from dust jacket

Bruce Lee and his successors may be good box office, but the true lovers of the martial arts have been less than enthusiastic. Violence and flashy acrobatics have no part in the traditional fighting arts.

True most of the forms examined in this book derive from the battle skills of the book derive from the battle skills of the samurai. But the modern follower of kendo, the way of the sword, or kyudo, the way of the bow, believes that he or she is embarked on a jouney of enlightenment and self-realization.

It's the historical background to some of today's most popular martial arts and their differing basic skills and techniques which concern the contributors to this book. Take ju-jutsu, for instance: a hard-contact fighting system still very closely allied to practical hand-to-hand combat situations. Or judo and aikido: both in their different ways descended from it, each adapting and refining its throws, locks, and holds. Then, in complete contrast, there's the Chinese art of tai chi, so subtle a skill that few now practise its fighting form, although as an attempt to harmonize with Nature it gains more and more adherents each year.

Add sumo, the sports of Japan's mountainous wrestlers, karate, kendo, kyudo, and the inevitable kung fu and you get some idea of the range of this excitingly illustrated book.

Bryn Williams-A graduate in physical education, economics, and international history, Bryn Williams first studied karate in Hong Kong. Subsequently, as a member of the National Sports Council staff, he held liaison duties with all the oriental martial arts organizations based in Britain. In 1974 he became treasurer of the European Karate Union and full-time general secretary to the British Karate Control Commission.

Roald Knutsen-The founder of British kendo and a 5th dan Renshi, Roald Knutsen is strongly opposed to the sport element in the martial arts. In fact, he is chairman of the new British Kendo Renmei, formed in 1973 to establish a true kendo tradition in Great Britain, and at the Meji Centenary in 1968 he was one of eight non-Japanese honoured for their contribution to kendo. He also practises iai and yari-jutsu.

John Piper-A founder member of the British Kyudo Renmei and secretary to the British Kendo Renmei, John Piper has been studying various marital arts techniques since 1961. He is a firm advocate of practising the martial arts in their traditional forms-as mental and physical discipline and not as competition-oriented sport.

Paul Crompton-A specialist in the unarmed martial arts, Paul Cromton has studied judo, karate, ju-jutsu, tai chi, and kung fu. In 1964 he began reporting, photographing, and interviewing on martial-arts subjects, and in 1966 he founded Karate and Oriental Arts, a bi-monthly magazine. The author of a book on karate training methods and two on kung fu, its theory and practice, he now has a club in London teaching mainly tai chi.

Jeffrey Somers-Now in his eleventh year as chairman of the Bristish Karate Association, Jeffrey Somers has long been interested in things Japanese. He studied kendo for four years before taking up karate and has been a member of the Japan Society for eighteen years. He is also a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.

David White-A journalist and a poet, David white contributes regularly to the British publication, Judo Magazine.

Jim Elkin-It was being dropped on his head at birth, Jim Elkin claims, that gave him the idea of spending his time being thrown around. He has studied aikido for some fifteen years and is now general secretary and national coach to the British Aikido Association.

Contents

Introduction
Weaponry-Kendo; Iai-jutsu and iai-do; Kyudo; Naginata-do; Yari-jutsu; Okinawan weaponry
Unarmed combat-Sumo wrestling; Ju-jutsu; Judo; aikido; Karate-do
Related Chinese arts-Kung fu; Tai chi chuan
Table of chronology
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index