Rating: 
Summary: tons of fascinating facts, but not clearly presented
Review: This book seems to deal mainly with the origins and early history of Asian martial arts with respect to Buddhism, or it seems to deal mainly with how Buddhism, Taoism, and other philosophies shaped the Asian martial arts, or (insert theme here). If I sound confused, it is because I am. This book, I believe, sets out to give "an account of the origins, history, and influences in the Buddhist art called exclusively Chuan Fa [Japanese -- Kempo] by its Chinese Practitioners" (first paragraph of the Introduction). Throughout reading the book, I very frequently found myself reading the Introduction again to determine what the author was trying to prove. The enormous amount of information presented is, unfortunately, not well organized. Beyond that, I did find it an interesting read if just to get a good overall view of how the Asian martial arts were influenced by, and originated from, Buddhist and other philosophical practices -- though reading through 276 pages of text, 109 pages of appendices, and 92 pages of notes is asking a bit much.
Rating: 
Summary: Unique and fascinating book.
Review: This the only book I have come across that makes a credible link between Buddhism and the martial arts. Buddhism has as it's first principle non-violence, and that a Buddhist (Bodhidharma) should have founded the martial arts is a paradox. "Buddhist martial art" is an oxymoron. This book makes an invaluable contribution to anyone interested in this unlikely combination.Most references to Zen or Buddhism that one comes aross in martial arts literature are so ignorant of even the basic tenets of the Buddhist faith as to be laughable. The author knows his Dharma and as a practicing Buddhist I found this refreshing. Finally someone that actually seems to know what he's talking about! Other reviewers have anonymously, and without substantiating evidence, attacked the author's credentials and cedibility which is quite shameful. The Author on the otherhand has meticulously documented his case. We can at least check his facts. And no I am not a student of the author. By putting the physical movement side of the fighting arts into a much larger context one can see how they might constitute a 'do', or way, that leads to enlightenment. Karatedo may be a path but to this Buddhist it looks more like the garden path than the golden path :-) I recommend this book!
Rating: 
Summary: At last a GOOD book
Review: We have all been waiting a long time for this book to appear and what an eye opener it has proved to be. For the first time ever someone has sat down and done his homework on a task so vast that few others, if they could, have attempted it. Here we find the whole panoply of those factors which originated the martial arts laid out for us to see and much of its content is distinct and unique.
The author correctly identifies the Buddhist Elements as the basic descriptive coda for the spiritual content of martial arts.
He seems the only person capable of giving us an account of the Tibetan records of Bodhidharma which have lain uknown to martial arts historians for years and provides in his extremely valuable 'notes' section incredible snippets of information and scholarship which put other writers to shame. Just glance through the range of works referenced in his Bibliography for instance. Here is a definitive account of the life of Chen Gen Ping in Japan, the system of correspondencies used in the ancient Kata, the earliest form of the Buddhist 'five animals ' kata, the Indian Sanscrit names for the early kata and techniques all of which seems completely unknown to modern teachers. One could go on.
It is all marvellous. By setting out a coherent basis of the Buddhist forms of martial arts he gives good descriptions of the spiritual obligations incurred and why they are significant. He seems the only man who correctly understands, or has been shown, the 18 steps of the earliest forms of the Chinese Sanchin kata and he avoids the trap of quoting or utilising the modern references and validifications spoken of in Karate schools as is proper. He has little to say of Taoist schools or forms of martial art instead he keeps to his main 'Bodhisattva' theme throughout.
The wealth of correalation between martial principle & tactics and their Buddhist spiritual principles shines out so clearly and makes such common sense that is spells the death knell for those that attempt or pretend to show there is none.
Every person who seriously studies Buddhism should accquire this book or study the Mushindo form of Shorin Kempo it has emerged from.
Its writer has studied for over 40 years including living both as a Zen and as an esoteric monk on mountains and temples in Japan, Okinawa and China. Nagaboshi was the first Englishmen to study and publicly teach Kempo and he has done us agreat service He is one of the few to have been privy to the inner world of those Okinawan teachers who have drawn away from the public eye. By establishing contacts with Okinawan and Japanese families of past teachers he was granted access to their family writings and diaries and has been instrumental in getting some of their previously hidden teachings translated and published making it possible for others to follow the same path he trod. He is I believe still engaged in such work as he currently lives, researches and teaches Buddhist philosophy at a Japanese temple. There is so much to learn from this book and it is worthy of many years of study and re-reading. I hope that future works on the inner history and meanings of martial arts use this book as their orientatative guide and I for one sincerely hope that Nagaboshi shifu will write more on this subject soon. David Taylor. Cambridge
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