: Reviewers from Amazon and Goodreads highlight it as a "dense" and "information-rich" text that is essential for serious practitioners and martial historians. Publication Details Publisher : Kodansha International. Length : Approximately 208 to 242 pages. Format : Hardcover. Shopping Information
: The author relied on original Japanese source materials and direct consultations with active grandmasters to ensure accuracy. Classical Fighting Arts of Japan A Complete Gui...
: It is richly illustrated with numerous photographs of rare documents and exponents demonstrating techniques, many shown outside Japan for the first time. Impact and Relevance : Reviewers from Amazon and Goodreads highlight it
Classical Fighting Arts of Japan: A Complete Guide to Koryu Jujutsu by Serge Mol is a definitive reference work on the history and evolution of traditional Japanese close-quarter combat. Core Focus and Content Format : Hardcover
: The book explores the development of grappling methods from their battlefield roots, such as yoroi kumiuchi (armored combat), into the complex systems of the Edo period.
: Mol provides detailed histories of major ryuha (martial schools), often including rare illustrations of founders and photographs of ancient manuscripts.