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Advanced Stick Fighting
Bushidô, the way of the warrior, is deeply bound to the rich history of the martial traditions of Japan, which have drawn generations of devotees, as well as awe and respect worldwide. Of all the martial arts, bô-jutsu, or stick fighting, is one of the least understood and most intriguing,
having been largely hidden for centuries.
In Advanced Stick Fighting , Masaaki Hatsumi, the most renowned budô and ninja grandmaster in the world, and author of Stick Fighting and The Way of the Ninja , reveals some of the secrets surrounding this revered fighting art. Hatsumi offers the reader thoughtful reflections on bushidô, its venerable
history, and its role in today's world. He also discusses the origins of bô-jutsu, which he sees as inexorably linked to the evolution of humankind; it is both universal and timeless.
While the highly acclaimed and long-selling Stick Fighting dealt mainly with self-defense using short sticks, this book reveals to the reader a number of advanced techniques using medium and long sticks that were originally used by samurai swordsmen and military commanders. Lavish illustrations
accompany the explanations and help further demonstrate the graceful, mysterious movements of stick fighting. The original Japanese text is also included in the appendix.
This book will be an important addition to the libraries of readers who are seriously interested in pursuing the more advanced applications of stick fighting. It will also deepen readers' understanding of bushidô in general, and bring them closer to Hatsumi's personal philosophy -- that only through
complete devotion to the martial arts as a way of life can self-enlightenment be attained, and that the wisdom gained through this can promote a true and lasting world of peace.
having been largely hidden for centuries.
In Advanced Stick Fighting , Masaaki Hatsumi, the most renowned budô and ninja grandmaster in the world, and author of Stick Fighting and The Way of the Ninja , reveals some of the secrets surrounding this revered fighting art. Hatsumi offers the reader thoughtful reflections on bushidô, its venerable
history, and its role in today's world. He also discusses the origins of bô-jutsu, which he sees as inexorably linked to the evolution of humankind; it is both universal and timeless.
While the highly acclaimed and long-selling Stick Fighting dealt mainly with self-defense using short sticks, this book reveals to the reader a number of advanced techniques using medium and long sticks that were originally used by samurai swordsmen and military commanders. Lavish illustrations
accompany the explanations and help further demonstrate the graceful, mysterious movements of stick fighting. The original Japanese text is also included in the appendix.
This book will be an important addition to the libraries of readers who are seriously interested in pursuing the more advanced applications of stick fighting. It will also deepen readers' understanding of bushidô in general, and bring them closer to Hatsumi's personal philosophy -- that only through
complete devotion to the martial arts as a way of life can self-enlightenment be attained, and that the wisdom gained through this can promote a true and lasting world of peace.
- GenresMartial ArtsReference
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Masaaki Hatsumi
71 books53 followersFormerly Yoshiaki Hatsumi, is the founder of the Bujinkan Organization and is the former Togakure-ryū Soke (Grandmaster). He currently resides and teaches in Noda, Chiba, Japan.
Hatsumi was born in Noda, Chiba on December 2, 1931. He heavily participated in sports during his school years, along with martial arts and theater, including becoming "captain of the football team". While attending the Meiji University, he continued learning judo and eventually rose to Yudansha or Dan rank. He also began teaching Judo during his time at the university to American soldiers at the nearby Yokota Air Base. After graduating, Hatsumi began to search for a teacher to further his study of martial arts. He began his Kobudo training under Ueno Chosui. When he was 26 he met Ueno's teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, known as "the Tiger of Mongolia". Hatsumi was accepted as Takamatsu's student and spent fifteen years on Honshu Island learning various ninjutsu styles from Takamatsu and other members of the Takamatsu family, also he continued to learn judo, Shito Ryu karate, aikido, and kobudo.
Takamatsu died in Nara, Japan in 1972 after advancing Hatsumi from student to Soke and bestowing on him "all the art of the nine schools", and of course the grandmaster's scrolls, three of which he indicated were ancient ninja schools and six samurai jujutsu schools of martial arts. Hatsumi went on to found the Bujinkan Dojo in Noda, Japan to teach the nine schools to other students. His first trip to the United States was in 1982 and he has since continued to participate in yearly ninjutsu Tai Kai (gathering) around the world.
Hatsumi also worked as a Seikotsu-in (整骨院) bonesetter after his graduation and was chairman of the Writers Guild of Japan at one point in time. He was the writer of a martial arts magazine Tetsuzan, which was "distributed in 18 countries.
Hatsumi was born in Noda, Chiba on December 2, 1931. He heavily participated in sports during his school years, along with martial arts and theater, including becoming "captain of the football team". While attending the Meiji University, he continued learning judo and eventually rose to Yudansha or Dan rank. He also began teaching Judo during his time at the university to American soldiers at the nearby Yokota Air Base. After graduating, Hatsumi began to search for a teacher to further his study of martial arts. He began his Kobudo training under Ueno Chosui. When he was 26 he met Ueno's teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, known as "the Tiger of Mongolia". Hatsumi was accepted as Takamatsu's student and spent fifteen years on Honshu Island learning various ninjutsu styles from Takamatsu and other members of the Takamatsu family, also he continued to learn judo, Shito Ryu karate, aikido, and kobudo.
Takamatsu died in Nara, Japan in 1972 after advancing Hatsumi from student to Soke and bestowing on him "all the art of the nine schools", and of course the grandmaster's scrolls, three of which he indicated were ancient ninja schools and six samurai jujutsu schools of martial arts. Hatsumi went on to found the Bujinkan Dojo in Noda, Japan to teach the nine schools to other students. His first trip to the United States was in 1982 and he has since continued to participate in yearly ninjutsu Tai Kai (gathering) around the world.
Hatsumi also worked as a Seikotsu-in (整骨院) bonesetter after his graduation and was chairman of the Writers Guild of Japan at one point in time. He was the writer of a martial arts magazine Tetsuzan, which was "distributed in 18 countries.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 31, 2017
More of Hatsumi's enigmatic elaborations in the world of martial arts. Here there are tons of photos of techniques, manuscripts, and descriptions of the first level of Kukishinden-ryu's six foot staff and four foot staff.
May 22, 2019
Another great instructional book. I wish more techniques were included.
July 25, 2015
This book is of most value to someone who studies Kukishin-ryuu boujutsu and joujutsu. There is a lot of space devoted to discussion of the kata of the sabaki gata for six foot staff and all of the jou (4-5 foot staff.) These little descriptions and photo series are less than useless for someone who doesn't practice Kukishin / Kukishinden ryuu.
Like a number of the other Hatsumi-Soke Kodansha series books, there are a lot of blurred photos in the book. I suspect this is meant to convey life and motion, but it looks a little unprofessional, like they couldn't get a photographer with adequate lighting / shutter speed to get a decent photo.
Hatsumi-Soke also does a lot of his word play, which is not too valuable for reader's interested in boujutsu or martial arts in general. E.g. where he says "Ma-ai" written with these kanji means "the interval in space-time," but ma-ai with these kanji means "speghetti in meat sauce." That may be great for Japanese linguists, but are not of much interest / value to the reader. English homophones often have competely unrelated etymology. I don't know if this is true for Japanese or not.
Having given the fair warnings about what I believe are the defects of the book, I will say that there is a lot to be gained by reading the book. Hatsumi-Soke has great insight into budou, and there are many non-blurry photos (some of which may convey something valuable to the reader. You often have to think about his words becuase his meaning is not always clear and readily presented, but there is some interesting food for thought in the book.
Like a number of the other Hatsumi-Soke Kodansha series books, there are a lot of blurred photos in the book. I suspect this is meant to convey life and motion, but it looks a little unprofessional, like they couldn't get a photographer with adequate lighting / shutter speed to get a decent photo.
Hatsumi-Soke also does a lot of his word play, which is not too valuable for reader's interested in boujutsu or martial arts in general. E.g. where he says "Ma-ai" written with these kanji means "the interval in space-time," but ma-ai with these kanji means "speghetti in meat sauce." That may be great for Japanese linguists, but are not of much interest / value to the reader. English homophones often have competely unrelated etymology. I don't know if this is true for Japanese or not.
Having given the fair warnings about what I believe are the defects of the book, I will say that there is a lot to be gained by reading the book. Hatsumi-Soke has great insight into budou, and there are many non-blurry photos (some of which may convey something valuable to the reader. You often have to think about his words becuase his meaning is not always clear and readily presented, but there is some interesting food for thought in the book.
December 6, 2019
Honestly, this is the worst book on martial arts I've ever read. The pictures don't even match the description, and from years of staff fighting I can say alot of this just would not work. This book taught me how to spot martial BS in writing. So it still served some purpose at least.
January 31, 2012
This book is interesting and there is some good information in it but it's not for a wide audience. The images in this book are disappointing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews