Tag: Book Reflection

Reflecting on Aikido Talks: Conversations with American Aikidoists

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Perry, Susan, and Ronald Rubin. Aikido Talks: Conversations with American Aikidoists. Claremont, Calif.: Areté Press, 2001. What are conversations if not bits of oral history? What are conversations if not small instances that allows one to better know and understand another? These are the aspects that drive the interview in Aikido Talks: Conversations with American … Continue reading Reflecting on Aikido Talks: Conversations with American Aikidoists

Reflecting on Mind Over Muscle

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Kano, Jigoro. Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder Judo. New York: Kodansha USA, 2013. While practicing judo during the early stages of the pandemic, I found myself feeling like I was missing something in my training. There was an extra layer that eluded me when I attempted to throw my partner in nage waza. … Continue reading Reflecting on Mind Over Muscle

Reflecting Alexander Bennett’s Culture of the Sword

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Bennett, Alexander. Kendo: Culture of the Sword. 24th ed. Oakland, California: University of California Press, 2015. Upon first opening Alexander Bennett’s book, I did not know what to fully expect. I know little about kendo training and its subtle movements and skills with the shinai, let alone a succinct history of the art. Bennett, however, … Continue reading Reflecting Alexander Bennett’s Culture of the Sword

Reflecting on Rod Nobuto Omoto’s Autobiography

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Omoto, Rod. ‎Autobiography of Rod Omoto, 2015. https://books.apple.com/ar/book/autobiography-of-rod-omoto/id883795766. As I started this adventure into Nobuto “Rod” Omoto’s life, I thought I would be learning more about his time in the Pacific Northwest and his adventures there. However, I was surprised to take part in another adventure, years before he stepped foot into the region. From … Continue reading Reflecting on Rod Nobuto Omoto’s Autobiography

Reflecting on Walther von Krenner’s Atemi

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von Krenner, Walther G., and Ken Jeremiah. Atemi: The Thunder and Lightning of Aikido. Spring House, PA: Tambuli Media, 2016. Beginning his aikido training in the early 1960s in Germany, Walther von Krenner soon moved to Japan to train under the founder himself, Morihei Ueshiba, his son, Kisshomaru, and then-chief instructor Koichi Tohei. In his … Continue reading Reflecting on Walther von Krenner’s Atemi

Reflecting on Irvin Gill’s Key Principles and Rules of American Kenpo Karate

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Gill, Irvin B. American Kenpo Karate: The Key Principles and Rules of American Kenpo Karate. Spring House, PA: Tambuli Media, 2019. Irvin Gill was on a journey. In discussions with various Kenpo masters, founders and high-ranking practitioners in Filipino-based martial arts, and an aikido fifth dan, he found the blueprints to his answers. The blueprints … Continue reading Reflecting on Irvin Gill’s Key Principles and Rules of American Kenpo Karate

Reflecting on John Donohue’s Warrior Dreams

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Donohue, John J. Warrior Dreams: The Martial Arts and the American Imagination. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1994. One would think that a scholarly/academic monograph on the martial arts would be somewhat of a labor to read let alone understand the points the author attempts to make. This is the exact opposite when reading John Donohue’s Warrior … Continue reading Reflecting on John Donohue’s Warrior Dreams