In the adventure of life you must be prepared for the unexpected, including assault from those that would do you harm. Martial arts training can teach you more about the real you than you really want to know. Combat training brings your hidden weaknesses to the light and forces you to confront them. It also makes obvious the gross-overestimation of ability that most people walk around with. The knowledge alone of this hard-to-swallow truth makes you more capable. My martial arts training is the catalyst for everything on this site. My pursuit of the “ninja ideal” is manifested most commonly through my training in To-Shin Do, classical taijutsu, as well as Brazilian and Japanese Jujutsu. Those being my main defensive tactic focuses, I have an appreciation for multiple other styles of self defense strategies. Join me as I explore the science of self-protection and self-development through martial arts training.
Blog Entries
The 5 D’s of Self Defense
One of my favorite lessons that I have learned from An-Shu Hayes was his five “D” approach to technique application. Each of the kata …
Mai-ai (Gap) vs. Ku-Kan
“Mai-ai” and “Ku-kan” are two terms that have been regularly referenced in my To-Shin Do training by several different teachers. These terms can describe …
The Three Facets of the Warrior Mindset
The Three Facets of the Warrior Mindset. I always hesitate to use the word “warrior.” I’m not a warrior in the truest usage of …
Kuzushi “Taking or Maintaining Balance”
The term “kuzushi” is typically used in our dojo when we are referring to taking our training partners’ balance or striving to maintain our …
Kamae: “Posture” or “Base”
In our To-Shin Do training, we constantly refer to the concept of “Kamae”. An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes has defined it as “base”. We keep …
Ukemi: Receiving Skills
Of all of the things that we practice in our taijutsu and jiu-jitsu training, what is the skill that we are most likely to …
To-Shin Do April Black Belt Seminar 2019 Review
Each year To-Shin Do black belts from all over the globe convene at the “Hombu” or Home Dojo in Dayton, Ohio. This year was …
The Origins of the Modern Ninja Tactics Seminar
This past weekend we hosted the second of our “Modern Ninja Tactics” Seminars. This type of training is not what the usual traditional martial …
Jiu-Jitsu at Chapel Hill Quest Martial Arts
Jujutsu is the typical American spelling referring to the older Japanese practice of grappling based martial arts. Judo is a sport that is made …
Ninja Festival 38 Review
Thirty-eight years ago, a pioneering American martial artist created an annual gathering dedicated to sharing the Ninja martial arts secrets that he brought back …
A Weekend with Henry Akins (Seminar at Quest Martial Arts Chandler October 27-28, 2018)
Pressure and connection. Pressure and connection are two terms that describe attributes that are commonly held in high regard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As a …
A Weekend with Roy Dean (Seminar at The Stillness Gym June 30, 2018)
I have been watching Roy Dean’s jiu-jitsu DVD’s since I was a white belt. Professor Dean is not your typical Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor. In …
What is Tengu Training?
This weekend was designed to be my ultimate training weekend with my friends. The event isn’t really a seminar. Some material is covered, but …
Inside Position
I must start this by saying that this is from my immature and definitely flawed understanding of To-Shin taijutsu, or body movement. That …
What does Hakutoshi mean?
When you earn your San-dan, or third degree black belt in To-Shin Do, An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes bestows upon you a title, a warrior …
What does NinjaEveryDay mean?
When you think of the word “ninja” it can bring several images to mind, most specifically a black clad espionage agent from feudal Japan. …