Tag: UFC

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

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

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 Budoshin Instructor John Valceanu: Traditional Jujitsu in the Modern Landscape, Part II

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John Valceanu teaches Budoshin Jujitsu while also training in judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also has a background in hapkido, which he practiced for about a decade. Many aspects of the different arts he practices are mirror images to him, and finding common principles continues to motivate him to train. Today, Valceanu took some time … Continue reading Interview with Budoshin Instructor John Valceanu: Traditional Jujitsu in the Modern Landscape, Part II

Interview with Bartitsu Practitioner Michael Sanders: Learning a System that Practices What it Preaches

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Michael Sanders first began longsword almost half a decade ago and wanted to find something he could train during the summer months, without dying inside the sparring gear. He stumbled on Bartitsu, a Victorian-era martial art blending self-defense, striking, and grappling techniques, and has yet to look back. Sanders sat down to share his insights … Continue reading Interview with Bartitsu Practitioner Michael Sanders: Learning a System that Practices What it Preaches

What MMA Can Learn from Traditional Martial Arts by Andy Salazar

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The inception of modern Mixed Martial Arts in the early 90s threw a massive curveball at the fighting world. Not only did the beginnings of the UFC and Pride Fighting Championship introduce Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the larger combat sports community, but it was also the first time that different martial arts were pitted against … Continue reading What MMA Can Learn from Traditional Martial Arts by Andy Salazar

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

A Layman’s Observation: Blind Loyalty Within the Martial Arts

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I recently finished a biography of an instructor who may have created a training atmosphere that may have bordered on the side of toxic and abusive. Such actions were under the guise of hard training and/or attempting to push students to their limit and achieve something greater. In finishing that biography, I realized that I … Continue reading A Layman’s Observation: Blind Loyalty Within the Martial Arts

Interview with Goshu-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Founder Michiharu Mori: Aikido’s Future in Australia, Part II

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After reading a book on internationalization and Gozo Shioda’s biography, Michiharu Mori was convinced of spreading Japanese culture and aikido outside of Japan. Once graduating high school, Mori enrolled himself into the Honbu Dojo of Yoshinkan Aikido in Tokyo. After training for nine years – three years with Takafumi Takeno, three years with Chida, and … Continue reading Interview with Goshu-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Founder Michiharu Mori: Aikido’s Future in Australia, Part II

Interview with Tenshin Aikidoka John Araujo: The Balance Between Tenshin and Traditional

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

After starting Shotokan Karate and judo at a young age, John Araujo found aikido, feeling that it was time to explore this new art. He trained in traditional aikido for a decade until he sought out something more. Araujo searched and found Luis Santos in Florida. After participating in a grueling initiation and relearning process, … Continue reading Interview with Tenshin Aikidoka John Araujo: The Balance Between Tenshin and Traditional

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

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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 second part of the interview, Stroud discusses his kendo journey, his time as head instructor of … Continue reading Interview with Robert Stroud: Kendo in Pacific Northwest and Mountain Regions of the United States Part II