Kobudo and Bugei

Learn the ancient martial lineage of the popular weapons used today in dojos and tournaments around the world. The martial arts weapons of Okinawa and Japan were forged in the heat of ancient battles, when warriors depended on the quality of their weapons and their skill in using them to survive the ongoing conflicts of those times. In this book, karate pioneer Sid Campbell bridges the gap between the original bloody role of these weapons and their contemporary use in competition and sparring matches. He reveals the sophisticated secrets of weapon fighting as created by the Okinawan martial masters and the Japanese samurai they fought, including how to harness the rhythm of a combative engagement, understand the opponent's weapon, perform the three initial attacks, "move in the shadows" during a match, employ a number of clever deception tactics, and much more. You will then learn the original tactical thinking that went into each weapon's development and how these strategies can be applied to the sporting arena today.