Lessons from the Samurai: Ancient Self-Defense Strategies and Techniques Elf-Defense Series

by Fred Neff, Diane Wolfe (Illustrator), Bob Wolfe (Illustrator)

Explains the history and philosophy of Japan's samurai warriors and describes basic self-defense techniques, which include jujitsu, judo, and kendo.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1987

Reviews

[Sandra James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons from the Samurai is a unique book In that it not only teaches the history and philosophy of the Samurai but actually teaches useful fighting techniques used by the Samurai. This is a great book to start to learn something about a significant part of Japanese rich culture. The Samurai have much to learn from and this book gives some important lessons. The book has been out for many years but I only very recently was exposed to it when an old friend and fellow classmate showed a copy of it to me that he had bought at a sale with a large amount of other books by the same writer Fred Neff. Both my husband and I practiced Japanese Karate with our friend so on his recommendations we secured our own copy of Lessons from the Samurai. I originally studied Taekwondo for over two years before moving to a different city. The closest place to study martial arts was a school that taught a style of Japanese Karate. The class was in many ways different from what I was used to before. I liked both Taekwondo and the Japanese style very much. My new Japanese karate style did not have the variety of kicking techniques to learn like what I was used to studying in Taekwondo nor for that matter did it put great emphasis on using kicking techniques. The karate kicks we learned were the same ones that are covered in the book Lessons From The Japanese Warriors. This book however, made learning these kicks and for that matter other techniques that I had earlier learned in karate easier than I had been exposed to in studying Japanese Karate. The way the author broke down fighting moves in this book in a easily understood manner is very user friendly. Both my husband and my friend reminded me how we along with others in our school had observed the author Fred Neff in person executing fighting techniques. At the time, I was very impressed but not sure if what he was using was drawn from Kung-Fu, Kempo or some other style of Karate that was not familiar to me. Among the admirers of what he was doing there was discussion that he was utilizing Kung-Fu circular movement and kicks while others said it was from a Japanese style of Kempo based on a Chinese form of fighting. While I never did know what style it was drawn from some of the dramatic and effective kicks he used looked very similar to very advanced kicks I had seen used in demonstrations by high ranking Taekwondo instructors. Mr. Neff however, had a singular circular approach and use of change of direction in movement that I had never seen anyone else use before or for that matter since. His impressive use of movement coupled with what I can only describe simply as acrobatic kicking skills left a permanent positive impression. His book Lessons From the Japanese Warriors does not include how to do this type of deceptive circular movement or difficult kicking techniques but rather sticks to the basics. I think this is best because the book is for the average reader and not meant to be a breakdown on everything there is to know about martial arts nor is it intended to cover kicks or punches drawn from Chinese sources This is a book that is really centered on what the Samurai used and it does it very well. I am glad our friend turned us on to this book and I would hope to do the same for other people in writing this review.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons from the Samurai is an impartial teaching document that is well worth reading. Too many books pretend to be about the Samurai when they really are nothing more that come ons to get someone interested in a particular style that is claimed to have some connection with the Samurai traditions. This book is the real thing objective and informative. It not only teaches history and philosophy but a broad range of fighting techniques and tactical approaches that were used by the Samurai. No specific modern martial art is stressed purposely to avoid the type of hype and partiality so often seen by other authors, critics and so called interested commentators who use the topic of Samurai in a self-serving manner. I have even read reviews by people who use there comments to build themselves up and/or as a way to tear down someone else for an improper purpose. This kind of false criticism should have no part in either a review or a book yet it happens. The Lessons From the Samurai book avoids criticism and self-serving commentary and gets down to providing useful information.

The instant Samurai work being reviewed is is not the first book I have read by author Fred Neff. After reading an earlier book by him I started to read this book. Through reading his books and reviewing what I found about his background I have become very favorably impressed. While this author has been studying martial arts since he was a youngster of eight years old he never pushes the breadth of his knowledge rather the beauty in accepting diversity in the martial arts and what it has to offer. He seems to recognize that as in most areas of endeavor there is more than one way to successfully do things. To me he is a model of the way a master should approach exposing people to art form. He never attacks or criticizes any art or other person in this book or any of the other books I have read just explains and demonstrates. I have noticed that in some of his books the models demonstrating techniques do not even wear traditional martial arts garb which is refreshing and realistic. After all in a street confrontation a person would not be wearing a Karate gi or Kung-fu uniform. Mr. Neff seems perfectly comfortable demonstrating techniques in street cloths in some books which shows again his lack of pretentiousness and self-confidence. Here is an author that knows the subject so well that he has gotten beyond the pettiness so often seen in people pushing there style and rank. He does not have to wear his black belt to prove anything. This is a man you have to respect. After reading the Samurai book I went on to read Lessons From the Japanese Masters which appears to be one of the authors later works that is an excellent primer on ways to handle some of the more common attacks based on teachings of Japanese masters including the Samurai. The Samurai books gets a permanent place in my book collection and is a must read for a person who wants knowledge without partiality and hype included.

[Peter Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interest in Japanese culture has been a long time interest of mine. This includes martial forms used in ancient Japan such as tai-jutsu and jiu-jitsu. Back in the late 1960's I was stationed in the far east and got a chance to begin to study Japanese Karate. Later when I returned to the United States I continued my study of Karate but also observed other Japanese martial arts as well. I was thrilled when I recently found a whole set of martial arts books by Fred Neff including the one he wrote on Lessons from the Samurai. This is a really great book because it in a concise way comprehensively covers the basis for martial arts used by the Samurai. The pictures well illustrate the fighting moves used by the Samurai. In the process of studying this book it dawned on me that the author Fred Neff was someone I had actually seen in person way back in the 1970's and had made a positive impression on me because of his tremendous flexibility and coordination that was especially displayed in spectacular kicks. While the author was obviously from what I saw tremendously acrobatic and a skilled fighter I did not observe him use Ju-jitsu throws and locks such as in the book. The other books I bought at the same time, however, did show some of the kicks I had seen him use. I have now become a huge fan of Fred Neff books. One of my favorite is the book on Lessons from the Samurai which really gets down to the core of the Samurai fighting methods while explaining the conditioning and philosophy that under pins these warriors approach to life. Get this book it is definitely a keeper.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

While in the military I served a while in Japan and studied Judo as well as having an opportunity to learn some karate. Later in civilian life as a police officer I found that a knowledge of martial arts was very useful on the job. It became readily apparent to me that the fighting essentials were what was needed and that showy techniques such as displayed in the media were for entertainment not practical use. My son who was studying Karate and is now a second degree black belt introduced me to books written by Fred Neff, which I found to be refreshingly practical. This writer eliminated the nonsense and got right down to what works. His writing style is straight forward and lays down what needs to be known. His book on the Samurai is written so as to show in neat steps, with photos, how to handle common types of attacks in the way some samurai's may have handled them. I like this book very much and it along with others of Neff's books that I have read show a sense of realism that is much needed to properly defend oneself in physical combat. For a person who wants to really learn fighting I strongly recommend this book as well as other of Neff's books such as the Fighting Commandos and his foot fighting manual. Lessons From The Samurai gets the top rating I can give it.

[Dan Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first exposure to the Samurai was through the movies. I got the idea that they were fellows with a special type of armor and used swords to dispatch enemies. Later after I got into Karate my understanding broadened but I still did not have an idea of what weaponless fighting moves they may have used. Fred Neff's Lessons from the Samurai filled the void for me about the Samurai. This book teaches the Samurai history, philosophy and weaponless fighting moves in a very interesting and practical manner This is not the usual jujitsu fare but a review of distinctive fighting moves used by the Samurai. Fred Neff not only knows the right moves but makes them clear through his writings and attached pictures. To me this book like the others of his I have collected is simply terrific. If you want a basic primer on the Samurai look no farther this is the book to have so I give it a top rating.

[Jim Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book on the Samurai by Master Fred Neff I had very little knowledge of the subject. Lessons from the Samurai is a fascinating study of the core of the ideals and fighting methodology used by these historic Japanese warriors. Master Neff maintains just the right balance in his approach to the subject. The book provides essential information on the history and philosophy of the Samurai while carefully presenting useful fighting techniques of these warriors that can utilized today for self-defense. Through this fantastic book I learned history, philosophy and some great fighting moves. I recommend this fantastic book to anyone with an interest in martial arts.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

Granted one can't entirely learn martial arts from a book - still, this book provides a handy reference if you want to research jujutsu (martial art of the samurai) and/or you want to supplement some of your existing techniques. This book is worth reading.