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Description
photo on 11-10-2023
Two books I got from the local library.

11-18-2023
Sword Techniques of Musashi and the other Samurai Masters by Fumon Tanaka
Let me start with my verdict.
I do NOT recommend this book.
The subject matter was fascinating.
I learned some interesting things from this book.
That being said, the author is Japanese.
So some of the significant material has been lost in translation.
You need to put in the Kanji and that is completely missing in this book.
The technique photos are extremely difficult to follow.
I didn’t care for or agree with many of the author’s opinions they seemed too politically biased to me, but I did find his historical facts very interesting.

Chapter 1: The Real Miyamoto Musashi
Chapter 2: Rivals of Musashi
Chapter 3: World of Traditional Bujutsu
Chapter 4: The Famous Schools of Bujutsu

Chapter 1 of course is fascinating to no end simply because we are talking about the legendary swordsman, Musashi.
This books states that Musashi is not the founder of the two sword style.
This way of fighting existed before Musashi.
I was shocked to learn that Musashi’s ancestor was a Ninja.
Musashi himself used Ninja like tactics and weapons including the Shuriken and a brass knuckles type of weapon called the Kaiken.

Chapter 2 goes into the rivals of Musashi which is also equally interesting.
Shinkage-Ryu was deeply inspired by Musashi when Musashi cross trained with them, so much so that they developed their own double sword techniques and counter double sword techniques.
It also goes into Sasaki Kojiro’s teacher who used a short sword, and Sasaki Kojiro himself who is known as Musashi’s greatest rival.
According to this book the author states that Musashi killed Kojuro in the famous Ganryujima duel.
However even though Musashi defeated Kojuro it was actually Musashi’s student that dealt the finishing blow which broke the rules since they were not suppose to bring any of their students along.
Musashi had to flee to a place where he would be protected by a powerful ruler.
This was surprise to me because the author states his facts come from ancient scrolls and seems to have the attitude that his material is the end all be all.
I have heard that in reality there was a high probability that Musashi’s students could have jumped and killed Kojuro.
The the author goes into how Musashi was defeated by a Gonnosuke who used a Jo staff and was Musashi’s student.
The techniques shown in the book are interesting because it shows the staff wielder using punches while holding the staff.
Then the author talks about a priest who allegedly fought Musashi, the author states this wouldn’t have happened because Musashi is not a high level warrior and only high level warrior’s use the spear and the priest was a spear user and would not have accepted to fight the lower Musashi.
I’m like whatever dude, but the spear is repeatedly stated in this book as the ultimate ancient war weapon.
I know in Chinese martial arts they say the same thing and the spear is revered.
In Japanese culture the sword is revered but in some circles the spear is still understood to be the ultimate so I thought that was very interesting.

Chapter 3 and 4, honestly I could care less about.
However there were some good stuff there.
I really didn’t care how the author would go on and say how modern Budo is not the warrior way.
It just sounded like to me that he was hiding behind lineage and status more than anything and not willing to give any recognition to those that put in hard work, very elitist and entitled is the impression I got.

Looking at the techniques, it really occurred to me that everything has already been figured out.
I saw using the scabbard with the sword, using the rope that ties the scabbard with the sword, empty hand Jujutsu techniques, using the spear head as a secret knife and sword catcher, throwing the sword, the list just goes on and on.

One thing I have to truly give credit to was how the author talked about religion as a prevention to going insane and also being able to have a strong mind for battle.

So that comes into the training, physical and mental training, really coming together, and even coming up with new techniques, strategies, styles, from mystical sources, like dreams, from your other mind, in other words subconscious.

Fencing book review coming soon!

Description
photo on 11-10-2023
Two books I got from the local library.

11-18-2023
Sword Techniques of Musashi and the other Samurai Masters by Fumon Tanaka
Let me start with my verdict.
I do NOT recommend this book.
The subject matter was fascinating.
I learned some interesting things from this book.
That being said, the author is Japanese.
So some of the significant material has been lost in translation.
You need to put in the Kanji and that is completely missing in this book.
The technique photos are extremely difficult to follow.
I didn’t care for or agree with many of the author’s opinions they seemed too politically biased to me, but I did find his historical facts very interesting.

Chapter 1: The Real Miyamoto Musashi
Chapter 2: Rivals of Musashi
Chapter 3: World of Traditional Bujutsu
Chapter 4: The Famous Schools of Bujutsu

Chapter 1 of course is fascinating to no end simply because we are talking about the legendary swordsman, Musashi.
This books states that Musashi is not the founder of the two sword style.
This way of fighting existed before Musashi.
I was shocked to learn that Musashi’s ancestor was a Ninja.
Musashi himself used Ninja like tactics and weapons including the Shuriken and a brass knuckles type of weapon called the Kaiken.

Chapter 2 goes into the rivals of Musashi which is also equally interesting.
Shinkage-Ryu was deeply inspired by Musashi when Musashi cross trained with them, so much so that they developed their own double sword techniques and counter double sword techniques.
It also goes into Sasaki Kojiro’s teacher who used a short sword, and Sasaki Kojiro himself who is known as Musashi’s greatest rival.
According to this book the author states that Musashi killed Kojuro in the famous Ganryujima duel.
However even though Musashi defeated Kojuro it was actually Musashi’s student that dealt the finishing blow which broke the rules since they were not suppose to bring any of their students along.
Musashi had to flee to a place where he would be protected by a powerful ruler.
This was surprise to me because the author states his facts come from ancient scrolls and seems to have the attitude that his material is the end all be all.
I have heard that in reality there was a high probability that Musashi’s students could have jumped and killed Kojuro.
The the author goes into how Musashi was defeated by a Gonnosuke who used a Jo staff and was Musashi’s student.
The techniques shown in the book are interesting because it shows the staff wielder using punches while holding the staff.
Then the author talks about a priest who allegedly fought Musashi, the author states this wouldn’t have happened because Musashi is not a high level warrior and only high level warrior’s use the spear and the priest was a spear user and would not have accepted to fight the lower Musashi.
I’m like whatever dude, but the spear is repeatedly stated in this book as the ultimate ancient war weapon.
I know in Chinese martial arts they say the same thing and the spear is revered.
In Japanese culture the sword is revered but in some circles the spear is still understood to be the ultimate so I thought that was very interesting.

Chapter 3 and 4, honestly I could care less about.
However there were some good stuff there.
I really didn’t care how the author would go on and say how modern Budo is not the warrior way.
It just sounded like to me that he was hiding behind lineage and status more than anything and not willing to give any recognition to those that put in hard work, very elitist and entitled is the impression I got.

Looking at the techniques, it really occurred to me that everything has already been figured out.
I saw using the scabbard with the sword, using the rope that ties the scabbard with the sword, empty hand Jujutsu techniques, using the spear head as a secret knife and sword catcher, throwing the sword, the list just goes on and on.

One thing I have to truly give credit to was how the author talked about religion as a prevention to going insane and also being able to have a strong mind for battle.

So that comes into the training, physical and mental training, really coming together, and even coming up with new techniques, strategies, styles, from mystical sources, like dreams, from your other mind, in other words subconscious.

Fencing book review coming soon!