The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step
Welcome to Still Mind Martial arts, our father and son martial arts blog. My son and I have over 30 years of combined martial arts experience to share. We started this martial arts blog during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-downs (under … Read More
How to Learn Bo Kata Nagamine no Kon with Step by Step Breakdown
This post details the step-by-step breakdown of the previous kata video I posted, Kata Nagamine no Kon. It uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the kata along with descriptions … Read More
How to Practice the Advanced Bo Kata Nagamine no Kon on Video
Last fall I had videoed a series of sessions practicing additional kobudo kata and drills. As I get a chance over the next few months to review and edit them, I’ll post the videos along with step-by-step breakdowns of the … Read More
How to Learn Bo Kata Suisho no Kon with Step by Step Breakdown
This post details the step-by-step breakdown of the previous kata video I posted, Kata Suisho no Kon. It uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the kata along with descriptions … Read More
How to Practice the Intermediate Bo Kata Suisho no Kon on Video
I had videoed a series of sessions practicing additional kobudo kata and drills before the dark winter set in. As I get a chance to review and edit them, I’ll post the videos and step-by-step breakdowns of the kata and … Read More
Hanshi-sei Ron Martin: International Kumite Champion
Hanshi-sei Ron Martin is a world renowned international kumite champion from the golden age of karate and kumite. He was the captain of the first US Karate Team under coach Chuck Merriman.… Read More
How to Learn the Fifth Position Holding the Balloon in Front of Your Face
After you can easily stand in the Fourth Position, Standing in the Stream, for 20 minutes then you can start learning and working on the Fifth Position, Holding the Balloon in Front of Your Face. This is the fifth position … Read More
How to Learn the Fourth Position Standing in the Stream
After you can easily stand in the Third Position, Holding Your Belly, for 20 minutes then you can start learning and working on the Fourth Position, Standing in the Stream. This is the fourth position in a Zhan Zhuang series … Read More
How to Learn the Third Position Holding Your Belly
After you can easily stand in the Second Position, Holding the Balloon, for 20 minutes then you can start learning and working on the Third Position, Holding Your Belly. This is the third position in a Zhan Zhuang series of … Read More
How to Practice a Basic Bo Form – Kata Fuso
I shot a few more videos over the weekend practicing kobudo out in the fresh air. Here’s another of the videos, practicing a Basic Bo form – Kata Fuso. This basic bo kata uses a few basic moves with the … Read More
How to Learn the Second Position Holding the Balloon
After you can easily stand in the First Position, Wu Chi, for 20 minutes then you can start learning and working on the Second Position, Holding the Balloon. This is the second position in a Zhan Zhuang series of standing … Read More
The Roots of Zhan Zhuang Reach Back 2700 Years
站桩 Zhan Zhuang – Standing Like a Tree Zhan Zhuang (pronounced Jan Jong) means standing like a tree, post standing or standing post. It is an intermediate to advanced form of standing meditation Qigong practice for vital energy cultivation. The … Read More
How to Practice Kobudo Bo Kihon with 17 Basic Bo Combinations
I shot a few more videos over the weekend practicing kobudo kihon out in the fresh air with MJ. Here’s another of the videos, practicing the set of 17 Basic Bo Combinations which is a set of kobudo kihon or … Read More
How to Practice Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation Qigong with the Full Circle Sequence
站桩 Zhan Zhuang (pronounced Jan Jong) means standing like a tree or post standing. It is a form of standing meditation Qigong practice for energy cultivation. It appears deceptively simple, but is actually more difficult than motion meditation Qigong practice. … Read More
How to Practice Kobudo Bo Kihon with 14 Basic Bo Blocks
I shot a few more videos over the weekend practicing kobudo kihon out in the fresh air with MJ. Here’s the first of the videos, practicing the set of 14 Basic Bo Blocks which is a set of kobudo kihon … Read More
How to Practice Kobudo Bo Kihon with 10 Basic Bo Strikes
I shot a few more videos over the weekend practicing qigong zhan zhuang and kobudo kihon out in the fresh air. Here’s the first of the videos, practicing the set of 10 Basic Bo Strikes which is a set of … Read More
Wu Chi (Wuji) Standing Meditation the First Position in Qigong
無極 Wu Chi (or Wuji) – Infinite As discussed in my previous post, Wu Chi – Wuji – The Beginning of Everything – Comparing Taoist and Modern Cosmology, Wu Chi (or Wuji, pronounced Woo Jee) means without limit, limitless or … Read More
Wu Chi – Wuji – The Beginning of Everything – Comparing Taoist and Modern Cosmology
無極 Wu Chi (or Wuji) – Infinite Wu Chi (or Wuji, pronounced Woo Jee) means without limit, limitless or infinite. It also means without pole or without polarity. It denotes the infinite void before the existence of anything else. The … Read More
Oldest Surviving Anatomy Atlas Discovered in Mawangdui Tomb Details Physical Pathways Predating Acupuncture Meridians
In modern acupuncture, meridians are often thought of as metaphysical structures. A new research study of an ancient Chinese text found in a Mawangdui tomb suggests they were actually based on physical anatomical pathways discovered through dissection. Below are excerpts … Read More
獨行道 Dokkodo The Way of Walking Alone by Miyamoto Musashi
Listen to the above video by Todd Ryotoshi Norcross discussing the Dokkodo The Way of Walking Alone as you read this blog post all about the Way and Miyamoto Musashi. 宮本 武蔵 Miyamoto Musashi was the most famous swordsman of … Read More
Awesome Online Karate Class with 10th Degree Black Belt
What is an online karate class like? Check out one of Shihan Goddard’s awesome online karate classes on zoom. This particular class was led by a special guest, 10th degree black belt, Hanshi Bernard, and was broadcast from the Academy … Read More
A Simple Man – My Life with Soke Nagamine – Book Review
A Simple Man – My Life with Soke Nagamine by Sensei Bill George (Kyoshi, 7th dan) is a great read for anyone interested in the martial arts. [I also posted this review on Amazon.com] Hanshi Fumio Demura (9th dan in … Read More
Fun in the Sun! Qigong in Water for Better Relaxation & Chi Flow
Qigong (Chi Kung – Pronounced Chee Gong) is a form of motion and/or still meditation in order to cultivate and flow your chi or life force. One of the principles in Qigong is that of reaching a state of relaxed … Read More
Part II – Secrets of Teaching Traditional Karate-do and Running a World-Class Dojo
Still Mind Martial Arts Masters Series (#1B) An Interview with Kyoshi Todd Keane and Shidoshi Kristen Keane – Part II This is part II of our interview with Kyoshi Todd Keane and Shidoshi Kristen Keane which continues where the part … Read More
Shoshin Nagamine’s Early Evolution of Yakusoku Kumite in the 60’s
Today’s post should conclude my deep-dive into Yakusoku Kumite. We’ll analyze the early evolution of Yakusoku Kumite in a couple of vintage videos of O-Sensei Nagamine performing a few of his Yakusoku Kumite drills himself. So in this post I’m … Read More