List Price: $22.95
Our Price: $15.61
Your Save: $ 7.34 ( 32% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Blue Snake Books
Average Customer Rating:
Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 796 EAN: 9781583941973 ISBN: 1583941975 Label: Blue Snake Books Manufacturer: Blue Snake Books Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 352 Publication Date: 2008-01-15 Publisher: Blue Snake Books Release Date: 2008-01-15 Studio: Blue Snake Books
Flashing Steel, the best-selling and highly acclaimed book on iaijutsu (alternatively called iaido), is as much about bringing life into focus as it is about techniques of swordsmanship. Iaijutsu was the martial art of the samurai of feudal Japan who remain the most enduring of warrior icons, equally popular in the East and the West. Iaijutsu sword training has philosophical tenets that inform the warrior’s life, building compassion and self-discipline both inside and outside the dojo.
Shimabukuro Shihan and Pellman Sensei combine practical exercises, photographs, and historical and cultural context in a thoughtful guide to this most popular of Japanese sword arts. The book features Master Masayuki Shimabukuro’s renowned expertise and classical training, with Leonard Pellman adapting the information for a Western audience. Included here are dozens of kata (formal training patterns) that govern iaijutsu, with partner exercises applying the principles of the art in realistic attack and defense situations. These kata are also widely practiced by students of kendo, aikido, and other sword-based martial arts, giving the book a wider relevance beyond iaijutsu. This second edition of Flashing Steel includes new techniques, updated photographs, and theoretical explanations for both new and existing sword forms.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: Another Gem from Shimabukuro Sensei Comment: While the first edition broke new ground outlining many of the techniques and the philisophy of Eishin Ryu swordsmanship, the second edition raises the bar significantly.
There are more photos that make understanding and referencing the waza easier but even Shimabukuro Sensei would tell you that you need a qualified teacher to guide you. I've trained with Shimabukuro Sensei and there are myriads of layered technique, bunkai,and meaning behind what he does but this book gives you a great head start. Customer Rating: Summary: Amazing book Comment: This second edition has even more detail and photographs than the first edition. While a book is never a substitute for in-person training, it makes an excellent reference and study guide for the Iai student.
Definitely a must-buy, I highly recommend this book. Customer Rating: Summary: A MUST if you are a sword student and lover Comment: There's a lot of books about sword, believe me, I have plenty, and I learn nothing intresting from a lot of them. But if you are looking for something else than tecnique, this is the book for you. Also, if you are a serious student of iaido, kenjutsu or kendo, or even karate or aikido, this book is for you too.
When you are really inlove with sword arts, when you also love japanese culture, when you really feel, like your sensei teach, that this is something to study for your entire life, because there's things to learn everyday and also age is not enough to be a sensei (your sensei has also a sensei...) you begin to understand that this arts develop in people the sense of responsability, patience, compasion, respect, perseverance, and this you can achieve it trough the tecnique you learn in class, the real budo. The techique is only the way to reach other things. If you know this things I'm talking here, you need to know Shimabukuro sensei is a real sensei, who teaches this things, with Carl Long sensei, his senior student and chief of East Coast - Latin America, they are responsible for spread this invaluable knowledge to all of us.
Note: Shimabukuro sensei is now 8� Dan, and holds the Hanshi title, the highest rank.
Patrizia Gallo, JKI iaijutsu 2� Dan, San Jos�, Costa Rica. Customer Rating: Summary: Simply the best Iaido Book in English Comment: This is the best Iaido book available in English - highly improved from the first edition. pictures are much more explicit and a much better help to understand the wazas. Of course one won't be able to learn from any book, for all details can't be written, but this one is absolutely excellent and extremely detailed; an excellentreminder of what has been studied in class with one's instructor. Customer Rating: Summary: Better than the 1st edition Comment: If you enjoyed the 1st edition's philisophical and historical context, the myriad step by step kata photos, and life applying overviews, then the 2nd edition is more impressive. This edition has MORE photos for each kata and more pages (70+). Great addition for your library and swordmanship practices.
