Kendo: The Definitive Guide
Martial Arts Sports Reference Japanese Swordsmanship Kendo Coaching & Training Collectible Sports Manuals 1990s Vintage Sports
Kendo: The Definitive Guide by Hiroshi Ozawa is the 1997 hardcover that serious martial artists still hunt for on the resale market. Published by Kodansha America and never reprinted in this exact oversized (265 mm) illustrated edition, the 244-page reference pairs clear step-by-step photography by Tamiko Yamaguchi with Ozawa’s decades of international coaching experience. Every waza—from foundational footwork to advanced nito-ryu—is broken down frame-by-frame, making it one of the few English-language texts detailed enough to supplement dojo training or prepare for dan examinations.
Collectors value this vintage 1990s printing because it combines the authority of a Kodansha sports manual with the durability of a sewn hardback and laminated dust jacket. At 19 mm thick it lies flat on the floor during kata review yet fits easily in a gear bag. The clean, unmarked pages in this copy show no handwriting, dog-ears, or stuck sections; the only flaw is a cosmetic water mark on the underside of the jacket that never penetrated the text block, leaving every photo and diagram crisp.
Whether you are a kendoka polishing competition strategy, a koryu enthusiast tracing the evolution of Japanese swordsmanship, or a coach building a lending library for students, this single volume replaces a stack of smaller manuals. Its enduring popularity keeps used copies in constant demand, so snapping up an acceptable-grade, jacketed first edition now is the most cost-effective way to own the definitive guide that Western dojos have relied on for more than twenty-five years.
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