Yasuragi Dojo | Traditional Japanese Martial Arts, Mahopac, NY

Shuko, a good way to break your hand blog Sep 07, 2021

Itto Dori 一刀島. In my last post about this, I mentioned a bit about the shuko, and how I’d challenge any practitioner to do the techniques of the Ukemi Gata as demonstrated in popular videos, etc. good luck.

Here, striking with the shuko 手鉤, which was most likely a tool used for...

Only you can understand Budo articles blog Feb 18, 2021

四拳波羅蜜大光明. Many things in Budo can be easily translated, others cannot. It's easy to google, or look at someone else's translation or even have a master brush it for a couple hundred bucks ... But this is just someone else's understanding, their reality.

Indeed, I rely on my...

Don't feed the monkey, keep going and expect to break articles podcast Jun 28, 2020

20 years ago, I had my first training experience with my martial arts teacher, and in this episode I want to share with you some observations that I took from that experience and how it really helped me to understand this saying,

Keep going.

What does it truly mean? I dig into some...

Nin Tai, Something More than Not Giving Up articles Feb 23, 2020

About 15 years ago, I was at a martial arts seminar in Virginia that Manaka Sensei was teaching.

Following the seminar, the host kindly invited us back to his house for a small party, barbecue and a get together. While there, Sensei had been relaxing on a couch...

Testing Expectations, What's Beyond the Curriculum articles blog Jan 15, 2020

We just completed a new cycle of rank testing here at the Dojo, and I gotta tell you ... there's some blood on the floor. Well not really, but metaphorically.

A lot of students just didn't make it through their first or even second cycle of testing,...

Reflections on Giri, our obligational duty as written by Inazo Nitobe articles culture Apr 14, 2019

I want to continue the discussion about the fundamental difference between right and wrong. If you read the previous article, we talked about Bushido The Soul of Japan, written by Inazō Nitobe.

I’ll be sharing each one of the (8) tenets that Nitobe presents as the tenets of...

Gi, The fundamental difference between right and wrong articles Apr 07, 2019

Much of how I teach is centered around topics that I first present to the children’s class, and then I kind of carry that same sentiment throughout into my evening class making it more contextual for the adult students.

So, for example, right now we’ve begun a whole...

First Training of 2019, Hastu Keiko events Jan 03, 2019

On January 1, 2019 at 5:30 a.m., the first class of the new year bowed in and training began. The topic was centered on the Jinen Ryu Bikenjutsu kata, Hiryu.

Following, the tradition of cutting tatami as the new sun began to take over the darkness of early morning.

Enjoy these images...

Adam Mitchell receives Rokkudan from Unsui Sensei announcments Nov 10, 2018

During the 2018 Tokubetsu no Keiko, (special training) at the Jinenkan Honbu Dojo attended by instructors from around the world, Adam Mitchell received promotion to Rokkudan, 6th degree, by Unsui Sensei.

As well, Mario DeMol, Jinenkan Kounryusui Dojo (Belgium) received Nanadan, 7th degree...

Nanpa Aruki: Or How To Hack Walking To Be More Efficient historical Aug 07, 2017

Written by koichi

Hate to break it to you normal-walker, but the way you’re walking right now is inefficient, ridiculous, and just plain wrong. You know how you’re overly moving your hips and twisting your body like a pretzel, causing yourself to exert more energy than necessary?

...

Otonashi no Kamae, 音無しの構 technique Jul 21, 2017

While training the The Hanbōjutsu of Kukishin Ryū in Japan during the Spring of 2008, Unsui Sensei explained to me the use of otonashi no kamae.

His lesson was premised on the principle of “be an easy target for your opponent.” But the intention of this kamae can be easily...

A Brief History of the Kusari Fundo historical Nov 04, 2016

The history of the kusarifundo is quite fascinating. The weapon was developed by the head sentry of Edo castle in the early eighteenth century to disarm and subdue criminals without bloodshed inside castle grounds.

The shedding of blood during this time would be considered disgraceful and...

KUKISHIN RYU BIKENJUTSU WORKSHOP