The Line of Beauty:

NOTES ON THE INTANGIBLE IN KENDO, IAIJUTSU AND THE TRADITIONAL BUGEI

By Roald Knutsen

Language: Japanese & English

Japanese text translated by Kinuyo Ogino & Phillip Jupp

Edited by Tomoko Nakano, Kazuyo Matsuda & Masashi Nakao 

Published 2022

The book is written by Roald Knussen, President of British Kendo Renmei (BKR). It summarises the essence of his research and experience of practising modern kendo, koryu kenjutsu and iaijutsu for 60 years. Roald Knutsen was initiated into Kashima Shinto-ryu and trained under the 64th Koichiro Yoshikawa Soke in Kashima, received instruction in Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu iaijutsu from Jisaku Kamo at the Kenseikai Dojo in Saga, and was taught modern kendo in Kobe by Isshinkan Kancho Yoshihiro Ozaki and Akira Maruyama. He was also deeply involved in organising the development of kendo in the UK and Europe. He served as the UK representative on the board of the International Kendo Federation when it was established in 1970. The topics of this book include an analysis of the ōgi, or the secret teachings of the bujutsu, based on William Hogarth’s ‘The Analysis of Beauty’, published in the 17th century, episodes with and teachings of his former teachers, his own beliefs, ‘the Dao (the Way)’ of Lao Tzu, which lies at the root of true bugei, and a hypothetical exchange between German swordsmen and Japanese samurai in Ningpō, China, in the Muromachi period. There are also 27 photographs, including those that contributed to the development of kendo in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s.

Available for Free Download here

*The book is bilingual and starts with Japanese text. The original text in English starts at p79.

Or contact Tomoko Nakano at tomokonakano83@gmail.com for a free printed copy. (shipment fees are not covered)