In their new Japanese martial arts DVD collection, Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship, samurai sword masters Masayuki Shimabukuro and Carl E. Long detail and demonstrate a variety of samurai sword techniques. In this exclusive DVD preview, Long introduces Shimabukuro's cutting demonstration, or suemono giri. "We're going to explore the more advanced section of test cutting," he explains. "The first one we're going to do is called inazuma. Inazuma means 'lightning strike,' so it's key that the cuts never truly stop moving. The sword continues to move properly back and forth through the mat."

SAMURAI DVD PREVIEW VIDEO
Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship
by Masayuki Shimabukuro and Carl E. Long

The three-disc set Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship details a variety of cutting techniques, various attacks and defenses in two-man sword-sparring situations. Some of these situations involve equal swords, some are long sword vs. short sword, and some are even sword vs. an unarmed man! These methods for practice are explained first by Long and then demonstrated with his sensei, with particular attention paid to footwork, timing, hand positions and rhythm.



Topics in Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship include the following:

• two-man sparring
• deep-level practice of kata (forms)
• agility and body movement
• precision-cutting demonstrations
• mastery drills for timing, blocking and drawing
• expert development of footwork
• on-screen glossary of samurai swordsmanship terminology

NEW SAMURAI SWORDSMANSHIP BOOK!
Samurai Swordsmanship: The Batto, Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri of Eishin-Ryu demonstrates and explains the history, construction and rituals of the 400-year-old art of battojutsu. Filled with detailed picture sequences illustrating the fundamental principles and techniques of samurai swordsmanship, it includes in-depth discussion of tameshigiri (test cutting), batto waza (sword-drawing forms), uniform care, sword etiquette, kumitachi (paired drills) and samurai philosophy. AVAILABLE NOW!

An eighth-dan in muso jikiden eishin-ryu iaijutsu and the 2006 Black Belt Hall of Fame Weapons Instructor of the Year, Masayuki Shimabukuro has received official appointment as the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai's international representative for iaido and battodo.

Carl E. Long oversees certification of Jikishin-Kai International's North American, South American and European instructors. The JKI vice chairman and director is a five-time recipient of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai’s yushu-sho, one of the highest awards granted for the performance of iaido.

MASAYUKI SHIMABUKURO FEATURED
IN 50TH ANNIVERSARY MAGAZINE SERIES!

Masayuki Shimabukuro was featured on the first cover of a six-issue collection commemorating the 50th anniversary of Black Belt magazine, celebrated in June 2011! These six magazines are now available as a set! Follow the timelines as Black Belt travels back into the past with vintage cover prints and photos of famous martial artists from the past 50 years. Order your set today and relive martial arts history!