Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part III

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Katie Roche wanted to find out what naginata was as a child after hearing her grandmother talk about her time in the art. After some time and breaking up with her high school boyfriend, she enrolled herself into naginata, studying first under Sachiko Yamauchi. When she relocated for undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and … Continue reading Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part III

Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Katie Roche wanted to find out what naginata was as a child after hearing her grandmother talk about her time in the art. After some time and breaking up with her high school boyfriend, she enrolled herself into naginata, studying first under Sachiko Yamauchi. When she relocated for undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and … Continue reading Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part II

Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Katie Roche wanted to find out what naginata was as a child after hearing her grandmother talk about her time in the art. After some time and breaking up with her high school boyfriend, she enrolled herself into naginata, studying first under Sachiko Yamauchi. When she relocated for undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and … Continue reading Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part I

A Layman’s Observations: The Role of Uke in Training

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This is the fourth installment in an ongoing series of "A Layman's Observations" where I discuss my observations on martial arts and combat sports. Read the prior installment here. Recently, as I stepped onto the dojo’s mats, my mind began contemplating the overall role of uke in partner-based arts that I train. What is it … Continue reading A Layman’s Observations: The Role of Uke in Training

Interview with Seattle Kendo Kai Head Instructor Doug Imanishi: Responding to Covid and Celebrating 100 Years

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Beginning his training at a young age, Doug Imanishi took up kendo when his older cousin and he played with some rolled up newspapers. From there, his desire to train kendo grew, as did his family membership in the art. In 2004, he took over Seattle Kendo Kai, the one his grandfather helped establish in … Continue reading Interview with Seattle Kendo Kai Head Instructor Doug Imanishi: Responding to Covid and Celebrating 100 Years

Interview with Austin Historical Weapons Guild Founder Anthony Buonomo: Historical Fencing in Texas, Part II

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Anthony Buonomo explored the Eastern martial arts before finding historical fencing, though he was always interested in swords and the like. When he moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, he finally found a group and began teaching historical fencing after nine months of training, drawing on his previous martial arts training. This experience soon led … Continue reading Interview with Austin Historical Weapons Guild Founder Anthony Buonomo: Historical Fencing in Texas, Part II

Interview with Austin Historical Weapons Guild Founder Anthony Buonomo: Historical Fencing in Texas, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Anthony Buonomo explored the Eastern martial arts before finding historical fencing, though he was always interested in swords and the like. When he moved to Austin, Texas in 2012, he finally found a group and began teaching historical fencing after nine months of training, drawing on his previous martial arts training. This experience soon led … Continue reading Interview with Austin Historical Weapons Guild Founder Anthony Buonomo: Historical Fencing in Texas, Part I

Interview with Heartland HEMA Founder Mike Roth: HEMA, Tournaments, and Sportsification

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Mike Roth always enjoyed playing with swords, even as a child. He quickly joined a fencing class while in college and wanted more. Roth soon found Mark Wickersham at Five Rings Fencing in 2013 and has not stopped fencing single sword since then. About five years later, Roth established his Heartland HEMA and has placed … Continue reading Interview with Heartland HEMA Founder Mike Roth: HEMA, Tournaments, and Sportsification