In the Dojo, by Dave Lowry

I have over 15 post it notes sticking out of In the Dojo, reminding me of important things I need to reread.

That's a hint about how I feel about this book.

Dave Lowry is easily one of the most accomplished martial arts writers of our time, and he adds another highly valuable text to his resume with In the Dojo. Focusing on rituals and etiquette surrounding Japanese martial arts, Lowry touches upon points that could very easily fade away into the ether as martial arts become more about business rather than culture.

Many students of modern arts don't realize it, but etiquette (or reishiki) surround every aspect of classical martial training. From concepts as varying as dojo design to proper bowing, reishiki embodies what it means to be a classical warrior. Lowry tries to grant us a peak into the different methods of manner that he has discovered over his years of koryu training.

As jonesed as I am about In the Dojo, I have one important caveat – it's not for everyone. Lowry really digs into the minutiae of etiquette and does not dole out a lot of training advice. People looking for Samurai Secrets or Ninja Techniques have definitely come to the wrong place.

This book is more suited for those unfortunate individuals who find themselves captivated by the arts and all the history, culture, and quirks behind it. For these budo nerds, In the Dojo is a playground of 'did you know?' and 'ahh ha' moments.

A young Dave Lowry

In the Dojo is separated by concept as opposed to having a story arc like Autumn Lightning or Persimmon Wind. Should the reader be so inclined, he/she could jump around to different topics, including: proper behavior for a teacher, proper behavior for a student, the origins of the hakama, the involvement of Shinto in martial arts, and more.

As tends to happen with Mr. Lowry's books, if you buy In the Dojo, have a highlighter and post it notes nearby. There is about 10 pounds of information here crammed into a 5 pound bag and you'll need to come back from time to time to refresh.

Overall, Ikigai108 gives this book:

Would you like to give this book a shot? Buy it from the bbm store.

Posted by Ikigai 108 on March 24, 2009 in Books, Martial Arts | 2 Comments

Comments

2 Comments on In the Dojo, by Dave Lowry

Sean on Wed, 25th Mar 2009 6:58 pm

Excellent review – I’m always on the lookout for new books on Japanese martial arts (especially karate), and will be adding this (and many other books reviewed on this blog!) to my to-get list!
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on it!

Sensei/Dr. Juan Otero Jr. on Tue, 21st Apr 2009 2:28 pm

I have read most of Dave Lowry’s book collection (It is a collection for any true martial artist). I have also asked my students to include some of his books as required reading for our Book Club Readings. We usually start off with “The Best of Dave Lowry” as an introduction. I believe that no serious student of the arts could or should do without reading Dave Lowry’s books, at least once. Thank you, sir, for sharing your knowledge.
Dr. Juan Otero Jr.-Hackensack, NJ

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