Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part II

Growing up close to Hadrian’s Wall – erected during Rome’s reign of the British Isles – Paul Budden found his interest in history. His interest of Japanese sword – born out of his love of history – led him into a kendo dojo and has not looked back since. Throughout his time in kendo, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part II

Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part I

Growing up close to Hadrian’s Wall – erected during Rome’s reign of the British Isles – Paul Budden found his interest in history. His interest of Japanese sword – born out of his love of history – led him into a kendo dojo and has not looked back since. Throughout his time in kendo, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part I

Creative Anachronism in Japanese Martial Arts: Preserving the Past Through Practice by Michael Martin

Creative anachronism is more than nostalgia; it’s the pointed revival of historical practices in the modern world, imbued with symbolic resonance, ritual, and performance. Like costumed historical reenactors staging battles for educational or cultural impact, practitioners of budō, or traditional Japanese martial arts, engage in reenactment through their uniforms, weapons, customs, and values. In the … Continue reading Creative Anachronism in Japanese Martial Arts: Preserving the Past Through Practice by Michael Martin

A Layman’s Observation: Martial Arts History Does Matter

I recently watched a video where two martial artists discussed the topic of martial arts history. One of the hosts outright states that such a topic is “bullshit,” simply because it does not help one fight better, or apply a joint lock better, kick better, instill a certain frame of mind, or anything else for … Continue reading A Layman’s Observation: Martial Arts History Does Matter

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Roxy Kubo: Competing at the World Kendo Championships

Coming from a family who always trained kendo, Roxy Kubo entered the training hall at the age of four and has not left the community since. Under the tutelage of her stepfather, Arnold Fukutomi, Kubo trained and ultimately received two kantocho at two different World Kendo Championships. Today, Kubo took some time to talk about … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Roxy Kubo: Competing at the World Kendo Championships

Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

Dai Andrews has always been interested in the sword, beginning with classical fencing as a teenager. After getting himself into Kung Fu, he found himself studying Chinese swordsmanship, eventually finding his current teacher Scott Rodell. Such background prepared him for entering the Historical European Martial Arts community, taking one fight book and learning from it. … Continue reading Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II