Tag: Zanshin

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

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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

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

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

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

Interview with Longtime Naginata Practitioner Juan Hernandez: Learning and Growth Under Helen Nakano

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Juan Hernandez first heard of naginata in a local newspaper and planned to find a local dojo. Unfortunately, he was offered a job and had to relocate. Years later, he moved back to Long Beach, California and finally searched for a naginata class and found one under Helen Nakano. Hernandez has studied diligently under Nakano, … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Naginata Practitioner Juan Hernandez: Learning and Growth Under Helen Nakano

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

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

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

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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

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Bryan Imanishi: Kendo Training and Cascade Kendo Kai

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Bryan Imanishi of Cascade Kendo Kai feels like he was born into kendo, starting his training at the age of eight. With most of his family participating in the art, to him, it felt like the right thing to do. Today, Imanishi discusses his kendo journey, from childhood to adulthood, some history of the Cascade … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Bryan Imanishi: Kendo Training and Cascade Kendo Kai