Japanese martial arts have become almost synonymous with Japan for many decades in the West. Most people think they have a grasp on this aspect of Japanese culture and yet, for the bigger part, have no idea about it. Of course, this mainly concerns contemporary arts/sports such as Aikidō, Jūdō, Karatedō, Kendō or Iaidō. But … Mehr The „jungle“ of Japanese martial arts and arts of warfare

In the past five decades there have been numerous attempts to explain what koryū-bujutsu actually is or should be. But why was the simplest and most obvious one missing from all these descriptions so consistently? Koryū-bujutsu can be many things, indeed. It can be a reversion to history. It can be the preservation of cultural … Mehr The simple truth

Students and teachers alike are faced with very particular challenges in the study of Koryū-bujutsu. For the casual observer these challenges are usually not as obvious as they may seem. One key question is always: Ultimately, what is really the hardest thing of all to be a member of a classical japanese ryūha of warfare? … Mehr The hardest thing of all?

Recently, due to various incidents, I observe a recurring phenomenon in the world of Koryū-Bujutsu: Obsession with harmony. The quintessence of the classical japanese schools of warfare is basically contest and rivalry. This does not mean a simple sporting comparison, but an active and practical confrontation of ryūha and their teachers and students with other … Mehr Harmony: The new obsession