Free Samurai Articles

- The Way of the Samurai Site Directory -

By Paul 'Batman' O'Brien
B.A., N.C.E.H.S., Dip. Acu., Adv. Dip. OBB, Cert Clin. Med. Pn1, PN-SSR, PN-NCA, M.AFPA, M.ETCMA, M.C.Th.A.

This Free Samurai Articles section is possibly the most important page on Way-of-the-Samurai.com

Here you will find all the Essay's, Articles, Sword Reviews, Guides and more to help you learn all you need to about the way of the samurai, martial arts and Japanese Swords. 

Most of the time the stuff I read on the way of the samurai is either wrong or just dead boring. This isn’t the case here. Each one of these is short and to the point, packed with the highest researched information and the best tips and techniques taken form my experience in training in samurai arts and koryu bujutsu.

Every article has been laid out in its own section in a specific order. One essay and guide flows into the next picking up where the last left off and introducing new concepts or explaining something mentioned in the last one in more detail. Read through them in sequence, or skip to whatever takes your interest. Spend time here learning the every aspect of the way of the samurai. 

Samurai History

Samurai History

• Ancient Japan: Before the Samurai *
• The Asuka Period: Age of the Flying Bird *
• The Heian Period: Golden Age of the Samurai *
• The Kamakura Period *
• The Muromachi Period *
• The Azuchi-Momoyama Period *
• The Edo Period *
• Japanese Samurai History *
• Samurai Rebellion:The Story of Saigō Takamori *
• The Meiji Restoration: The End of the Samurai *
• The Samurai Tattoo: The Story of Irezumi
• Samurai Tattoo Designs: Selecting Your Samurai Style
• Samurai Masks: The Face of the Warrior
• Famous Female Samurai *
• A Study of Samurai Banners *
• Ninja vs. Samurai: The Truth Behind the Myth *
• The Legend of the Forty Seven Samurai *
• Japanese Warriors: Samurai, Ninja, Militant Monks and More
• Super Samurai: Myths, Legends and Masters of the Martial Arts
• Oe Masamichi and Iai - A Translated Excerpt from the Koryu Iai No Hondo of Norikazu Iwata Sensei
• Japan Samurai Soul: A Look at Bushido *
• History of the Tanto: Side Arm of the Warrior
• Tanto Knives: History of the Tanto Part 2
• The Gunpo Jiyoshu and the Ninja Myth
  
• The Shoninki - Lies, Legend and Lunacy
  
• The Bansenshukai - A Period Fantasy Document
  
• The Ninpiden - As Legitimate as a Kill Bill Hattori Hanzo Blade
  
• Miyamoto Musashi: A Life in Arms -The Facts Behind the Legend. A Review
• Musashi Miyamoto - The Origin of the Legend

Samurai Philosophy

• How to Tie a Sageo & It's Importance for Iaido
• Why Buy A Shinken - Balancing Your Life on a Blade Edge
• What is Koryu Bujutsu- Defining a Life Through The Science of War
• Translating the Texts of the Masters
• Samurai Magic - Are You Secretly Practicing Samurai Magic?
  
• Hagakure - A Review of Alexander Bennett's Translation
  
• Is Seiza a Real Samurai Fighting Position - Clearing up Misconceptions
  
• The Martial Mindset - Developing the Habit of Discipline
• The Samurai Reading List - Get Started on these crucial samurai texts

Samurai Sword Reviews

Sword Reviews

Iaito

• Custom Iaito (Tozandos)
• Tsuru Iaito (Paul Chen)
• Custom Iaito (Yawara)
• Highlander Iaito (Zeist Armories)

Martial Arts Katana and Shinken

• Ronin Dojo Pro Tsuru Katana
• Ronin Katana Elite Edition
• Ronin Hammer Forged Katana
• Tea Culture Katana - Paul Chen 
• Tea Culture Wakazashi - Paul Chen 
• Tori Elite XL Light Katana - Paul Chen 
• Hanwei Morpehus Katana
• Musashi Shinken

Tanto - Japanese Daggers

• Cold Steel Imperial O-Tanto
• Hanwei Practical Pro Plus Tanto
• Musashi Asuka Tanto
• Masahiro Midnight Tanto
• Ryumon Folded Steel Dragon Tanto and a very special...
• Traditional Tanto with kozuka 

Movie Replica's & Live Blades

• Blade - Sword of the Daywalker (Factory X)
• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Green Destiny
• Gladiator - Sword of Maximus
• Hero - Hero's Sword
• Highlander - Conner's Katana (Zeist Armories)
• Highlander - Conner's Katana (Chinese FAKE)
• Highlander -Duncan's Katana (Chinese FAKE)
• Kill Bill - Bills Sword Standard Edition (Hanzo Swords)
• Kill Bill - Brides Sword Standard Edition (Hanzo Swords)
• Kill Bill - Bills Sword Rampage Deluxe Edition (Hanzo Swords)
• Kill Bill - Brides Sword Rampage Deluxe Edition (Hanzo Swords)
• Kill Bill - Budd's Sword (Musashi)
• Kill Bill - O-ren Ishii Shirasaya Katana (Hanzo Swords)
• Last Samurai - 5 Piece Katana Collection (Chinese FAKE)

Wooden Weapons

• Benkei Bokken (NineCircles.co.uk)
• Custom Isu Wood Bokken (Tozandos)
• Custom White Oak Niten Ryu Daisho (Tozandos)
• Red Oak Bokken (Ki Martial arts)
• Suburi Bokken (Ki Martial Arts)
• White Oak Bokuto (Ki Martial Arts)
• White Oak Tanto (Ki Martial Arts)

Clothing

• The Samurai Workshop Review - My Quest for a Hakama that is as Serious About Training as I am.

Martial Arts

• Martial Arts History - The Evolution of Combat
• Ancient Japanese Martial Arts: Part 2 of the Japanese martial arts history series, focusing on Koryū*
• History of Japanese martial arts: Part 3 of the Japanese martial arts history series, focusing on Modern Arts *
• What is Koryu Bujutsu- Defining a Life Through The Science of War
• What is Iaido? - The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship
• An Introduction to Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryū (originally published in Irish Fighter Magazine)
• Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu - The Sword Style of Miyamoto Musashi
• The Iaido FAQ - A Q & A for the Beginner 
• Japanese Martial Arts Terms: A quick reference glossary *
• Japanese Martial Arts Styles: From Aikido and Araki-ryū to Karate and Yoshin-ryū. *
• Japanese Ancient Martial Arts: A basic directory of koryū styles *
• List of Japanese martial arts: Both Ancient Koryu and Modern Gendai Budō *
• Japanese Martial Arts: A beginners guide Japanese Martial Arts Weapons: A visual guide to the tool of combat *
• Knife Attack - How Common Are They and How Can You Stop Them?
  
• Knife Attack Defence 101 - Shielding
  
• The Dojo vs the Street - Reality of Real the Real World Violence
  
• The Tactical L - The Footwork of Knife Defence

*= coming soon

Samurai Strength Training

• Yagai Keiko - Or...Why I Train in the Irish Rain
• Tanren-bō Training - The Secret of the forging stick
• Uchikomi - The Purpose of Target Striking for a Body and Will of Iron
• Building a Martial Artists Body - Why Different Styles Require Different Training Methods

From the Archives

• Joe Canning - Modern Gladiators: A History of Kickboxing
• Token Taikai 2014 - A display of remarkable swords and fittings and even more remarkable lectures
• Shinogi and Niku - The Ridgeline and Meat of the Blade Explained
• Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Summer 2014 Keiko - Learning the Style of Legends

Frauds & Fakes

• Antony Cummins is a FRAUD - Part 1  of my FAQ
• Antony Cummins is Dangerous - Part 2 of my FAQ
• Antony Cummins Cannot Teach Real Samurai Skills - Part 3 of my FAQ
• Phil Trent is a FRAUD - And Tenshu Shindo Karato Ryu is Fake Koryu - Here's Why

Books and Products

Books and Products

• 7 Seconds to A Perfect Body - The Scientifically Proven Method to Sculpt the Body of Your Dreams and Sky-rocket Your Strength in Seconds!
• Slim in Seconds - The Secrets of Martial Arts Masters & Ancient Chinese Medicine; A 6 Week Solution to SQUEEZE out YOUR Fat!
• Maximetrics - My Exclusive Method for Adding Inches and Packing on Pounds of Muscle in Just Minutes
• Project Dragon - Building a Bruce Lee Body in 12 Weeks or Less
• The Secrets to an Energetic and Abundant Life - Your Free Guide to Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Surviving Swine Flu - Your Free Guide to Treating Colds and Flus

Misc Site Pages

• About the Author - Who is Batman?
• Contact Me
• Samurai Wallpapers
• Way of the Samurai Newsletter
• Free Samurai Ebooks

You've been checking out our Free Samurai Articles site index. Go to the Swords Review Main Page Here. 

Click Here to Return to the Home Page