The Fighting Man of Japan: The Training and Exercises of the Samurai

by Francis James Norman

A former cavalryman in the British Army, F. J. Norman served as an instructor at Japan's leading military colleges. Norman was deeply impressed with the ethic and resolve of the Japanese military and with the beauty and efficacy of their martial arts practices -- "exercises in which all can participate, without risk or danger to life, purse, or limb, but with great benefit both to body and spirit." Determined to introduce these exercises to the Western world, he wrote this classic guide to the making of the Japanese warrior.
Starting with an overview of Japanese military history, the author proceeds to an account of the education of nineteenth-century officers. He describes in detail the arts of kenjutsu (classical Japanese fencing), sumo wrestling, and jujutsu. Norman's explanations are enhanced by numerous photographs and drawings that capture the spirit of martial arts training in addition to illustrating its practices.

Genres: Martial Arts

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 27, 2006

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father passed this one along to me. It is a very short work, published in 1905 by an English military officer who was sent to teach the Japanese about modern warfare. Along the way, he was exposed to, and studied, several Japanese martial arts, most notably some form of Kenjutsu (he consistently refers to it as fencing).

If I had a complaint about this book, it is only that its very short. Norman really just gives a cursory overview of what I'm sure was a more in-depth understanding of the Japanese martial culture and tradition at the time. It's clear that he has a great deal of respect for the Japanese warrior traditions, though he avoids succumbing to the modern assumption that they are somehow innately superior to European methods. His discussion on that particular subject generally boils down to "it depends".

One thing that I found interesting was Norman emphasizes on several occasions that the Japanese systems, in contrast to the European methods of the time, place LESS emphasis on form and precision, and a greater emphasis on effectiveness and free play. I'll have to dig out actual quotes when I get home, but its a striking reversal of the stereotypes of both methodologies, from a guy who was actually there.

This is a good, quick, read for anyone interested in Japanese or European military history or martial arts. Check it out.