„Curiosity killed the cat!“ This English proverb should be familiar to many. Cats are curious and this curiosity may kill them. The proverb warns people of unnecessary investigations or experiments, which could probably often bring misfortune. But old proverbs have a habit of possessing much different meanings nowadays than originally intended. And this is exactly … Mehr „Care killed the cat“

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