Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship

Salmon Sensei creates a great reference book that I think will be useful for all levels of Kenshi - the comprehensive guide is just what it says on the cover. The book, perhaps the first third, starts with an outline of how to behave in the dojo, take care of your equipment and behave with your teachers and students. For me that main part of is the latter 2/3 where techniques are described in detail. One of the highlights of the book is the great diagrams which manage to tightly integrate with the text giving you an idea of how to do what is described. Descriptions and text provide a precise actionable outline. And while the words describe the dos and do-nots of techniques, they also spend time talking about how any action should feel giving you a real sense that you could try out the advice in the dojo. That said, I feel that the main benefit I will get from "Kendo: A comprehensive guide" is not the first read through that this review represents, but repeated re-visits when I struggle to understand something and when I need some thinking time out at home instead of practice time in at the dojo.

I am fortunate enough to attend a traditional Japanese martial art school where they teach sword. I enjoy being able to review what I learned in class with the material in this book and am extremely happy the material is the same.

It is difficult to find Kendo books written by a native English speaker. This book is very easy to follow and covers many areas of Kendo, from etiquette, different strikes, blocks, etc. It's also laid out in such a way that you can return to it as a reference book after you've read through it. I imagine I will be coming back to this book as I progress, finding clarification in things that I am having trouble with.

Good!

Finally a kendo book that feels like it was written for how westerners approach learning. Nice diagrams along with explanations that not only explain the 'how' of the mechanics, but the when and why of waza a well. It approaches kendo without the assumption of cultural knowledge and even previous experience that many other kendo books do. As new comer to the art, I really appreciate the lack of assumptions and more verbose explanations.

This is a definitive view of kendo for all. Such a great book and so detailed as well.

Very easy to follow. The pictures are detailed without being confusing, and although the author uses the traditional terms to explain, the book was written for beginners. It can work for those starting out, or those interested in a reference.

Seems like a pretty great book, arrived creased on the cover quite a bit though, so I'm gonna take it down 2 stars. I'd gladly bump it back to 5 for a replacement but I'm out of the period allowed so I'm not gonna get my hopes up.