Recent Blogs Posts

The end of the year is a particularly special time of the year for Japan. There are several “cultural” group related events for colleagues, businesses and for groups, including martial arts. Respectively, there are three main types of parties surrounding the New Year: before the New Year, New Years and after the New Year, so to speak. Many smaller dojo in Japan do not have official tests to assign rank. In turn, they use the end of the year as a time to assign rank. That is not saying that ...

Can we really use "unarmed" techniques in self defense?
My Bujinkan teachers in Japan always stress that this art was built around the reality of weapons. We use them, we train to go against them and even though we do unarmed stuff most of the time, there is always a connection with weapons. This art was not meant to be used at a tournament. And in Japan, a entire class openly carried twin swords.

I have been thinking of something for a long time and kind of want to throw ...

I would like to make my case for a style of weapon commonly considered antiquated today, but whose features have not been surpassed.

The lowly double action revolver. For decades I have advised prospective first-time gun owners to get one as their first handgun and for decades they have instead bought a Kimber .45 or some sort of Glock. These are fine weapons too, but have a greater learning curve and for the average non-LEO have next to no benefits in my opinion.

Let's ...

It is brisk outside, as the pale blue light of dawn listlessly breaks through the curtains of a foreign room. I can hear the dull lull of the motors from cars on the nearby freeway. It is 6:15 am and I have been lying quietly in bed now for 23 minutes pondering the soon to come events of today. Forth most upon my mind is my first fight. Being honest with myself I realize that I am anxious, slightly intimidated, eager, and desperately hoping for the invigoration that comes with a new outlook ...

As we all should know, contact with Japan and Hatsumi is important for Bujinkan members. This has been said often enough. Students who don't come are not considered real students anymore. We all are clear on that, right?

Well, I think that a lot of people mistake the reason they need to keep in touch with Japan.

Quiet simply put, the first time you see something like a kata, you don't get all the points. Anyone who has taught knows that you need to get people so that ...