Martial Journal

A roadmap for the new year: a Dàoist approach to beginning a Stretching and Breathing routine.

In my 30 years of training and 15 of running an aikido dojo, I’ve noticed some tendencies in the way people progress through their practice—or not. I have personally lost my way and found it again many times, and after years of practice I’ve found that the answer often lies [Read More]

  The modern age has given rise to innumerable and intractable illnesses – the suffering of which is shared by the planet, its flora and fauna, and all humanity struggling to find meaning and growth upon her surface. The modern era also offers us the never-before-seen possibility of bringing myriad [Read More]

How a Dàoist would craft successful New Year’s Resolutions.

It was a bitterly cold night in the North Pole. The sky was a blanket of stars, shimmering above the snow-covered plains. Inside Santa’s grand workshop, the elves worked tirelessly. Laughter and the whirr of tools echoed through the cavernous halls as gifts were assembled with precision. Then came the [Read More]

  Few Fears this New Year’s Exploring New Year’s resolutions through a Zen perspective: The main thing is to have, develop, and nurture (or return to) a Discipline. Let’s walk this path in the healthiest manner, wherever it leads us. #GoallessPath     The Zen Path of Intentional Transformation As [Read More]

Introduction Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes is a 2015 historical action film offering the backstory to one of my favorite characters from the original Marco Polo (2014-2016) series.  This film is written by John Fusco and directed by Alik Sakharov, both of whom were a part of the original Marco [Read More]

The true spirit of holiday traditions lives not in their familiar external forms but in the deeper intentions behind them. When our typical holiday events and machinations become sources of stress, it’s crucial to recognize that we can let go of those specific Practices while still honoring the season’s underlying [Read More]

Groin Striking Never underestimate the importance and effectiveness of a groin strike in the Okinawan martial arts. What many martial artists do not realize is that about every one of the traditional Okinawa Katas incorporates some kind of groin strike. From my early days in Karate and throughout the years, [Read More]

  Wing Chun Kung Fu, a traditional Chinese martial art, is renowned for its practicality, efficiency, and elegance. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, its evolution is intertwined with legends, historical milestones, and the lives of those who carried its teachings forward. The following article explores the rich tapestry of Wing Chun [Read More]

  Dekiti Tirsia Siradas is part of the larger Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), community also known as Eskrima, Arnis, or Kali, Dekiti Tirsia Siradas is a centuries-old combat system from Negros Island, Philippines. Rooted in the practical need for survival, it is characterized by its versatility and adaptability. Traditionally practiced [Read More]

  In our fast-paced, information-rich world, it seems that our attention spans are shrinking faster than my paycheck around these gift-giving holidays. Tick tock ticktock go our brains at the blinding and blurring speed of TikTok. And let me tell you, the consequences are quite severe. Let’s take a stroll [Read More]

Rough Night The night before my last day at the coffee shop, my coworkers and I headed out to celebrate. Soon I’d be leaving for Japan, and this would be my last hurrah. We ate and drank our way through the night, eventually ending up at the far end of [Read More]

Discovering the True Meaning of Stance In the past, I had come to understand that the wholeness of a stance included the position of one’s hands. In fact, as I recently helped my instructor put together a manual on stances, each “proper” stance came with instructions on where to position [Read More]

Abolishing Barriers & Chasms Section 1 – Your Assertions. One:You have said that you value meditation. Two:You have told me that you don’t meditate.Or, at least, not regularly enough. So, there’s a thing that you value:A regular meditation Practice.But, you don’t do it.Thus, there’s a disconnect. I refer to that [Read More]

With a 50% year-over-year growth, the event continues to unite martial artists across the region. Boothwyn, PA – October 21, 2024 The second annual Free Training Day Mid-Atlantic (FTDMA) presented by whistlekick shattered attendance records, with a 50% increase in participants over last year’s event. Held on September 21, 2024, [Read More]

Hi All Yup that’s right, some of you know that Martial Journal is part of a larger, whistlekick, is the name, and they also happen to run the #1 martial arts podcast in the world. The great news is we are always looking for guests. Being interviewed on a podcast [Read More]

Moving On By the time I arrived in Japan, I had quit aikido. Back in the U.S. I was training nearly every day, but in the time it had taken me to secure a job and get on a plane I was disillusioned with the art. I had been training [Read More]