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Japanese Polearms
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Book Synopsis Japanese Polearms by : Roald M. Knutsen
Download or read book Japanese Polearms written by Roald M. Knutsen and published by . This book was released on 1963 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Japanese Spears written by Roald Knutsen and published by Brill. This book was released on 2004 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book in English to provide a fully illustrated guide to the use of polearms - ranging from the earliest halberds and spears reaching Japan from the Asian mainland to the sophisticated naginata, nagamaki and various forms of yari used by the Japanese samurai through the medieval period. While the sword remains the best known of Japanese weapons, it was the halberd (naginata) and then the yari that dominated the battlefields up to the early seventeenth century, and thereafter the yari became an important status symbol to many warrior families. Additionally, the authors focus on the actual method of use of these weapons, hitherto an almost unknown aspect in the West.
Book Synopsis Japanese Weapons - An Anthology by : Michael DeMarco
Download or read book Japanese Weapons - An Anthology written by Michael DeMarco and published by Via Media Publishing. This book was released on 2020 with total page 119 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This anthology presents an assortment of seven articles from the Journal of Asian Martial Arts that deal with Japanese weaponry: archery, short staff, naganita polearm, and test cutting (tamashigiri) with the long sword. A few articles are highly academic and others are easier reading, based on interviews or actual practice. Three chapters place a focus on archery and the related formalities of ritual and practice. Two of these discuss the uniqueness of Japanese kyudo—the Way of the Bow. As kyudo is a martial art practiced as a do or “spiritual way,” the authors emphasize the meditative aspects. Dr. Hesselink’s chapter differs in that his work details the art of archery performed at full-gallop on horseback. In the first chapter, Dr. Jones discusses his personal experience in Japan while testing for blackbelt in jodo—the Way of the short staff. In another chapter, Rick Polland points out aspects of solo short staff practice and how it also applies with an opponent. Ellis Amdur’s chapter dives into great detail on the history and evolution of the naganita—a bladed polearm ustilized over many centuries in Japanese warfare and later also as a do practice with individual spiritual cultivation as its primary objective. The beauty of naganita blades are no less intrincally interesting than the highly respected making and use of Japanese swords. Tameshigiri—test cutting—is the topic of the final chapter. Utilizing the Swiss Visual Human technology, Dr. Ward analized sixteen major cuts that were often used by the samurai against their opponents. In the past, test cutters would use human cadavers to see exactly how sword cuts affected particular body parts, e.g., neck, torso, wrist, etc. Each area attacked could be rated according to the difficulty of each cut. How does the composition of the body (thickness of bone, muscle tissue, cartledge, etc.) affect the skillfull execution of the blade? The questions and answers that arise while reading this chapter provide great insight into the use of all bladed weapons. Although the chapters in this anthology discuss archery, the short staff, mounted archery, the naginata and test cutting, there is a common theme: the importance of these to Japanese martial traditions.
Book Synopsis Classical Weaponry of Japan by : Serge Mol
Download or read book Classical Weaponry of Japan written by Serge Mol and published by Kodansha International. This book was released on 2003 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Classic Weaponry Of Japan is a Kodansha International publication.
Download or read book The Samurai written by Stephen Turnbull and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-06-17 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1977, The Samurai has long since become a standard work of reference. It continues to be the most authoritative work on samurai life and warfare published outside Japan. Set against the background of Japan's social and political history, the book records the rise and rise of Japan's extraordinary warrior class from earliest times to the culmination of their culture, prowess and skills as manifested in the last great battle they were ever to fight - that of Osaka Castle in 1615.
Book Synopsis Sun Tzu and the Art of Medieval Japanese Warfare by : Roald Knutsen
Download or read book Sun Tzu and the Art of Medieval Japanese Warfare written by Roald Knutsen and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-11-01 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For the first time, this study examines in depth how the medieval Japanese masters of Heiho – the Art of War – sought to interpret, illustrate and transmit the principles of China’s time-honoured military strategist Sun-Tzu during possibly the most turbulent period of Japanese history, the war-torn Muromachi period (c. 1350 – 1575). In these two centuries a number of gifted warriors, steeped in the teachings of Sun-Tzu and the Chinese Military Classics, developed their own concepts of the arts of warfare, expressed in personal combat, to heights of formidable effectiveness. Rather than consider the weaknesses and strengths of the medieval military command structures, the author focuses instead on certain basic strategies still to be found in the upper levels of these individual masters’ teachings, some of which have fortunately survived the five hundred or more years that have elapsed since these strategists passed away. Sun-Tzu’s lasting legacy was encapsulated in one simple statement: ‘All warfare is based on deception’. This volume, supported by a sixteen-page Plate Section, demonstrates how, and from where, some of these master swordsmen derived their unique understanding of these ancient teachings.
Download or read book Tengu written by Roald Knutsen and published by Global Oriental. This book was released on 2011-08-15 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This fully illustrated volume, including an eight-page colour-plate section, is the first in-depth study in English to examine the warrior and shamanic characteristics and significance of tengu in the martial art culture (bugei) of Muromachi Japan (1336-1573). According to Roald Knutsen, who is widely known for his writings on the samurai tradition, prompting his life-long study of tengu – the part-human, part-animal creatures – was the early discovery that the tengu of the Muromachi period were interacting with the deadly serious bugei masters teaching the arts of war. Here were beings who did not conform to the comic, goblin-like creatures of common folklore and were not the creations of the Buddhist priests intent on demonizing that which they did not understand and could not control. As this study shows, the part-hidden tengu under review passed on and taught the clearest theory of tactics and strategy to bushi of the highest calibre, the absorption and mastery of which often decided if the warrior and his clan lived or were annihilated on the all-too-frequent killing grounds of the Muromachi age. Tengu will be widely welcomed in many contexts including studies relating to martial arts, religion and folklore, shamanism and mythology, and the social and military history of Japan.
Download or read book Old School written by Ellis Amdur and published by Freelance Academy Press. This book was released on 2014-12-31 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Koryu, literally, 'old flow from the past,' refers to Japanese martial traditions that predate the sweeping cultural changes that followed the Meiji Restoration of 1868. They generally have a very different character and tone from modern martial arts, such as kendo, judo or aikido which followed. More than the study of antique weapons, self-defense or a form of athletics, these martial traditions are a cultural legacy and a window to another time and place. In the first edition of Old School, Ellis Amdur, a renowned martial arts researcher, and himself an instructor in two different surviving koryu, gave readers a rare glimpse into feudal Japanese warrior arts, both as they were in the past and as they live on today. Nearly a decade later, he returns to the subject in this new, greatly expanded edition, bringing readers inside the dojos of a number ancient schools, providing details analysis of the evolution and morphology of uniquely Japanese weaponry, addressing the myth and reality of Japan's naginata-wielding warrior women, and discussing the modern relevance of the blood oaths, magical ritual and mysticism that often permeate the koryu. Finally, he looks at the challenge of preservation and transmission, especially as more and more practitioners of the koryu exist outside of Japan itself. Writing with a combination of the initiate's passion for his subject, and the scientist's rigorous search for the truth, Amdur asks critically: do the ancient traditions still meet the objectives of their founders? Are they successfully passing their ancient legacy down to the next generation? Over a third larger than the first edition and filled with new artwork and photography, Old School: Japanese Martial Traditions Expanded Edition will be an invaluable addition to the library of old readers and new alike.
Book Synopsis Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide by : Clive Sinclaire
Download or read book Samurai Swords - A Collector's Guide written by Clive Sinclaire and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2018-01-30 with total page 413 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ING_08 Review quote
Download or read book Bushidan written by Pauli Kidd and published by Helion and Company. This book was released on 2024-01-18 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The later Sengoku period is the era of warfare depicted in classical Japanese movies such as The Seven Samurai, Ran, and Kagemusha – a colourful period that has a very distinct difference in the arms, equipment, tactics and culture from that seen in Europe at the time. It is a period that sees the dominance of firearms in warfare, and the evolution of increasingly complex small-unit tactical systems. But there still remained a heroic ethos, where leaders and the bearers of age-old honoured names would still try to seek out worthy adversaries to battle blade-to-blade. While massive armies did meet and clash, such encounters were surprisingly rare. The endemic warfare of the period was dominated by raids, small battles, incursions, and the clash of clan warbands. Small families battled one another for local regional dominance, seeking the leverage to become major powers. Meanwhile, rearms and armour improved in an increasingly lethal arms race. Bushidan allows players to control the forces of samurai families, ikko-ikki covenants, pirates, bandits and warrior monks – or even forces engaged against the Japanese of the era such as the Ming Chinese and Joseon Koreans. The game focuses on the small-unit tactical systems that were developing to meet the demands of the new age of warfare. Players must plan their tactical ‘box of tricks’ with care, and choose the ferocity, style and cunning that their forces will bring to the battlefield. The game includes a campaign system to allow players to pit their Bushidan against one another in longer conflicts. This is a colourful period for wargamers to paint and to model. The rules are intended for use with 28mm figures but can easily be played with smaller scale, and a typical army might have 8 or 9 units, each of 4 to 16 figures each.
Book Synopsis Legacies of the Sword by : Karl F. Friday
Download or read book Legacies of the Sword written by Karl F. Friday and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 1997-07-01 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Western scholars and educators are generally far less familiar with the samurai in his original-and, ostensibly, primary-role as warrior and masters of arms than in his other functions as landowner, feudal lord, literature, or philosopher. Yet, any attempt to comprehend fully the samurai without considering his military abilities and training (bugei) is futile. With verve and wit, Karl Friday combines the results of nearly two decades of fieldwork and archival research to examine samurai martial culture from a broad perspective: as a historical phenomenon, as a worldview, and as a system of physical, spiritual, and moral education.
Book Synopsis The Zombie Combat Manual by : Roger Ma
Download or read book The Zombie Combat Manual written by Roger Ma and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2010-04-06 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Zombie Combat Manual is a comprehensive guide that demonstrates how anyone, from seasoned fighter to average citizen, can become an effective warrior in the inevitable battle against the undead. With detailed illustrations and firsthand accounts from zombie combat veterans, this manual provides readers with the information they need to emerge victoriously from a close combat encounter with a walking corpse. Now is the time to learn how to survive a hand-to-hand battle against the advancing army of the undead-before humans fall prey to their growing ranks.
Book Synopsis Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan by : Karl F. Friday
Download or read book Samurai, Warfare and the State in Early Medieval Japan written by Karl F. Friday and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2004-08-02 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Karl Friday, an internationally recognised authority on Japanese warriors, provides the first comprehensive study of the topic to be published in English. This work incorporates nearly twenty years of on-going research and draws on both new readings of primary sources and the most recent secondary scholarship. It overturns many of the stereotypes that have dominated views of the period. Friday analyzes Heian -, Kamakura- and Nambokucho-period warfare from five thematic angles. He examines the principles that justified armed conflict, the mechanisms used to raise and deploy armed forces, the weapons available to early medieval warriors, the means by which they obtained them, and the techniques and customs of battle. A thorough, accessible and informative review, this study highlights the complex casual relationships among the structures and sources of early medieval political power, technology, and the conduct of war.
Book Synopsis The Japanese Sword by : Gregory Irvine
Download or read book The Japanese Sword written by Gregory Irvine and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on the V&A's magnificent collection, this illustrated survey examines the development of the Japanese sword in an historical and social context from the 8th to the 12th century. The development of the sword from its origins as one of the world's most effective cutting weapons in seen in the context of the emergence and development of Japan's ruling military class, the samurai, to whom it was indispensable both as a weapon and symbol of power. The book also deals with the techniques used in the making of the sword and the associated terminology. In addition to weapons from the V&A's own collections, illustrations include comparative materials from Japan's Tokyo National Museum, as well as prints showing graphic depictions of swords in action.
Book Synopsis Rediscovering Budo by : Roald Knutsen
Download or read book Rediscovering Budo written by Roald Knutsen and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2021-10-25 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an environment where Budo has lost much of its original spirit in the inevitable process of changing attitudes towards sport, Roald Knutsen reappraises and reaffirms the profound and intrinsic importance of the underlying warrior culture and its real legacy. Technical knowledge rests entirely in the dojo; this book is intended to show those interested something of the roots that underpin the true Bujutsu and Budo, and to throw some light on the other complex influences from the past that have enriched so many of the surviving traditions. A number of these roots are purely warrior-based in nature, others are intellectual or even esoteric. If a student is only searching for technique, then this book will be of limited value. But for those inclined to look below the surface, there is much to commend it. Indeed, it will be widely welcomed by more serious Budo practitioners, as well as interested observers, who are looking for a return to 'first principles', concerned more about substance than style, and thereby gain valuable insight into the mind-set of Japan's unique warrior culture.
Book Synopsis The Samurai Swordsman by : Stephen Turnbull
Download or read book The Samurai Swordsman written by Stephen Turnbull and published by Frontline Books. This book was released on 2008-02-20 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Samurai tells the story of the courageous and highly disciplined fighting men of this time, showing how they evolved from the primitive fighters of the seventh century into an invincible military caste with a fearsome reputation. In the early seventh century, the samurai rose to prominence during the struggles between the emperor and the military leaders (shogun). They took part in the invasion of Korea, as well as helping to keep Japan free from foreign influence. From the Heian period through to the Onin wars, the history of the samurai is replete with tales of heroism and bloodshed. Although the samurai is most famous for his use of the sword, he also used a wide variety of other weapons, such as the crossbow, the dagger and the spear. Samurai armour and costume were constantly evolving, and by the twelfth century most samurai were wearing the box-like yoroi armour. Samurai examines samurai fighting tactics, as well as acts such as ritual suicide (hari-kiri) and the taking of enemy heads as trophies.
Book Synopsis The Polearm Martial Arts by : Giovanni Ricco
Download or read book The Polearm Martial Arts written by Giovanni Ricco and published by Giovanni Ricco. This book was released on with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Within the pages of "The Polearm Martial Arts" immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of Renaissance martial arts, where the polearm emerges as a symbol of both elegance and battlefield prowess. This meticulously curated work delves into the timeless techniques elucidated by masters such as Fiore dei Liberi, Philippo di Vadi, Anonimo Bolognese, Antonio Manciolino, Achille Marozzo, and Giacomo Di Grassi luminaries whose treatises offer profound insights into the art of polearm combat. From the spear and partisan, both alone and with shield, to the roncona and poleaxe, discover the intricate artistry of thrusting, reaping, and grappling that defined combat in late medieval and Renaissance Europe. This book transcends mere historical narrative; it serves as a portal into a tradition where ancient wisdom meets contemporary practice. Comprehensive yet accessible, "The Polearm Martial Arts" offers both novice and seasoned practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) an indispensable guide. Explore a curated selection of drills and advanced techniques designed to enrich your repertoire and deepen your understanding of polearm combat. As you embark on this journey through centuries, forge a connection with the spirits of those who once mastered these weapons. "The Polearm Martial Arts" invites you to integrate the enduring teachings of Renaissance masters into your modern practice, ensuring their legacy thrives in the ongoing story of HEMA. Whether you seek to refine your skills or uncover the nuances of historical combat, this book promises to inspire, instruct, and elevate your martial journey. Welcome to a world where history resonates through every technique, where the art of war becomes a symphony of steel in capable hands. Discover the artistry, discipline, and tactical brilliance of Renaissance polearm combat, your gateway to mastering the legacy of these timeless martial arts.