The samurai sword: a symbol of the spirit of old Japan, it embodies the samurai's steel discipline, unswerving devotion and peerless skill. With its creation, a feat of craftsmanship passed down by generations of artisans, the samurai sword is generally considered to be superior even to the famed blades of Western Damascus and Toledo.The Samurai Sword Handbook is a precise exploration of the samurai sword designed for sword collectors as well as anyone intrigued by these a...

Inspirational teachings on fearlessness, compassion, and nature by the founder of the Japanese martial art of AikidoThe real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. So taught the great Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), founder of the Japanese martial art of Aikido. Aikido is a mind-body discipline Ueshiba called the “Art of Peace.” It offers a nonviolent way to victory in the face of conflict, and Ueshiba believed that Aikido...

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. It is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, much like Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Chanakya's Arthashastra. There have been various translations made over the years, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking...

⚔️ Win without fear. Fight without hesitation. Master the way. Written in 1645 by legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings is a powerful treatise on strategy, discipline, and self-mastery—used by warriors, business leaders, and thinkers for over 350 years. More than a martial arts manual, this timeless work reveals how to navigate conflict, sharpen your mind, and achieve victory in any arena of life. Five books. Endless lessons. Musashi's teachings are divided into fiv...

The shinobi, or ninja, is one of the most widely recognized figures in the world of espionage—and also one of the most misrepresented. What do we really know about the historical shinobi, his tactics, and his role in medieval Japanese society? In Secret Traditions of the Shinobi, these questions—and many more—are answered. Translated into English for the very first time, this widely sought-after collection of historical documents brings to light the secret practices, techniques, p...

The classic text on the mystical traditions of the ninja now decoded in English• The path of the ninja as an authentic spiritual discipline• Details the art of concealment and espionage, including methods of disguise, survival techniques, and face reading• A ninja response to the Samurai Bushido and the way to mind-body harmonyExperts in disguise, infiltration, espionage, and counterintelligence, the ninja had spiritual values and magical traditions that dis...

"An excellent introduction to traditional Japanese swordsmanship."-Daily YamiuriThis book introduces Kendo, the exhilarating mental and physical sport of Japan that has gained new popularity, with both sexes now participating, its own evolution and the efforts of a remarkable group of teachers it has progressed through the years to its present position as a sport.This is Kendo is a fully illustrated introduction to the traditional art of J...

In Samurai Swordsmanship: The Batto, Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri of Eishin Ryu, Masayuki Shimabukuro and Carl E. Long describe the principles and techniques that define Japans most popular style of swordsmanship. The book is a compendium of the most effective and proven techniques that have come to represent the fighting methods of Japans feudal and modern eras. The contents, as presented by the authors, unveil the answers to ancient riddles that have perplexed modern day e...

The Samurai sword of Japan is probably the finest edged weapon ever made. This volume by leading Samurai expert Stephen Turnbull reveals the story of how and why it achieved this distinction. Particular attention is paid to the development of the familiar curved blade from the original straight blades, the associated development of Japan's famous steel-making techniques and the challenges from contemporary warfare. Together with the technical details of forging, polishing, mounting and tes...

Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584-1645) is the most revered and celebrated swordsman in Japanese history; unfortunately, our modern portrait of this folk hero is derived mainly from popular books, comics, and film, with little heed paid to the early records by men who knew Musashi, practiced with Musashi, and went into battle with Musashi.Spanning a period of more than a decade, the author set out to translate all surviving records on Musashi. The result is a body of text ...

Yokai Attack! is a nightmare-inducing one-stop guide to Japan's traditional monsters and creepy-crawlies.Yokai are ethereal sorts of beings, like ghosts, nearly always encountered at night; everyone has their own take on how they might look in real life and what sorts of specific characteristics and abilities they might have. This book is the result of long hours spent poring over data and descriptions from a variety of sources, including microfilms of eig...

A real-life samurai’s Zen teachings on sword training as a spiritually transformative practice—essential reading for aspiring martial artists and strategic thinkers alikeThe legendary seventeenth-century swordsman Yagyu Munenori was the sword instructor and military and political adviser to two shoguns—and a great rival to Miyamoto Musashi. Despite his martial ability and his political power, Munenori’s life was spent immersed in Zen teachings. These teachings form...