Interview with Shinken-ryu Founder Prince Gharios: Attempting to Save Modern Aikido, Part I

Prince Gharios began aikido in Brazil in 1986 and during the rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he was forced to look to other sources for a more direct aikido. By the mid-1990s, Prince Gharios found Steven Seagal and Tenshin Aikido, which gave him the tools and foundations to establish his own Shinken-ryu Aiki-Budo. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Shinken-ryu Founder Prince Gharios: Attempting to Save Modern Aikido, Part I

Interview with Longtime Martial Artists Jesse Cahn: Family, Violence, and Aikido Part I

Jesse Cahn was first introduced to the martial arts through his father, Rolf, however, his first official introduction into the martial arts was judo. As Cahn grew, he experienced situations and problems associated with the street and shady establishments that helped create his perspective on violence. In 2003, he joined Windsong Dojo for their aikido … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Martial Artists Jesse Cahn: Family, Violence, and Aikido Part I

A Layman’s Observation: Fencing and Japanese Martial Arts Principles

This is a second installment in an ongoing series of "A Layman's Observations" where I discuss my observations on martial arts and combat sports. Read the prior installment here. At the start of this year, I began learning how to fence the Olympic way and the beginning of May that I had the opportunity to … Continue reading A Layman’s Observation: Fencing and Japanese Martial Arts Principles

Fencing and Kendo: A Layman’s Observation

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch a local fencing tournament. The participants were beginners of the sport who had just finished their ten-week introductory course. Being beginners, the fencers competed with the foil, where only the torso was the valid scoring area. Throughout the experience, being new to the sport, both the newly inducted … Continue reading Fencing and Kendo: A Layman’s Observation

Reflecting on Shambhala’s Guide to Kendo

Kiyota, Minoura. The Shambhala Guide to Kendo: An Essential Introduction to the Principles of the Japanese Art of Swordsmanship. Boston, Mass.: Shambhala Publications, 1995. After finishing Alexander Bennet’s Kendo: Culture of the Sword, I searched for another book that covered some of the same topics and themes. Finally, I came across professor Minoru Kiyota’s Kendo … Continue reading Reflecting on Shambhala’s Guide to Kendo

Reflecting on Walther von Krenner’s Following the Martial Path

von Krenner, Walther G., and Ken Jeremiah. Following the Martial Path: Lessons and Stories from a Lifetime of Training in Budo and Zen. Spring House, PA: Tambuli Media, 2016. After reading Walther von Krenner’s Atemi, I wanted to acquire more of his work to understand how he reached his conclusions in Atemi. Soon, I found … Continue reading Reflecting on Walther von Krenner’s Following the Martial Path