Recommended reading and notes on equipment:
- Shito-Ryu Karate
- Books
- Unante by John Sells. Available through Amazon.com, or directly from John Sells. Contact Douglas Bailey or Hank Prohm on the Bailey's Academy Yahoo! group for information about buying the book from Sells.
- The Bible of Karate: Bubishi, translated and with commentary by Patrick McCarthy. Available through Amazon.com.
- Web links
- Equipment -- Most karate equipment can be purchased from a number of local stores in the Portland (Oregon) area, or through any number of online merchants. Please contact the instructors for recommendations, as they will have the most current information on which equipment is required for class, and whether there are any orders being placed that may be subject to school, instructor, or group discounts. Alternatively, inquiries can be made on the Bailey's Academy Yahoo! group.
- Other sources -- There are a huge number of books and videos available about the history and techniques of Okinawan and Japanese martial arts. While many of these are extremely informative, others are missing crucial information or have misinterpreted the material they are discussing, and some are just plain wrong. If you would like to pursue additional studies of karate or oriental weapons training, please contact the instructors for recommendations as to titles and authors.
- Highland Broadsword
- Books
- Lannaireachd: Gaelic Swordsmanship by Chris Thompson. Available through Booksurge.
- Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters by Rector and Wagner. Available through Chivalry Bookshelf or Amazon.com.
- Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Regimentsby Rector and Wagner. Available through Chivalry Bookshelf or Amazon.com.
- Websites
- Equipment
- Weapons, Beginner - For basic drills, our weapons are 1/2" or 3/4" rattan sticks with a leather basket hilt. It is possible to purchase items like this from on-line merchants, but you pay about double what it will cost if you buy directly from Bailey's Academy.
- Weapons, Metal - While sometimes seen in class as equipment carried by senior students, these weapons are NOT required or used in the regular curriculum of Bailey's Academy. See the "Q & A" page on this site for a further discussion of this topic.
- Protective headgear - For any bouting or sparring, protective headgear is absolutely required! If you are crossing sticks in anything other than a drill or a demonstration with an instructor, you are required to wear a mask. There are no exceptions to this rule, as it is too easy to lose an eye (or worse) without the protective headgear. Currently, we are using three-weapon fencing masks, which are available from a variety of online suppliers. Talk to the instructors and other students in class to find out where the best service and prices seem to be, and also to find out if there are any group or school orders being planned in the near future.
- Other protective gear - There are a large number of options open to the student.
- Gloves - It is highly recommended that all students have a heavy leather glove to protect their hands and wrists. This is especially true of bouting, but also true even with some drills. Some students have used saber gloves purchased from fencing supply stores, and some students have used welding gloves. It is a matter of personal taste.
- Tunic or vest - Again, this can be anything from a heavy leather or denim jacket, to a tunic made by a firm specializing in equipment for historical reenactors, or even a very heavy-duty traditional fencing jacket. The requirements are that it has to provide some protection for the student, while still allowing full range of motion.
- Chest and groin protectors - Groin protectors for men can be found at almost any sporting goods store. They are also available for women, too. Plastic chest protectors for men and women can be found through many fencing supply firms; alternatively, some very simple leather armor can be purchased online, or can be made by or purchased from students or instructors who are proficient in leather work.
- Arm, leg, elbow, and knee protection - Protection for these areas is left to the discretion of the students. For the knee and lower leg, there are a number of different knee/shin/knee-and-shin guards available at most sporting goods stores. For the forearm, elbow, and upper arm, there is leather armor that can be purchased online, or there may be students or instructors in clas who are proficient in leather work and who would be willing to make some simple armor for a fee.
- Other sources - There are a number of publications and online discussion groups devoted to the history and techniques of historical swordsmanship. While this area of study does not suffer from the overwhelming amount of choice (and choice of quality) that can be found in books about asian martial arts, it is still best to talk to the Bailey's Academy instructors and/or senior students for title and author recommendations with regards to books on historical European martial arts. Techniques and weapons can vary widely based on the century, country, and social strata of the fighters and teachers being discussed.
- Online discussion group:
There is an online discussion group for Bailey's Academy. It is the baileysacademy discussion group on Yahoo!, and can be found at this address, or by clicking on the icon below.
