Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part I

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Originally written for a History of Genocide course, expanded and presented at a conference in the Spring of 2019 during my graduate career, the following is the first part of an article exploring the role judo played in the Japanese American Internment Camps during the Second World War, specifically the Manzanar Camp in southeastern California. … Continue reading Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part I

Interview with David Witt: Judo, Aikido, and Karl Geis

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Karl Geis became a martial arts force in the Houston, Texas area, training and producing national and international judo champions, and competent aikidoka in the Shodokan variety after studying judo at the Kodokan and aikido under Shodokan founder, Kenji Tomiki. Today, longtime student of Geis, David Witt, talks to Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and … Continue reading Interview with David Witt: Judo, Aikido, and Karl Geis

Interview with Former New York Aikikai Instructor Ruth Peyser: Supporting Gender Equity and the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s Petition

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Ruth Peyser began training aikido in 1980 after observing a class at the New York Aikikai. For the better part of forty years, she trained under Yoshimitsu Yamada, Seiichi Sugano and Donovan Waite. In late 2019, she signed the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s petition, resulting in her banishment from the New York Aikikai. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Former New York Aikikai Instructor Ruth Peyser: Supporting Gender Equity and the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s Petition

Interview with Aikido Instructor Salvatore Forestieri: Aikido in the Martial Arts Industry

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Salvatore Forestieri began his aikido training under Fumio Toyoda. After his passing, Forestieri became an understudy of Steven Seagal. This is a transcript of an interview conducted in the spring of 2019, discussing the current state of aikido and its place in the martial arts industry. All images provided by Salvatore Forestieri. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Instructor Salvatore Forestieri: Aikido in the Martial Arts Industry

Interview with Seattle Kendo Kai Head Instructor Doug Imanishi: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part II

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Beginning his training at a young age, Doug Imanishi took up kendo in a way to win a newspaper sword match with his older cousin when they played. 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 … Continue reading Interview with Seattle Kendo Kai Head Instructor Doug Imanishi: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part II

Interview with Seattle Kendo Kai Head Instructor Doug Imanishi: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part I

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Beginning his training at a young age, Doug Imanishi took up kendo in a way to win a newspaper sword match with his older cousin when they played. 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 … Continue reading Interview with Seattle Kendo Kai Head Instructor Doug Imanishi: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part I

Interview with Guy Power: His Iaido Journey

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After seeing a Black Belt Magazine, Guy Power was hooked on the martial arts, first starting in taekwondo in Thailand. He later took up iaido, which became his life-long art, studying under Toshishiro Obata and Taizaburo Nakamura. Power opened his Kenshinkan Dojo in 1996. Today, Power took some time to discuss his iaido journey, taking … Continue reading Interview with Guy Power: His Iaido Journey

Interview with Kendo Kyoshi Jeff Marsten: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest

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With over forty years of kendo experience, Jeff Marsten began his kendo journey in 1971. From then, he founded five clubs and schools in the Pacific Northwest and served as the President of the All United States Kendo Federation from 1994 to 2000, helping to grow the organization’s membership. Today, Marsten took some time to … Continue reading Interview with Kendo Kyoshi Jeff Marsten: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest

Interview with Martial Arts Historian Joseph Svinth: Martial History and EJMAS

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Joseph Svinth began studying African and Middle Eastern history. He joined the Electronic Journal of Martial Arts and Sciences (EJMAS) as a writer and editor. In 2003, he released Getting a Grip, focusing on judo in the Japanese American communities of the Pacific Northwest. Similarly, Svinth worked with Martial Arts Studies proponent Thomas A. Green … Continue reading Interview with Martial Arts Historian Joseph Svinth: Martial History and EJMAS

Interview with Aikido Shihan Bill Witt: Aikido’s Decline in the United States

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Bill Witt Sensei began training in aikido in 1967, under Ueshiba Morihei – O-Sensei – at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. After O-Sensei passed away in 1969, Witt Sensei began training under Saito Morihiro Sensei in Iwama, Japan. He cofounded the Takemusu Aikido Association in 2002, based in California, and currently has been teaching at Aikido … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Bill Witt: Aikido’s Decline in the United States