Tag: Japan

Interview with Keystone Kokikai Founder Todd Kupper: An Intimate Look Into Shuji Maruyama, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Todd Kupper began aikido in the early 1990s, with Steven Seagal’s popularity reaching a high point in the United States. He did not find Seagal, but rather Shuji Maruyama, founder of Kokikai Aikido. From his teenage years until now, Kupper experienced many things under Maruyama, including a very close, almost father-son type of relationship. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Keystone Kokikai Founder Todd Kupper: An Intimate Look Into Shuji Maruyama, Part I

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

Interview with Chester County Kokikai Founder Jason Martin: The Silent Pioneer and Kokikai Aikido

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Growing up with a fascination for the martial arts, it was no wonder Jason Martin found himself in an aikido school under Philadelphia pioneer Shuji Maruyama. Since then, he has continued following the teachings of Maruyama, even opening his own school, Chester County Kokikai Dojo in 2010, spreading what he learned from the Silent Aikido … Continue reading Interview with Chester County Kokikai Founder Jason Martin: The Silent Pioneer and Kokikai Aikido

Interview with Aikido Author Walther von Krenner: His Time in Kendo

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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 some time to talk about his kendo training, which started with Hiroji Miyahara, his son, Maki, and the famous Torao Mori. All images provided … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Walther von Krenner: His Time in Kendo

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

Interview with Guy Power: His Iaido Journey

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After seeing a Black Belt Magazine, Guy Power was hooked on the martial arts, first starting in taekwondo in Thailand. He later took up iaido, which became his life-long art, studying under Toshishiro Obata and Taizaburo Nakamura. Power opened his Kenshinkan Dojo in 1996. Today, Power took some time to discuss his iaido journey, taking … Continue reading Interview with Guy Power: His Iaido Journey

Interview with Robert Stroud: Kendo in Pacific Northwest and Mountain Regions of the United States Part I

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Robert Stroud has been commuting between many kendo schools in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain regions of the United States since 1979, becoming one of the first non-Asian US kenshi to receive the rank of seventh dan. In this first part of the interview, Stroud discusses his kendo journey, his time at Noma Dojo in … Continue reading Interview with Robert Stroud: Kendo in Pacific Northwest and Mountain Regions of the United States Part I