Articles

Hard and Sharp without Hurting

Monday, 07 May 2012 12:51 |

Written by Administrator

Sensei Q & A

Q: I am pretty new to training. When I’m shown a technique that needs to be done with a sharp, hard movement, precisely in the right place in order to work (such as the shuto on Ichimonji no Kata), I am afraid I am going to hurt the person by doing it too hard in the wrong place. Any thoughts?

A: It’s always important to communicate with your training partner. If you’re concerned about hurting your partner, just ask for feedback. Was that too hard? Did it affect you? Did it have the intended affect? It’s entirely possible to strike someone hard and painfully, but miss the intended target and therefore not produce the intended affect.

Over time, as you become more experienced you’ll have a better sense of how hard you can strike your training partner without inadvertently hurting them. In some cases, your training partner may not have a clear sense of how hard they can be hit before they are hurt, so this feedback is an essential training tool for both participants.

This article was originally published in the May 2012 Muzosa Journal.

The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Part II: Meltdown

Monday, 07 May 2012 12:48 | PDF | E-mail

History

The earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March of 2011 devestated the entire Tohoku region, with a great cost in lives and material damage. The great enduring symbol of the disaster, however, continues to be the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. While Japan rebuilds and recovers from the devestating effects of the earthquake and tsunami, the ongoing dangers at Fukushima are a continuing source of health and environmental concerns, with no clear answers in sight.

Tricks of the Street

Monday, 07 May 2012 12:44 |

Written by Loren Christian

Budo Taijutsu

by Loren Christian

When I first moved to New York, the biggest change was being so physically close to so many people. Every where I went I was shoulder to shoulder with people I didn’t know. Now for New Yorkers born and breed, you probably don’t even notice how odd this can be. But coming from LA, a place where I could go a whole day and talk to NO ONE and certainly only be touching people I actually knew and liked, the New York experience was a shock to say the least.