Cummins Antony, Koizumi Mieko. The Lost Samurai School: Secrets of Mubyoshi Ryu

Berkeley: Blue Snake Books ., — 2016 . — 466 p . — ISBN: 978-1-6231-7088-2 Available for the first time in English , this book is both an illustrated samurai arts manual and a groundbreaking historical account of the teachings of a Japanese samurai who formed a school known as Mubyoshi Ryu in the 1600s . Abundantly illustrated with more than 350 images representing the practices of Mubyoshi Ryu , The Lost Samurai School collects and translates ancient documents that contain the instructions of founding master Hagiwara Juzo , revealing the enthralling martial arts , secret weapons , magic , and espionage as they were practiced by samurai in their daily lives . The scrolls contain fascinating descriptions of “ civilian ” samurai skills , which concentrate more on personal protection than battlefield warfare , including the full ninja curriculum and elements of esoteric magic . Antony Cummins contextualizes the many expertly translated documents with a history of the era , the school , and its grandmaster . The illustrations bring to life the skills required to master everything from jūjutsu , to shuriken - jutsu ( throwing blades ) , to swords , to chain weapons , to the quarterstaff . The Lost Samurai School is a journey into the past that will preserve such skills for the future.