How a Small-Statured Scholar Saved Japan’s Martial Arts Legacy!
In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Edo harbor (now Tokyo) with four steam-powered warships. The United States was on a mission...
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Mike Finn
Sep 26
What Hidden Strategies Do Traditional Martial Arts Techniques Offer in Real-World Combat?
People like to criticize traditional martial arts techniques, saying that they’re rubbish or that they won’t work in a real fight..
Dave Lowry
Sep 19
How (Not) to Name Your Dojo
Martial artists who are about to open their own dojo often want to give it a Japanese name.
Dave Lowry
Sep 11
Karate History: Naha-Te vs. Shuri-Te
Karate practitioners with any interest in the historical roots of their art will be familiar with the terms Naha-te and Shuri-te..
Dave Lowry
Sep 4
Embracing Mistakes in Martial Arts: Lessons from Kappa, Kendo, and Aikido
Kappa are curious beasts of Japanese mythology. With the body of a human and the shell and beak of a turtle, they live..
Black Belt Team
Aug 18
What is Bugei Jūhappan? The 18 Classical Martial Arts of the Samurai
Bugei Jūhappan, a term that might not be familiar to many modern martial arts enthusiasts, refers to the "18 Martial Arts" that were...
Black Belt Team
Jun 5
Emerging Judo Stars to Watch at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The judo competition at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is set to capture the attention of fans worldwide.
Dave Lowry
May 9
Do You Understand The Kata? Find Out Now!!
If You’re A Student Of Japanese Or Okinawan Karate, You’ve Been Introduced To The First Of The Five Heian Or Pinan Kata.
Dave Lowry
Dec 27, 2023
What Is a Kiai?
Two Japanese characters make up the word: Ki means “energy,” and ai means “to unify.” The concept appears often in the traditional...
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