Takuan’s Solution for Practical Combatives
Combat training simulates conditions of high stress. It works that way now and it worked that way in Tokugawa era Japan. Under hyper arousal we experience changes in sense perception and physical performance that can hinder our effectiveness: Our field of vision contracts to a small circle right in front of our eyes, an effect known […]
The Warrior’s Choice
Warriors can neither cling to safety, or be careless with their lives. None of us can. A pivotal moment in the fate of Okinawa and of Japan lets us reflect on the depths of our martial art.
Gratitude
This calligraphy says Gratitude. It is pronounced “Kansha” in Japanese. The beautiful calligraphy was done by Chie Nakata and given to our dojo by her and her husband Jeremy Blaustein, an accomplished karate practitioner, who trained with us for many years. He says this is an expression of his philosophy of life. The message is […]
A Wild Moon
In Japan long ago friends gathered at night in an exquisite garden to admire the light of the moon. They basked in it, delighted in it, wrote poems, philosophized, fell in love, strolled and mused and set aside the cares and concerns of daily life. They looked up and saw what looked to them like […]