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Foreword

By Nicklaus Suino

Why would a person pay a king’s ransom for a single sword made by a premier Japanese swordsmith? The sword is probably not used to cut and may be removed from the scabbard only a few times a year for admiration and study. Similar objects made in other countries by less accomplished swordsmiths are available at a fraction of the cost.

Why would a person take up a hobby as antiquated and austere as iaidō? In this esoteric martial art, we practice formalized versions of motions designed to cut and kill another human being, yet we never actually use the sword to cut. There are no back flips or battles as you would see in an action movie about martial arts, and folks who do not practice iaidō quickly become bored watching it. Yet we practice quietly, intensely, and without celebration on a daily basis.

Why would a devoted student of iaidō travel for hours each week specifically to train with an instructor whose knowledge was the result of a succession of direct teacher-student relationships dating back four-hundred-fifty years to the founder of the style? Another instructor, having learned his iaidō through books, seminars, and video, might be closer, ask for lower fees, and be less demanding.

Let me begin to answer those questions by posing one more: why would an otherwise sane person walk on hot coals? You may be aware of the ancient firewalking ritual, a practice that has been popularized in recent years in motivation seminars, but which has been done for thousands of years by seekers of enlightenment the world over. The reason, of course, is that, with the proper preparation and mindset, firewalking creates an extraordinary inner experience. The catharsis resulting from a successful walk can be life-changing.

Would a firewalk be as effective if, instead of walking on hot coals, you jumped over them? If, instead of hot coals, one walked upon fallen leaves? Of course not. Nor would skydiving be interesting if one jumped from three feet in the air. We choose significant activities because they create big emotional payoffs.

Similarly, when Japanese swordsmanship is understood for what it really is—not merely an esoteric ritual involving a sword but a means of creating profound personal change—then the importance of striving for perfection in every aspect begins to emerge. The student who takes up the art fully understanding that its purpose is to make him or her stronger, calmer, more courageous, more insightful, and more spiritual, then good judgment requires that he or she seek out the most legitimate and absolute best instructor. The difference between that instructor and one who has learned his art in a few seminars is extreme. Just as the difference of only two millimeters in a sword fight can mean the difference between life and death, in personal development, a two-millimeter technical misunderstanding can mean the difference between profound realization and complete self-delusion.

So it is with swords. Of course you can purchase a piece of metal shaped like a sword for a few dollars. But holding in your hand a true Japanese katana, in which steel from a specific source has been painstakingly extracted, blended, forged, shaped and polished by craftspeople whose heritage is forged just as intensely as the steel of the blade itself, lies in a completely different realm of experience. A true Japanese katana is capable of transporting the educated aficionado to a similar extent as walking on hot coals transports the firewalker.

Where does one go to get an understanding of how to appreciate the depth of the Japanese sword and the extraordinary role of iaidō practice in its preservation? Until now, there were very few sources outside Japan. In this work, however, author Max Roach makes it possible for readers to share in exquisite detail the heretofore hidden aspects required to truly appreciate the essence of the Japanese sword. He reveals the beating heart of the forging process, the spirituality of the culture that gave birth to the katana, the world view of both the smith and the samurai, and how the esoteric art of iaidō creates a living space in which the katana, the soul of the samurai, can flourish even without war.

Nowhere else in the English language have these topics been brought together so artfully, with so many amazing illustrations, and by someone so devoted to the topic. For readers seeking to walk through the fierce history, evolution, and power of the Japanese sword, Max Roach’s work is required reading.