Kyo To: Currently the kata we are training in the Dojo, Takagi Yoshin Ryu Shoden Omote Gata.
Look at the hands.
One of the foundational points Unsui Sensei teaches in this form is a complete lack...
Epsiode 7: Ikigai and unraveling it's profound meaning as the essence of life’s purpose.
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Nicholas Kemp, author of Ikigai-kan, Feel A...
In this reflection, I share from a deeply personal and traumatic experience of being attacked and stabbed and exactly how this event shaped my perspective on knife defense as a martial arts...
Episode 3: Uncovering Martial Arts Wisdom: Eric Shahan's Journey into Translating Japanese Books
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In this episode, I...
In this exciting kickoff episode of the Shugyo podcast, host Adam Mitchell welcomes you to sit beside him and his students, at a Dojo in Japan with his teacher, Manaka Unsui, to...
Episode 2. Unveiling the True Meaning of "Keep Going" in the Path of Budo Mastery
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In this episode of Shugyo, host Adam Mitchell delves...
In this class, we drilled fundamental newaza techniques from the osae komi waza (pinning techniques) with a focus on shiho and kesa gatame (four corner and scarf hold locks). This is just a quick...
Some years ago, Unsui stood in front of a crowd of students and guests from around the world to make a toast. With a glass of Swiss beer in hand, and over a spread of fondue, his sentiment was...
Alexander Hamilton, a real American bad-ass leading a group of soldier at night to attack camped out British troops using only fixed bayonets. He was 19. The guy went on to defend New York in it's...
I offer you something I enjoyed today, so that you may do the same, maybe even more so.
The Iroha Poem
'The leaves may shine with colored gloss,
But they will fall, forever lost.
In this false world,...
The path taken within the Dojo and throughout the life of someone studying Kobudo.
Darkness is not a safe place for the untrained. It just isn't.
The path involves you facing yourself, be it through...
When I teach a seminar, I try to show a technique with the toughest, most capable uke. Not the easiest, lightest student with graceful ukemi performed to make me look good. I want to mix it up with...
Amazing time teaching in Los Angeles this past weekend, Koto Ryu Koppojutsu and Togakure Ryu Bikenjutsu. An enormous amount of material covered, and still a long way to go. I have so much gratitude...
Taken from the cover of a book, Adam Mitchell purchased at an antique book store in Japan, the "Kikusui" logo literally translates to “Chrysanthemum water”. It's original reference...
"I am invincible" Maciej said as we were leaving the Dojo on Saturday morning. I knew what he meant, I think maybe more than he realized.
After morning training, I asked Maciej if he wouldn’t...