Niklaus, Suino

New York and Tokyo: Weatherhill, 117 pages (1996)
ISBN: 0-8348-0376-3
568 Broadway, Suite, 705, New York, NY 10012

Recommended w/reservation

Suino’s Arts of Strength, Arts of Serenity serves as a reminder of the varied aspects of participating in the martial arts, including the physical, spiritual, and intellectual. He argues convincingly that physical elements should be taught in a progressive manner, beginning simply, and gradually becoming more complicated. And, he contends that a martial arts practitioner should understand that strength is not only a physical pursuit, but also an intellectual and spiritual one.

In general, the book is organized into logical sections, including “Training the Body,” “Training the Mind,” and “Three Martial Virtues.” The information it contains is somewhat basic, but would be useful for someone deciding whether or not to pursue a martial art, or someone who has already been practicing and needs a reminder of the all-encompassing nature of the sport.

In addition to somewhat philosophical discussions, Suino offers several bits of practical advice. For example, he states that when choosing a martial art, the quality of the teacher may be more important than the style itself. Or, when visiting a dojo, wearing a white belt shows humility and respect for that club’s ranking system. He also defines several of the martial arts, with information about each art’s balance of physical, spiritual, and intellectual elements; he provides an annotated bibliography for further study; and he offers a small list of martial arts organizations.

Unfortunately, the book contains several major flaws which could give the reader pause in taking the subject seriously. First, the language is too casual for such a significant topic. With several dangling participles, phrases repeated ad nauseum, and sentences such as “These kids were holy terrors,” the book undermines its message. The aforementioned bibliography is preceded by an “Eight Essential Texts” that, while useful, would be better integrated into the bibliography. In addition, Suino is blatantly pro-Japanese martial arts, to the point where it implies that non-Japanese arts do not have the proper balance of physical, spiritual, and intellectual elements. This could potentially turn away a Taekwondo student who could benefit from the multifaceted perspective of this book.

Annotated by: Erin Freeman (July 2006)

Martial Arts: Iaido | Judo | Jujitsu | Karate | Kendo |

Topics: instruction | philosophy | psychology |