Mention the word ‘samurai’ to anyone and it will automatically register the image of an ancient Japanese warrior wielding a single-edged sword, sometimes two. Most people have associated samurais with sword fighting and the bushido code; no doubt, it is hard to imagine a samurai without a sword, much more if he is fighting without it. One samurai, however, stresses that it is possible.

Revered Japanese martial artist Masaaki Hatsumi, who has trained and excelled in various forms of fighting, including Karate, Aikido, Judo, Kendo, Jukendo (rifle and bayonet combat), Western-style boxing, and Ninjitsu, implies that a samurai can still effectively fight without a sword. In his book, Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai, Grand Master Hatsumi clearly illustrates how someone can defend against any attacker, even enemies with weapons, using a series of moves, jabs, elbow strikes, and submission techniques.

Although Grand Master Hatsumi is not into mixed martial arts, his unconventional moves can clearly add to the arsenal of a mixed martial artist. The Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai introduces several unorthodox styles that have been secretly passed down by a very long line of masters to their chosen students. Grandmaster Hatsumi himself inherited this knowledge and now reveals these styles in his book, which includes: Kihon Happo (Eight Basic Movements), Kosshijutsu (attacking the opponent’s muscles), Koppojutsu (attacking the opponent’s bones), Jutaijutsu (flexibility of the body), Daken Taijutsu (fist punching and striking), and Ninpo Taijutsu (Ninja arts).

Aside from instilling the basic fundamentals of unarmed fighting to his audience, Grand Master Hatsumi also explores the roots of martial arts and takes his readers on a learning experience on some of the unknown and lesser yet efficient forms of martial arts. The Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai also delves into the essence of the bushido code, enlightening readers on the other aspects of fighting.

Larry Vollmer, Jr. of The Journal News is a huge fan of mixed martial arts, and finds Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai a great additional resource for aspiring and practicing martial artists and martial arts fans.

Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi is published by Kodansha.