A truely excellent overview of the Japanese Martial Arts including discussion of the philosophical and historical basis common to all of them. Suino provides a general description of each of the major budo styles practiced today, with comments that will help the reader to understand which art might best suit his or her needs. He also makes it clear that serious practice is very different from what is offered by most strip mall Karate/Taekwondo/Jujitsu/Ninja schools, and stresses the importance of taking the time to seek out good instructors and their programs. A must read for the serious martial artist and anyone contemplating studying the budo.

This is an excellent book for all practioners of martial arts, especially those who seek to go beyond just the physical skills to a life-long study of the philosophy of budo. Based on his own training and wide reading, Suino has distilled the essence of what he describes as necessary for the proper study of budo. Be warned: he does not offer an easy or short road: real commitment is physically and mentally demanding. Suino lays out the key elements of both, including some of the pitfalls that await. The benefits, however, can be felt not just within the martial art itself, but also in one's broader approach to life.

I particularly liked Suino's criticism of those who are more talk than action in teaching or studying martial arts, and those who are focused more on badges and belts than truly studying the art in all respects. His message is not an easy one for a society focused on quick gratification, self-importance and short attention spans. In addition to the life-long commitment, his call is essentially one of modesty in all aspects: deference for teachers in learning and developing techniques over a period of time, concern for fellow students, modesty in behaviour in the dojo, understanding that learning can evolve and shift its focus but that it has no end point, and modesty in realizing that one is part of, and building upon, very ancient traditions.

Appendices include capsule summaries of the key martial arts and a useful bibliography for further reading.

This is a book to be re-read and contemplated.