Martial Artist

In the mid-1990’s training at the Bujinkan Indianapolis Dojo

The urge to learn martial arts first struck in my early teen years, but in rural Indiana there wasn’t much opportunity. When I was 18, I began attending seminars out-of-state, and joined a dōjō when I was first able in 1990–at age 20.

I studied only one lineage of old style Japanese martial arts for a couple of decades, but decided that I needed to see how others approached martial arts. In recent years I’ve learned a little tai chi chuan (mostly for health purposes), studied muaythai (completing the first couple levels of certification at the Muay Thai Institute), and began studying the Keralan martial art of kalaripayattu at the Kalari Academy in Bengaluru. Learning about these other arts–all very different in character and movement–has helped me improve my understanding of my own strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities.

In September of 2014 training at the Muay Thai Institute

Kalaripayattu animal pose practice

Publications:

Lessons in Warrior Strategy for the Mind and Eyes [in Journal of Asian Martial Arts]

Top 10 Jissen Budōka Blog Posts:

1.) Yojokun Book Review [2009]

2.) Kyūsho (Pressure Points): Targeting Matters [2013]

3.) Seigan no Kamae (a posture concept) [2011]

4.) My 10 favorite martial arts books [2011]

5.) Saigo Takamori: The Last Samurai’s Obligation [2011]

6.) 20 Tao Te Ching Quotes for Martial Artists [2012]

7.) Yoroi Kumi Uchi (armored fighting) [2012]

8.) The Chinese Connection (Did budō come from China?) [2011]

9.) Polemology, Hoplology, & the Anthropology of Martial Arts [2011]

10.) My Week at the Muay Thai Institute: Was it “Brutal”? [2012]

6 thoughts on “Martial Artist”

I shoot MMA but was invited to shoot Muay Thai with Friday Night Fights Muay Thai in NYC…I love the traditionalism I see. I like the lack of ground game. It is a fun sport to follow.

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Thanks for stopping by my blog. I know little about martial arts; my way of getting in touch with my vulnerabilities is more through meditation.

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Thanks for visiting my blog. I have never heard of the martial art “kalaripayattu.” Any chance you could write a blog or make a video to explain what it is like?

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