Budo History and Culture

Japanese Budo are huge and fascinating subject. We are constantly looking for material that will help us understand the world the samurai lived in so we can better understand the arts we practice. On this page, Mugendo Budogu LLC is pleased to offer the finest books we have been able to find on the history and culture of the Japanese warrior.

i128 Go Rin Sho
$11.00
Go Rin Sho by Miyamoto Musashi
The legendary 17th century book of strategy by one of the greatest swordsmen of all time. Annotated by Watanabe Ichiro. Instead of reading translations, now you can read it in the original language for yourself. All Japanese Language. 173 pages.
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I146 Koryu Bugei Cho
$18.00
Koryu Buegi Cho by Jun Osano Jun Osano is one of the leading documenters of classical Japanese bugei (martial arts), as well as a skilled artist himself. He holds Menkyo Kaiden licenses in both Asayama Ichiden Ryu and Shibukawa Ichi Ryu. Koryu Bugei Cho is a wonderful collection information about the classical arts. It includes dozens of photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including several sets showing Tendo Ryu kata, and one fantastic set showing a man using a practice stand to do iai kata. It shows him using it as a target for strikes, and as a guide for his movements. Amazingly, Osano found an old drawing showing the design of this stand. Filled with wonderful items like this, Koryu Bugei Cho is a fantastic addition to any martial artists library.
238 pages. Paperback. Japanese language.
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I150 SWORD & SPIRIT; Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan vol. 2
$19.95
The second of Diane Skoss's excellent books about the classical martial arts of Japan's pre-modern eras, this is a must-have anyone interested in Japanese martial arts. It includes a translation of the Ninety-Nine Precepts of the Takeda Family, and interview with the head of Negishi Ryu, a discussion of kata and training in traditional bugei by Karl Friday, professor of Japanese military history at the University of Georgia, among other excellet articles and an expanded Field Guide to Classical Japanese Martial Arts.
English Language. 190 pages.
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I156 KEIKO SHOKON
$21.95
Keiko Shokon translates as "Reflecting deeply on the past, illuminate the present." In this, the 3rd volume in Diane Skoss's remarkable series "Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan" she does this beautifully. This volume includes Karl Friday's masterful translation of the Neko No Myoyujtsu one of my favorite parables of ancient Japan concerning the warrior. There is a wonderful interview with Nitta Suzuyo, head of Toda-ha Buko Ryu. William Bodiford has contributed an article which should put to rest the use and abuse of the term "soke" in the west, and George H. Bristol, Lieutenant Colonel, USMC has provided a rather modern practical consideration of koryu budo in his essay The Professional Perspective: Thoughts on the Koryu Bujutsu from a United States Marine. Other contributers include Ellis Amdur, Meik Skoss, Dave Lowry, Quintin Chambers, Liam Keeley and Ron Beaubien. This book is one that anyone who considers themselves serious about understanding the nature and history of Japanese budo, ancient or modern, must have and read and reread.
207 pages. English Language. Softcover. Numerous photographs.
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I157 Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan
$55.65
All 3 volumes of Diane Skoss's incredible series on the Koryu Bujutsu of Japan together for 10% off their cover price. Includes Koryu Bujutsu, Sword & Spirit, and the just released Keiko Shokon.
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I162 Zusetsu Kengi Kenjutsu 1
$25.00
Zusetsu Kengi Kenjutsu 1 and 2 are introductions to the world of classical Japanese swordsmanship, written for the modern audience. Lavishly illustrated with fine drawings, volume introduces the Japanese sword, the nihonto, and its use. The majority it of the book is devoted to representative kata from a variety of classical ryuha (martial styles/schools). Those represented in the book include Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, Muso Shinden Ryu, Rikishin Ryu, Jikishinkage Ryu, Kageyama Ryu, among others. It also includes brief sections on bo, jo, juken, and yari, as well as showing a number of different concealed weapons. Also of interest is a section showing various swords through the ages and how they were worn.
297 pages. Japanese language.
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dSPD-8602 Showa Tenran Shiai Box Set
$95.00
In 1930, 1931, and 1940, budo demonstrations were held for the Emperor of Japan. Some of the finest representatives of kendo, kenjutsu, iaido and koryu were brought together for these demonstrations. The first, included kendo matches by legendary kendoka Mochida Seiji and Saimura Goro, and a demonstration of the kenjutsu kata now known as the Kendo No Kata by Takano Sasaburo and Nakayama Hakudo.
This is on the first DVD in this set. On second DVD are an iaido and tameshigiri demonstration by Nakayama Hakudo of Muso Shinden Ryu, a demonstration of Katori Shinto Ryu by Motomiya Toranosuke and Hayashi Yoemon, and a demonstration of Jikishinkage Ryu Naginata by Sonobe Hideo and Yamauchi Sadako. This DVD also includes 10 kendo matches by the premier kendoka of the time.
The last DVD is of memorial tournament held to celebrate the 2,600 anniverery of the legendary founding of Japan. It includes a kendo tournament with 8 8th dans. Also included is a demonstration of Hasegawa Eishin Ryu by Nakayama Hakudo (he later changed the name of his art to Muso Shinden Ryu). A unique item of this DVD are several jukenjutsu (bayonet) matches. All are done with wooden weapons, but some represent rifles with fixed bayonets (jukenjutsu), and some represent the bayonet held in the hand (known as takenjutsu). Included are matches of pure jukenjutsu, and mixed matches with the juken (fixed bayonet style) and taken (hand-held bayonet style). This is a rare and fascinating look at this least seen of modern martial arts.
The set includes 3 DVDs of some of the oldest footage of Japanese martial arts being demonstrated. If you're interested in the development and history of Japanese martial arts, you have to have this set!
3 DVDs. Total running time: 94 min. All region DVD. NTSC. Japanese language only.
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I174 Getting A Grip
$24.95
Getting A Grip: Judo in the Nikkei Communities of the Pacific Northwest 1900-1950 is a remarkable book. Joseph Svinth has brought together a surprisingly large amount of historical information on the early history of Judo in the United States. In addition, he has some great information on the history and development of Judo in Japan. Svinth has collected information and history from newspaper and first person accounts, and it makes for a fascinating description of the early development of Japanese martial arts in North America.
300 pages. English Language. Paperback
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I175 Deuling With O-sensei: Grappling with the Myth of the Warrior Sage
$20.00
In Dueling With O-sensei Ellis Amdur takes an unflinching look at many of the ideas and myths that can be heard in modern budo dojos. With a background of some 30 years of training Aikido, 13 of which were in Japan, plus years as a crisis intervention specialist and a social worker, Amdur can talk about the most difficult and troubling questions of budo not as theory, but as problems he has had to deal with and find resolutions for. From the airy ideal of katsujinken, the sword that gives life, to the sometimes brutal fact of abuse within the dojo, to the love and honor of his teacher Kuwamori Yasunori. I can think of no book that looks so realistically at the "philosophy" that people often discuss over beer after practice. This is one of the few books that I really feel everyone who thinks of themselves should read.
220 pages. Paperback. English Language.
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i207 Katori Shinto Ryu: Warrior Tradition by risuke Otake
$75.00
If you've been around koryu folk for any time at all, you will have heard of what many refer to as the "Holy Grail" of books on Japanese swordsmanship, Otake Risuke's The Deity and the Sword. This 3-volume set detailing the curriculum of the Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto-ryu was originally published 30 years ago, and has been out of print for some time now. Copies routinely appear on e-bay with price tags in excess of $500.00. This, despite a design based on Japanese standards, an uneven translation, and at times difficult to decipher presentation. For those of you who have despaired of ever being able to acquire a copy, we have the ultimate, and far less expensive, solution: Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition. It is based on the earlier three-volume work and has been re-edited, re-translated, and re-designed, with over 850 new photographs and new material on important aspects of the tradition. For those who want to read Otake Sensei's original words, the entire Japanese text is also included. Not many of Japan's ancient warrior traditions have survived the five-and-a-half centuries since their heyday. Katori Shinto-ryu: Warrior Tradition documents one of the few that has maintained its comprehensive technical curriculum as well as studies in military strategy and prognostication. Written by the tradition's only master teacher, and authorized by its soke, this book a detailed illustrated introduction to the sword techniques, strategy, and esoteric studies of the Katori Shinto-ryu. You can't afford to miss this book!
317 pages. Hardcover. Side-by-side Japanese and English text.
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i214 Tennen Rishin Ryu Kenjutsu
$20.95
Tennen Rishin Ryu became famous for its power during the fighting in the late 1800's to overthrow the shogunate. As the primary style practiced by the famous Shinsengumi fighters in Kyoto, it was used in numerous battles. Hirakami Nobuyuki, head of the Seieikan in Kobe has put together a wealth of research on Tennen Rishin Ryu and its history. The dozens of photographs include detailed photo sets of many of kata, as well as photos of teachers practicing. Of great interest are photos of the various bokuto (bokken) used by different Tennen Rishin Ryu sensei in the 1800s as well as photos of many of the makimono (scrolls) that have been passed down within the ryu.
206 pages. Softcover. Japanese Language.