Rediscovering Budo: From a Swordsman's Perspective

Erscheinungsjahr 2004
ISBN: 978-1-901903-61-4
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 6, 276 Seiten, Format (B × H): 141 mm x 223 mm, Gewicht: 479 g

Reihe: Rediscovering

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Knutsen, Roald

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Sport | Tourismus | Freizeit Sport Kampfsportarten, Selbstverteidigung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface; Acknowledgements; List of Figures; 1. Introduction; 2. A swordsman’s perspective; 3. Background to Budo; 4. The Kashima tradition; 5. Book or dojo learning?; 6. Historical perspective; 7. A proper attitude towards Budo; 8. Respect and discipline in Budo; 9. Reflections on Kata; 10. The deeper influences on the Budo Tradition; 11. Gods, mountains and Yamabushi; 12. A very rude noviciate; 13. Tengu and the Bujutsu tradition; 14. The Mikkyo in action; Notes; Appendix I: Origins of classical swordmanship; Appendix II: Arts and ways classification; Glossary; Bibliography; Index

Über Autor(innen)

Roald Knutsen was born in Hertfordshire of Anglo-Norwegian parents and educated at The Perse School, Cambridge, and Watford Grammar School. After studying Art and Design he served as a regular in the Intelligence Corps and followed with a successful career in graphic design, choreographing complex medieval combat sequences for a computer film project in England and the USA, and writing. For the past half-century he has practised traditional Kenjutsu, Kendo, Iai-jutsu, and So-jutsu under a succession of famous Japanese masters, having menkyo-kaiden (senior master’s licence), in one of the oldest transmissions of Iai-jutsu, and the rank of 6th dan Renshi in Kendo. He has researched and written extensively about the Japanese warrior traditions and aspects of Japanese history. His is also the author of Japanese Polearms (1963), Rediscovering Budo (2004), and Japanese Spears (2004), which he co-authored with his wife Patricia Knutsen.