The Japanese martial arts, for the most part, adhere and follow the overarching philosophy of budo. Budo, or Martial Way, strives to develop the practitioner into a polite, courteous, and productive member of society. Traditionally and within this budo philosophy, many instructors place their students through the rote practice of mental, physical, and spiritual techniques … Continue reading Budo and Experimentation
Bryan Imanishi of Cascade Kendo Kai feels like he was born into kendo, starting his training at the age of eight. With most of his family participating in the art, to him, it felt like the right thing to do. Today, Imanishi discusses his kendo journey, from childhood to adulthood, some history of the Cascade … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Bryan Imanishi: Kendo Training and Cascade Kendo Kai
While attending the University of California Berkeley, author Diana Paxson and others helped organize a medieval tournament that laid the foundations for future tournaments and the establishment of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Paxson spent ten years serving on the SCA’s Board of Directors, furthering its growth. Today, Paxson talks about the formation of … Continue reading Interview with Author Diana Paxson: The Early Years of the Society of Creative Anachronism
It is not uncommon to hear the sentiment expressed, "training for the sake of tradition." Such a comment is often professed when there may not be a clear-cut answer or reason as to why things are as they are. More often, in response to a question from a student as to why we are doing … Continue reading Does Tradition Create An Obstacle and Prevent An Art From Growing? By Michael Aloia
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 