Weapons Book Brainstorming

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[SeiserL]

We are working on a weapons book for Tuttle Publishing. We already have an outline and ideas.

But first, what do people (you) really want in a book? What topics? Who and what should be researched and cited for it to be comprehensive, authentic, and something you want to buy, read, reread, and recommend?

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

[Rich Babin]

Lynn: As the author of a published book on iaido and one in preparation on cutting, I empathize with the organizational issues you are dealing with. I don't think you can write one book for all. Personally, I would like to have an illustrated record of all the kata that I do, or are expected to do in my style. But of course, you and I do different kata! I would like to have an in depth history of bokken and jo use, not only in aikido, but in kobudo in general, but who can resource the original Japanese historical texts? Can you take it farther than Lowery already has? A comparison of styles from the great sensei of aikido would be fasinating, but are the reasorces out there? Might be nice to discribe how to build your own weapons, wood selection, finishes, repairs, etc. Then how about the entire concept of ki, how to extend it through the weapon with proper breathing. It could be illustrated with Hokusai woodcuts.

My 2 cents for what it's worth. Best of luck in your efforts, sounds like fun.

Rich

[Lyle Laizure]

I will second that Richard.

[Marc Kupper]

You did not say if your book would be about Japanese weapons much like what's available from Don Cunningham at www.e-budostore.com (http://www.e-budostore.com/books.htm) or an Aikido weapons book like Gaku Homma's "The Structure of Aikido (http://www.nippon-kan.org/books/books.html) ."

One area I am interested in would be to learn the history and evolution of the AIkido weapon systems used by Saotome (ASU), Saito (Iwama), Shirata (John Stevens), etc. and perhaps to take that deeper and to look at o sensei's weapons background and from that what he chose to incorporate into Aikido.

On the technical side of things I'd be more interested in learning about "why" we do certain things than "how" to do them. There is a "why" behind each of the subiru, kumi tachi, kumi jo, kata, etc.

Good luck and best wishes on your book project.