Mastering the Samurai Sword: A Full Color, Step by Step Guide

Description

People the world over are fascinated by the legends of the fearsome Japanese samurai warriors and their skill with the sword. While the samurai themselves may no longer exist, the enduring legacy of samurai swordsmanship lives on. It is still taught and used today in the martial arts iai-jutsu and ken-jutsu. Mastering the Samurai Sword is an indispensable guide to the intriguing and challenging skills of the samurai. A perfect introduction to the samurai sword, this instructional guide not only covers the history, evolution and philosophy of the classic samurai weapon, but also provides practical guidance for mastering the samurai sword yourself. Beginners will learn everything from proper attire and behavior in the dojo to how they might practice at home, while more experienced users of the samurai sword will find a new appreciation for the deeper meaning and tradition behind the graceful way of the sword. Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 19 Preface......Page 21 Chokuto or Ancient Sword Period......Page 24 Koto or Old Sword Period......Page 26 Shinto or New Sword Period......Page 30 Shin-shinto or Modern Sword Period......Page 33 Chapter 2 Iai-Jutsu and Ken-Jutsu......Page 36 Fukasa-Ryu Iai-Jutsu and Ken-Jutsu......Page 39 Chapter 3 Knowing the Sword......Page 42 The Parts of the Samurai Sword......Page 44 The Sword Maintenance Kit......Page 48 Maintenance and Repair Guidelines......Page 50 Preparation for Oil Application......Page 51 Applying the Oil......Page 54 Procedures for Short- and Long-Term Storage......Page 58 Dismantling the Samurai Sword......Page 63 Tying the Sageo for Sword Storage......Page 66 Chapter 4 Selecting the Right Equipment for Practice......Page 77 Chapter 5 Samurai Attire......Page 83 Putting on the Keikogi, Hakama, and Obis......Page 84 Folding the Uniform for Storage and Travel......Page 109 Entering the Dojo Training Space......Page 126 Subsequent to Oiling......Page 131 Bow-in onto the Tatame......Page 133 Putting on Attire......Page 135 Presentation of the Sword......Page 137 Honoring the Sword......Page 140 Wrapping the Sageo......Page 151 Final Thoughts Regarding Saho......Page 154 Chapter 7 Sword Holds......Page 156 Five Methods of Carrying the Sheathed Katana......Page 158 Five Methods of Laying the Katana on the Ground While in Seiza......Page 161 Samurai Sword Inspection......Page 165 Chapter 8 Ken-Jutsu......Page 175 Te-Moto (Hand Position)......Page 176 Dachi-Waza (Stances)......Page 178 Shizentai (Natural Posture)......Page 181 Gedan Kumai (Lower-Level Guard)......Page 182 Waka-No Kumai (Side Guard)......Page 183 Gyaku-No Kumai (Reverse Guard)......Page 184 Chapter 9 Suburi (Cutting)......Page 187 Shomen-Uchi (Vertical Head Cut)......Page 189 Kubi-Uchi (Diagonal Neck Cut)......Page 192 Gyaku Kubi-Uchi (Diagonal Reverse Neck Cut)......Page 194 Tomoe-Uchi (Horizontal Stomach Cut)......Page 197 Nuki-Uchi (Jump Cut)......Page 201 Age-Uchi (Diagonal Rising Cut)......Page 206 Gyaku Age-Uchi (Reverse Diagonal Rising Cut)......Page 209 Yokumen-Uchi (Side of the Head Cut)......Page 212 Gyaku Yokumen-Uchi (Reverse Side of the Head Cut)......Page 215 Mae-Tsuki (Front Thrust)......Page 218 Sasse-Uchi (Supported Cut)......Page 219 Ushiro-Tsuki (Rear Thrust)......Page 222 Chapter 10 Uke-Waza (Blocking and Evasive Techniques)......Page 225 Evasive Techniques......Page 226 Joden-Uke (Upper-Level Block)......Page 231 Gyaku Joden-Uke (Reverse Upper-Level Block)......Page 232 Tsuba-Uke (Hand Guard Block)......Page 234 Chuden-Uke (Middle-Level Block)......Page 238 Gedan-Uke (Lower-Level Block)......Page 240 Mae Ukemi (Front Fall)......Page 243 Yoko Ukemi (Side Fall)......Page 246 Mae Zempo Kaiten (Sheathed and Unsheathed Front Roll)......Page 249 Shikko-Waza (Knee-Walking Technique)......Page 255 Ken-Jutsu Solo Training......Page 259 Chapter 12 Iai-Jutsu......Page 261 Nuki-Dashi (Drawing)......Page 262 Nuki-Dashi Age (Rising Oblique Draw)......Page 263 Nuki-Dashi Tate (Vertical Draw)......Page 267 Nuki-Dashi Ushiro (Rear Draw)......Page 271 Nuki-Dashi Seiza (Seated Draw)......Page 278 Chiburi (Deblooding)......Page 279 Chiburi Ichi-Waza (Deblooding Technique #1)......Page 284 Chiburi Ni-Waza (Deblooding Technique #2)......Page 286 Chiburi Seiza (Seated Deblooding Technique)......Page 288 Noto Tomoe (Horizontal Stomach Sheathing)......Page 289 Noto Tate (Vertical Sheathing)......Page 297 Noto Seiza (Seated Sheathing)......Page 301 Iai-Jutsu Solo Training......Page 307 Chapter 13 Katas (Standing Forms)......Page 309 Kata Mae (Front Form)......Page 311 Kata Migi (Right Form)......Page 314 Kata Hidari (Left Form)......Page 321 Kata Ushiro (Rear Form)......Page 326 Kata Mae, Ushiro Nuki-Uchi (Front, Rear Jump-Cut Form)......Page 331 Kata Kaze Kiru (Whirlwind Form)......Page 334 Kata Ushiro Nuki-Uchi (Rear Jump-Cut Form)......Page 341 Kata Migi, Hidari, Mae (Right, Left, Front Form)......Page 342 Kata Shikaze (Four Winds Form)......Page 350 Kata Mae (Front Form)......Page 361 Kata Migi (Right Form)......Page 363 Kata Hidari, Mae (Left, Front Form)......Page 366 Kata Ushiro (Rear Form)......Page 372 Kata Mae, Ushiro Chokuzen (Front, Rear Center-Level Thrust Form)......Page 374 Kata Hidari, Mae Nuki-Uchi (Left, Front Jump-Cut Form)......Page 378 Kata Joden-Uke (Upper-Level Block Form)......Page 383 Kata Ushiro, Mae (Rear, Front Form)......Page 388 Kata Oroshi (Mountain Wind Form)......Page 393 Conclusion......Page 399 Glossary......Page 401 Acknowledgments......Page 415 Author’s Biography......Page 418