Kendo Resources
Published by: Fukuda Budogu
This is a well organized and practical manual for maintaining Kendo equipment. This document is presented in .PDF format (right click and 'save target as'):
Part 1 of 5 (Introduction, table of contents, and the Shinai)
Part 2 of 5 (Shinai continued, Kendogi, and Hakama)
Part 3 of 5 (Hakama continued, Tare, and Do)
Part 4 of 5 (Do continued, and Men)
Part 5 of 5 (Men continued, Kote, equipment bag, and Glossary)
Author: Izano Nitobe
Description: Educator, cultural interpreter, and civil servant desiring to become a "bridge" across the pacific, he studied in the United States for three years after he graduated Sapporo Agricultural School (now Hokkaido University) and studied at Tokyo Imperial University. By the time he returned to Japan he had published one book in English.
He found in Bushido, the Way of the Warrior, the sources of the virtues most admired by his people: rectitude, courage, benevolence, politeness, sincerity, honor, loyalty and self-control.
He delved into the indigenous traditions, into Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism and the moral guidelines handed down over hundreds of years by Japan's samurai and sages. On the other hand, he sought similarities and contrasts by citing not only Western philosophers and statesmen, but also the shapers of European and American thought and civilization going back to the Romans, the Greeks and Biblical times.
(Excerpt from Editorial Reviews of Amazon.com et al.)
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This book is available for purchase at amazon.com
Author: Musashi Miyamoto
Description: One of Japan's great samurai sword masters penned in decisive, unfaltering terms this certain path to victory, and it is applicable not only on the battlefield but also in all forms of competition. In succinct detail, Miyamoto records ideal postures, blows, and psychological tactics to put the enemy off guard and open the way for attack.
Most important of all is Miyamoto's concept of rhythm, how all things are in harmony, and that by working with the rhythm of a situation we can turn it to our advantage with little effort. But like Zen, this requires one task above all else, putting the book down and going out to practice.
(Excerpt from Editorial Reviews of Amazon.com)
This book is available for purchase at amazon.com