Kendo Kata - Essence and Application: JAPAN SALES

Kendo Kata - Essence and Application

(Revised Edition)

By Kendo Hanshi 8-dan Inoue Yoshihiko

Translated by Alex Bennett

As you are no doubt aware, we have just started selling the revised edition of Kendo Kata - Essence and Application by the late Inoue Yoshihiko-sensei. Sales in Europe and North and South America have been very good, as has the e-book version on the Budo Books app. (Click here for details)

However, in spite of that it seems that Amazon Japan and other Japanese retailers are not stocking it, or if they are, are charging an exorbitant price and shipping it from overseas to Japan. To remedy this, we have printed a limited amount of stock that we can ship to a Japanese address for ¥5,000 (¥4,400 book + ¥600 postage).

If you would like to buy this book and have it sent to a Japanese address, it can be purchased using the PayPal Button below.

We only have 30 copies, so if you are in Japan and would like to buy one, please do so soon!!

Please note that orders with an overseas address will not be fulfilled and the payment refunded. For more information on how to purchase this book if you live outside of Japan, click here.

Synopsis and Contents: Kendo Kata - Essence and Application

Inoue Yoshihiko-sensei (1928–2015), Kendo Hanshi 8-dan, was the preeminent expert of the All-Japan Kendo Federation’s Nihon Kendo Kata and an influential teacher whose insights shaped generations of instructors and practitioners. In this book Inoue-sensei explains how the ten kata are to be performed, as well as the accompanying etiquette necessary when performing them.

The description of each kata features in-depth explanations from the AJKF’s official “Kata Instruction Manual,” further guidance from the federation’s “Kendo Seminar Guidelines,” and commentary from Inoue-sensei himself. Each kata is illustrated through detailed photos. In addition to the technical descriptions, the book explores the philosophy behind each form and the history of their development.

The first edition of this book was published in 2003. Since then, the All-Japan Kendo Federation has periodically updated its guidance on how to teach these kata. This revised edition incorporates all updates since the first edition, making it the most comprehensive and current analysis of the Nihon Kendo Kata. Masterfully translated by Alex Bennett, this book is an indispensable resource for both beginners and veteran kendoka alike. This revised edition replaces the long out of print first edition.

Contents

Foreword. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Preface to the Revised Edition . iii

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v

The Gateway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Tachiai. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Tachi-no-Kata

Ippon-Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23

Nihon-Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Sanbon-Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Yonhon-Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Gohon-Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Roppon-Me. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .79

Nanahon-Me. . . .. . . . . . . . . . .87

Kodachi-no-Kata

Ippon-Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 101

Nihon-Me. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .113

Sanbon-Me. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .123

The Philosophy of Kata

Ippon-Me to Sanbon-Me. . .. . . .139

Yonhon-Me to Nanahon-Me. . . .151

Kodachi-no-Kata. . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Etiquette. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169

Q & A with Inoue Sensei. . . . . .181

Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . 191