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Hayward Nishioka
1 day ago
The Untold History of Judo in America: How It Went From Unknown to Iconic
In addition to forgetting, one of the problems with aging—oddly enough—is remembering. "I remember when you could get a cup of coffee for...
Justin Lee Ford
Jan 11
How An Ancient Japanese Practice Can Help You Crush Your 2025 Goals!
When was the last time you truly failed? It’s a question we’d all rather ignore. We’re often taught to gauge success by how well we avoid...
Dave Lowry
Jan 2
Can You Challenge Your Sensei? A Surprising Samurai Story Reveals the Answer!
“I’m an accountant,” the reader wrote. “I know finance. I know my sensei is making a bad decision with respect to an investment he’s...
Dave Lowry
Dec 24, 2024
Sumo Isn’t Just About Size: How Wrestlers Use Strategy to Win (Or Lose)!
You know that sumo is Japan’s oldest martial art.That it goes back to Japan’s earliest civilization. That sumo bouts are mentioned in the...
Dave Lowry
Dec 12, 2024
The Surprising Connection Between Tea Ceremony Rituals and Feudal Japan’s Deadly Arts
There is a moment, in some rituals of the tea ceremony, that calls for the kettle to be lifted from the charcoal brazier that heats it....
Dave Lowry
Nov 20, 2024
The Truth About Zen Every Martial Artist Needs to Know (Especially Karateka)
Westerners seem fascinated with Zen — or, at least, with what they think Zen is. Zen seems to describe a state of mind, for many...
Hayward Nishioka
Oct 28, 2024
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...
Mike Finn
Sep 26, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
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, 2024
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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