Victory over the Self By MLS It is axiomatic among budoka that budo is not a sport, and there are good reasons for it; instead of chasing a higher score or a faster time by any means necessary, budo practitioners are looking to develop their minds and bodies, beyond questions Read More
By: Dr. Anil Sahal After training in the dojo and over a glass of beer, there are often discussions between martial artists about the relationship between budo and sport. Those who see themselves as ‘traditionalists’ express a disdain for martial arts being used in the sporting context feeling that the Read More
The Sword as a Tool for Mental Health -Ron Campbell, www.soarfeat.org You stand in front of your computer, in the center of your living room, sword at your side. You see each of your fellow iaidoka in their separate squares of the Zoom meeting. Some live in your own neighborhood, Read More
The Search for the Mysterious Sword “Kotetsu” By now, many are aware of Kondo Isami. The broad faced bull of a man with a sharp, piercing stare. He was the head of the Shinsengumi, a secret police force appointed by the Shogunate to subdue unrest in Kyoto and bring unruly Read More
In this week’s article we would like to introduce another easy way to keep your weapons protected from the elements, and that is by applying mineral oil to them.
Getting a new bogu should always be a fun and enjoyable undertaking, and understanding what comprise bogu will help keep it that way.
Tozando How To’s -How to apply wax to your wooden weapons- One of the easiest methods to make sure your wooden weapons are protected from the elements is by applying a wax. In this article we will explain one method for applying paraffin wax to your bokken. The reason we Read More
An introduction to taking care of your wooden weapons An introduction to taking care of your wooden weapons A large part of being a modern Budoka is the ability to take care of your own equipment. This is especially true for wooden weapons. Proper upkeep is vital and can help Read More
An Interview with a Master: Part 6. A: Well, there are many stories. Many of them are in the book. He loved to party and anytime there was an opportunity to party he would and sometimes for no reason he would just ask us to bring beer. He did not Read More
An Interview with a Master: Part 5. Q: Uchi Deshi is not your first book, you have also translated two other books Jinsei and Shugyo. What made you translate these two books? A: Two things, first it was my way to study Japanese, so that was my personal training, Read More
