
Focusing his expertise on the techniques & history of the bokken -- the wooden training sword used by both ancient samurai & todays swordsmen -- the author maintains that training with the bokken is important on two levels for the modern practitioner: to build the physical stamina rhythms & adroit body movements of traditional swordsmanship & to achieve something of the animating spirit of the traditional swordsman. This history of the bokken combines the authors concise eloquent writing style with over 100 photographs to provide the reader with the traditional & modern perspectives of this vital historically rich practice tool.