THE ART OF JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIP

A manual of Eishin-Ryu Iaido. Detailed explanations of the history and technical aspects of the art.

Purchase copies of The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship signed by the author.

Available at the Art of Japanese Swordsmanship online store.

STRATEGY IN JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIP

Popular author Nicklaus Suino offers a comprehensive collection of practice methods designed to help you increase the effectiveness of your swordsmanship and deepen your character.

Available at the Art of Japanese Swordsmanship online store.

PRACTICE DRILLS FOR JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIP

A variety of practice drills designed to assist the practitioner of iaido to understand how to use the sword effectively. Purchase copies of Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship signed by the author.

Available at the Art of Japanese Swordsmanship online store.

BUDO MIND AND BODY

As seen in Black Belt Magazines ESSENTIAL GEAR. The martial arts training bible for practitioners all over North America and the world. Purchase copies of Budo Mind and Body, signed by the author.

Available at the Art of Japanese Swordsmanship online store.

IAIDO.COM recommends the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where intensive courses are offered in iaido, judo, and jujutsu (jujitsu). Kendo is practiced in a weekly workshop. See the Japanese Martial Arts Center site.

The real secret to becoming an expert in martial arts is realizing that training is a process of self-discovery. Further, it is a means of modifying one's personality to make oneself healthier, more well-balanced, and more efficient. Outside of Japan, this idea has for the most part been lost, and the budo forms are typically taught as nothing more than specialized fighting methods. This approach is wasteful, however, for in the short term there are much more efficient ways to teach fighting than the highly ritualized practice of traditional martial arts. Only when an art is considered as a whole system, including its internal aspects, can all the cultural content be justified.