Articles by Mark Warner

Few weapons in Chinese history are as instantly recognizable—or as steeped in legend—as the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, traditionally attributed to Guan Yu, the peerless warrior-saint of the Three Kingdoms era. Known in Chinese as the Qīnglóng Yǎnyuè Dāo (青龍偃月刀), the weapon has become inseparable from Guan Yu’s image: a [Read More]

The Chinese broadsword—most commonly called the dao—is one of the most iconic weapons in Chinese martial culture. Instantly recognizable by its single-edged blade and forward-weighted profile, the dao has long been known as “the general of weapons,” prized for its power, adaptability, and battlefield practicality. From ancient warfare to modern [Read More]

Abstract American martial arts culture has long oscillated between striking-centric traditions and sport-driven grappling systems. While boxing, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and mixed martial arts (MMA) have each shaped the landscape, a crucial element remains underrepresented: a battlefield-oriented ground-fighting system that integrates striking, off-balancing, weapons awareness, and environmental adaptation. [Read More]

Music has always walked beside the martial arts—even when we don’t consciously notice it. From the deep boom of temple drums to the quiet rhythm of breath in a solo form, sound and movement have been intertwined for centuries. In modern training halls, playlists may replace drums, but the effect [Read More]

  Among the legendary heroes of Chinese history, few names resonate as powerfully—or as purely—as Zhao Yun. Known by his courtesy name Zilong, Zhao Yun stands as a paragon of martial excellence, moral integrity, and unwavering loyalty during one of China’s most turbulent eras: the late Eastern Han dynasty and [Read More]

When people think of martial arts, they often imagine flashy kicks, acrobatic flips, or years of intense athletic conditioning. While those styles have their place, the reality for most people is very different. The average person wants something practical, efficient, and realistic—something that works in the real world without requiring [Read More]

In a world where personal safety concerns are rising, social tensions are increasing, and violent encounters often happen without warning, the need for a realistic, efficient, and adaptable self-defense system has never been greater. Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali (DTSK), a Filipino martial art rooted in battlefield experience and refined for [Read More]

Tomoe Gozen stands as one of the most powerful and enduring figures in Japanese history—a woman whose name defies expectations, challenges stereotypes, and embodies the martial spirit of the samurai age. Revered as a fearless warrior, skilled archer, expert swordswoman, and commanding battlefield presence, Tomoe Gozen is remembered not merely [Read More]

Early Life and Background William Kwai-sun Chow was born on July 3, 1914, in Honolulu, on the island of Oʻahu (then Territory of Hawaii). Wikipedia+2USAdojo.com+2 He was the third of sixteen children and the first son of his parents — his father was known as Sun Chow-Hoon (or Ah Hoon-Chow), [Read More]

How discipline, movement, community, and joy open new pathways for growth Children who live with neurodivergence—ADHD, autism spectrum, sensory processing challenges, anxiety, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and many others—often navigate a world that feels like it was not designed for them. Traditional learning environments may move too fast or too unpredictably. Social [Read More]

Throughout the long arc of Chinese martial arts history, certain names rise from the dust of time and settle into legend—names invoked with reverence, pride, and awe by practitioners across the world. Among the most celebrated of these heroes stands a constellation of warriors known collectively as The Ten Tigers [Read More]

As the seasons turn and the holidays remind us to slow down, I find myself deeply thankful for something that has shaped every corner of my life: my Kung Fu. Not simply the forms, the conditioning, or the sweat earned on wooden floors, but the entire living path that has [Read More]

When the Ming dynasty faced one of the most dangerous threats to its coastal stability, it was not an invading army from the north or a rebellion rising from within. It was a relentless wave of maritime raiders known as the Wokou pirates—a coalition of Japanese swordsmen, ronin, smugglers, warlords, [Read More]

Iron Body, Iron Mind: Robert Downey Jr.’s Martial Arts Journey Through Wing Chun, Recovery, and Reinvention 1600 words Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most recognizable actors on the planet—an icon who helped redefine modern cinema through his charismatic, razor-sharp portrayal of Tony Stark in the Iron Man and [Read More]

The Kwan Dao—also written Guan Dao, Kwan Tou, or Kwan Dao—is one of the most iconic and culturally charged weapons in the Chinese martial tradition. Its sweeping blade, heavy iron ring, long wooden haft, and unmistakable profile make it stand out immediately on any weapons rack. Yet the Kwan Dao [Read More]

  Origins of the Bladed Legacy Among the many Filipino martial systems that have survived the centuries, few carry the battlefield-tested authenticity and brutal practicality of Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali (DTSK). Born from the Visayan islands of the Philippines, particularly the island of Negros Occidental, the art traces its roots [Read More]

Martial arts has long been recognized for its physical advantages—strength, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, coordination, and self-defense skills. Yet the most profound transformation often happens beyond the physical body. Martial arts is a discipline that shapes not only how practitioners move, but how they think, respond, and feel. The emotional and [Read More]

The Battle of Red Cliffs—also called the Battle of Chibi (赤壁之戰)—stands as one of the most iconic and consequential military engagements in Chinese history. Fought during the winter of 208–209 CE, it was a decisive clash between the northern warlord Cao Cao and the allied southern warlords Sun Quan and [Read More]

The era of the Three Kingdoms stands as one of the most dramatic, romanticized, and culturally influential periods in Chinese history. Spanning roughly from the late second century to the late third century CE, this epoch witnessed the fall of the Han Dynasty, the fragmentation of the empire, and the [Read More]

  Introduction In today’s combat sports world, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has become one of the fastest-growing athletic disciplines. With organizations like the UFC showcasing fighters who combine striking, grappling, submissions, and conditioning, the term “mixed” reflects the blending of multiple martial traditions into a single fighting system. However, centuries [Read More]