Gendai Budō means “modern martial arts” in Japanese, and is often used to refer to Japanese martial arts that were formed after 1868 (the Meiji Restoration) (or 1876 when samurai could no longer wear swords). But the meaning of Gendai Budo is deeper, as are most...
What is so damn important about dojo etiquette? Why do I have to bow? I don’t bow to anyone! What is the difference if I act a certain way or not, am quiet or not, am respectful or not? Does it mean I can’t defend myself? If I don’t bow lower than my...
Hanshi Duke Moore said it best in the introduction to the original manuscript for the Fighting Spirit of Zen – which was “Survival is everything, all else is trivial”. I want to speak briefly on the essence of Budo. In order to do that – lets...
As a Jujitsu instructor I get alot of questions from students and friends about what is the difference between Judo, Jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There is a long and intertwined history of these three closely related arts. So closely related that the unitiated...
I am a 7th Dan Blackbelt. Question: What the heck does that mean? Answer: Oh, I know, it means you are better than a 4th Dan Blackbelt and worse than a 8th Dan Blackbelt. Right? Well – yes and no. How did all this belt ranking get started? The answer is simple, it is...
ANCIENT JAPAN Grappling styles have existed for eons. Early Egyptian and Greek art show the grappling arts in tombs, on pottery and in statuary. Grappling was known as far back as 2300 B.C. Over the centuries the grappling martial arts spread throughout the world,...
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