British Kendo Renmei - Suggested Reading

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Rediscovering Budo, from a Swordsman’s Perspective.

Roald Knutsen, Global Oriental, 2004.

In a marketplace where there is already a vast library consisting mostly of ‘how to’ and ‘illustrated history of’ books because of the increasing emphasis on the popularization of budo and budo as sport, Rediscovering Budo will be widely welcomed by more serious budo practitioners, as well as interested observers, who are looking for a return to ‘first principles’, who are interested in substance rather than style, and who wish - at least spiritually and emotionally - to understand and, where possible, relate to the mind-set of Japan’s unique warrior culture. Knutsen, who has the distinction of being the first European to hold a senior master’s licence in the formidable skill of Iai-jutsu–the art of ‘drawing sword’ for combat, makes it clear that he is not interested in exploring so-called ‘super’ theories, nor attempting to unravel complicated and ‘often incomprehensible’ definitions of the many teaching concepts employed in budo, but to help give an insight to serious budo students, and others, that beneath mere techniques lie many rich layers to reward their studies.

Japanese Spears - Polearms and their use in old Japan

Roald and Patricia Knutsen, Global Oriental, 2004.

An historical survey of naginata and yari - from earliest times to the end of the Edo period.

Of all the weapons of the Japanese samurai, the sword is best known and valued for its perfection of design and as a work of art; and yet, from the warrior’s perspective the more humble halberd or straight spear were the dominant weapons of the battlefield until displaced by the widespread introduction of firearms in the late sixteenth century.
This fully illustrated study of naginata and yari, the only reference of its kind in English, records the many variations of spear design from the ancient period when warrior chieftains settled in Japan from the Asian mainland, down to the fall of the Tokugawa in 1868 that marked the close of the feudal period. In addition, it offers the reader valuable insight into the historical attitude of the Japanese warrior to warfare and examples of how these often splendid weapons were employed in the bujutsu - the arts of the battlefield. A valuable addition to any weapon collector's bookshelfand a significant contribution to understanding the wider field of the martial ways.