Customer Rating:  
Summary: If you are drinking the Kool-Aid...
Comment: ... of the Bujinkan this is a great book. About as great as the last couple that had pretty pictures, flowery words and... not much else. Yes, it's a Rorschach test, you see. If you find great meaning in someone telling you what you want to hear then this is an excellent investment.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Another poor translation...
Comment: Save your money Bujin-kuns!
I say this unless you can read the original Japanese text in the appendix.
This book is full of errors... both in the form of poor translation & layout. Some techniques have even been misplaced under the wrong sections!
These series of books really do not do Hatsumi-sensei any justice. Either he picked poor translators or they were chosen for him. The English translation reads very unprofessional and sounds like someone who has been in Japan long enough that they can no longer speak or write properly. It is unfortunate that the translators would accept such work that is out of their league.
If you can't read Japanese and are interested in a glimpse of who Hatsumi-sensei is and what he sounds like, try the "Way of the Ninja." Having read all of his books in Japanese, this one sounds most like his original penned words.
Customer Rating:
Summary: More than a martial arts book
Comment: Fighting Techniques is a multi-layered book. While sold as a martial arts book, it is also an art book and a book on philosophy.
The martial arts portion consists of the scrolls, both in photographs and translation, of the various schools of martial arts that the author holds. These scrolls at one time were secret and never revealed to the public. The art book is obvious from the photographs and composition. The text, other than the martial arts portion, are the author's philosophy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book
Comment: Everyone's been buzzing about Hatsumi sensei's new book, which focuses on ryuha, and it's been worth the wait. Like many other reviewers have posted, it's hardly a training manual, but rather a list of kata. It's a great way of keeping things straight for your personal training notes, but will not be helpful without personal instruction. It's definately meant for someone who's been training ninpo for a while, but don't let that stop you from getting it.
Like the other Kodansha books I've reviewed, fantastic photos and artwork, although some sketchy translations. Overall, a great read.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Save your cash for training
Comment: This book will be absolutely USELESS to most, and UNNECESSARY for the rest. Indeed the kata of several schools of the Bujinkan are listed, but the lists are strictly verbal, no photos to help decipher the text. Futhermore, the verbal text is likely meaningless or confusing unless one is already familiar with the kata/lesson being addressed. Regarding the other sections of the book, Hatsumi-sensei tends to write in a rather cryptic way and one will likely have difficulty coaxing much out of the statements unless one is already rather well versed in the context. So, in a nutshell, if one does not already have a strong understanding of the material presented this book will be more of a hinderence than a help. If on the other hand, one is already well versed in the material then one will probably not be looking to a book for answers. And so, unless you are a collector of all things Hatsumi-sensei (the book does have some pretty photos after all), no need to buy this book. Spend your money instead on an extra training session or a daikomyosai video.
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