The Kendo Grading Book: How to Pass Kendo Examinations - 4th dan to 7th dan
By YOSHIYAMA Mitsuru
Translated and edited from the Kendo Nippon version by Alex BENNETT
DVD edited by Hamish ROBISON
(Translation Staff- Bruce Flanagan, Miho Maki)

Softcover, 91 pp colour + PAL/NTSC DVD
US$35 + s/h On sale soon

A popular seller for Kendo Nippon in the Japanese version, this is the first such book in English. It covers everything you need to know to face your next grading with confidence, be it your 4th dan or your 7th. Find out what the examiners are looking for, not just in the practical parts, but how to bow and how to dress for success!

It is accompanied by a DVD showing all the points from the book, plus all kihon and advanced techniques are reviewed, as well as in-depth drills to bring your practical skills up to speed.

Even if you're not planning on sitting a grading, if you follow the steps outlined in the book and DVD your kendo will see immediate benefits.

Written by former Self Defense Forces kendo instructor, Yoshiyama Mitsuru, Kyoshi 7th dan. He is also currently coaching the Russian Kendo Federation, and is active in promoting kendo internationally.

In Japan he also holds weekly seminars all over Japan, covering the same contents of this book and DVD, and has many satisfied students who reached their goals after taking his advice.

Kendoka: The New Samurai

DVD
US$25 + s/h  get your copy here

This documentary, featuring the Great Britain Kendo Squad, was filmed in the days before and during the 12th World Kendo Championships in 2003.

The stunning Scottish highlands form the back drop to the squad’s intensive pre-competition training camp. Here we meet the members of the team and learn what it means to them to be selected to represent their country in Kendo.

The film travels between the remote training camp and the competition itself held in Glasgow. Here you’ll experience a complete account of the event (including exclusive multi-camera shiai action) while following the progress of the Brits, particularly the women’s team.

The producers of this film are experienced kendoka and television professionals (Including BBC). The result is an honest and engaging film which is true to the art of Kendo.

View the trailer: 320 X 240, 720 x 576

Softcover, 181 pp
US$15 + s/h  Order now

The heart of this work is the philosophy behind the creation of the All Japan Kendo Federation Kendo Kata. Inoue sensei looks at the history behind the formation of the kata using records taken at the time, and also examines the theoretical underpinnings of the kata. In addition, there is a full photo section covering all the kata from 1 to 10, and an analysis of the changes to the 2001 Kendo Seminar Guidelines for teaching the kata. A valuable resource for beginner and experienced kendoka alike.

Softcover, 110 pp
US$15 + s/h Order now

Former British Army cavalryman F.J. Norman found himself in Japan in 1888, where he taught at the Naval academy in Etajima. Surprisingly open-minded for a man of his age, he threw himself into the study of ju-jutsu and kenjutsu, which along with sumo and Japanese military history, form the basis of this short volume.

It serves as a historical record opening an interesting window on an age when kendo and judo were still in their formative stages.

KARATE: My Life
by KANAZAWA Hirokazu
Translated by Alex BENNETT

Hardcover, 299 pp
US$20 + s/h Order now

KANAZAWA Hirokazu's biography, translated by Alex BENNETT. One of the most influential karate masters Japan has seen, he has devoted himself to the study and promotion of karate for more than 50 years.

"The more I know, the more I climb, yet the mountain just gets higher. The more I try, the more I focus, the depth is limitless. There is no end in sight. That is karate, my life."

NAGINATA: The Definitive Guide
by Alex BENNETT

Hardcover, 374 pages
US$25 +s/h Order now

Alex Bennett goes into the history and practice of naginata, using original source materials, and technical photos taken under the guidance of Kimura Yasuko Sensei.

With the approval of the International Naginata Federation, this is the first comprehensive English-language guide to this growing martial art, and the first in any language to gather all this information into one place.

Budo Perspectives
Edited by Alex BENNETT

Hardcover, 420 pages
US$25 +s/h Order now

Budō , the martial “Ways” of Japan are perhaps the most significant of all Japanese cultural exports. Literally millions of people practice Japanese budō around the world such as karate, judo, aikido, kendo, and so on. Despite the remarkable post-war international proliferation of budō, surprisingly little interaction has been conducted at an academic level between Japanese and non-Japanese experts in the field. Furthermore, there are few academic publications that consider the various budō from different historical, cultural, philosophical, and regional perspectives in Japanese, let alone English. This publication is the result of an international symposium: The Direction of Japanese Budō in the 21st Century: Past, Present, Future conducted at the International Research Centre for Japanese Studies in November, 2003. The objective of the symposium and this book is to stimulate further meaningful international cooperative research into the field of budō studies.