The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways

by Dave Lowry

A guide to the practice, history, and etiquette of budo, the study of Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation—written by an American martial arts master
 
The study of budo, or the Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation, is a lifelong path toward perfection of character. Here, Dave Lowry, a sword master who has practiced and taught budo for over forty years, addresses the myriad issues, vagaries, and inconsistencies that arise for students of karate-do, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, aikido, and iaido as their training develops. He examines such questions

• What is the relationship between the student and teacher, and what should one expect from the other?
• What does rank really mean?
• How do you correctly and sensitively practice with someone less experienced than you?
• What does practice look like as one ages?
• Why do budo arts put such an emphasis on etiquette?
• And many others

Lowry also gives practical advice for beginning and advanced students on improving structural integrity in posture and movement, focusing under stress, stances and preparatory actions before engaging with an opponent, and recognizing a good teacher from a bad one.

Genres: Martial Arts, Japan, Philosophy, History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2010

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lowry is one of the best writers on the martial arts out there and his musings are always interesting. He lends a certain dignity to the martial arts by writing about them in an elevated and philosophical tone. In other words, he separates himself from the pack of writers in this area by being a good writer first, a quality that's hard to find here. Sometimes he over-corrects and his prose is stilted and pretentious, but he seems to be adopting a more accessible tone. The essays cover a broad range of topics and are more like blog posts in their short form, but are usually thoughtful and definitely worth a read.

I should also add that there is an essay in this work that, by itself, makes this a collection worth owning. Lowry tackles, head-on, the sociology and psychology of the group of instructors who left Japan shortly after WWII to teach karate abroad. Products of a defeated culture, these instructors popularized karate, but also twisted the manner of its teaching towards the punitive. I can't stress enough how transgressive this topic is. These men are iconic and are unquestioningly venerated, but discussion in print of how they distorted the art and created fiefdoms for themselves is almost unheard of.

[Ray Shin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good teachings. I can definitely benefit by the philosophies presented in this book. Does a good job of presenting the idea of practicing martial arts as a means to better yourself. Tries to bring the reader to focus on the true essence of why the art was created.

[Juan Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

These days I remembered my old days practicing martial arts. What a good times when I went to my first class of Tae Kwon Do and many years after Aikido. Dreams, illusions of learning, of being better physically and mentally.

I left them, first for a change of couple, then for an accident and finally for ending the relationship with my teacher and not having found another.

But martial arts is a way of life. For my friends who practice or practice martial arts, this book is great: "The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner's Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways" by Dave Lowry.

The book clears many doubts about the "romanticism" of martial arts, tells us how to evaluate ourselves and our goals, how to select a teacher. Especially the way of martial arts, like that of life, is not magic. The important thing is not destiny (the black belt, the fifth Dan, etc.), but the way.

The part where he talks about age and martial arts: very interesting, I have to think about that.

[Grace Messi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Good content, but the writing made me want to fall asleep (which is probably why it took me almost two months to read)

[Mary Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a must-read for anyone who is truly interested in (japanese) martial arts.

[Douglas Meloche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll lead off revealing my personal bias, as Dave Lowry is a fellow native to Saint Louis. Having seen his kendo demonstrations at the city's Japanese Cultural Festival held in our very own Missouri Botanical Gardens, I can personally attest to his genuine devotion and commitment to traditional Japanese martial ways. What makes his book exceptional is its clarity and frankness addressing what his writing is meant to accomplish, and what it does not.

Lowry does not sensationalize or make fantastic claims to promote his martial way over any other practice, and discourages others from doing so. Any critical analysis in his writing is supported by historically accurate research, and years of practical application. This book does not dabble in any mystical aspects of romanticized ideals, but rather seeks to share the philosophy and traditions behind a culture. Western audiences will certainly benefit from all the knowledge he has to offer, as he pulls no punches in disarming many preconceived notions regarding the Budo. Eastern readers will also be delighted, I think, to find that the international perspective of martial arts is evolving beyond the stereotypes of Hollywood and Popular Culture.

[Books on Asia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Japanese friend of mine once said that martial arts taught overseas are: "Like that game telephone, where everyone passes the message on to someone else and in the end, only twenty percent of the original message is true."

Anyone who has ever come to Japan and wondered, "Where's the Zen?" should be questioning not Japan, but their own assumptions about the country. What Lowry attempts to accomplish with this book is to bring awareness to the ideas of martial arts as they were meant to be, not necessarily as they've evolved into among their many foreign forms. In parts, the author is perhaps too subjective, but I really respect Lowry for having the guts to say what really needs to be said when it comes to the martial arts imported and changed to suit a foreign culture's needs. He makes the reader also consider that, if it is truly necessary to make such changes, is it fair to still call it Japanese?

This is a book all martial arts instructors and students should read so they are aware of the issues that surround the world of martial arts.

[Benoit Provencher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good philosophical book about martial arts. Asking questions, a lot of questions, and answering to show both sides of the medal.
Great book for any martial artist, and Japanese culture lovers.

[Rico Surridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of good honest reflections in here but probably my least favourite of Lowry’s books. Not bad but not great.

[Soren · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf but good about the mentality of martial arts

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

good discussion.
Reinforces what most consider "the way" is actually incorrect and behaviors from other eras.

[Aaron]

Deep and insightful, like nearly everything that Lowry writes. It's a series of short essays, which makes it a bit scattered, but still definitely worth reading.

[Matthew Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of essays comprising a wealth of valuable information and experience in budo. Well recommended.