Category: Uncategorized

Reflecting on George Rego’s and Abdul Rashid’s The Founding of Jujutsu and Judo in America

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Rego, George, and Abdul Rashid. The Founding of Jujutsu and Judo in America. Independently Published, 2022. I came across this book while I was conducting research for my recent book Takahiko Ishikawa: Judo's Quiet Master. Much of the beginning information I recall learning from John Stevens' Jigoro Kano biography, but it expands further than that, … Continue reading Reflecting on George Rego’s and Abdul Rashid’s The Founding of Jujutsu and Judo in America

Interview with Enshinkan Founder Morgan Hooper: New York Kendo Community

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

For twenty-five years, Morgan Hooper has been a student of Japanese sword arts. Originally from Long Island, New York, he began training in kendo, Japanese fencing, when he was a teenager. Many years later, he established his own martial arts school Enshinkan Dojo in Long Island City. Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Enshinkan offers … Continue reading Interview with Enshinkan Founder Morgan Hooper: New York Kendo Community

Interview with Lifelong Martial Artist Hugh Cassidy: From Jujutsu to Karate to Daito-ryu

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Hugh Cassidy first found the martial arts in 1973 with Minna Jujutsu, a combination of judo, karate, and savate. By 1995, he transitioned to Shotokan Karate and Aiki-Budo in 2009. Today, Cassidy took some time to talk about his exciting journey through many different martial arts. All images provided by Hugh Cassidy. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with Lifelong Martial Artist Hugh Cassidy: From Jujutsu to Karate to Daito-ryu

Interview with Memphis Kendo and Iaido Club Chief Instructor Jodi Hilton: Kendo and Iaido

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After watching a demonstration in college, Jodi Hilton liked what he saw and sought out kendo. He joined the university’s club and indirectly helped create a more structured beginner’s class. From there, Hilton has yet to look back on anything he has done in both kendo and iaido. Today, Hilton joins us to speak on … Continue reading Interview with Memphis Kendo and Iaido Club Chief Instructor Jodi Hilton: Kendo and Iaido

Interview with Longtime Ninjutsu Practitioner Lee Relf: Bujinkan Ninjutsu

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The Japanese Ninja boom of the 1980s left a mark on Lee Relf, so much so that he sought out ninjutsu. He found it in Arizona with Peter Crocoll and quickly enjoyed what he was learning. Since then, Relf has trained with numerous instructors from Japan and Europe and opened his Bujinkan Seitaku Dojo. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Ninjutsu Practitioner Lee Relf: Bujinkan Ninjutsu

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Bob Toabe: Training Under Mitsunari Kanai, Part I

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In 1974, Bob Toabe stepped onto the mats of Shodokan to learn aikido under Fred Newcomb. Mitsunari Kanai, Newcomb’s instructor and New England Aikikai founder, made the trip on the last Friday of each month to teach. When Toabe enrolled into Boston University, he was able to train at both Shodokan and New England Aikikai, … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Bob Toabe: Training Under Mitsunari Kanai, Part I

Inspirations: Akira Toriyama and Dragon Ball Z

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

As a regular reader here at Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, many are well aware that what inspires people to enter into their first martial arts class varies greatly, from movies to books and from political reasons to family tradition. What, perhaps, has been overlooked is the power of cartoons, more specifically anime. … Continue reading Inspirations: Akira Toriyama and Dragon Ball Z

Interview with Southern United States Kendo & Iaido Federation President Mark Kerstein: The Development of Kendo in Texas

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Mark Kerstein first started training in Taekwondo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin when he was 15 years old in 1970. He later moved to Houston, Texas in 1983, and after spending some time searching for an instructor, he found Darrell Craig at the Houston Budokan. After observing a Kendo practice, Kerstein was hooked and has spent over … Continue reading Interview with Southern United States Kendo & Iaido Federation President Mark Kerstein: The Development of Kendo in Texas

Interview with Longtime Daito-ryu Practitioner Eric Pearson: Finding the Aiki in Everything, Part II

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Eric Pearson first stared into the window at the practicing aikidoka during his smoke break at a local pizza shop, convincing himself that his kung fu skills would take out all of them. Then something inspired him to walk in for practice, and he never looked back. He began training under Russell Waddell and Chuck … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Daito-ryu Practitioner Eric Pearson: Finding the Aiki in Everything, Part II

Interview with SoCal Swords Founder RJ McKeehan: Training and Supplying HEMA Part II

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Swords were always enticing to RJ McKeehan, especially after a friend from Europe told him about the historical fencing events being held in the continent. He finally got the chance to try his hand at historical fencing in 2010 when he attended California State University. There, he learned from Jonathan Mashar and Jason Taylor who … Continue reading Interview with SoCal Swords Founder RJ McKeehan: Training and Supplying HEMA Part II