This is the second part of a five part article. Read the first part here and the third part here. Seattle Kendo Kai Kenshi and local kendo historian Tom Bolling wrote in his 2012 obituary of Yasui that he was born in Washington State and moved to Japan with his parents, where he studied kendo … Continue reading Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part II
This is the first part of a five part article. Read the second part here. Introduction The Pacific Northwest, perhaps second only to California, has many influential kenshi, both past and present. Additionally, the region has a rich history and legacy of kendo. Being one of the first regions for Japanese immigrants and settlers to … Continue reading Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part I
INTRODUCTION I would like to share my findings regarding the 3 KATA of the Bubishi. In this explanation, I will detail a Kata that contains all 48 illustrations from the Bubishi combative Kata. The Kata is known with provenance and also from a set of three, which is just the first coincidence. All the Illustrations … Continue reading Three Kata of the Bubishi by Simon Varnals
Originally written for an Asia in Film course during my graduate career, the following is the second part of a study that explores the demonstration of both Chinese and Japanese nationalism through their respective films in the twentieth century. This is the second part of a two-part article. Read the first part here. Shifting gears … Continue reading War and Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Film: Hong Kong Martial Arts and Japan’s Victim Playing, Part II
Originally written for an Asia in Film course during my graduate career, the following is the first part of a study that explores the demonstration of both Chinese and Japanese nationalism through their respective films in the twentieth century. This is the first part of a two-part article. Read the second part here. Initially, I … Continue reading War and Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Film: Hong Kong Martial Arts and Japan’s Victim Playing, Part I
This history is based on the Hawaiian kenshi interviews published through this chronicle, while using a handful of outside sources to provide historical or social context. This history, unfortunately, is not a complete one, however, it is one step closer to achieving a clearer picture of how the art evolved and changed on the Hawaiian … Continue reading Kendo in Hawaii: Abridged
The following article is from Budoshin Jujitsu founder George Kriby. In it, he provides a biography of his jujitsu instructor Jack Seki. This article originally appeared on the Budoshin Jujitsu website. All images provided by George Kirby. Sanzo Jack Seki. Professor Sanzo Jack M. Seki, whose legal name was changed to Jack M. Haywood in … Continue reading Sanzo Jack Seki Biography by George Kirby
The following is an excerpt from my recent book, Aikido Comes to America. This originally appeared on Tambuli Media here. Rodney Grantham (~1928-2008) played a pivotal role in the push of aikido in the American Southeast. Grantham began judo in 1950 while stationed in Yokosuka, Japan as a surgical scrub nurse during the Korean War. … Continue reading Rodney Grantham and Aikido in America’s Southeast
Originally written for an American History course during my graduate career, the following is the second part of a study that describes how continued martial arts training within the American police force can help better prepare officers for the situations that await them. This is the second part of a two part article. Read the … Continue reading Martial Arts and Police Training: Where Do They Intersect? Part II
Originally written for an American History course during my graduate career, the following is the first part of a study that describes how continued martial arts training within the American police force can help better prepare officers for the situations that await them. This is the first part of a two part article. Read the … Continue reading Martial Arts and Police Training: Where Do They Intersect? Part I
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 