About the Author

- Richard W. Babin, B.S., M.D., is a practicing surgeon who served two years' active duty in the USAF as chief of head and neck surgery at Maxwell Field during the Vietnam conflict. His interest in the martial arts began with several years of judo in the 1960s in San Francisco. Upon entering private practice he began studying Yang-style taiji. He has practiced Muso Shinden Ryu iaido for many years and has been awarded the rank of third dan by the All US Kendo Federation. - Anthony DiCristofano studied Japanese language and kendo before heading off to Japan in 1993. He returned to Japan in 2005 in order to observe and learn traditional Japanese foundation forging and to study and understand the process of making traditional Japanese steel (tamahagane). Among his noted teachers are Leon Kapp, and Master Smith Yoshindo Yoshihara. - James Goedkoop, B.A., runs Kingfisher WoodWorks LLC in Vermont, manufacturing wooden weapons specific to the Japanese sword-related martial arts. The chapter in this e-book documents an evolution into the redevelopment of archaic techniques in weapons production. Goedkoop's mastery of woodworking is married to the subtle sensitivities of Japanese aesthetics and budo. - Harunaka Hoshino trained in karate, kenjutsu, and ninjutsu in Tokyo, Japan. His martial arts background is balanced with studies in Japanese culture, history, and language. Mr. Hoshino serves as the president of the Japanese Sword Society and Japanese Sword Restoration Center. - Curt Peritz spent decades researching the Ainu, an indigenous people of Japan. Because of the Ainus' particular flair for woodcarving and adapting Japanese sword blades to fit their own style of sword dressing, he conducted research in Japan as well as a number of museums. - Andrew Tharp, J.D., earned juris doctorate degree from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2012. In addition, he holds a B.S. in business and a certificate in martial arts from Indiana University. He served as the senior fencing instructor for Indiana University from 2007 until 2012. - Peter J. Ward, M.S., Ph.D., has studied a variety of Japanese martial arts. He received his degree in human anatomy from Perdue University. Dr. Ward taught Human Gross Anatomy for Medial Students at Indiana University School of Medicine and is now an associate professor of anatomy at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.