How to Practice Zhan Zhuang Standing Meditation Qigong with the Full Circle Sequence
Spread the word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 … Read More
How to Practice Kobudo Bo Kihon with 14 Basic Bo Blocks
Spread the wordI 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 … Read More
How to Practice Kobudo Bo Kihon with 10 Basic Bo Strikes
Spread the wordI 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 … Read More
Wu Chi (Wuji) Standing Meditation the First Position in Qigong
Spread the word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, … Read More
Wu Chi – Wuji – The Beginning of Everything – Comparing Taoist and Modern Cosmology
Spread the word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 … Read More
Oldest Surviving Anatomy Atlas Discovered in Mawangdui Tomb Details Physical Pathways Predating Acupuncture Meridians
Spread the wordIn 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 … Read More
獨行道 Dokkodo The Way of Walking Alone by Miyamoto Musashi
Spread the wordListen 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 … Read More
Awesome Online Karate Class with 10th Degree Black Belt
Spread the wordWhat 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 … Read More
A Simple Man – My Life with Soke Nagamine – Book Review
Spread the wordA 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 … Read More
Fun in the Sun! Qigong in Water for Better Relaxation & Chi Flow
Spread the wordQigong (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 … Read More
Part II – Secrets of Teaching Traditional Karate-do and Running a World-Class Dojo
Spread the wordStill 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 … Read More
Shoshin Nagamine’s Early Evolution of Yakusoku Kumite in the 60’s
Spread the wordToday’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 … Read More
Father & Son Rohai Kata Demonstration – 2012
Spread the wordThis 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 … Read More
Shoshin Nagamine Demonstrates Yakusoku Kumite Evolution in 1983
Spread the wordO-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 … Read More
Secrets of Teaching Traditional Karate-do and Running a World-Class Dojo
Spread the wordStill 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 … Read More
Happy Independence Day America!
Spread the wordI’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 … Read More
Irimi 入身 and Tai Sabaki 体捌き of Old-Style Okinawan Shuri-te
Spread the wordI 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. … Read More
Interesting New Book Release – Takayoshi Nagamine A Simple Man
Spread the wordI 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 … Read More
The Storied History of Yakusoku Kumite I-VII
Spread the wordHere 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 … Read More
How to Control, Block & Counter Strike a Grab – Yakusoku Kumite VII Video Study
Spread the wordYakusoku 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 … Read More
How to Bait an Attacker with a False Target – Yakusoku Kumite VI Video Study
Spread the wordYakusoku 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 … Read More
End of an Era as Shoshin Nagamine’s Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Dojo is Demolished
Spread the wordA 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 … Read More
How to Defend Against and use Kicks – Yakusoku Kumite V Video Study
Spread the wordYakusoku 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 … Read More
How to Defend Against an Attack from Behind – Yakusoku Kumite IV Video Study
Spread the wordYakusoku 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 … Read More