Naked Blade: A Manual of Samurai Swordsmanship Book by Toshishiro Obata (Preowned)

Long hidden from the gaze of all but a chosen few the ferocious techniques of swordsmanship as taught by the "Rikugun Toyama Gakko" are revealed for the first time in the English language in this comprehensive and well produced book. Author Toshishiro Obata, is an imposing and highly skilled exponent of this sword method of the former Japanese Imperial Army. The art that he demonstrates, was so feared in the West during the last global conflict that a military training manual published at the time was prompted to advise American officers to "Shoot the officers [with swords] first" as a matter of urgency when confronting the enemy for the first time. The strength, resolve and power of the Samurai lives through the techniques that they developed; they can find no finer repository than in the skill of the author and between the pages of this fascinating training manual.

Length: 128 pages

Publication date: 1986