Tag: World War II

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

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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 II

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 Lawman Trainer JW Bode: Aikido and Tactical Correctness

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JW Bode found Karl Geis in 1978 and was enamored with the effectiveness of Tomiki Aikido. He took what he already knew and brought the Tomiki Aikido foundations into teaching and training law enforcement and security personnel in Texas, Oklahoma, and all around the Southeast of the United States. In his quest for tactical correctness, … Continue reading Interview with Lawman Trainer JW Bode: Aikido and Tactical Correctness

Interview with Shin Sou Fu Kan Founder Michael Lindsay: Koki Abe and Oklahoma Kendo, Part II

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Kendo interested Michael Lindsay, even after training in karate and Olympic Fencing in his younger years. When he arrived at college in 2004, he found Senshikan Dojo under the direction of Koki Abe and Lindsay quickly took to Japanese swordsmanship and fostering a friendship with Abe. When Abe left to return to Japan in 2006, … Continue reading Interview with Shin Sou Fu Kan Founder Michael Lindsay: Koki Abe and Oklahoma Kendo, Part II

Interview with Broken Plow Founder Josh Parise: Creating Your Own Culture in Western Martial Arts, Part IV

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Josh Parise has always been into the martial arts, ranging from Mixed Martial Arts to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and taekwondo, from kendo to Western Martial Arts. After leaving the Marine Corps and learning Army Combatives, he found some videos and manuals on historical fencing and never looked back. In his pursuit of historical fencing, Josh established … Continue reading Interview with Broken Plow Founder Josh Parise: Creating Your Own Culture in Western Martial Arts, Part IV

Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part II

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Katie Roche wanted to find out what naginata was as a child after hearing her grandmother talk about her time in the art. After some time and breaking up with her high school boyfriend, she enrolled herself into naginata, studying first under Sachiko Yamauchi. When she relocated for undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and … Continue reading Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part II

Interview with Hawaiian Ki-Aikidoka Christopher Curtis: Ki and Shinichi Suzuki in Hawaii

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Christopher Curtis first encountered aikido through a meeting with Yoshimitsu Yamada as part of a theatre group. Later, when participating in a three-year meditation retreat, he found his lifelong instructor Shinichi Suzuki and quickly joined the Maui Aikido Dojo. Staying with Suzuki, Curtis had the opportunity to train in Japan at the Ki-Aikido/Ki Society Hombu … Continue reading Interview with Hawaiian Ki-Aikidoka Christopher Curtis: Ki and Shinichi Suzuki in Hawaii

Interview with Ken-Zen Iaido Instructor Pam Parker: Her American Iaido Journey

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Pam Parker first started martial arts with taekwondo, then moving to aikido at the New York Aikikai. At one class at the New York Aikikai, she attended an iaido class and she was hooked. She found the late John Prough of Nichibukan, and later Shunshin Kan of Ken-Zen. In July 2014, she passed her nanadan, … Continue reading Interview with Ken-Zen Iaido Instructor Pam Parker: Her American Iaido Journey

Interview with Vermont Aikido Chief Instructor Aaron Ward: Vermont Aikido, Ken Nisson, and Terry Dobson, Part I

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Aaron Ward had an interesting event occur during his aikido journey: he got to know Terry Dobson on a personal level during his time at Vermont Aikido. Taking the role of chief instructor since 2001, Ward took some time to talk about his aikido journey, his relationship with Terry Dobson and Ken Nisson, and how … Continue reading Interview with Vermont Aikido Chief Instructor Aaron Ward: Vermont Aikido, Ken Nisson, and Terry Dobson, Part I

Interview with Longtime Karl Geis Student David Russell: His Time with Geis

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David Russell first started in Isshin-ryu Karate until he found a book on aikido, quickly dismissing it. It was not until later that he met a friend proficient in the art, leaving him surprised. This initial shock led him to seek instruction from Karl Geis. Today, Russell joins us to discuss that time under Geis … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Karl Geis Student David Russell: His Time with Geis