Kendo: The Definitive Guide

By Hiroshi Ozawa

Kendo--the Way of the Sword--is one of the oldest of Japan's martial arts and the one most closely associated with the samurai. Immortalized in the action movies of Akira Kurosawa and in the bestselling novel Musashi, Kendo--originally a form of swordsmanship--has in recent years developed into a popular and highly competitive sport enjoyed by thousands of men and women around the world.

Kendo The Definitive Guide is the first book in English to provide a practical and truly comprehensive approach to the subject. Everything that the novice needs to know, from basic information about purchasing, wearing, and maintaining essential equipment to competing in international tournaments, is explained in simple, straightforward language. Step-by-step explanations of fundamental techniques to be mastered to attain black belt level are illustrated in easy-to-follow line drawings.

With appendices giving the rules at international competitions and important information about Kendo clubs outside Japan, Kendo is the definitive guide for all non-Japanese Kendoists. A special section about the history and development of this martial art and guidelines for running practice sessions also make it a unique resource for all teachers of Kendo.

The definitive guide includes: basic Kendo principles and techniquesofficial International Kendo Federation regulationslist of Kendo clubs and national associations around the world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568365802
• ISBN13: 9781568365800
• Release Date: March 2017
• Publisher: Kodansha International
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.3" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

Very good

I own both the Complete Kendo book and the Heart of Kendo book. This book is by far better than the other 2 as far as providing technical information. Pros: - The pictures are much better drawn (at least when compared to the other 2 books). Still in some cases a photo would have been more useful. - The section on kata is presented as numbered steps in 2 columns, one for uchidachi and the other for shidachi. This makes it much easier to understand. - Many of the movements are described as numbered lists. The other 2 books I looked at just write long paragraphs of text making it very difficult to decipher, even after you've learned the movement in class. - Goes thru a complete treatment on how to put on the equipment. - Extensive coverage of waza. Cons: - The information in the book is not ordered in the same order as you would learn things in a Kendo class so you will need to hop around chapters. - Sadly there is no index in this book either. I don't quite understand why in this day and age books don't have indices. All 3 Kendo books I own do not have them. - The descriptions are rather brief so it reads more like a manual than a book. - The sections on suburi describe that you should swing "big". So in most of the diagrams the shinai is shown drawn all the way behind and almost touching the person's back (even in shomen suburi). What the book does not say though is that this is intended initially to train beginners to swing big. But when you actually perform a strike you generally aren't supposed to swing that far behind your back. But I am nitpicking... - Book does not cover equipment maintenance. - There is some use of terms that are not defined in the book. - Book does not explain how to put himos onto men. I would recommend getting this book in addition to one of the other 2 books to fill in some missing gaps. However even after owning all 3 books I find none of them cover the full body of knowledge that a beginner encounters. So these books are no substitute for a real class (obviously).

Higly Recommended for Beginners.

As a beginner in Kendo this book has definately been helpful. Because the Japanese terms (or words) are used throughout the book it has helped me retain them (I couldn't seem to remember them when learned in the Dojo). It's filled with illustrations, however, I don't think any pictures could illustrate the moves enough. These illustrations combined with what you learn in the Dojo (or on video) should be sufficient, they are definately better than most. In the appendix is good information (and rules) on official Kendo tournaments. I'd say it's a must-have book for anyone new to the sport.Topics that I would have liked to see, but does not include: There is nothing on the care and maintenance of the Bogu or Shinai, or how to select the proper equipment. There is nothing on testing and advancement (Kyu to Dan), although perhaps this varies from Dojo to Dojo anyway. I would have liked to see a chapter on Iaido as well (however, this is because Iaido is an essential part of our Dojo's Kendo training, this may not be the case with all Dojos).Overall a great book. If you're looking for a book on Kendo and don't have this one, get it, you won't be sorry.

Excellent beginner reference guide!

For a beginner this book is indispensible! One of the few books where I've applied what was read or read over what was taught in class. The book also makes learning Kendo Japanese terms much easier which helps me to focus more on Kendo than on Japanese. The illustrations also correctly show the proper techniques with easy to understand descriptions. As with any book, this should supplement your Kendo training.

Admirably comprehensive, up-to-date guide

Ozawa-sensei has produced a very useful reference for both beginner and experienced kenshi. Of the several books on kendo I own, this is the one I refer to most because of the breadth of its concise descriptions, clear illustrations, Japanese terminology and reference information. I highly recommend this book to compliment the learning gained in the dojo.

A good choice if you're looking for just one book .

As of this date, this is probably the most comprehensive English-language text on kendo. It covers more areas than Sasamori's and Warner's "This is Kendo" (which was the first book I had acquired on the martial art). Techniques and katas are well-illustrated; no disappointments with the content.