhaps better and definitely more up to date.
The bilingual kendo dictionary from the ZNKR is a great reference but not an easy one to use as a primer on kendo.

[misterkurukuru]

my dojo has big doors! well atleast the one in the middle is big! i can get through all the dooooors at venice though! Reading books is fine. i have read my judges handbook like billion times, and that still does not make me a great judge. Dont be like the other people on KWF and think that because you read some books, it makes you a freaken kendo master! Juust get out the good old ei-wa jiten and listen/watch your sensei.

[Inouye02]

you have the honorary member key right ? ma bruther kurukuru

[Hai_hai]

I'm a beginner and I've bought "Kendo, The definitive guide", but I just use it to clarify new Japanese words I didn't catch/remember during lessons. It was problematic for me to not remember what a word/command meant. I didn't like that.
I've also been teaching myself some Japanese so I understand even more words.

[KATSUJIN]

thats a pretty good book for beginners...especially since it has detailed illustrations for easier understanding....that book is recommended for beginners....

[blur]

Cheers everyone for your help in this thread :)

I think I'm going to drop past a good bookshop today, if possible, and see if I can find any other good books. I can't get enough!