Autumn Lightning : The Education of an American Samurai

Rating:
Summary: Excellent lessons!
Review: I've recently reread all the books I have on martial arts, Japan, Japanese culture and history. When I find a passage that really strikes me, I underline it and dog-ear the page. After finishing the handful of books I already have, I came to Amazon to find more. Dave Lowry's book seemed interesting from reading the first few pages available online. Little did I know I would be underlining and dog-earing most of the pages in the rest of the book! An excellent read for new or experienced readers in Japanese history, culture and/or martial arts. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Good story plus history - engaging
Review: Many books about the martial arts are dry and boring. Lowry, through his own life story and the fictionalized history of his style, makes this a book not to be missed! If you are a martial artist, you will find parallels and lessons. If you are interested in the martial arts, you will find this both a good read and an excellent introduction to the practice and history of martial arts. This is on my "must read" list!

Rating:
Summary: The roots of the samurai
Review: Many books are written on the samurai or budo...often the stories of the master's master are left out. The budo has changed and apdapted to modern society, however the traditions remain. Autumn Lightning tells of the roots of the bushido. "The sword that gives life not takes life." A must read for not only studiers of budo but of the martial arts in general...two thumbs up, way up.

Rating:
Summary: The roots of the samurai
Review: Many books are written on the samurai or budo...often the stories of the master's master are left out. The budo has changed and apdapted to modern society, however the traditions remain. Autumn Lightning tells of the roots of the bushido. "The sword that gives life not takes life." A must read for not only studiers of budo but of the martial arts in general...two thumbs up, way up.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent and insightful
Review: Neat blend of personal journey and the history of a martial way. Dave Lowry has a fantastic breadth of Japanese knowledge both martial and mundane. A master of the sword, brush, and open-hand combat he is also experienced in tea ceremony, flower arranging, and much more. As a young man he serendipitously found a bugei master who he eventually convinced to teach him the way. Early on his sensei proclaimed that, "More is expected of bugeisha then ordinary people." More is what you get in this masterful book. He entices us to follow along the path of his life and training with delightful wit, candor, and humility. I truly enjoyed this book.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Martial Arts Instruction: Applying Educational Theory and Communication Techniques in the Dojo

Rating:
Summary: More than an interesting and inspiring autobiography
Review: Ostensibly the autobiography of an American bugeisha (practitioner of Japanese martial arts, in this case kenjutsu, "sword techniques"), this book is much more as it delves into an easily-read discussion of different bugei (Japanese martial arts), zanshin (the state of "continual mind"), special skills and hidden methods, the precursors of jujutsu, warrior monks, Zen Buddhism, seppuku and much more. Even if you do not practice a martial art, you are likely to find this a fascinating read, and if you do practice a martial art, this book will inspire you no matter what your own art is (I practice eskrima, which has no relation whatsoever to kenjutsu and yet I found many principles in this which I can apply to eskrima).

Rating:
Summary: Should be MANDATORY reading for students of the martial arts
Review: Out of print for nearly ten years, Shambhala Press makes this masterpiece available to another generation of martial arts students and Westerners who are interested in the Japanese "student-teacher" relationship.As a young teenager, Lowry learned of a "Japanese swordsman" living in the same University town. In the tradition of old Japan when a student seeked an instructor, Lowry stopped by the house every day, asking the woman who answered the door if there was an instructor who would take him as a student. Lowry's persistence paid off and he was "adopted" by Kotaro Sensei (teacher), a master of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu swordsmanship. Lowry instruction was by no means limited to the physical techniques of the sword. As the subtitle implies, Kotaro Sensei transformed this wet-behind-the-ears teenager into an "American Samurai." Lessons learned within and without the dojo (training hall) taught Lowry that a "samurai" has to live ALL aspects of his or her life to a higher standard. While his schoolmates were busy experimenting with drugs and worrying about the Viet Nam war, Lowry's spare time was spent learning honor, respect, courage, virtue and justice through this sacred relationship between Sensei (teacher) and kohei (student). Lowry takes an interesting and very effective approach to the assembly of the book, alternating chapters that chronologically detail his experience and historical anecdotes about the martial arts that reinforce the lessons he learned. Lowry is a true "master of the sword AND pen," his masterful re-telling of his experience almost allows the reader to experience the same struggles and joys he experienced, yet he keeps this writing accessable. This book would be equally valuable to a nine-year old beginning karate student as it is to a 80 year old master of the arts. I have been involved in the martial arts for only ten years, but have read and collected more than 100 books on the subject. If I had only one book to recommend to students of the arts seeking the "definitive text" on what the "teacher-student" experience is SUPPOSED to be, this would be it.

Rating:
Summary: Should be MANDATORY reading for students of the martial arts
Review: Out of print for nearly ten years, Shambhala Press makes this masterpiece available to another generation of martial arts students and Westerners who are interested in the Japanese "student-teacher" relationship. As a young teenager, Lowry learned of a "Japanese swordsman" living in the same University town. In the tradition of old Japan when a student seeked an instructor, Lowry stopped by the house every day, asking the woman who answered the door if there was an instructor who would take him as a student. Lowry's persistence paid off and he was "adopted" by Kotaro Sensei (teacher), a master of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu swordsmanship. Lowry instruction was by no means limited to the physical techniques of the sword. As the subtitle implies, Kotaro Sensei transformed this wet-behind-the-ears teenager into an "American Samurai." Lessons learned within and without the dojo (training hall) taught Lowry that a "samurai" has to live ALL aspects of his or her life to a higher standard. While his schoolmates were busy experimenting with drugs and worrying about the Viet Nam war, Lowry's spare time was spent learning honor, respect, courage, virtue and justice through this sacred relationship between Sensei (teacher) and kohei (student). Lowry takes an interesting and very effective approach to the assembly of the book, alternating chapters that chronologically detail his experience and historical anecdotes about the martial arts that reinforce the lessons he learned. Lowry is a true "master of the sword AND pen," his masterful re-telling of his experience almost allows the reader to experience the same struggles and joys he experienced, yet he keeps this writing accessable. This book would be equally valuable to a nine-year old beginning karate student as it is to a 80 year old master of the arts. I have been involved in the martial arts for only ten years, but have read and collected more than 100 books on the subject. If I had only one book to recommend to students of the arts seeking the "definitive text" on what the "teacher-student" experience is SUPPOSED to be, this would be it.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent example
Review: This book is both a martial and a literary masterpiece. It captures the true essence of the martial arts, and does so with a flow that is at once leisurely and captivating, meandering and focused. The literary style is proof positive that the author knows his subject - it flowed from an unfettered mind.

Rating:
Summary: If you're tempted - buy it!
Review: This book is outstanding because of its authenticity, clarity, and humility. It is the privileged description of a traditional Japanese martial arts education undertaken by a mid-Western American. He places his education and training in its historical context, and makes sense of it (from a Western point of view) as few others could have done. And he writes beautifully. If you have the slightest interest in this topic you will not regret purchasing this book.