The goals of
budo
—the martial arts and ways of Japan—lie in refining the body and spirit. The techniques, methods, and rituals of 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 budo ranging from
hacho
, 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
saved him in a life-and-death encounter, and the significance of
shikaku
, the dead zone, on maintaining balance in combat and in life.
With its focus on traditional Japanese martial arts and fascinating stories that illustrate key principles and martial arts philosophy,
will be required reading for serious martial artists.