MartialSportsGear.com - Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword (Literary Links to the Orient)
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List Price: $14.00
Our Price: $14.00
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Black Belt Communications
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.860952
EAN: 9780897501040
ISBN: 0897501047
Label: Black Belt Communications
Manufacturer: Black Belt Communications
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 192
Publication Date: 1986-02-01
Publisher: Black Belt Communications
Studio: Black Belt Communications
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Editorial Reviews:
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Dave Lowry frequently travels throughout Asia to research its culture and history, and has written several books about Japan and the budo. He started writing for Black Belt magazine more than 20 years ago and has shared his traditional take on the martial arts world in a monthly column called Karate Way since 1986. In Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword, Lowry focuses his expertise on the techniques and history of the bokken--the wooden training sword used by both ancient samurai and today's swordsmen. According to Lowry, training with the bokken is important on two levels for the modern practitioner: "On one, he builds the physical stamina, rhythms, and adroit body movements of traditional swordsmanship. On the other, he achieves something of the animating spirit of the traditional swordsman. He is, through the refinement of his practice, linked in a very real way to his past, for it is from the principles of swordsmanship that the budo of today have based their teachings, no matter what their present form." Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword couples Lowry's concise, eloquent writing style with more than 100 hundred technique photographs to provide the reader with the traditional and modern perspectives of this vital, historically rich practice tool.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword
Comment: The book arrived very fast. The book is in excellent condition for a used book. Actually you can't really tell that it is used. It has real people in it and I am real pleased with this purchase.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Save your money.
Comment: I know that Dave is very respected etc. I also practice Shinkageryu.
Yagyu Shinkageryu and the Marobashikai branch of Shinkageryu that I practice do have some slight differences but but use the same Kata. I am not disputing that Dave is Yagyu Kai although I have not been able to confirm that either.
Regardless the way he advises to hold the Bokken is somewhat horrid. Curl the pinky under the hilt? Am I missing something here or are you supposed to break your finger in the dojo? Also I have been instructed to not stick out your fingers as this can lead to getting them cut off. Although it is true Yagyu Kai do slightly keep the index finger loose the rest of Daves instructions to hold the sword are terrible. Any half azz Kendoka knows to squeeze in the wrists similar to turning a motorcycle throttle. I can not begin to explain the importance of turning in the wrists while holding a sword. Experienced swordsmen know what I am talking about. Anyways once I got past the horrible grip instruction I started looking at his sloppy posture in the pictures. It makes me embarrassed that he claims to practice Shinkageryu and publishes a horrible book like this. Sure if you do not know anything about Kenjutsu you might like this book. But because he is teaching an improper way to grip the Bokken. And because the way he instructs could lead to injury if you actually struck something I must give this book the lowest rating possible. Dave Lowery you either have to know better than what you are saying or you are a complete fake. In either case shame on you! I never finished reading the book but many people in my dojo have laughed over your silly instruction.
Customer Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Technical Introduction on a Rare Subject
Comment: An excellent introduction to one of the most uncredited training tools of budo and bujutsu, the Bokken (pronounce bow-ken), or wooden sword. Author Dave Lowry is a dedicated practitioner of Japanese martial arts and culture, the perfect person to explain the history, usefulness, and general merits of the Bokken, an implement which is commonly used in Aikido as well as many Kory (pre-Meiji martial arts schools) in Japan for a variety of training and partner exercises.
I suppose Lowry could have made another book on Iaito with a live-blade sword, or otherwise spiced up his book with tall tales to sell better to teenage mutant ninjas...thank goodness he avoided the norm and instead presented thoughtful material a generation of serious budoka can appreciate. As Lowry observes concerning the joys of training and appreciation of heritage for the dedicated budoka of any art who takes up this practice:
"Certainly one of the most fascinating and rewarding lies in Suburi...with the wooden sword, or Bokken. True, the student of suburi used this practice weapon instead of a live sword (katana) and the movements are not so clearly lethal as those of the feudal warrior's art, but with his bokken, the modern budoka may train on two important levels. On one, he builds the physical stamina, body rythms and adroit body movements of traditional swordsmanship. On the other he achieves something f the animating spirit of the traditional swordsman. He is, through the refinement of his practice, linked in a very real way to his past, for it is through the principles of his swordsmanship that the budo of today have based their teachings, no matter what their present form". (page 13)
That Lowry's earlier works tend to be technical instructional manuals (his other early book "Jo: the Art of the Japanese Short Staff" is also recommended) while his later books delve deeper into sharing his life philosophy through personal experiences and observations is worthwhile noting as well. I know of no better teaching tool than to teach through example, sharing a thought, a technique or a story.
In my time, "Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword" has garnered the appreciation of experienced and aspiring Kendo-ka, Aikido-ka, Budo-ka, and simple individuals who have decided that mastering a discipline would enrich their lives. Those who practice bokken don't expect to become kenshi: we simply do with appreciation. Thank You Mr. Lowry!
As an aside, also the perfect accompanyment to the wooden suburi or bokken you give your kid for the holiday or birthday when you don't think s/he's _quite_ ready for a live blade yet :)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent book...
Comment: Famed swordsman and Black Belt magazine contributor Dave Lowry chimes in on the use of the bokken--the wooden samurai sword. Practicing with the bokken is obviously safer than practicing with a "live" katana, but it also develops stamina, technique, and an appreciation of the weapon's history. Ancient samurai warriors used the bokken (remember Tom Cruise's repeated beatings in The Last Samurai?), and so should you. Lowry also wrote The Best of Dave Lowry, which is an excellent compilation of his Black Belt articles.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A good book for fundamentals-and attitude.
Comment: I was prepared to be disappointed-but was pleasantly surprised. I have studied the sword for years, and yet learned something from this book. For a beginner, too, its clear, concise explanations, coupled with well thought out photographs, will prove an excellent study guide or workbook. There are minor deficiencies, occasionally, but they will provide the student an incentive to put down the book and physically explore what Lowry is trying to demonstrate.
There are few like Musashi, who need little personal instruction. This book is not a substitute for a good teacher, but an excellent adjunct to one. The Way is not a set of rules. It is only the Way.
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