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REDISCOVERING BUDO,
FROM A SWORDSMAN'S PERSPECTIVE
By Roald Knutsen
Global Oriental, 2004.
ISBN 1-901903-61-3 |
DESCRIPTION
In an environment where Budo
has lost much of its original spirit in the inevitable process of
changing attitudes towards sport, the author reappraises and reaffirms
the profound and intrinsic importance of the underlying warrior culture
and its real legacy.
Technical knowledge rests entirely
in the dojo; this book is intended to show those interested something of
the roots that underpin the true Bujutsu and Budo, and to throw some
light on the complex influences from the past that have enriched so many
of the surviving traditions. A number of these roots are purely
warrior based in nature; others are intellectual or even esoteric.
If a student is only searching
for technique, then this book will be of limited value. But for those
inclined to look below the surface, there is much to commend it.
Rediscovering Budo will be widely welcomed by more serious Budo
practitioners, as well as interested observers, who are looking for a
return to 'first principles', concerned more about substance rather than
style, and thereby again gain valuable insight into the mindset of
Japan's unique warrior culture. |
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AUTHOR
Roald Knutsen is born 1933 of Anglo-Norwegian parents in
Hertfordshire and educated at The Perse School, Cambridge, and Watford
Grammar School. Later, after studying Art and Design, Roald Knutsen
served as a regular in the Intelligence Corps, and followed with a
successful career in graphic design and finally choreographing complex
medieval combat sequences for a computer film project in England and
the USA.
For the past half-century, Roald Knutsen has
practiced
Kenjutsu, Kendo, Iai, and Sojutsu under a succession of famous masters, having menkyo-kaiden in
Hasegawa Eishin-ryu,
and 7th dan in Kendo.
Roald Knutsen has studied and written
extensively about the Japanese warrior traditions and aspects of
Japanese history. |