Understand? Good. Play!--Words of Consequence

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant insight into Bujinkan taijutsu
Review: A brief note to say how thoroughly entertaining this book truly is. Its a honour to be able to read the quotes of Soke Hatsumi on many wide topics, ranging from training through to life and the budo spirit. Sadly, I doubt I will ever get a chance to train with the great man, but I believe this is as close as it gets. Do not hesitate to buy this if you are a true student, however, if you are looking for glossy photos and a flashy easy read, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Better then quotes on a Tea Bag!
Review: As many other people have said, this book really isn't for the casual reader. If you don't know japanese martial art's phrases, it'll be hard to place a lot of the japanese words. It's a collection of quotes that Maasaki Hatsumi and a few other instructors have said, and it's broken up into different catagories. I'm trying to find this one quote in the book as I write this but I can't find the page...anyway it was one quote that of the hundreds, really stuck with me. It was something like "Taijutsu is not the techniques. Taijutsu is knowing how to take yourself to a safe place." I always thought that was an interesting quote--I sort of interptered it as taijutsu is not the throwing/arm locking/pressure point hitting so much as it is keeping yourself out of harms way. The nice thing about these quotes is their meaning changes over the years as you train for longer and longer periods of time. At first I didn't get a lot of the quotes, but now they're starting to make sense. It's hard to explain why I like this book...some of it is the humor. Some of the quotes really make you think not just about training but about how we see things and treat the world. I'd highly recommend it to anyone in the Bujinkan. I'm only a green belt, but I still get a lot of wisdom out of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Not for casual readers
Review: As the above review says, this isn't a conventional book, but a collection of quotes from Masaaki Hatsumi, Grandmaster of Bujinkan Taijutsu. If you are a casual reader it will be hard to place many of these quote in context, or even understand the terms that are used.

However, if you study the martial arts this book is a wonderful companion. It's hard to describe why I enjoy this book, but I have found it to be an invaluble reference tool in training. If you don't train in a Japanese art some of the japanese phrase may throw you, but most of the book should still be understandable.

I highly recommend any martial artist to pick this book up and enjoy it. The wisdom contained on these pages will keep you content for many years.

Rating:
Summary: Not for casual readers
Review: As the above review says, this isn't a conventional book, but a collection of quotes from Masaaki Hatsumi, Grandmaster of Bujinkan Taijutsu. If you are a casual reader it will be hard to place many of these quote in context, or even understand the terms that are used.

However, if you study the martial arts this book is a wonderful companion. It's hard to describe why I enjoy this book, but I have found it to be an invaluble reference tool in training. If you don't train in a Japanese art some of the japanese phrase may throw you, but most of the book should still be understandable.

I highly recommend any martial artist to pick this book up and enjoy it. The wisdom contained on these pages will keep you content for many years.

Rating:
Summary: A new Bible
Review: There are a lot of books on Ninjutsu out there, but none compare to this one in it's authenticity and insight. It's easy to see why considering that practically every word here was spoken by Soke himself at some point and then translated directly by the author Ben Cole (a practitioner of the art for years and not just a journalist or novelist).

This book has been hailed by those of the highest level within our art both in Japan and abroad who know Hatsumi sensei personally and can hear his voice speaking to them from these pages. It is definitely a must read for anyone who takes their Budo seriously. It is teeming with knowledge and will keep you wondering for years about Soke's mysterious teachings. Get it, read it, read it again, and again...

Rating:
Summary: Could be called; Dr. Hatsumi:The Best of.
Review: This book is great not only for Bujinkan practitioners but all martial artists. It is basically a collection of Masaaki Hatsumi's quotes taken throughout the years on various topics relating to the Martial arts. If you are thinking of buying a book on Ninjutsu, this, along with the re-released Ninja Secrets from the Grandmaster should be your first 2 picks. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: A pocket Hatsumi in your own home...
Review: This is not so much a conventional book but more a collection of thoughts, quotes and ideas put forward by Hatsumi over the more recent years. This book is a must have, as Hatsumi feels that only now he understands what Takamatsu taught him.

It is part practical information on taijutsu and a large part philosophy. You will take from this book that what is right for you. If you are at all interested in matters beyond pure technique then this will amount to far more words than are actually in the book! Ideas that are put forward are optimistic, universal and reflect the true nature of people.

It also reminds me of what a funny guy he is, even though he has all these terribly earnest people coming to see him from all round the world who hang on his every breathe (me included). You have to have a sense of humour, its what makes us human and indeed its what makes good Budo. Hatsumi has never fogotten to laugh or play.

For anyone who has trained in Japan at the Hombu dojo this book will have great resonance. I can best explain it by saying that it's like the faint echo's of Hatsumi's words are suddenly made clear and sharp again. Words where you missed there significance at the time become re-evaluated as Hatsumi speaks to you again from the pages of this book. This is why I say its like a pocket Hatsumi. Strange concept yes, but oh so true...

Rating:
Summary: A pocket Hatsumi in your own home...
Review: This is not so much a conventional book but more a collection of thoughts, quotes and ideas put forward by Hatsumi over the more recent years. This book is a must have, as Hatsumi feels that only now he understands what Takamatsu taught him.

It is part practical information on taijutsu and a large part philosophy. You will take from this book that what is right for you. If you are at all interested in matters beyond pure technique then this will amount to far more words than are actually in the book! Ideas that are put forward are optimistic, universal and reflect the true nature of people.

It also reminds me of what a funny guy he is, even though he has all these terribly earnest people coming to see him from all round the world who hang on his every breathe (me included). You have to have a sense of humour, its what makes us human and indeed its what makes good Budo. Hatsumi has never fogotten to laugh or play.

For anyone who has trained in Japan at the Hombu dojo this book will have great resonance. I can best explain it by saying that it's like the faint echo's of Hatsumi's words are suddenly made clear and sharp again. Words where you missed there significance at the time become re-evaluated as Hatsumi speaks to you again from the pages of this book. This is why I say its like a pocket Hatsumi. Strange concept yes, but oh so true...