The Lost Samurai School: Secrets of Mubyoshi Ryu

By: Antony Cummins and Mieko Koizumi

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Synopsis: 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.