legends and anecdotes of the lives of famous samurai and budôka (masters of sword fighting, aikidô, Okinawa-te and karate). For the beginner the book provides an idea of the inexhaustible possibilities of budô as a school of life, and the experienced practitioner will find numerous stimuli for his further development and also for his own teaching activities. "This book is a message from a forgotten but precious past, it is an invitation to follow the path of the 'accomplished human being', which is the true path of karatedô. Sôke Mabuni even goes beyond this path by making connections with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian spirituality. May his message be read and understood." (Hanshi Roland Habersetzer).