This is an excellent, must-have volume for your library. Ratti delves deeply into the historical origins of martial arts in Japan, and Westbrook's illustrations are beautiful and classic of themselves.
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Patrick Parker
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Westbrook's art is excellent, but Ratti's history is pretty bad. This is one of the books I recommend people avoid. Ratti didn't do much research and makes lots of completely inaccurate statements. If you want a good introduction, I recommend Draeger's Martial Arts And Ways series http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Bujutsu-Martial-Arts-Japan/dp/0834802333
ReplyDeleteAlso the Classical Warrior Traditions Of Japan by Diane Skoss is also excellent https://www.budogu.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MBI157