Tag: Budo

Interview with Hawaiian Kenshi Michael Sone: A Sone Kendo History in Hawaii Part I

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Like many American Japanese in Hawaii – as Michael Sone terms many like him – Sone began his kendo training at an early age under his grandfather, Tetsunosuke Sone. Under him, he learned traditional kendo, emphasizing on the virtues one’s character through the use of the sword. Now leading the Mitsune Dojo, Sone took some … Continue reading Interview with Hawaiian Kenshi Michael Sone: A Sone Kendo History in Hawaii Part I

Some Thoughts on Cross Training

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Cross training. A word that has become more and more popular since the 1990s, but something that has been happening for centuries. Sometimes, instructors are alright with their students doing so, others, not so much. If one goes to a martial arts’ social media enclave, they will find that many practitioners are training in multiple … Continue reading Some Thoughts on Cross Training

Four Strikes with Hawaiian Kenshi Jack Yamada: The Kenshikan

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Jack Yamada began training kendo under his father, Katsumi Yamada, at a young age. His father headed the Kenshikan Dojo for two decades before passing the position to Garrett Matsumoto. Today, Jack Yamada talks about some of the history of Kenshikan and his father. All images provided by Jack Yamada. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, … Continue reading Four Strikes with Hawaiian Kenshi Jack Yamada: The Kenshikan

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

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Tom Bolling: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Beginning his kendo training in the late 1970s, Tom Bolling saw the kendo community of the Pacific Northwest grow. He currently teaches at a number of kendo clubs in the Washington area. Bolling took some time from his busy teaching schedule to talk to us about the growth of kendo in the Pacific Northwest, notable … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Tom Bolling: Kendo in the Pacific Northwest, Part II

Interview with USAF Technical Committee Member Andy Demko: The Early Years in the American Northeast

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Andy Demko began training martial arts and combat sports while he was in high school. After seeing an aikido class at Youngstown University, he joined, eventually meeting Koichi Tohei and Yoshimitsu Yamada in the mid-1960s. He later opened his Aikido Center of New Castle in 1971. Today, Demko discusses the fledgling years of aikido in … Continue reading Interview with USAF Technical Committee Member Andy Demko: The Early Years in the American Northeast

Aikido Philosophy: A Budo Life by Michael Aloia

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A short essay relating aikido's philosophy with the concept of a budo life. Over the years as the Art of Aikido has grown and reached new generations of practitioners and followers, many interpretations of its definition as well as its philosophy have been offered.  Some maintain a vague reference, whereas others have delved into the … Continue reading Aikido Philosophy: A Budo Life by Michael Aloia

Interview with Aikido Author Walther von Krenner: Training in America and Japan in the Early Years

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Beginning his martial arts journey in Germany in 1957 with judo, Walther von Krenner spent the next sixty years training in various martial arts, from aikido to kendo. Today, Krenner took the time to talk about his aikido journey, which started in 1961 with Isao Takahashi in Los Angeles, and took him to Japan to … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Walther von Krenner: Training in America and Japan in the Early Years