Category: Interviews

Interview with Mountain View Kendo Dojo Student Richard Kang: In Memoriam of Masami Yamaguchi

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Richard Kang of Mountain View Kendo Dojo took some time to talk with us about his kendo journey and remembering Masami Yamaguchi, who passed away earlier this year, and everything he has done for kendo and the Northern California Kendo Federation. All images provided by Richard Kang. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Thank … Continue reading Interview with Mountain View Kendo Dojo Student Richard Kang: In Memoriam of Masami Yamaguchi

Interview with Former Hawaii Kendo Federation President Kathleen Nekomoto: Her Time as President

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Kathleen Nekomoto began training kendo in 1990, under the guidance of Dick Okaji. She became a secretary for the Hawaii Kendo Federation, later serving as the organization’s president between 2008 to 2019. Teaching out of her Kenyukai Dojo, Nekomoto took some time to talk about her time as president of the Hawaii Kendo Federation. All … Continue reading Interview with Former Hawaii Kendo Federation President Kathleen Nekomoto: Her Time as President

Interview with Judoka and Author Jean Kanokogi: Get Up & Fight and Rena “Rusty” Kanokogi

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In some ways, she was learning judo while her mother was pregnant with her while on the mat. Jean Kanokogi, a Senior Special Agent for the United States, began training under her parents, Rena “Rusty” and Ryohei Kanokogi. A prolific author herself, Jean began helping her mother write her memoir, Get Up and Fight! in … Continue reading Interview with Judoka and Author Jean Kanokogi: Get Up & Fight and Rena “Rusty” Kanokogi

Interview with Aikido Sangenkai Chief Instructor Christopher Li: Internal Martial Arts in Hawaii

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Aikido Sangenkai chief instructor Christopher Li began training aikido in the early 1980s under Mitsugi Saotome and Yoshimitsu Yamada, later traveling with the latter to Japan to train at Aikikai Hombu Dojo. By the 1990s, Li began to explore the internal power side of both aikido and the martial arts, ultimately affiliating with Dan Harden. … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Sangenkai Chief Instructor Christopher Li: Internal Martial Arts in Hawaii

Interview with Wiktenauer Editor-in-Chief Michael Chidester: HEMA in the United States

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Michael Chidester is the Editor-in-Chief of Wiktenauer and, as Director of the Wiktenauer, an officer of the non-profit HEMA Alliance. Michael is a Research Scholar of the Meyer Freifechter Guild, a founding member of the Society for Historical European Martial Arts Studies (SHEMAS), a member of the Western Martial Arts Coalition (WMAC), and a Lifetime … Continue reading Interview with Wiktenauer Editor-in-Chief Michael Chidester: HEMA in the United States

Interview with Californian Aikidoka Robert Noha: Aikido’s Spiritual Aspect

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Robert Noha began his aikido journey in 1966 and never looked back after finding a lifelong teacher and friend in Robert Nadeau. Under Nadeau’s guidance, Noha began to experience something more than the technical aspects of aikido – he began to see that the spiritual message left by O-Sensei would influence him for the rest … Continue reading Interview with Californian Aikidoka Robert Noha: Aikido’s Spiritual Aspect

Interview with Noble Science Academy Founder Michael-Forest Meservy: All About HEMA

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Michael-Forest Meservy began training in HEMA in 2001, later founding the Noble Science Academy in 2007, and cofounding the Wiktenauer two years after that. Today, Meservy discusses the fragmented history of HEMA, the scholarship involved in interpreting the sources, and the movement’s future. All images provided by Michael-Forest Meservy. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and … Continue reading Interview with Noble Science Academy Founder Michael-Forest Meservy: All About HEMA

Interview with San Francisco Kenshi Shawn Miller: The Personal Effects of Kendo

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Starting kendo at the age of thirteen, Shawn Miller began something that would have a lasting effect on his life. A member of the San Francisco Kendo Dojo, Miller took some time to talk about his kendo journey and some San Francisco Kendo Dojo history that he was privy to. All images provided by Shawn … Continue reading Interview with San Francisco Kenshi Shawn Miller: The Personal Effects of Kendo

Interview with Florida Aikidoka George Kenneth Clark: Aikido and Seminars

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A martial artist for more than sixty years, Florian aikido George Clark discusses aikido seminars and one memorable event with Kisshomaru Ueshiba at the Aikido Center of Atlanta in 1974. All images provided by George Clark. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Welcome back Clark Sensei! Thank you for returning for another discussion on … Continue reading Interview with Florida Aikidoka George Kenneth Clark: Aikido and Seminars