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Martial
Mania
The Vocabulary of Self-Defense
By George Donahue
I like hanging out with martial artists and
karate ka. There is a lot of nobility in their
hearts, a lot of wisdom in their heads, however
humble they are. On average, too, karate practitioners
and the martial artists I've met have tended
to be more generous than usual and one of
the best interventions we have within our
power is to make living conditions better,
or at least more hopeful, for those who are
doing without. More |

| Tracing Samurai Culture in Kanazawa
By Deborah Klens-Bigman, Ph.D
Unlike some Japanese cities that have spectacular historic castles that dominate the city view, Kanazawa hides it historic sites. If you search, however, you can find old samurai-class houses from the Edo period (1603-1867) and the walled Nagamachi district where old earthen walls shielding the homes behind them. |
Treating “Old Injuries:
By David Bock, C.Ac. Dipl.OM, FABORM
Martial artists often have old and lingering physical problems that might be helped by Traditional Chinese Medicine. While TCM uses terms that are unfamiliar to most readers, its ancient insights and treatments can often be helpful when Western medicine fails. |
| Kagami Biraki: Renewing the Spirit
By Christopher Caile
Kagami Biraki, which literally means 'Mirror Opening' (also known as the 'Rice Cutting Ceremony'), is a traditional Japanese celebration that is held in many traditional martial arts schools (dojos) usually on the second Saturday or Sunday of January. |
Pankration: Martial Art of Classical Greece
By Paul McMichael Nurse, Ph.D.
What is also not generally known is that there existed in the ancient world an unarmed fighting art known as pankration, a blend of Hellenic wrestling, boxing, strangulation, kicking and striking techniques, as well as joint locks. |
| A Half Century Of Budo,
Part 1
By Jarmo Osterman
Christopher Caile has practiced karate and other martial arts including aikido for over 50 years. In 1960 he introduced karate to Finland. This is his story. |
Kata As The Foundation Of Practice
By Christopher Caile
It was a secret old Chinese family fighting art within which kata served as the foundation of practice. |
| A Half Century Of Budo,
Part 2
By Jarmo Osterman
In addition to being an accomplished practitioner of karate, aikido and other martial arts, Caile has for decades researched karate, its history, kata and their applications in the US as well as Japan and Okinawa. In his professional life Caile has also been an entrepreneur, writer and journalist. |
Goaisatsu – Greeting as a Gesture of Respect
By Deborah Klens-Bigman, Ph.D.
It may not be a western custom, but if your teacher is Japanese, proper etiquette suggests that you should show up to greet him or her upon arrival. |
Book Review
| |
Famous
Japanese Swordsmen of the Warring States
Period
by William de Lang
This book takes as its subject two important
individuals: Iizasa Choisai Ienao (Iizasa
Yamashiro) (1387-1488), founder of the Kashima
Shinto style of swordsmanship, and Kamiizumi
Ise no Kami Nobutsuna (1508-1577), founder
of the Shinkage style.
Reviewed
by Deborah Klens-Bigman
|

More
Reviews
In the Forums
From
the Reading Room
| Kyudo:
Way Of The Bow - Part 1
By Raymond A. Sosnowski
Kyudo, or way of the bow,
while derived from one of Japan’s oldest
martial traditions is not practiced today
as a martial art, or a sport, but as a form
of spiritual practice associated with Zen.
|
The
Study Of Iaido
By Deborah Klens-Bigman, Ph.D.
People study the art of drawing
the sword for many reasons, some of them are
complicated. |
|
|
Simple Lessons
The Hawk and the Art of Scanning
By Terry Bryan
While the hawk has many physical attributes, other hidden qualities are just as important to its success. More
Viewpoint
Three Levels of Knowing: Three Phases of Training
By Scott Kelley
Not too long ago, one of my students sent me an excerpt from a book called “101 Things I Learned in Architecture School.” More
Defining Martial
Concepts
Focus on Budo
By Christopher Caile
Budo is a term which is made up of two characters, “Bu,” and “Do,” each having a unique meaning. More
Martial
Arts Training
Take It Easy
By Neil Ohlenkamp
Like most activities, the way to enjoy Judo or any other martial art is to learn to relax. More
Book Review
Tengu - The Mountain Goblin-
A Connor Burke Martial Arts Thriller
by John Donohue

Review by Christopher Caile
The Business Side of Martial
Arts
They Just Don't Get It
By Terry Bryan
In times of recession it makes no sense to cut back on service. This is especially true for those in the martial arts. Instead, your martial arts school or business should exceed in its customer service. More
Martial
Arts Training
The Sleeping Warrior
By Phoenix Carnevale
If you are a student
of karate, taekwondo, kung fu, Brazilian Jujutsu,
boxing or any other martial arts here is one consideration
often neglected. More
The
Lighter Side
Interesting Historical Facts
Some of the martial arts
history found on various sites on the web is so
contrived that it's funny, if not scary. More
Science & The Martial
Arts
The Weakness of Strength
By Christopher Caile
How an agressive attcker can set himself up for defeaate. More
Self Defense
Take It Easy
By Neil Ohlenkamp
Like most activities, the way to enjoy Judo or any other martial art is to learn to relax. More
Chinese Medicine
Boosting Stamina with
Herbs and Nutrition
By David Bock
There is no magic formula for boosting stamina,
but good nutrition along with use of Chinese herbal
formulas may help. More
On Kata

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