Rating: 
Summary: Points of Interest
Review: Flashing Steel should be of interest to ANY martial artist, because we have included philosophy and theory applicable to all martial arts.Flashing Steel contains the COMPLETE system of Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu, along with practice drills and cutting technique. Remember: true martial arts are about life and death . . . . and the two are inseparable. Flashing Steel not only teaches you about training in samurai swordsmanship, but how to have a samurai attitude and achieve victory in all areas of your life. The authors welcome your views and comments. Our addresses are listed in the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Training Manual
Review: For a beggining swordsman such as myself, Flashing Steel is a great training guide. The book gives exact instructions on how each technique is performed, as well as plenty of photos for easy self instruction when no teachers are available. The authors also include partner drills, cutting technique, philosophy, and historical backround. This is a great aid for all swordsman beginner to advanced!!
Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: For anyone wanting to study iaido, this book will definitely help. The first 60 pages tell a few tales of well known iaido masters and also tells how you should live a happy life. The rest has detailed instruction with photographs along the way, showing the proper techniques and respective bows to your sensei. For me this will help me a lot, as there aren't any dojos in Sacramento that I know of. So if you need help on something or your interested in iaido, this is a must buy.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautifully Philosophic Work on Bushido
Review: I do not believe that enough praise could be given to this magnificent work. Shimabukuro Masayuki Shihan and Leonard Pellman Sensei have wriiten a deeply motivating and beautiful book. I went into this purchase, having read some of the other reviews, with the knowledge that this book covers more than simply technique(although even in technique, this book is incomparable). A quarter of this book is dedicated to lighting the path toward enlightenment. This can be a life-changing read...it is truely that powerful. It deals with the mindset of the Samurai, his ability to grow toward heijo shin(true peace of mind), and the true happiness and direction that is gained on this path. This is not presented as an abstract lesson on the history of Samurai philosophy, but instead as honorable and attainable goals that should be followed. This is what sets this work apart from all the other current martial arts books. This shows you the path to a state of mind, body, and soul that is necessary if one is to grow as a martial artist. This should be the goal of anyone who wants to study these beautiful, yet powerful arts. As to the instruction, it is superb. The pictures are well layed-out and the descriptions are easy to follow. This book is virtually flawless and holds the place of honor on my bookshelf(but believe me, if you are like me, you will rarely find it there). This is the finest book on swordsmanship I have ever read. It truely is a instruction manual, not only for Iaijutsu, but for a way of life that is unattained by most people. This work shows you how to begin the journey to achieve it. Thank you to Shimabukuro Masayuki Shihan and Leonard Pellman Sensei.
Rating:
Summary: Flashing Steel, an excellent guide to Eishin-Ryu Swordsmansh
Review: If you are just begining and interested in Japanese style swordsmanship, I highly recommend this book. It not only teaches the style but also the ideals behind it. You need to remember though, that this book alone cannot teach you everything you need to know and that a live instructor is necessary to master any form of martial art. All the same this is an excellent book to get your feet wet with, and learn what Eishin-Ryu is all about.
Rating:
Summary: the best English-language book on Japanese sword!
Review: If you've read the other reviews, I don't know that you'll learn anything new here, but I still felt obligated to register my pleasure with this book. I first stumbled across it years ago while reading the publisher's book of excerpts ("Martial Arts Are Not Just For Kicking Butt") and was thrilled to find a text that included the philosophical concepts we had been discussing in the iaido class I train in. Since then I have gone through three copies, because I keep giving my copy away!
Since I don't study Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu under Hanshi Shimabukuro, I can't comment on the technical accuracy of the waza. The descriptions are very complete and the photos are typically very clear, leading me to believe this could be an excellent training aide for those studying this particular branch of MJER. I imagine it could also be very useful for someone looking to learn more about another style of swordsmanship; I know I have found it to be so! In combination with the accompanying video series from Panther Video, we have begun to incorporate the katachi into the non-traditional sword class I teach as part of our karate style's weapon classes, and the descriptions from the text have been very helpful when we've gotten stuck.
The real treasure of this text, as so many reviewers have noted, is the opening sections of the text, where samurai philosophy is presented. I have a fairly sizeable collection of martial arts instructional books and videos, and only a handful present these types of concepts with such clarity. The ideas discussed here are applicable to all traditional martial arts; this section is why I keep giving this book away! Hanshi Shimabukuro and Leonard Pellman are to be commended for writing book which does more than just present techniques, which in fact offers guidelines for how a martial artist might want to live his(or her)life.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat overrated
Review: Let me begin by saying that I am not a seasoned iaido practicioner. In fact, I am a complete novice. Therefore, this review is not a "qualified" one; rather, it is my personal opionion. The reasons for not giving this book a 5-star rating (like nearly all the other reviewers), are the photos and descriptions of the katas. To me, these aren't very helpful. Everyone will say that it's impossible to learn iaido from a book alone. I agree. But that's no excuse for insufficient descriptions and small-resolution photographs. As a manual, Flashing Steel isn't very impressive. The introduction has some helpful explanations of concepts such as zanshin, but some of the analogies (for example, the comparison between samurai and cowboys) are rather farfetched, in my opinion. Warner & Draeger's Japanese Swordsmanship was much more helpful to me (bear in mind that this only includes descriptions of the Seitei-gata, though).
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat overrated
Review: Let me begin by saying that I am not a seasoned iaido practicioner. In fact, I am a complete novice. Therefore, this review is not a "qualified" one; rather, it is my personal opionion. The reasons for not giving this book a 5-star rating (like nearly all the other reviewers), are the photos and descriptions of the katas. To me, these aren't very helpful. Everyone will say that it's impossible to learn iaido from a book alone. I agree. But that's no excuse for insufficient descriptions and small-resolution photographs. As a manual, Flashing Steel isn't very impressive. The introduction has some helpful explanations of concepts such as zanshin, but some of the analogies (for example, the comparison between samurai and cowboys) are rather farfetched, in my opinion. Warner & Draeger's Japanese Swordsmanship was much more helpful to me (bear in mind that this only includes descriptions of the Seitei-gata, though).
Rating:
Summary: A true work of ART....
Review: Let me say that I have been enthralled by the world of martial arts and asian culture for years now. Obviously it was that interest that brought me to this book. I got what i was looking for and so much more. Even if i disregard my interest in martial arts i would have still learned much from this book. First and foremost, let me comment on the techinal aspect, that being only a small portion of what truly makes the book shine. At its base, the book is an illustraive and descriptive guide of the forms (waza) of Eishin Ryu. All the forms from beginner on up to the most advanced are given. It is ripe with photographs and about as good as a book alone can do in teaching you forms. Each waza is illustrated step by step and the practical application (bunkai) is also given. Besides that, the book also teaches about proper sight, breathing, posture, bowing, etc. as well as sword nomenclature, cutting technique, a basic history of japan as it realtes to the samurai, That being said the most valuable aspect of this book is this: the philosophies and general guidelines for living which are presented in this book are among the most concise, insightful, and useful i have ever seen. The authors do an excellent job of presenting eastern concepts in simple terms which effectivley communicate the nature of the concept, without dumbing it down too much. The tenets presented within the context of "how to fight well" later apply themselves to how to LIVE well. Never beore have i seen such a wonderful application of Martial arts/ Samurai philosphy to the art of perfecting and knowing yourself. MOST importantly the authors have a firm grasp on the TRUE meaning and purpose of martial arts on a whole: Perfection of character. ALL martial arts at their base are meant for a venue not only of self defense and physical excercise but as a guide along a very personal journey: Perfecting your character and spirit so you can be not only the best martial artist you can be, but the best person you can be. I know this is a concept that is repeated ad nauseum, so much that it begins to sound corny even as i write it, but Flashing Steel really does a great job in teaching that martial arts can enrich every area of your life. As a result this book has become the closest thing i have to a bible.... something i turn to when i need help finding guidance or when i have a question about my own growth, both within a martial art, and without. I feel hesitant to use the term bible because it implies religion and all the somtimes assoicated negative fanatacism. I don't want to give the impression that the book tells you it has all the answers, Rather it tells you waht questions you should be asking... questions that are important to the development of the whole character and that are personally important. Guidelines by which to live a fulfilling and worthwile life. Not religious... but spiritual. All in all a wonderful book, even if you never plan to study Eishin Ryu or ANY martial art for that matter. A joy to read and in my opinion a must have for any martial artist.
Rating:
Summary: A true work of ART....
Review: Let me say that I have been enthralled by the world of martial arts and asian culture for years now. Obviously it was that interest that brought me to this book. I got what i was looking for and so much more. Even if i disregard my interest in martial arts i would have still learned much from this book. First and foremost, let me comment on the techinal aspect, that being only a small portion of what truly makes the book shine. At its base, the book is an illustraive and descriptive guide of the forms (waza) of Eishin Ryu. All the forms from beginner on up to the most advanced are given. It is ripe with photographs and about as good as a book alone can do in teaching you forms. Each waza is illustrated step by step and the practical application (bunkai) is also given. Besides that, the book also teaches about proper sight, breathing, posture, bowing, etc. as well as sword nomenclature, cutting technique, a basic history of japan as it realtes to the samurai, That being said the most valuable aspect of this book is this: the philosophies and general guidelines for living which are presented in this book are among the most concise, insightful, and useful i have ever seen. The authors do an excellent job of presenting eastern concepts in simple terms which effectivley communicate the nature of the concept, without dumbing it down too much. The tenets presented within the context of "how to fight well" later apply themselves to how to LIVE well. Never beore have i seen such a wonderful application of Martial arts/ Samurai philosphy to the art of perfecting and knowing yourself. MOST importantly the authors have a firm grasp on the TRUE meaning and purpose of martial arts on a whole: Perfection of character. ALL martial arts at their base are meant for a venue not only of self defense and physical excercise but as a guide along a very personal journey: Perfecting your character and spirit so you can be not only the best martial artist you can be, but the best person you can be. I know this is a concept that is repeated ad nauseum, so much that it begins to sound corny even as i write it, but Flashing Steel really does a great job in teaching that martial arts can enrich every area of your life. As a result this book has become the closest thing i have to a bible.... something i turn to when i need help finding guidance or when i have a question about my own growth, both within a martial art, and without. I feel hesitant to use the term bible because it implies religion and all the somtimes assoicated negative fanatacism. I don't want to give the impression that the book tells you it has all the answers, Rather it tells you waht questions you should be asking... questions that are important to the development of the whole character and that are personally important. Guidelines by which to live a fulfilling and worthwile life. Not religious... but spiritual. All in all a wonderful book, even if you never plan to study Eishin Ryu or ANY martial art for that matter. A joy to read and in my opinion a must have for any martial artist.
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