This video describes basic hand grips (tenouchi) for using a katana (Japanese sword).
Many people study more than one martial art. There can be varied reasons such as wanting to learn everything you can, rounding out techniques or …
In the dojo, when I hear a student offer excuses to a teacher, I can only think that that student is unteachable or at the …
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 …
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 …
Waza Waza Everywhere
In our respective martial arts systems, we learn many waza 技 (techniques). Some ryū-ha (systems) have a handful, while others have hundreds. Can …
Martial artists should be aware of what can live in the shadow of righteousness; jealousy is a subtle thing. It can ruin our practice and …
I have been saying it's important to get training for using a sharp sword or any dangerous weapon. I and some other people have been …
I would like to express my thoughts on the concept of mushin no shin — commonly known as mushin (無心) It is different from munen. …
Budo values reflection and compassion. When these are not present it is hard to develop the heart and character for deeper study. The heart or …
Learning a traditional bujutsu, koryu, or comprehensive martial art is best approached as a serious endeavor. Learning martial arts should not be a simple lighthearted …
When people want to find a martial arts teacher, do they often think of mister Miyagi? Or Some similar lone white-bearded master who is tending …
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 …
Shu-ha-ri 守破離 is an essential concept in traditional learning. It is the fundamental master-disciple relationship in many traditional arts.
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, …
Today I decided to write the four kanji compound of morohanotsurugi. In English, we might say, Double-Edged Sword.
Though there is a meaning that through misuse …
It is worth a lot to be mindful of the ebb and flow of all things. The rising and falling and ceasing of everything. The …
Narrow Minds Walk Narrow Paths
There are a lot of martial arts to enjoy. There are many good teachers out there of varying degrees of knowledge. …
I once had an interaction with someone who referred to their school as a genuine samurai school. They insisted their school was authentic and that …
Teaching maai 間合い, the ideas of combative spacing and timing intervals in kenjutsu.