This is a practice video session of the Seisan kata (form) from Chubu Shorin Ryu. Chubu is a slightly different, related style of Shorin Ryu than our primary style of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. We have 18 kata in Matsubayashi Shorin … Read More
This is the step-by-step breakdown of the Nunchaku Catches drill. It is the sixth in a set of six Nunchaku Kihon (Basics). Each of the six drills is composed of seven basic techniques and each drill ends with an X … Read More
This Nunchaku Catches drill is the sixth in a set of six Nunchaku Kihon (Basics) drills after the Nunchaku Flails drill posted previously. Each of the six drills is composed of seven basic techniques and each drill ends with an … Read More
This Nunchaku Flails drill is the fifth in a set of six Nunchaku Kihon (Basics) drills after the Nunchaku Blocks II drill posted previously. Each of the six drills is composed of seven basic techniques and each drill ends with … Read More
This Nunchaku Blocks II drill is the fourth in a set of six Nunchaku Kihon (Basics) drills after the Nunchaku Blocks I drill posted previously. Each of the six drills is composed of seven basic techniques and each drill ends … Read More
This Nunchaku Blocks I drill is the third in a set of six Nunchaku Kihon (Basics) drills after the Nunchaku Bounces drill posted previously. Each of the six drills is composed of seven basic techniques and each drill ends with … Read More
This Nunchaku Bounces drill is the second in a set of six Nunchaku Kihon (Basics) drills after the Nunchaku Blunt Strikes drill posted previously. These basic drills introduce the student to handling the tricky Nunchaku weapon before learning a full … Read More
This is the first video post from my new home dojo in South Carolina. I videoed the full set of six Nunchaku drills inside my home dojo and will post each one with a full step-by-step breakdown over the coming … Read More
Sorry for such a long delay in adding new content/posts to the blog. I’ve been flat-out swamped! We joined the big blue – red migration south that began after the pandemic lock-downs and moved from Wilmington, Massachusetts, down to Conway, … Read More
In this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Tonfa/Tuifa Kihon (Basics) drill video, Tonfa Combinations (Blocks & Strikes). This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves … Read More
The above video shows a practice session of a kobudo drill using the Tonfa/Tuifa (side handle wooden baton). Tonfa Combinations (blocks & strikes) is the third of three basic Tonfa drills that I created for the kobudo program I run … Read More
In this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Tonfa/Tuifa Kihon (Basics) drill video, Tonfa Uchi (Strikes). This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific moves in the … Read More
The above video shows a practice session of a kobudo drill using the Tonfa/Tuifa (side handle wooden baton). Tonfa Uchi (strikes) is the second of three basic Tonfa drills that I created for the kobudo program I run at The … Read More
Happy New Year! In this post we’ll go through the step-by-step breakdown of the previous Tonfa/Tuifa Kihon (Basics) drill video, Tonfa Uke (Blocks). This breakdown uses a series of freeze-frames from the practice video to show each of the specific … Read More
We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas with Good Tidings of Great Joy and Happy New Year! What better way to prepare for Christmas than viewing the incredibly moving depiction of the first Christmas in “The Shepherd,” the pilot … Read More
The above video shows a practice session of a kobudo drill using the Tonfa/Tuifa (side handle wooden baton). Tonfa Uke (blocks) is the first of three basic Tonfa drills that I created for the kobudo program I run at The … Read More
As 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, kata, applications, … Read More
7/10/23 — 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: Enter the … Read More
The 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 is Nourishing … Read More
In 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 first tournament … Read More
Western 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 long sought … Read More
The 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 Traditional Karate, … Read More
The 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 Traditional Karate, … Read More
The 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 depicts Simon … Read More
The 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 Traditional Karate. … Read More
In 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 specific moves … Read More
The 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 Karate. This … Read More
In 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 in the … Read More
The 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 Karate. This … Read More
What 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, the basis … Read More
Gojushiho 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 person performing … Read More
The 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 distortion similar … Read More
In 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 in the … Read More
Watch 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 banner yet … Read More
The 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 Karate. This … Read More
The 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 of being … Read More
In 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 (form) along … Read More
The 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 and is … Read More
The 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 was OK. … Read More
Mar-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 in photo) … Read More
In 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 Tonfa/Tuifa kata … Read More
The 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 that I … Read More
The 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 it is … Read More
The 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 attacking with … Read More
Still 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. Hanshi (Chief … Read More
While 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 great book … Read More
This 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 with descriptions … Read More
The 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 Sai dai … Read More
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
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 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
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
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
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
This old kata performance just popped up on my Facebook feed in one of those “share this memory” posts. So I figured I’d share it with our followers. It’s MJ and I performing the Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Rohai Kata (Bird … Read More
O-Sensei Shoshin Nagamine Performs Yakusoku Kumite in 1983 Karate Illustrated Cover Story A recent post came across my facebook feed that included some scans of an old Karate Illustrated magazine (November 1983) with O-Sensei Shoshin Nagamine on the cover. They … Read More
Still Mind Martial Arts Masters Series (#1A) An Interview with Kyoshi Todd Keane and Shidoshi Kristen Keane Both my father and I train at the Academy of Traditional Karate in Wilmington Massachusetts. We have been training there for about 16 … Read More
I’m proud to be an American every day but even more so on Independence Day! I’m proud to be a citizen of the greatest nation on earth, founded on the principles of FREEDOM and LIBERTY for ALL! It was in … Read More
I came across an interesting article that discusses the differences between old-style Okinawan Shuri-te and Naha-te and the concepts of irimi and tai sabaki. It also described quotes from Choki Motobu and related the concepts to his kumite. It especially … Read More
I have read a couple of books written by O-Sensei Shoshin Nagamine, the founder of our style of karate – Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. So I know a little bit about him. After O-Sensei Shoshin Nagamine retired in 1991 his son … Read More
Here is a great Yakusoku Kumite article that I came across during my online research that discusses the creation and history of Yakusoku Kumite by Shoshin Nagamine at least twenty years before the publication of his book. The Article is … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite VII shows how to control, block & counter strike a grab. It introduces the principle of checking the grabbing arm to monitor and control its position before simultaneously blocking and counter striking. This Yakusoku Kumite VII video study … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite VI shows how to bait an attacker with a false target while introducing the principle of simultaneously blocking/grabbing and striking. It also introduces the principle of shifting and rotating your body to remove the target. This Yakusoku Kumite … Read More
A bit of sad news today for Matsubayashi karateka around the world. This month they tore down Shoshin Nagamine’s Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu dojo. Shoshin Nagamine’s Dojo is Demolished. This was the birthplace of Matsubayashi Ryu where Matsubayashi practitioners around the … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite V shows how to defend against and use kicks while introducing the principle of simultaneously blocking/grabbing and reflexively kicking. It also introduces the principle of constantly changing angles and counter attacking from the sides. This Yakusoku Kumite V … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite IV introduces how to defend against an attack from behind using the principle of simultaneously blocking and counter striking. This is after first trapping the attacker’s grabbing hand while turning to face the attacker. This Yakusoku Kumite IV … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite III shows how to immobilize an attacker’s arms and introduces the principle of simultaneously blocking and stuffing both of the attacker’s arms to temporarily immobilize them. It also demonstrates using the block to open a vulnerable target, then … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite II shows how to yield to set up attacker for counter strike and introduces the principle of conditioning or setting up the attacker by initially yielding to lure him in while recognizing a repetitive attack. Then when ready … Read More
Yakusoku Kumite I shows how to intercept an attack with a strike and introduces the principle of intercepting an attack with your own attack. This simple principle became well known as the foundation of Bruce Lee’s fighting style, Jeet Kune … Read More
This is a Yakusoku Kumite video breakdown of me and MJ practicing in our backyard during the COVID shutdown. It’s a followup to yesterday’s post, Yakusoku Kumite I-VII Video Research Study, to analyze a more current video of us because … Read More
This is a research study of a wide variety of readily available online video examples of Yakusoku Kumite I-VII. When learning, studying, practicing and perfecting such material under the supervision of a qualified local instructor, be sure to perform the … Read More
Today we will take a look back at the origins of Still Mind Martial Arts. Over a decade ago in January of 2010 I was designing some martial arts T-shirts, hoodies, hats, coffee mugs and other martial arts merchandise. [We … Read More
In addition to the Baduanjin Qigong exercises mentioned in a previous post, I began practicing these Tai Chi Meditative Movements outside in the fresh air and sunshine during the Wuhan coronavirus shutdown. Fresh air and sunshine is great for your … Read More
This Qigong Nourishing the Kidneys exercise is another that I added to my Baduanjin Qigong exercise routine. I started practicing these outside in the fresh air and sunshine for some stress reducing meditation during the Wuhan Coronavirus lock-down. In addition … Read More
During the Wuhan Coronavirus lock-down I began practicing my Baduanjin Qigong exercises outside in the fresh air and sunshine for some stress reducing meditation and COVID stress relief. In these troubled times being stuck at home due to COVID-19, and … Read More
Check out the journey! This video shows the progression from the beginning of my training at 4 years old in 2004, to 16 years later in 2020. I cannot remember a time when I was not involved in karate, and … Read More
This set of kata videos started out as an advanced study project I took on as a Yondan and Renshi. By the rank of Yondan(4th degree black belt) one has completed acquiring all the kihon (basics), wasa (techniques) and 18 … Read More
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