Strategy as Applied to Warrior-citizens

After years of study, I have come to a small understanding of the way of strategy. I will here explain some strategy as it applies to warrior-citizens. Seek whatever truth you may find here, then continue on your search for enlightenment.In the broad view, a warrior must uphold the values... Read More

Learning the Modern Dynamics of Judo

You may have the erroneous idea that force is not necessary in judo, especially when you see a sixty-year-old instructor throwing many young- and strong men seemingly without effort. Dynamics, however, denies this illusion. A body begins to move only when an external force works on it, as will be... Read More

Are You Still Standing Toe to Toe?

How many times do you practice techniques with your training partner and you stay in the same spot? Next time you are training, see how much you and your partner move. You will find you move very little or not at all. You see, when you are training, or doing... Read More

The Dojo

Just as an aside. For those who would "box" us in to specific "category".........We don't just write articles. There is a place we actually train in these methods every day. This is where people of various backgrounds come together and have one thing in common, TRAINING.At the "Dojo"(which it is),... Read More

Break the Bones

"HONE O ORERU" is a Japanese term that translates literally as "BREAK THE BONES". It is an essential concept of true SHUGYO and a central theme of a true Budo Dojo. What this term means at it's essence has EVERYTHING to do with the forging of an iron will and... Read More

Basic Drills

We all have a good foundation in the basic blows and combinations.Think about adding the following drills to your basic syllabus.These can be trained as "stand alone" combinations OR worked into existing "Defendu" combinations either "before" or "after".1. HARD left lead to chin (mental foramen) HARD overhand right to chin... Read More

Regular or De-escalated

We always stress that NOTHING occurs in a vacuum. There always exists stepping stones or a progression of events that lead up to a "situation". Whether YOU are AWARE of them or not is not the issue(it should be, but as they say "sh%& happens").Regardless whether you saw it "coming"... Read More

So You Think You Train Hard

"Tokio Hirano (1922-1993) 8th Dan The Man Who Revolutionized Judo" By Jim Chen, M.D . and Theodore ChenHirano 7th Dan At Age 42Tokio Hirano (5'5", 75 kg), obtained Godan (5th dan) at age 19, is perhaps the greatest Judo technician of all time. He is probably the best known Japanese... Read More

Samurai - The Honourable & The Treacherous

The Japanese Samurai were warriors. Highly trained, skilled and efficient killers. Indeed, for many years the Samurai were the law of the land, a class of citizens above all except their Daimyo and the imperial Shogun. The samurai inhabited and roamed a land which was governed by the sword, and... Read More

Safety Awareness & Self Defense: Circle of Safety

Safety Awareness & Self Defense is the responsibility of each individual. Knowing your surroundings and being aware of potential dangers is your first step towards self-defense. Avoiding and distancing yourself from circumstances that could be trouble are your responsibility.The Circle of Safety is an imaginary boundary extending from your body... Read More

Aikido Philosophy: An Oriental Concept of Energy, Self, and Mind

PrefaceThere are many different ways to understand Aikido philosophy and perceive, utilize, and benefit from energy. What I offer here is one of many ways. Indeed when I do other kinds of activities I perceive of and work with energy in quite a different manner. What follows is my experience... Read More

Sensing Intention

One of the 'mystical' aspects of the martial arts has always been the ability to feel another persons intention.Sensing intention gives a person the ability to be in instant control of a potentially violent encounter, and it's one of the ways we use the martial arts to test our energy... Read More

Martial Arts Strength Training

According to various sources on the internet, a 1996 article in Iron Man Magazine revealed Bruce Lee's workout. In addition to his cardio and karate workouts, Lee lifted weights three times a week and performed the following routine: clean and presses 2 x 8 squats 2 x 12 barbell pullovers... Read More

Is it a ?Hurt? or is it an ?Injury?

My father fed me this line every time I felt pain or discomfort. Growing up the coach's son was not without difficulty. My dad never played favorites; in fact I had to do it better and cleaner than the other kids. Now, he didn't say this to be malicious, he... Read More

A Few Things Everyone Should Know to Keep Themselves Safe

The following are a few thoughts about how to decrease your chances of being a victim of a violent crime. I know a lot of times we focus on the nuts and bolts of a fight and we assume most of us know these things and this information is common... Read More

Generating More Power from Hip Rotation - Lessons from Martial Arts

One of the important lessons of Martial Arts training is the ability to use hip rotation as a way to generate power and speed for maximum impact.Martial artists know that the hips are where the body's 'center of gravity' is located. It lends balance and stability to every move. The... Read More

Okinawan Karate

So you are thinking of starting to train in okinawan karate. There are a lot of choices as far as okinawan karate schools are concerned. Which school do you choose ? What is the best school or system? If you are a parent, what okinawan karate school is best for... Read More

By-Rote Combinations

Do not believe that practicing "by rote" 1-2-3,etc. type "responses" to street attacks is a viable or particularly useful training exercise. Example: He does this, I do that. For attack A I use Defense A.Realize that in a street fight there are far too many variables, too many contingencies. Uncle... Read More

Martial Arts and The Zone

On the occasions you delivered the perfect strike; blocked without the need to think or performed a near flawless kata, did it feel difficult? Or did you get the sense it happened by itself? The 'zone' is a place where athletes describe this sort of experience. Studies suggest its a... Read More

Samurai Sword Facts

The first samurai swords we're actually straight bladed, single edged weapons imported from Korea and China known as chokuto, which were later replaced with the curved blade variety at the end of the 8th Century. The name of the curved blade swords which replaced them was Tachi. The reason for... Read More

Makiwara Training

Shigeru Kimura Sensei 9th Dan Tani-Ha Shitoryu Shukokai had a punch that was like getting hit with a cannonball.Kimura Sensei had won the All Japan Karate Championship two years in a row. His technique was lightening fast, crisp, and decisive. There was a problem however. Tani Sensei, top student of... Read More

COMBATIVES A Rose by Any Other Name?....Part 2

The advent of World War One (the war to END all wars) brought warfare into a new and foreboding era of man to man killing and slaughter. Air power, mechanized warfare, chemical warfare and the general widespread use of machine guns changed the face of battle almost completely. However the... Read More

How to Become A Modern-Day Ninja Master

The ninja were a military order in Japan. Most people have seen them in movies and fictional books.They are the guys dressed in the black suits that seem to have amazing powers, such as climbing the outside of buildings with no rope, or seeming to disappear instantly.Behind ninjutsu you will... Read More

The Fallacy and the Myth

It's always amusing when "know it alls" dismiss certain methods out of hand as being useless or "unworkable". One "victim" of this line of thinking is the "cross arm" or "X" block (for lack of a better term).We often hear phrases like the "myth of the X block". Usually this... Read More

Samurai Armor Part 1

The first prototype for Japanese samurai armor came about in the form of the yoroi during the Gempei War of 1181-1185. The weight of the yoroi was around 60lb. The upper-body armor of the samurai was known as the 'Do'. This comprised of the 'Sode', the suspended shoulder and upper-arm... Read More

Mixed Martial Arts star Jose Aldo learned to defend himself at an early age
Boston Herald
Aldo has developed into one of the top 145-pounders in mixed martial arts. "I'm young and I know it takes a lifetime to get a dream like this," Aldo says. ...

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ESPN
MMA Fighting Stances: Mixed martial arts intelligence from the cage and ring
USA Today
World Extreme Cagefighting's featherweight belt changed hands Wednesday night, with Jose Aldo's speed overwhelming champion Mike Brown. ...
It could be the Aldo Era in the WECYahoo! Sports
New title brings new life for AldoSI.com
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Coolio Talks Mixed Martial Arts Fight, "H*ll Yeah I'll Cheat to Win"
SOHH
Rap veteran Coolio recently talked about his upcoming mixed martial arts bout against fighter Eric Martinez and promised he would not lose the fight by a ...

Examiner.com
400 Calorie Fix and martial arts training
Examiner.com
Serious students of the martial arts quickly learn that there are no short cuts to success. Similarly, true changes in body composition cannot be achieved ...

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New mixed martial arts gym trains 'mind and body'
The Valley Chronicle
Primetime MMA, a new mixed martial arts gym in town, can do all of that and more, said owner and operator Billy Martinez. Martinez said he has always been ...

ESPN
Tito Ortiz Returns at UFC 106 Saturday Night
HispanicBusiness.com
UFC legend Tito Ortiz returns to mixed martial arts on Saturday night to battle Forrest Griffin, one of the original ...
Ortiz has mouth to thank for returnESPN
Tito's dark shades are hiding a nasty black eyeYahoo! Sports
Ortiz returns to find familiar foeSI.com
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Daily Mail
O-bam-a! US President shows off his martial arts skills on visit to South Korea
Daily Mail
The president is known to have studied the martial art for four years from 2001, when he was a junior senator in Illinois. He took just as firm a stance ...

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ESPN
MMA Fighting Stances: Mixed martial arts intelligence from the cage and ring
USA Today
A trickle of autumn problems for the Ultimate Fighting Championship has turned into a fall torrent with the latest bad news about heavyweight ...
Brock Lesnar has surgery, illness revealedMinneapolis Star Tribune
UFC heavyweight champ Lesnar recuperating from illness at home in MinnesotaThe Canadian Press
Brock Lesnar Sick, Health in Jeopardy. Will He Fight in the UFC Again?Associated Content
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Asian Heritage Half-Time Show
Raiders.com
Nine Asian Martial Arts schools from the Bay Areas will perform during the half-time shows. These nine schools also will participate during the pre-game ...

Advocate.com
Part 2: Mixed Martial Arts - Sport or Spectacle?
WTOC
Savannah, GA(WTOC) While many people love Mixed Martial Arts, not everyone's giving it a seal of approval. ...
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Choosing a Self Defense / Martial Arts School: A Parents Guide