The WMKA (World Matsubayashi-ryu Karatedo Association) is scheduled to start construction of a memorial monument for O’Sensei Shoshin Nagamine, the founder of Matsubayashi-ryu, this September in Okinawa. The public unveiling of the monument was originally scheduled for November but has … Read More

The above video shows a demonstration of the basic kobudo bo drill, Fuso Kumi Bo that we performed in 2012. This video was shot when our dojo, The Academy of Traditional Karate, gave a karate and kobudo presentation at our … Read More

This post shows the step-by-step breakdown of the previous bo drill video, Fuso Kumi Bo. It uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the two person drill along with descriptions … Read More

The above video shows a practice session of the basic kobudo bo drill, Fuso Kumi Bo. I shot the first portion of this video last fall with my son in our backyard. It is easiest and safest to practice kobudo, … Read More

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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