The study of budo, or the Japanese martial arts for self-cultivation, is a lifelong path toward perfection of character. Here, Dave Lowry, a sword master who has practiced and taught budo for over forty years, addresses the myriad issues, vagaries, and inconsistencies that arise for students of karate-do, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, aikido, and iaido as their training develops. He examines such questions as:
- What is the relationship between the student and teacher, and what should one expect from the other?
- What does rank really mean?
- How do you correctly and sensitively practice with someone less experienced than you?
- What does practice look like as one ages?
- Why do budo arts put such an emphasis on etiquette?
- And many others
