Book Reviews
The secrets of Hakkoryu Jujutsu: shodan tactics
Paladin Press, ISBN: 0-87364-422-0
This is the first in a series on Hakko Ryu kata - the next two cover Nidan and Sandan, with a Yondan volume rumoured to be on the way. This series is the only published English language source on Hakkoryu that I know of. The bulk of the book consists of descriptions and step by step photographs of the kata. As always with this sort of book, you can't learn the techniques from the book alone, but it can form a good memory aid.
It's a lot like dancing: an aikido journey
Frog Ltd, ISBN: 1-883319-02-1
A beautiful book. This is not another book describing how to perform aikido techniques. Instead, it is a series of short prose excerpts describing Terry Dobson's aikido philosophy. Each is illustrated with a complementary black and white photograph. More an art book than a technical manual, find a copy in a bookshop and see what I'm talking about.
The A-Z of Judo
Ippon Books Ltd, ISBN: 1-874572-70-4
An encylopedia of Judo techniques. Syd Hoare has catalogued the vast majority of techniques that you are likely to come across in a Judo dojo. Each technique is cross referenced to its Kodokan name, and a source given for the description. If you're trying to discuss Judo techniques on the internet with somebody, this is an invaluable book.
Koryu Bujutsu: classical warrior traditions of Japan
Koryu Books, ISBN: 1-890536-04-0
The first of a series, currently running to three books. Edited by Diane Skoss, this is a collection of essays in the hopological style of Don Draeger. In addition, the "Field guide to classical Japanese martial arts" is a brilliant idea. Each entry is provides a sketch of a single classical school, emphasing the breadth of the Japanese martial arts tradition.