Spread the wordAs a long time Karate student, of 18 years now since 2005, with a keen sense of curiosity, interest and analytics, I always enjoyed reading a wide range of martial arts books. I read about everything including; techniques, … Read More
Spread the word7/10/23 — Bruce Lee was one of the most famous Martial Artists, if not the most famous. He tragically died in Hong Kong on July 20th, 1973, one month before the release of his biggest and most famous movie: … Read More
Spread the wordThe idea for today’s post came to me during my Qigong meditation this morning. I try to practice my Qigong outside in the sunshine and fresh air whenever possible, like today. One of the Qigong forms I practice … Read More
Spread the wordIn the above video Joe Rogan interviews Mark Zuckerberg about his weekend gold/silver medal wins and his overall experiences with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Zuckerberg started training in BJJ during the pandemic and is apparently a fast learner winning his … Read More
Spread the wordWestern medical science had typically discounted the TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine, theory of acupuncture meridians because they could not find physical evidence of such channels. It turns out they were just not looking in the right places. Such … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows another practice session of an Escrima Filipino stick fighting drill using the Ratan Escrima sticks. This is the third Escrima drill that we practice in the kobudo program I run at The Academy of … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows a practice session of an Escrima Filipino stick fighting drill using the Ratan Escrima sticks. This is the second Escrima drill that we practice in the kobudo program I run at The Academy of … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video is a compilation of clips showing various stages in the life of the Apostle Simon the Zealot, or Simon Z, as shown in the record-breaking crowdsourced series The Chosen by Angel Studios. This particular interpretation … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows a practice session of an Escrima Filipino stick fighting drill using the Ratan Escrima sticks. This is the first Escrima drill that we practice in the kobudo program I run at The Academy of … Read More
Spread the wordIn this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Sai Kihon (Basics) drill video, Sai Combinations (Blocks & Strikes). This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows a practice session of a kobudo drill using the Sai (metal truncheon). This is the third of three Sai drills that we practice in the kobudo program I run at The Academy of Traditional … Read More
Spread the wordIn this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Sai Kihon (Basics) drill video, Sai Uchi (Strikes). This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows a practice session of a kobudo drill using the Sai (metal truncheon). This is the second of three Sai drills that we practice in the kobudo program I run at The Academy of Traditional … Read More
Spread the wordWhat You See and Feel is an Illusion, Everything is Energy This is a followup to my previous post: How to See the Path of Chi (Qi/Ki) 氣. Just as with my The Key & The Lock post, … Read More
Spread the wordGojushiho is a kata that means 54 steps. It is the longest kata that I have learned to date and has some sections that are unlike previous kata. One of these sequences is a drunken move where the … Read More
Spread the wordThe above image is my artist representation of what it looks like to see the path of Chi (Qi/Ki) 氣. As your hand moves through your field of vision it looks like it creates a short trail of … Read More
Spread the wordIn this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Sai Kihon (Basics) drill video, Sai Uke (Blocks). This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves … Read More
Spread the wordWatch the above animation of the Betsy Ross flag proudly billowing in a glorious sunset as you listen to the USAF Band and Chorus play The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem. “O ! say does that star-spangled … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows a practice session of a kobudo drill using the Sai (metal truncheon). This is the first of three Sai drills that we practice in the kobudo program I run at The Academy of Traditional … Read More
Spread the wordThe idea for the following parable came to me while I was in Qigong meditation one early morning. As I stood silently outside in the warm sunshine and cool breeze holding a Zhan Zhuang position, the mental image … Read More
Spread the wordIn this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Tonfa kata video, Onami. This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the Tonfa/Tuifa kata … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows an outdoor practice session of a kobudo kata named Onami. Onami means Great Wave. I videoed this practice session in my backyard on 10/24/21. This was the first Tonfa (Tuifa) kata that I learned … Read More
Spread the wordThe below knock-out video that’s going around social media made me think of the famous Bruce Lee quote from Enter the Dragon. “Boards don’t hit back.” — Bruce Lee, But, apparently, dummies do! I hope that poor kid … Read More
Spread the wordMar-a-lago, Florida 11/22/21 — In the above video, John Bachman of Newsmax reports that President Trump was presented with an Honorary 9th Degree Black Belt over the weekend. The U.S.-based TaeKwonDo GrandMaster Eungil Choi (to left of Trump … Read More
Spread the wordIn this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Tonfa kata video, Tonfa no Ichi. This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows an outdoor practice session of a Matsubayashi kobudo kata named Tonfa no Ichi (or Tuifa no Ichi). Tonfa no Ichi kata simply means first tonfa form, though it is actually the second tonfa form … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows my performance of a Matsubayashi kobudo kata named Tonfa no Ichi (or Tuifa no Ichi) that I performed at my recent Nidan kobudo promotional. Tonfa no Ichi kata simply means first tonfa form, though … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows our promotional performance of the basic kobudo bo drill, Fuso Kumi Bo, that we performed at my recent kobudo promotional on 7/31/21. The drill helps train distance, timing and reactions for both defending and … Read More
Spread the wordStill Mind Martial Arts Masters Series (#3) Profile and Interview with Hanshi Richard Bernard We are honored to bring you the next installment of our Still Mind Martial Arts Masters Series (#3) Hanshi Richard Bernard: Tournament Kata Champion. … Read More
Spread the wordWhile we primarily practice Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu Karate-do and Kobudo which originate from Okinawa, we also practice some Filipino stick fighting Escrima. Escrima helps develop speed, flow and reactions which also help improve your Karate and Kobudo abilities. This … Read More
Spread the wordThis post shows the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Sai kata video, Rokusai/Sai dai Ichi. It uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the Sai kata (form) along … Read More
Spread the wordThe above video shows a practice session of the basic kobudo sai kata, Rokusai. While we call this kata Rokusai in our dojo it is also known as Sai dai Ichi (first Sai form) in Matsubayashi-ryu. Rokusai or … Read More
Spread the wordThe 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 … Read More
Spread the wordThe 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 … Read More
Spread the wordThis 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 … Read More
Spread the wordThe 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 … 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
Spread the wordThis 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 … Read More
Spread the wordLast 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 … Read More
Spread the wordThis 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 … Read More
Spread the wordI 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 … 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
