Kurikara

The Sword and the Serpent

John Maki Evans, Natanaga Zhander

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Paperback

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English

North Atlantic Books,U.S.
01 January 2011

Oriental & Indian philosophy; Buddhism; Combat sports & self-defence; Oriental martial arts

This book will appeal to the growing number of sword arts practitioners, especially students of the Japanese art of Battodo; it will also be of interest to students of esoteric Buddhism, as an important aspect of the book is its weaving together of the art of swordplay and Buddhism.

In Mikkyo-Japanese esoteric Buddhism-the dragon Kurikara symbolizes the internal energy developed through sword practice. Kurikara is a manifestation of the fierce bodhisattva Fudo Myo O, the patron of ascetics and warriors in Japan, who uses his sword to destroy delusions and sever attachments. Fudo's sword represents the gaining of discriminative power and decisiveness-the ability to cut through illusion and attachment. This leads to the development of an inner energy that allows one to ""burn up"" all obstacles to spiritual freedom.

Kurikara- The Sword and the Serpent sets out the eight basic principles of swordsmanship common to all Japanese sword schools, emphasizing the cultivation of power and mental focus. Accomplished martial artist John Evans provides practical examples from his experience with the sword arts as well as Mikkyo and shugendo (mountain asceticism). The first foreign student to train with Nakamura Taisaburo sensei-widely acknowledged as the master of the sword art battodo-Evans clearly explains how skill such as Nakamurua sensei's can be systematically developed through tanren, exercises that meld ""inner"" and ""outer"" power. Filled with fascinating anecdotes from Evans's training in Japan, Kurikara is a useful, inspiring guide to Japanese sword practice and its spiritual underpinnings.

By: John Maki Evans
Foreword by: Natanaga Zhander
Imprint: North Atlantic Books,U.S.
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 177mm, Spine: 13mm
Weight: 306g
ISBN: 9781583942444
ISBN 10: 1583942440
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 01 January 2011
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

John Maki Evans teaches yoga and battodo in London. He is the director of the Islington Yoga School, which teaches Shadow Yoga, and is head teacher of the Fudokan Battodo dojo, affiliated with the International Battodo Federation. He lives in London.