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?
Rouse, Wendy. Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Movement. New York: New York University Press, 2017. With many female martial artists coming into the limelight, regardless of what art or circles one is a participant of, it may seem that such modern trend - something that is helped by the digital age … Continue reading Reflecting on Her Own Hero
Dr. Wendy Rouse took her first step into the world of martial arts at the age of ten after watching The Karate Kid. She took to history when in college, focusing on the Progressive Era of the United States, eventually earning her doctorate. During her research for her dissertation, she found something that later inspired … Continue reading Interview with Progressive Era Historian Wendy Rouse: The Beginnings of the Women’s Self-Defense and Empowerment Movements
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 