Kendo - Approaches for All Levels

The book is best for people with some experience as some of the other reviews have stated. It is divided into two main sections. The first half or so is about practice: footwork, drills, etc.. The second half or so is about jigeiko and shiai.The first part of the book is not really a how-to guide, but more high level discussion. That being said it does contain some very good drills and discussions about body mechanics. This portion also contains detailed discussion about how and why certain things are done in practice. It is probably best suited for new instructors or people helping out running practices. Basically, to really follow along you need to have a fair understanding of Kendo.The latter part of the book was also interesting. It goes over attitudes and approaches to jigeiko and tactics in shiai. I liked this more than the first section as these are things usually not talked about, or at least not commonly. The other good part in these chapters was that all the discussions are partitioned by level, e.g. kyu, 1-2dan, etc..

I have read Honda Sensei's writings on the BKA website before. I had thought that was the majority of this book, so I put off buying it. Now I wish I bought it earlier. Finally, there's a book that talks about how you should view and approach practice when you are not someone who is Japanese and practiced since you were 5 years old. While this is probably not useful for someone that has never practiced kendo, I think anyone who has actually done kendo would find something useful out of it.

While there are an increasing number of books in English on the subject of kendo, this one is unique in that it is not a mechanical description of history, equipment, terminology and technique but rather is a clear and extensive narrative, with diagrams and photos as needed, of both method and purpose of kendo practice in a variety of scenarios. The book is well organized so that it can be useful both to a beginning practitioner as well as to those more experienced who wish to augment their instructional repertoire.

Very good book about techniques, but i dont think is suitable for people that is new to kendo. There is a lot of knowledge that you must receive in your dojo before be able to fully understand the content of this book.I recommend also buying the english-japanese kendo dictionary (mentioned a lot in the book) because the book is full of kendo terminology and is easy to get lost in the way

This is the book for the foregin Kenshi.It opened my eyes specially regarding how should I see and take certain aspects of Kendo and the right attitude I should have toward them.This book is a Must.

Always is good to make exercising to get a good health. The kendo swords exercise a few muscles, but always observing the targets to point. I guess it is similar when the guy is trying to get a good hit in the ball when is playing baseball. i have satisfied my requirements whit kendo sword, feeling my brain, view, shoulders and arms muscles obtaining exercising.

Good book, instructive.

This is great because it is the first resource that teaches how to deal with heterogeneous groups. And the author knows how kendo is made elsewhere.

Honda Sensei has already me with helped teach the juniors at Gloucester Kendo Club in so many ways that he doesn't know about, especially following his seminar in Cardiff, and this book both reinforces those lessons already learned, and provides any more ideas that are applicable to all kendoka not just juniors or beginners.. A wonderful reference for any kendoka. Thank you for writing this Sensei.

Good to get the Honda articles in one book. I have a very old tattered copy of his original article on the different types of opponents with a name or a couple of names of club members against each opponent type. This book is great for the occasions when you feel on a plateau or your kendo is getting stale. Recommended for all levels says it all.

A well laid out book with dome good insights into kendo.

important considerations are covered here, and not necessarily as a technique manual. To reflect on one's practice of Kendo is not often something one can afford at the dojo, so to read this Sensei's thoughts on Westerns' Kendo felt like a good way to reflect on my own practice. Good read now, and again some time soon :)

Really liked this book.Was a gerar reference for me as a beginner, and I think would be Aldo good as a reference for instructors