Secret Weapons of Jujutsu -- Upcoming Book

I just want to give you'all a preview of my upcoming book, Secret Weapons of Jujutsu, which should be available in a month or so. The subject is tessen, jutte, and assorted hibuki, or "concealed weapons," from the Edo Period. More information about the book can be found at:

http://www.concentric.net/~Budokai/miscellany/new-book.htm

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<center><img border="0" src="http://www.concentric.net/~Budokai/images/frontcover_small.jpg" width="300"></center>

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The book is a hardcover and will retail for $22.00.

Unfortunately, I am not set up to accept orders yet. I should be able to take advance orders next month.

Sincerely,

Don Cunningham

[Kolschey]

I like the cover very much, and I look forward to seeing what's inside. One question for you..I was wondering if shuriken are considered to be one of these weapons, or if thay are part of a different curriculum, such as that of a sword school.

The main focus is on tetsushaku-jutsu, i.e., the use of tessen or jutte. I do briefly discuss kogai and kodzuka as potential "hidden weapons," but not in much detail. There is a lot more on tenouchi (yawara), suntetsu, fundo-kusari, etc.

[John Lindsey]

Wow, looks very interesting Don!

Is this an original work or a translation of a Japanese text? I ask because the cover kinda looks like another book I have seen in Japan, from BAB I think.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery...

Actually, I have the same book from BAB, "Everything You Want to Know About Hidden Weapons." I even tried contacting the author through his publisher to see if I could use some of his material. I never received a reply, so there is no translated material or photos from it included in my book. I did contact the publisher of "Jutte of Edo" and they were willing to share some information. However, they wanted a huge fee to use any of their photographs and my budget just wouldn't allow it.

Reading that book was a definite kickstart for me, though, to finally pull all my research together and publish my own book. Of course, much of our information is the same since the subject is essentially the same. In fairness, he goes much deeper into some aspects than I could afford to with my budget limitations. On the other hand, my content has a lot more historical context, especially regarding the Tokugawa police organization and responsibilities, as well as many more tessen anecdotes from literature.

I was definitely influenced by their cover art when I did my own jacket design. Of course, all the photographs are my own and taken of jutte, tessen, shoku, tenouchi, kodzuka, kogai, suntetsu, etc., from my personal collection.

[Edited by budokai on 06-30-2000 at 05:01 PM]