Donn F. Draeger (1922–1982)

I have to say book was not what I expected. I was expecting more of a philosophical work but instead this was pretty detailed and interesting historical overview of ninjutsu, development of shinobi clans and their use on the battlefield and as assassins and spies.

History, techniques, equipment, way they operated - everything is given here in a very brief but clear manner. And wadda you know, nothing changed for centuries and location does not make difference. Shadow operatives, saboteurs, show more spies, shock troops and assassins operated and will operate in the same manner in any age and time, because their actions are ruled by common sense, and this is constant.

Very interesting book, if you ever need for introduction book into secrets of Japan's assassins this is the definitive work. After that you can read into more detailed works by specialized authors. I have seen some comments that book might be .... how they say "triggering"(?) .... but I could not find anything like that. But then again I am not a professional historical perspective deconstructor so what do I know, right :)

Highly recommended. show less

I studied Iaido for a couple of years, and picked this book up out of interest.

I found it to be a useful reference, but what I most enjoyed were the early chapters on the history of the sword. I loved this extract:

"Although two men may be deadly enemies, they will both smile at each other and neither will fail to perform any of the customary courtesies toward each other. Their conduct in such cases is beyod both belief and understanding; things reach such a pass that when they are the most show more determined to revenge and kill somebody, they show him much affection and familiarity, laughing and joking with him. Seizing their chance when he is completely off his guard, they draw their heavy swords, which are as sharp as razors, and so attack him that generally he is killed by the first or second blow. Then they replace their swords quietly and calmly as if nothing had happened and do not give the slightest indication of passion or anger either by word of mouth or change of expression. And thus they all give the impression of being very mild, patient and well disposed, and it cannot be denied that they are superior to all other peoples in this respect."

Recommended! show less

To anyone studying Iaido, this is a must-have text. The first half of the book provides a detailed history of the Japanese sword and how it evolved from a crude instrument of war to the incredible work of craftsmanship that today is collected as a piece of art. A history of Japan provides a context for the development of Japanese swordsmanship not only as a military tactic, but as a way of life.

While the writing in the first section can be a bit thick at times, bogged down with names and show more dates, it is very thorough and can help the reader form an appreciation for the art of Iaido that goes deeper than the etiquette and katas.

The second half of this book provides an excellent reference to the Kendo Seitei-Gata series of katas for Iaido. Not only is detail given on the execution of the katas, but significant insight is provided into the etiquette of Iaido, from entering the dojo to proper care of a sword to the precise method of bowing. This section of the book is concise and more clearly written than the first, taking on more of an outline form than that of a book. show less

Donn F Draeger demonstrates painstaking research in presenting the history behind the many variations of the martial arts of the Indonesian area. While generally referred to in the West as Penjak-Silat, each regional variation has its own name and heritage. Draeger provides a history of how each style became the main fighting art of its area and how they are related, yet distinctly different. The writing style is very dry, but it is also very informative.

The Weapons and Fighting Arts of show more Indonesia is not a martial artist’s guide to practicing these styles so much as it is a scholarly work on the migration of a common root technique and how it became adapted to different areas. It nonetheless has a place on the martial artists bookshelf. show less