role model


Interview with Chris Denwood

Chris Denwood is a karateka, fitness expert, researcher, and the author of “Respecting the Old, Creating the New,” and “Naihanchi (Tekki): The Seed of Shuri Karate Vol. 1.” The latter is easily the most comprehensive book on Naihanchi Shodan fundamentals that I have ever read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who practices Naihanchi kata that can be traced back […]


2015 Brotherhood of Veteran Warriors Gasshuku

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2015 Brotherhood of Veteran Warriors Gasshuku. The BOVW is an organization that was founded by US Military veterans with decades of martial arts experience, for the purpose of providing settings where martial artists from different backgrounds could come together to share and learn. They do not have any sort of curriculum, […]


Book Review: Matthew Apsokardu’s “Tales from the Western Generation”

Matthew Apsokardu is a dedicated martial artist, and the mind behind the excellent website, Ikigai Way. He has a long track record of creating valuable content for karateka and kobudoka, mostly through his website. For some time, now, he has been working on something a bit grander. “Tales from the Western Generation” is a rather lengthy book, weighing in at […]


Being a Role Model

Martial arts come with a sense of fulfillment and confidence, but the reason for that depends on the individual student.  The exercise, the skills, the meditative aspects, all of them can provide this feeling and some people enjoy all of it.  I happen to be one of the people who enjoy it all, but the one thing that probably gives […]