Tag: Judo

Interview with Longtime Jukido Jujutsu Student Jenelle Codianne: The Fighting Spirit in Martial Arts Training

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In joining her family member on their research of local martial art schools, Jenelle Codianne stepped into Florida Jukido Academy and has not looked back once. Intrigued by the self-defense and the endless journey a martial art offers, Codianne fell in love with the art and began enjoying the challenging training sessions led by George … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Jukido Jujutsu Student Jenelle Codianne: The Fighting Spirit in Martial Arts Training

Inside Wei Son Do: The Cutting-Edge Martial Art Taking the World by Storm! by Jessie King

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John Morgart Jr. is a rising name in the martial arts world – a Tang Soo Do master turned innovator who created his own fighting style known as Wei Son Do. Hailing from western Pennsylvania, Morgart’s path in martial arts has been marked by early dedication, competitive success, and a drive to blend tradition with … Continue reading Inside Wei Son Do: The Cutting-Edge Martial Art Taking the World by Storm! by Jessie King

Interview with TKD-Ameris Founder Philip Ameris: Maintaining High Standards

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Philip Ameris began training in Taekwondo in 1970, after sustaining a leg injury and his father feeling that karate would help the healing process. Seven years later, he opened his school at the age of fifteen with a fellow classmate and has continued offering Taekwondo to all those who are interested. Today, Ameris took some … Continue reading Interview with TKD-Ameris Founder Philip Ameris: Maintaining High Standards

Interview with Akayama Ryu Jujutsu Headmaster Doug Bedsaul: History, Application, and Future

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Doug Bedsaul found Akayama-Ryu Jujutsu after training in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Judo. In 2024, Bedsaul assumed the mantle of Headmaster with the passing of Mark Barlow. Today, Bedsaul took some time to discuss his vision for expanding the reach of Akayama-Ryu, the importance of quality instruction, and how the system continues to evolve through rigorous … Continue reading Interview with Akayama Ryu Jujutsu Headmaster Doug Bedsaul: History, Application, and Future

A Layman’s Observation: Who Really has Authority in the Martial Arts?

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Part of this editorial was inspired by a chapter from my 2020 book, Aikido Comes to America, and my 2024 book, Takahiko Ishikawa, bringing two related ideas together and pairing them with a third. Authority is something people look for, whether it is to wield it or to seek those who are in similar positions. … Continue reading A Layman’s Observation: Who Really has Authority in the Martial Arts?

Interview with Montgomery County Historical Fencing Founder Peter Concannon: The Historical Fencing Community

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Sword fighting was something Peter Concannon always wanted to do, ever since his youth. He gravitated towards Society for Creative Anachronism and stage combat, but they were not the stuff he was looking for. Later – two and a half decades later – Concannon received a Groupon for German longsword lessons and was hooked, training … Continue reading Interview with Montgomery County Historical Fencing Founder Peter Concannon: The Historical Fencing Community

Interview with Jukido Jujitsu Academy Founder and Author George Rego: Jukido, Kokondo, Self-Defense, and Adapting

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George Rego first began training in Jukido Jujitsu when he was eight years old under the system’s founder Paul Arel. After soaking in his training, Rego volunteered to establish his Jukido Academy in Florida in 1999. Undeterred, Rego expanded and solidified Jukido Jujitsu in Florida and currently serves on a number of boards in the … Continue reading Interview with Jukido Jujitsu Academy Founder and Author George Rego: Jukido, Kokondo, Self-Defense, and Adapting

Kendo During Japanese American Internment

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Introduction With over 100,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans spread across the ten relocation centers, many communities were fractured, forcing many to either isolate or function in a new environment with new people. According to martial arts historian Joseph Svinth in 2003, “The ties stayed broken” while in the relocation centers, much like their destroyed kendo … Continue reading Kendo During Japanese American Internment

Interview with Longtime Kokikai Aikidoka Matt Shomo: Kokikai and Shuji Maruyama’s Legacy

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With him and his brother being interested in Steven Seagal films, Matt Shomo joined the Penn State University Aikido Club shortly after his brother. There he practiced diligently until meeting Shuji Maruyama at a Winter Camp. After a surprising experience with Kokikai Aikido’s founder, Shomo had more zeal to train. Today, Shomo took some time … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kokikai Aikidoka Matt Shomo: Kokikai and Shuji Maruyama’s Legacy

Koji Shimada: Culturally Connecting to Takahiko Ishikawa

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The following is an excerpt of an interview conducted for the newly released Takahiko Ishikawa: Judo’s Quiet Master, which recounts the life, times, and impact of Ishikawa on East Coast Judo in the United States. Koji Shimada retells some of Ishikawa's personality. MAYTT: How did Ishikawa’s family view his judo endeavors? Were they supportive or … Continue reading Koji Shimada: Culturally Connecting to Takahiko Ishikawa