Secret Weapons Listed on B&N, Amazon

Just thought you might like to know that my book, "Secret Weapons of Jujutsu" is currently listed on Barnes and Noble's web site at:

http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0970280807

Please order now in time for Christmas! :)

It is also available on Amazon.com at:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0970280807/002-4527473-9524005

I am currently reviewing the printer proofs. Hopefully, the book will be available within another month or so.

Sincerely,

Don

[John Lindsey]

It says you also wrote a book about the Beach Boys...or is that another Don?

Nope, it isn't me. It must be another Don Cunningham.

[Richard A Tolson]

Don,
Did you write the description on the Barnes & Noble site? It says you have "advanced ranks in Judo, Karate and Kendo", but then mentions second dan ranking. Which is correct? I thought you had said before you only had a second dan. Also what are your other ranks? Perhaps my memory is faulty. It also mentions contributions in many martial arts publications. Were there others besides the article in Furyu?
I would be interested in seeing the table of contents for your book before I purchase a copy. Would you mind providing one here?
Thanks!


[Edited by Richard A Tolson on 07-27-2000 at 12:42 AM]

[Neil Hawkins]

Don,

I might be interested, but like Richard would like more info.

How about sending a copy to Joe or someone so we can get a review?

Regards
Neil

[Joseph Svinth]

DISCLAIMER: I make no claims to *any* expertise in Japanese weapons.

I've seen a copy of the manuscript.

The pictures were nice and the text was readable, and overall, I thought that Don's book provided a very reasonable introduction to the topic.

[Richard A Tolson]

Neil,

DISCLAIMER: I do make claims to expertise in Japanese weapons :).

I will put a review of Don's book on my Samurai Bujutsu site after I have seen the book.
Speaking of the Samurai Bujutsu site, we are averaging over 500 visits a day now after only 1 1/2 months online. Sorry, the noise was me patting myself on the back. Actually, I would like to thank John Lindsey for allowing me to refer to my site here and Colin Hyakutake for putting a link to my site on his webpage!

[Richard A Tolson]

Don,
One more thing I just thought of, could you please post the sources you used for your book? Did you learn these things while studying a Koryu? If so, which one? If not, who were you relying on for your information?
Thanks!!!

Richard,

I list all my sources in my book. I also list all my training experiences as well. As for my martial arts ranks, these are a matter of public record. I've put my entire martial arts resume' on my web site and don't feel it would be appropriate to repeat it here.

I would like to know why you are asking for this information here. You can easily purchase the book once it is available in September.

For someone like yourself with no discernable experience in any legitimate Japanese martial art style other than one of your own creation, I'm surprised that you don't consider a 2nd dan license directly from the Kodokan in Tokyo to be "an advance rank." It certainly is considered advanced in Japan. However, this is not my only judo ranking, but it was the hardest to achieve and the one I am most personally proud of. BTW, I never claimed any karate experience or training. Please check your references more carefully.

As for my articles, I have had numerous articles published in Furyu, as well as in several other martial arts magazines with much higher circulation. If you haven't seen my other articles, then I suggest a trip to your local library.

"DISCLAIMER: I do make claims to expertise in Japanese weapons"

Yes, Richard, I agree, your memory does seem to be faulty. Just what expertise in Japanese weapons do you claim? Where did you obtain this expertise?

For myself, I am very upfront about my martial arts experience and knowledge. I make no claims to any koryu ranking or to any particular personal expertise. I am only providing information based on my research into a subject I've been interested in for a number of years. I think others will find it quite informative and entertaining, too.

Neil,

At my request, Joseph reviewed a preliminary version of my book and had some very insightful comments. Most of these were incorporated into the final version. Yes, I cited Joseph in my introduction for his input.

I have a PDF file of the book if you want to review it. It's about 10MB, so I will need to send it to you via FTP as it is too big for most e-mail service buffers. Please let me know how to send it to you and I will get you a file for review.

Finally, here is the table of contents:

Preface
1. Development of Unarmed Fighting
Samurai and bushido
Unarmed fighting styles
Japanese feudal social structure
Vendettas and reprisals
Practical considerations
Religious influences
2. Improvised Weapons
Tenouchi
Kansashi
Kogai and kodzuka
Shoku
Shakuhachi
3. Concealed Weapons
Hibuki
Yawara and tenouchi
Manriki-kusari
Suntetsu
Tetsushaku-jutsu
4. Sensu and Early Tessen
Gunbei-uchiwa (war fan)
Tessen and tessen-jutsu
5. Tessen — Iron Fan
Tessen styles
Tessen decorations
Tetsushaku-jutsu and tessen
6. Tokugawa Era Police
Early Japanese police system
Hojo-jutsu
Interrogation and confessions
Criminal punishments
Outlaws with honor
Nawabari
7. Jutte — Symbol of Authority
References to jutte
Origins of the jutte
Jittetohri-ryu
Jutte styles
Modern day police techniques
8. Strategy and Martial Arts
Mental preparation
Ma-ai
Tai sabaki
Timing
Kuzushi
9. Tetsushaku-jutsu Techniques
Gripping the tessen or jutte
Kamae (ready posture)
Drawing the jutte
Uke waza (blocking techniques)
Nagashi waza (parrying techniques)
Nage waza (throwing techniques)
Osae waza (holding techniques)
Glossary
Index

[Edited by budokai on 07-31-2000 at 08:19 AM]

[Richard A Tolson]

Don,
For some reason you took my questions as a personal attack. I don't know why. Since you are offering your book, sight unseen, over the Internet, I thought questions were appropriate. I rarely buy anything that I cannot look at ahead of time. Chalk it up to my being a bit cheap.
The table of contents does look interesting. Now that others have seen the subjects that are dealt with you will probably receive more orders. So you should be thanking me for my inquiries rather than engaging in childish, unfounded pot-shots at my character or the style that I practice. I hope your research for your book was more thorough than the biased opinions you have of me. Opinions that have been formed without ever meeting me, or any of my students or instructors.
All,
I will no longer respond to Don's posts concerning me. If he thinks that I am a fraud, the burden of proof is on him to find evidence. He has none, so he uses innuendo.
I now see why the other people he attempts to "expose" never respond to him. It is useless responding to someone who uses low-blows rather than intelligent inquiry. People like that come to the table firmly entrenched in their mis-guided ideas. Therefore no rational discussions can take place. Anyone who has polite, rational questions about my background can either find them at my website, or post a question there and I will do my best to answer it. I have nothing to hide.

Richard,

I meant no childish, unfounded pot-shots at your character. Everyone knows you made up your current martial art style and promoted yourself, so I didn't think I was putting you down. Yes, we all know about the "secret instruction" you received from a mysterious Tanaka-sensei. That's why no one ever knew you were studying Arashi ryu when you couldn't make yudansha rank in judo or karate. Convenient for you to have that to fall back on later when you decided to reveal your training background.

I also did not take your questions as a personal attack. I tried to answer them all to the best of my ability. I thought I did a pretty good job, too. What I meant by my comment was that it was ironic that you of all people would question the achievements of someone who has done their time and actually earned their credentials. Why else do you imply that my judo rank from the Kodokan is not viable?

To borrow a phrase, it's not you. It's me. I don't like you. (With my apologies to Farscape's script writers.)

I admit my opinion of you is biased. You have been hostile ever since you wrote and informed me that I was guilty of copyright violations and defamation of character and whatever else due to my web site. When I failed to comply with your demands, you then made a number of personal challenges and posted slanderous comments about my research skills. Now you admit you only read one of my magazine articles, but you felt confident enough then to post your deragatory opinion of my writing skills. I don't have to meet you to have a biased opinion. You've done enough already to earn my disrespect.

Maybe if you stopped hanging around with other wannabes, you might have a lot more credability. As for any burden of proof, that is between you and anyone else that gives a darn. I really don't care what flavor of the week style you claim expertise in now.

[Edited by budokai on 07-31-2000 at 04:48 PM]

Popie,

Maybe you should buy me some Milk Duds. Thank you for your comments. I guess my old newspaper columnist skills are still strong. I once wrote an editorial so scathing that the local police chief called me and actually challenged me to a fistfight in the parking lot. Since none of his officers cared much for him or his policies, I was able to get out of several speeding tickets on that one incident.