from cover

The goals of the budo-the martial arts and Ways of Japan-lie in refining the body and spirit. The techniques, methods, and rituals of the budo can provide invaluable lessons for today's martial artists-and serve as guides to a well-lived life.

In Traditions, Dave Lowry discusses unique aspects of the budo ranging from hachi, or deliberate asymmetry, to uke-waza, the art of 'receiving' an attack. The spirit of ryomi, the process of self-evaluation and improvement, is illustrated through the story of Kaofujita, a master swordsman who never stopped practicing the first movement he learned. You'll also learn the importance of yuyo-the distance where an attacker must focus his strike-from the story of Jubei, whose mastery of yuyo saved him in a life-and-death encounter, and the significance of shikaku-the dead zone-on maintaining balance in combat and in life.

Dave Lowery had been involved in the study of traditional Japanese martial arts and Ways since 1968 and has written about them for more than twenty years. His articles have appeared in magazines in the U.S., Japan, and the U.K. He is the author of eight books on Japan and budo, including Sword and Brush (1995), Persimmon Wind (1998), and Moving Toward Stillness (2000). Lowry lives with his wife and child in Missouri.

Contents

Chapter One: An Introduction
Chapter Two: The Spears of Hozoin
Chapter Three: Ryomi (Reflection)
Chapter Four: A Puppy Dog's Bark
Chapter Five: The First Attack Position and Others lessons from the Paperback Ryu
Chapter Six: I'm Sorry...You Okay?
Chapter Seven: Kachinuki (Old-Style Tournaments)
Chapter Eight: Uke-Waza (The Art of Taking It)
Chapter Nine: Death of a Warrior
Chapter Ten: The Dead Zone
Chapter Eleven: Counting to a Thouksand
Chapter Twelve: Jaku (Tranquillity)
Chapter Thirteen: Kata and Boeuf Burguignon
Chapter Fourteen: Barefoot
Chapter Fifteen: Asobi Ja Nai...(Don't Play Around)
Chapter Sixteen: Move from the Hips
Chapter Seventeen: Karate, the Martial Art That's Not (Part I)
Chapter Eighteen: Karate, the Martial Art That's Not (Part II)
Chapter Nineteen: A Working Definition of Ki
Chapter Twenty: How Much Woukld You Pay for All the Secrets of the Martial Arts?
Chapter Twenty-One: Now and Zen (Part I)
Chapter Twenty-Two: Now and Zen (Part II)
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Dojo-Visitors Not Welcome
Chapter Twenty-Four: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Chapter Twenty-Five: Nitten Soji (Daily Chores)
Chapter Twenty-Six: A Dash of Yellow Eba
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Death by Appointment
Chapter Twenty-Eight: White Boys and Bonsai
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Ai-Uchi (Mutual Striking)
Chapter Thirty: Musubi Dachi (Preparatory Stance)
Chapter Thirty-One: Hacho (Deliberate Asymmetry)
Chapter Thirty-Two: The Strike and the Thrust
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Lone Wold
Chapter Thirty-Four: Ma (Spaces)
Chapterr Thirty-Five: Sen (Taking the Initiative)
Chapter Thirty-Six: Yami (Hitting the Target)
Chapter Thirty-Seven: From Where I Sit
Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Medium and the Message
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Budo and Bach
Chapter Forty: The Kata as a Training Tool
Chapter Forty-One: The Original Okinawan Karate Dojo
Chapter Forty-Two: Some Advice
Chapter Forty-Three: Telegraphing
Chapter Forty-Four: A Few Stories...
Chapter Forty-Five: Earning a Black Belt
Chapter Forty-Six: A Feudal Democracy: The Dilemma of Budo Organizations in the West
Chapter Forty-Seven: Kiai
Chapter Forty-Eight: Yuyo (Critical Distance)
Chapter Forty-Nine: Thoughts On Learning
Chapter Fifty: Where Do You Stand?
Chapter Fifty-One: Honto no Haikiai (Proper Perspective)
Chapter Fifty-Two: Sempai and Kohai (Seniors and Juniors)
Chapter Fifty-Three: Traditions