This video describes basic hand grips (tenouchi) for using a katana (Japanese sword).
In #budo as well as life, in general, we should avoid wasting time. We need to be vigilant and stand guard against being caught up …
How to learn kenjutsu? Learning anything as profound as a martial art needs a teacher. Kenjutsu, while fairly straightforward with a superficial glance, contains a …
Studying the arts of fighting leads to peace.
The pursuit of martial arts has one real goal, the betterment of ourselves and society through personal development …
Pardon the pun, but the point of iaido is important to keep.
When we practice iaido or iaijutsu alone it is easy to fall into bad …
Iaijutsu and iaido are components of kenjutsu 剣術, the arts of the sword. Iaijutsu, iaido are specific techniques used to draw the sword from the …
You only have a little bit longer to live. The end is coming, whether in the most violent or quietly unexpected way; it is coming. …
To all of you that have supported and also those that have caused trouble to myself and the school; I wish you to be well, …
I have discussed teachers and students within martial arts. The senpai-kohai relationship is just as meaningful as the teacher and student. A bad teacher will …
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you that were kind and supported us in the past year. Also my best wishes to …
Being righteous and doing the right thing is one of the foundations of body and speech actions, as well as mental formations. Righteous decision making …
What is compassion? Compassion is a concern for the suffering or problems of others. The Dictionary
Coming from its Latin roots, compassion means to suffer together. You …
In 1888 the Tokyo Metropolitan Police department decided to cull various ryu-ha together to form a system of study for their police force. This inculded, …
I am often thinking about how to learn bujutsu productively. The efficiency of body and mind is vital in the classical arts that I study …
As a martial arts instructor, or school, or especially if you're representing an authentic Japanese "koryū" you have a responsibility for safety.
If you are a …
Four Friends. Four Enemies.
One morning while on alms rounds the Buddha gave a heap of advice to the son of a homeowner, Sigala, whom the …
Budō Is Limitless
When does training end? When do we become a master? The short answer is that it just never really happens. There are no …
How to self-learn sword?
A question that pops up in my messages and conversations frequently is, how do I self learn sword? Is there really a …
Japanese martial arts are usually defined in two groups. Pre-modern and modern. There are no single agreed-upon criteria for the separation. Generally, schools that were …
The koryū of Japan are not self-defense arts. Although they can be authentic and certainly do deal with the realistic push or pull of an …
Today during shodo practice I wrote this. Our minds as the top of the mountain. Touched by the sun and clouds. Quiet and secluded. As …
Joe is a bit of a jerk.Joe joins a dojo.Joe practices martial arts for 12 years.Joe is still a jerk.
We've all met Joe. At least …
Gratitude for our swords and training equipment, and those that made them. To our teachers and those that came before us. To our students. To …