> well, we need help with the sword info and the technique of their
fighting. And we know practically nothing about Bushi-do. While we do
know that not all samurai followed it, we don't really know exactly
what it was. That's just one thing.
Hi, I'm new here myself, but I have an idea of how to answer you.
There is a wealth of technical and historical information about the
construction and evolution of the Japanese sword. This subject alone
could fill years of your time.
I'd suggest visiting:
http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/nihonto.htm
and reading for a while so that you an narrow down the specifics of
your question.
With regard to the various techniques of armed and unarmed combat,
again there is a vast plethora of historical and modern information
about the subject. I've trained in Martial Arts for 21 years and I'm
still learning.
What specific arena of combat are you interested in and what era?
Battlefields, duels, martial arts, koryu or gendai ryu etc...
As for Bushido, this is a Code of Conduct which was never really
adopted by the Samurai, it occupies much the same place in myth as the
Hagakure.
Most Samurai were followed Shinto or Buddhism, the early Samurai
followed a fairly esoteric form of buddhism known a Mikyo Buddhism,
which is akin in a few respects to Bushido.
I am aware that there are a lot of people in here with far greater
knowledge of Japanese history and culture than I possess, so please
correct any of the above if I am incorrect.
If you're looking for a fairly easy insight into Japanese culture as
is popularly percieved, then look for films by the director Akira
Kurosawa, especially, Ran, Kagemusha, Yojimbo, Sanjuro and of course
Seven Samurai.
Best wishes..