The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways
A guide to the practice, history, and etiquette of budo, the study of Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation—written by an American martial arts master
 
The study of budo, or the Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation, is a lifelong path toward perfection of character. Here, Dave Lowry, a sword master who has practiced and taught budo for over forty years, addresses the myriad issues, vagaries, and inconsistencies that arise for students of karate-do, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, aikido, and iaido as their training develops. He examines such questions as:

• What is the relationship between the student and teacher, and what should one expect from the other?
• What does rank really mean?
• How do you correctly and sensitively practice with someone less experienced than you?
• What does practice look like as one ages?
• Why do budo arts put such an emphasis on etiquette?
• And many others

Lowry also gives practical advice for beginning and advanced students on improving structural integrity in posture and movement, focusing under stress, stances and preparatory actions before engaging with an opponent, and recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.
1100310055
The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways
A guide to the practice, history, and etiquette of budo, the study of Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation—written by an American martial arts master
 
The study of budo, or the Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation, is a lifelong path toward perfection of character. Here, Dave Lowry, a sword master who has practiced and taught budo for over forty years, addresses the myriad issues, vagaries, and inconsistencies that arise for students of karate-do, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, aikido, and iaido as their training develops. He examines such questions as:

• What is the relationship between the student and teacher, and what should one expect from the other?
• What does rank really mean?
• How do you correctly and sensitively practice with someone less experienced than you?
• What does practice look like as one ages?
• Why do budo arts put such an emphasis on etiquette?
• And many others

Lowry also gives practical advice for beginning and advanced students on improving structural integrity in posture and movement, focusing under stress, stances and preparatory actions before engaging with an opponent, and recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.
24.95 In Stock
The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways

The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways

by Dave Lowry
The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways

The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways

by Dave Lowry

Paperback

$24.95 
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Overview

A guide to the practice, history, and etiquette of budo, the study of Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation—written by an American martial arts master
 
The study of budo, or the Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation, is a lifelong path toward perfection of character. Here, Dave Lowry, a sword master who has practiced and taught budo for over forty years, addresses the myriad issues, vagaries, and inconsistencies that arise for students of karate-do, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, aikido, and iaido as their training develops. He examines such questions as:

• What is the relationship between the student and teacher, and what should one expect from the other?
• What does rank really mean?
• How do you correctly and sensitively practice with someone less experienced than you?
• What does practice look like as one ages?
• Why do budo arts put such an emphasis on etiquette?
• And many others

Lowry also gives practical advice for beginning and advanced students on improving structural integrity in posture and movement, focusing under stress, stances and preparatory actions before engaging with an opponent, and recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781590308462
Publisher: Shambhala
Publication date: 10/12/2010
Pages: 192
Sales rank: 802,118
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dave Lowry is an accomplished martial artist, calligrapher, and writer. He is the restaurant critic for St. Louis Magazine and writes regularly for a number of magazines on a wide variety of subjects, many of them related to Japan and the Japanese martial arts. He is the author of numerous books including  Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai, Sword & Brush: The Spirit of the Martial Arts, Clouds in the West: Lessons from the Martial Arts of Japan, and The Connoisseur's Guide to Sushi.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Part 1 Refining Training

1 Letting Me Win 3

2 Bashing About 9

3 Baking a Cake 15

4 Demonstrations 21

5 Stamina 27

6 Answering Your Sensei 31

7 Balance 35

8 Fighting a Crippled Opponent 39

9 Focus 43

10 I'm Ready 47

11 Martial Arts Etiquette (Budo Saho) 51

Part 2 Contemplating Tradition

12 Tradition and Personal Interpretation (Dento-Kosho) 67

13 Reinventing the Wheel 73

14 Takabakari and Taking Measurement the Old Fashioned Way 77

15 Secrets 81

16 How Come They Fought Differently in the Old Days? 85

17 The Importance of a Good Teacher 89

18 Teachers and Students 93

19 Soul Budo 97

20 Licensed to Kill-or Something 101

21 The "Martial" in a Martial Arts Dojo 107

22 Daily Life for the Samurai 111

Part 3 Reflecting on the Way

23 Okay, Now What? 125

24 Choosing a Sensei 129

25 What If? 133

26 Daddy Hits Me Because He Loves Me 137

27 A Little Common Sense 141

28 "I Don't Need to Train Anymore" 145

29 Following the Way 149

30 Does It Do What It Says? 153

31 A Master of Masters? 157

32 Why Not? 161

33 Try This at Home 165

34 What's Wrong with the Japanese? 169

Glossary 179

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