Customer Rating: 
Summary: Shinkendo : japanese swordsmanship ! THE BEST BOOK EVER !
Comment: Very good purchase.
Arrived in France rapidly.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Shinkendo Bible!!!!
Comment: This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone studying Shinkendo!!!! If you are new to the art (like me) it gives you good info on etiquette and other essentials that may be hard to pick up during classroom settings. It also breaks down the basic kata just in case you cant remember them after class.
Even if you are not studying Toyama-Ryu Shinkendo (the style advertised in this book) this book is still VERY beneficial. As always in kenjutsu one should study under a qualified instructor, but this book is a perfect companion to class work.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Comment: One can not learn Shinkendo or any other martial art from a book or video, but this book is a great introduction to Shinkendo and Japanese swordsmanship in general. It is well worth getting. Obata Toshishiro is a respected swordsman who has studied several different styles of martial arts and has taken elements from each and created a very well rounded school of Japanese swordsmanship.You can also get a Shenkendo video from their web page that makes a great companion to the book. Then look for your nearest Shinkendo dojo.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A very helpful book
Comment: As the beginning of the book says, books, movies, etc. are no way to learn shinkendo, but this book is amazingly helpful. It does things in the right order. The first 2/3s of the book describe the philosophy, review, etiquette, etc. of Shinkendo, which is a great way to prepare for instruction.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Alot of great information packed in one book!
Comment: This is a much needed book on general swordsmanship skills. About 1/3 of it is a technical manual, and the rest is various history, philosophy, etc.There are not many reliable books on swordsmanship, so I'd highly recommend this one to new or experienced students of Japanese sword!
