Books, Videos and DVD's

Although there is absolutely no substitute for long-term experienced instruction and training with a good teacher; I have managed to gain valuable insight and inspiration between training sessions by repeatedly studying the following books and videos by Hatsumi Sensei.

English Books By Hatsumi Sensei;

• The Way of the Ninja Secret Techniques

New - Sensei's first book is for several years is out. And it is stunning. Many new photos of Soke in action have been included as well as some previously unreleased images of Takamatsu Sensei. Both the pictures and the text are designed to convey the feeling of Sensei's Bujinkan Budo.

Some photos are deliberately blurred and the text purposely unclear in places in order to challenge the reader to reach beyond their present abilities and understandings. Budo is a living art and cannot be completely captured by words and pictures, we must read between the lines for ourselves.

The high quality of the photographs and Ben Jones' careful translation make this a book worthy of being read again and again. All martial artists can learn something of value from this serious work.

Thanks to the courtesy of Malcolm Green, M.D. of Kodansha Europe Limited, readers of this site in the UK can purchase this book direct at a discounted price of £14.99 sterling.
(Original Price £19.99)

Orders must be placed direct via mail, telephone, fax or email; payment by credit card (Mastercard or Visa only) or sterling cheque payable to "Airlift Book Company".

Kodansha Europe Limited,
Tavern Quay, Rope Street, London, SE16 7TX, United Kingdom.
Tel 020 7740 2770, Fax 020 7394 0946,
email - mg@kodansha.co.uk
ISBN 4-7700-2805-9

Enjoy this book, I have.

 

• Ninjutsu – History and Tradition, basic overview of concepts, principles and techniques.
  

 

• Ninja Secrets from the Grandmaster, questions, and Sensei’s responses.
  

 

• Essence of Ninjutsu, not-so-simple tales of things gone-by and their links to the present.
  

 

• Stick Fighting, some of the more simple and safe versions of a selection of the KukiShinden Ryu Hanbo techniques.
  

 

• The Grandmaster’s Book of Ninja Training, more wide ranging questions and answers.
  

 

• Ninpo; Wisdom for Life, translation of Sensei's "Hiden Togakure Ryu Ninpo", - hold onto your brain! - essential reading once a year. You can probably measure your progress in life and budo by how much more you understand each time.
  

 

• Understand, Good, Play! - some of what Ben Cole thinks he remembers from the many things said at Soke's training.

 

• Another book about Dr Hatsumi is also under consideration at present. This one may well turn out to be "print on demand", and hence Sôke needs to have some idea first of how many people would be likely to order the book. The Japanese text is effectively ready, but it needs to be translated, typeset and printed. - Ben Jones

 

Other useful and interesting (to me anyway) books by others;

• Go Rin No Sho, The Book of Five Rings , by far the best, and wonderfully readable translation of Musashi’s classic by Victor Harris.
  

 

• Family Traditions on the Art of War, by Yagyu Munenori, translation by Thomas Cleary, included in the second part of The Book of Five Rings, - a bit Zen but very interesting stuff. (Ignore the first part of the book, i.e. Go Rin No Sho, in favour of the Victor Harris version).
  

 

• The Unfettered Mind , by Takuan Soho, translated by William Scott Wilson, "The writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master," interesting thoughts on sword, no-mind and spiritual training.

 

• Awareness Through Movement, excellent introduction to his system by the founder Moshe Feldenkrais. This is simply written and although it can be hard to read at times, it is well worth the effort.
  

 

• Using Your Brain for a Change, NLP by Richard Bandler (original co-developer), forget the hype, just read it and then make your up own mind.
  

 

• Illusions, by Richard Bach, fun for boys and girls who are now men and women on the outside only.
  
  

 

• The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho - what, you've not read it yet?
  

 

• Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa, fictional tale using parts of the legend as the framnework, - brilliant and very moving!
  

 

• The Russian System Guide Book, by Valdimir Vasiliev - very good stuff
  

 

• The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien - magical.

Videos and DVD's There are now a large number of videos and DVD's available from QUEST, created by and featuring Hatsumi Sensei, concentrating on specific elements of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, and Daikomyosai. There are also Taikai Videos for sale from many countries, where Hatsumi Sensei has visited and held an international seminar over the past 18 years or so. If anyone else has any good book and video suggestions I'd be pleased to consider them. Mail to Taiken (Make it worthwhile). (You must something distinctive in the subject field or the spam filter will delete it).