Mr. Dave Lowry literally grew up in the Japanese cultural arts. As a boy, he commenced a lifelong study of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu swordsmanship under a Japanese teacher who was living in Missouri. In 1985, Mr. Lowry’s experiences growing up as a Westerner, who was deeply immersed in Japanese cultural and martial arts, formed the basis for his publications.

In addition to Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, Mr. Lowry has trained in karate-do and a variety of modern martial ways. His current and primary martial arts activities are focused on Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, Shindo Muso Ryu (an old combative art utilizing a four-foot staff), and aikido. He has also practiced a wide variety of Japanese arts including go (an ancient Japanese game), shodo (calligraphy), kado (flower arrangement), and chado (tea ceremony).

Mr. Dave Lowry has a degree in English, and works as a professional writer. He has authored numerous books related to budo the Japanese concept of the “martial way.” He has written training manuals on use of weapons such as the bokken and jo,  novels centered on the lifestyle of the budōka (one who follows the martial way), and many articles on martial practices and traditional Japanese philosophy. He has been a regular columnist for Black Belt magazine since 1986, where he writes on the traditional arts and has contributed to FightingArts.com. He has also served as Senior Advisor to the SMAA (and contributor to its Journal), an organization dedicated to providing realistic survival orientated defense training and education.

Published works Include:

• The Connoisseurs Guide to Sushi
• Clouds in the West: Lessons from the Martial Arts of Japan
• Moving Toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan
• Traditions: Essays on the Japanese Martial Arts and Ways
• Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai
• Persimmon Wind: A Martial Artist’s Journey in Japan
• Jo: The Art Of The Japanese Short Staff
• Sword and Brush: The Spirit of the Martial Arts
• Bokken – Art of the Japanese Sword
• In the Dojo: A Guide to the Rituals and Etiquette of the Japanese Martial Arts
• The Karate Way: Discovering the Spirit of Practice
• The Essence of Budo: A Practitioner’s Guide to Understanding the Japanese Martial Ways
• Chinese cooking for diamond thieves(novel)