The Hidden Role of Aesthetics in Martial Arts Training

Why do traditional dojos place so much importance on etiquette, simplicity, and attention to detail? 

Most people associate martial arts with physical skills. Yet traditional Japanese martial arts have always been about more than technique alone.

They developed within a culture that valued discipline, refinement, and an appreciation for how actions are performed, not just the results they produce. Understanding this cultural foundation can provide a deeper appreciation for the training itself.

More Than Physical Technique

When new students enter a traditional dojo, they’re introduced to practices that seem unrelated to self-defense on the surface.

• Bowing before entering the training floor. 
• Maintaining a clean uniform. 
• Showing respect toward instructors and fellow students. 
• Sitting quietly before class begins.

At first glance, these practices appear quite ceremonial and routine.

However, they reflect values that have long been woven into Japanese martial traditions, and they’re upheld by World Martial Arts Associations preserving traditional budo. Training isn’t simply about learning techniques. Practicing martial arts is about developing awareness, discipline, and respect.

How Culture Shapes the Dojo

Traditional Japanese martial arts did not develop in isolation.

They emerged within the same culture that produced the tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arrangement, and other classical arts, many of which share common principles.

One of those principles is the idea that how something is done carries equal importance as the outcome. This is a common approach in Japanese martial arts. Students are encouraged to focus on details, practice with intention, and approach training with sincerity.

Wabi and the Practice of Simplicity

One of the aesthetic concepts of Japanese culture that explains this mindset is wabi.

Wabi values simplicity, authenticity, and an appreciation for what is genuine rather than excessive. This influence can be seen throughout traditional martial arts training, and at our World Martial Arts Association.

Many dojos maintain simple training environments, with few distractions and simple instruction. Techniques are practiced repeatedly until movements become natural. 

Rather than constantly searching for something new, students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of what they already practice.

Looking Beyond What Is Visible

As practitioners gain experience, they often discover that some of the most important lessons in martial arts are not physical. Practicing wabi helps place these lessons within a broader cultural context and deepens the understanding and appreciation for Japanese martial arts. 

Continue Exploring Traditional Martial Arts

Interested in learning more about the philosophy and traditions behind Japanese martial arts?

Our World Martial Arts Association offers educational resources that explore the history, culture, and principles that continue to shape traditional budo. 

Read our latest article, or contact SMAA to learn more.

Why Traditional Martial Arts Value Refinement Over Performance

Traditional Japanese martial arts reward qualities that can be easy to overlook. 

While modern culture frequently celebrates speed, intensity, and dramatic displays, classical budo places a high value on refinement. World Martial Arts Associations preserving traditional budo recognize the depth and history of Japanese martial arts. 

This perspective is closely connected to wabi, a Japanese aesthetic principle that appreciates authenticity, simplicity, and depth developed through experience. Rather than focusing on what attracts attention, wabi encourages practitioners to recognize what is essential. 

Refinement Is Not Simplicity

At first glance, advanced martial arts techniques may appear uncomplicated. The “uncomplicated” nature of movements is achieved over years of practice and refinement. 

Refinement isn’t a result of an absence of skill. It’s achieved through years spent removing unnecessary movement, tension, and distraction. What remains are swift, efficient, and more effective techniques. 

This process of refinement can be found throughout traditional Japanese arts and remains an important aspect of martial arts training today. Today, our World Martial Arts Association practices and educates individuals on traditional budo through the power of refinement and tradition. 

Why Traditional Training Values Restraint

Many modern activities encourage individuals to stand out. Traditional budo encourages practitioners to look inward instead.

Attention is directed toward:

• Posture
• Timing
• Awareness
• Control

Students are taught to focus on fundamentals long before pursuing advanced techniques. This approach develops patience and encourages practitioners to view progress as a gradual process rather than a destination.

The Influence of Wabi in the Dojo

Wabi can be difficult to define with a single phrase, but its influence is easily recognizable. 

Simple dojo design, direct instruction, and efficient movements are all elements that reflect wabi’s influence. 

Within the dojo, it encourages practitioners to value steady improvement. 

The calm movements of a senior practitioner may reflect decades of study. Even the most basic techniques have layers of depth. Over time, students discover that the most meaningful lessons emerge from the simplest practices. 

Wabi reminds practitioners to look beyond the obvious and appreciate what exists beneath the surface.

Learn More About Traditional Budo 

Educational resources offered by our World Martial Arts Association explore many cultural and philosophical principles that continue to shape Japanese martial arts. 

Read our latest article, or contact SMAA to learn more.

Solo Kata Systems and Free Exchange

When is it appropriate to improvise in kata training?

Although in kata geiko (“forms training”) it’s best to try to perfect the kata as is, unless you are aware of the possibility of your partner “breaking” the form and going at you in a different way, you’re just going through the motions. You don’t have the right frame of mind of being focused on executing the right counter to the right attack. That’s why solo kata exercises are great for developing your own stance, balance and timing, but it’s a good idea to also include partner-based training or some form of free exchange. For kata-based systems, going overboard with “free exchange” might taint the style with too much emphasis on sports budo. But sans that, working in kata with different partners, who have different heights, weights, timing, and attack patterns is a decent way to develop the ability to adjust one’s form.

Thus, if you look at the few solo-type kata styles, such as iaido, karate-do, or even a Chinese art like Tai Chi Ch’uan, the solo exercises are always augmented in some way with partner-based training. You never know what a partner will think of doing, even in a regulated exercise. Your distancing, angles of counter, and attacks will change according to your partners.

Learn more in our latest article.

Grow Your Skillset at a Japanese Martial Arts Organization

SMAA is a martial arts organization dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese budo in the west. To get more details about joining, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Adapting Your Kata

When you practice kata, do you think about improvising?

We’ve stressed the importance of repetitious training in order to be “natural.” Kata training is really glorified repetitive drill training (well, it’s more than that, but mainly it’s drilling) that is supposed to embed movements and reactions into your body and mind, so that you don’t need to spend precious amounts of time cogitating over whether or not to block, say, a sword stroke at your head or scream like a little girl and just die. Hopefully, through such training, you won’t curl up and die should the actual time arise.

On the other hand, you may have trained incessantly for a specific action, but when the time comes, the situation is not quite right, and your technique needs to be altered in order for it to work. For martial artists who have a component of training with a resistive partner (as in sparring), “catch as catch can” action-reaction is nearly second nature. No partner is going to let you apply that chokehold perfectly without resistance in judo mat work, for instance. So, you improvise. For kata-based training, however, developing this ability to improvise is a bit more problematic, but still important nevertheless. Not everyone is going to come at you with a perfect forward-leaning stance so you can throw him magnificently in a kote-gaeshi, for example. In a self-defense situation, you may have to improvise a lot to get that throw to work.

Learn more in our latest article.

Grow Your Skillset at a Japanese Martial Arts Organization

SMAA is a martial arts organization dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese budo in the west. To get more details about joining, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Basics of Budo: Relaxation and Physics

How do relaxation and physics factor into your budo practice?

Here’s a quick guide to these important basics:

Relaxation

Martial artists, like those engaged in most other physical activities, must learn to relax. Tension is your enemy. After developing the ability to do some basic techniques in a relaxed fashion, the techniques must be practiced thousands of times to imprint the movements into the body and the brain. But the practitioner must always be relaxed.

If you want to throw a good front punch, you must relax your upper body including the muscles in your face. Do a small experiment, please. Try to get a tense, tough, mean look on your face and simultaneously try to completely relax your upper body.

You can’t. It’s impossible. Your face and your upper body must both relax simultaneously. Then, and only then, can you punch effectively. If you remain tense, effective punching is nigh impossible. Your “punch,” if you can throw it at all, will inevitably be slow and weak.

Physics

Kinetic energy, or “moving energy,” in this case the energy you deliver to whatever you are punching, is directly proportional to the mass you can generate by the use of your body mass and directly proportional to the square of the velocity (speed) with which your hand strikes its target. 

Said in a slightly different way, the mass delivered is how much of your entire body mass you can recruit into your punch and deliver to your target. If you double the mass you deliver, you double the kinetic energy delivered to the target. 

In other words, if you increase the mass you deliver from one unit to two units, you increase the amount of kinetic energy delivered by a punch from one unit to two units. You double the kinetic energy delivered.

Learn more in our latest article.

Nurture the Basics at a Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Organization

SMAA is a martial arts organization dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese budo in the west. To get more details about joining, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Basics of Budo: Anatomy and Physiology

How do anatomy and physiology factor into your budo practice?

Here’s a quick guide to these important basics:

Anatomy

Learning the basic karate-do horizontal front punch illustrates the need for understanding at least a little anatomy. The knuckles of the index and middle fingers of the fisted hand, the part of the hand that transmits energy to the target, must move just a tiny bit to the outside just before impact with the target. This allows the alignment of these two knuckles and the metacarpals behind them with the radius and ulna in the forearm, thus enabling the delivery of the kinetic energy generated by your body mass and the punch’s velocity to the target. 

If these bones are not properly aligned, the punch will deliver less energy and be less effective. You will also be at increased risk of injuring your hand.

Physiology

Physiology is also important. Your muscles must have energy to function. If your muscles and liver are, due to fatigue, depleted of glycogen, a precursor of glucose that is the basic fuel of skeletal muscle and most other tissues, you simply cannot deliver an effective blow.

You have heard of marathoners and triathletes who “hit the wall.” They “hit the wall” because their muscle and liver stores of glycogen were too low to sustain prolonged exercise. They may quit, or often they struggle to finish, sometimes collapsing either physically, mentally, or both during the struggle. Nausea, cramps, and mental disorientation can result. 

The same thing can happen to martial artists who do not understand the need to fuel their muscles. While martial artists are not generally thought of as endurance athletes, even moderate glycogen depletion with the resultant reduction in blood glucose levels can reduce mental acuity, reduce reaction time, reduce coordination, and decrease strength.

Learn more in our latest article.

Nurture the Basics at a Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Organization

SMAA is a martial arts organization dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese budo in the west. To get more details about joining, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Application of Riai

In our last blog, we talked about the meaning of riai. Now that we know what it means, what does it
look like in practice?

If you don’t understand the core principles behind the art, your techniques won’t look coherent. You’ll be doing something, but there won’t be a unity or cohesiveness. The techniques will look like disparate, unrelated actions. It will look choppity-chop.

So, if you were going to attack someone, what was the biggest worry? His sword hand, his right hand, would grab his sword and cut you in retaliation. Hence, you’d grab his right hand first, nullify it, and then punch him, kick him, slap him or dance with him. Whatever. Maybe, if you grabbed him with your left, you could draw out your own sword with your right hand. Just don’t give the guy a chance to draw his sword out.

The fear of the opponent drawing his sword out was why a lot of attacks in jujutsu begin with a wrist grab, and why it carried over into aikido. That’s what an attacker might do, way back in the old days.

Seen in that light, the reason why so many attacks by uke in aikido are those large, somewhat “unrealistic” swings with a knife-hand is that they replicate a sword attack.

The riai, therefore, can be superficial: it can mean, well, here’s the guy grabbing your hand. So you turn, twist his wrist and throw him. That’s what it means. Period. End of story.

Or you would have to dig deeper and deeper. WHY is uke going for your hand instead of trying to wrestle you down? Because in principle, in the old days, if his right hand was free, he’ll just take out his dagger or sword and stab you.

Just as kote gaeshi is a foundational technique in aikido, there are foundational techniques in other martial arts that, if properly understood, will enable an understanding in the riai not just of that technique, but of the entire curriculum.

Read more in our latest article.

Understand Riai, Get Certified in Martial Arts

If you’re committed to understanding the riai of your art, you can earn a martial arts certification at SMAA! To get started or ask questions, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Meaning of Riai

Have you heard the term “riai” in your martial art?

What does it mean?

My trusty Nelson kanji dictionary defines the two kanji that make up the word as meaning “reason,” or ri- (“principle”, “truth”) with “coming together, meeting, or harmonizing” (-ai). In other words, in budo, riai are the underlying principles behind a technique. That’s as simple an explanation as I can give, and in most cases, that’s enough. Riai, in a way, is similar to the word bandied about frequently in karate-do schools: bunkai (“analysis,” “reduction,” “parsing”). However, as the Nelson translated meanings make clear, they are somewhat different.

In any case, on a superficial level, riai is simply an explanation of the “meaning” of a technique, or waza.

Okay, Grasshopper, you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop right now, right? It can’t be as simple as all that.

So here it is: that definition of riai is good enough for most students. Certainly, for the average middle-class, suburban kid taking a “kurrottee” class in a shopping mall dojo, it’s plenty sufficient. We’re talking about students whose willingness to alter his/her mental, emotional, and spiritual attitudes to delve further into the culture and ethos of combative arts as precariously limited, after all. There’s nothing wrong with stopping there and letting them enjoy the experience, if that’s what the dojo is aiming for.

Read more in our latest article.

Understand Riai, Get Certified in Martial Arts

If you’re committed to understanding the riai of your art, you can earn a martial arts certification at SMAA! To get started or ask questions, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Recognizing Nippon Jujutsu

How do you know you’re learning authentic jujutsu?

"I'm certain my teacher is showing us real Japanese-style jujutsu (or kenjutsu, bojutsu, etc.). Some of his movements are identical to the ones I've seen in samurai movies from Japan."

I’ve heard this before as well. So have Steve Fabian Sensei, Ohsaki Jun Sensei, Kevin Heard Sensei, Wayne Muromoto Sensei, and other longtime Nippon jujutsu teachers at SMAA. Speaking for myself, I’m sympathetic to anyone’s desire to have faith in their sensei, but this kind of statement reveals a huge lack of knowledge concerning Japanese martial arts in general.

Samurai movies are not usually produced by martial arts experts. Their goal isn’t educational, but aimed at entertainment, and real koryu bujutsu is often deceptively simple. It doesn’t necessarily look good on film. Those aren’t real swords in Seven Samurai, and while sometimes real martial artists are consulted in movie-making, their goal is still to entertain more than to recreate.

Explaining how to recognize authentic Nihon jujutsu, beyond asking for proof of certification from valid groups, is a huge subject. Fabian Sensei, a Director for the SMAA Jujutsu Division and seventh dan, did a fine job of addressing this for our journal. You can find his article here.

Read more in our latest article.

Learn More at an International Martial Arts Association

Are you researching a specific ryu, a particular dojo, or jujutsu in general? You can send your questions to leaders in the SMAA Jujutsu Division; we’ll be happy to help! For other questions about our international martial arts association, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

*Pictured in this blog: Stephen Fabian Sensei, Director of Traditional Jujutsu.

Categories of Classic Jujutsu

Did you know that there are different types of classic jujutsu?

In general, jujutsu during the Edo period was practiced by bushi, ashigaru (“foot soldiers”), torikata (“medieval police”), and civilians. In genuinely old systems it considered the fact that the bushi might be wearing armor and facing a similarly clad opponent, both of whom had to be able to fall safely as well as perform other actions while wearing two swords. The wearing of arms and armor limited how one could grapple and fall as well as the techniques that could be used.

Striking techniques were less common (to protect the hands and feet from being injured when hitting armor), and if they did exist, were sometimes done using the butt end of weapons. Joint locking techniques needed to consider where different pieces of armor came together, and in this sense, they had something in common with cutting with a sword. So, if you visit a dojo claiming to teach a version of really ancient jujutsu try to visualize the techniques you see in the context of two people wearing arms and armor. If you can’t see how the techniques could be done under these circumstances, you might want to ask the teacher about this.

Read more in our latest article.

Learn More at an International Martial Arts Association

Are you researching a specific ryu, a particular dojo, or jujutsu in general? You can send your questions to leaders in the SMAA Jujutsu Division; we’ll be happy to help! For other questions about our international martial arts association, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

*Pictured in this blog: Stephen Fabian Sensei, Director of Traditional Jujutsu.

Nurture the Body and Mind

Looking for a sport that focuses on both the body and mind?

What if I told you that there was a way to achieve the following characteristics?

• Become happy and relieve stress
• Lose weight
• Gain fast twitch muscles, flexibility, and strength
• Slow the aging process
• Join a community of healthy, well-balanced people
• Become more intelligent

You probably think you’re being sold a pill. That’s not the case. What I have compiled for you is a list of scientifically backed reasons why joining a martial art can help you. Whether you have “martial arts” written on your bucket list or keep a rack of black belts in your closet, doing martial arts today can benefit you greatly!

MARTIAL ARTS ENHANCE MENTAL PERFORMANCE

In an article from BotBot, studies showed an improvement in memory, enhanced problem-solving skills, and reduced risk of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s after taking part in an exercise regimen. The most effective types of exercises were aerobic and resistance-training methods, both of which can be found in the martial arts. What’s more, it doesn’t matter when you start. Exercise yields immediate cognitive improvements.

Martial arts are different from other forms of exercise, because a lot of it requires tactical thinking. This means an increase the brain’s ability to learn, or plasticity. Resistance training, flexibility or coordination, and aerobic movements all add up to enhanced brain plasticity.

BOOSTS YOUR MOOD AND RELIEVES STRESS

In Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow, he describes how there is a state where an “optimal experience” or state of flow can happen. He cites martial arts as being “a specific form of flow” (Csikszentmihalyi 106) where “the warrior strives to reach the point where he can act with lightning speed against opponents, without having to think or reason about the best… moves to make” (106). This state of optimal experience is an accomplice in achieving happiness.

As with any exercise, it has psychological benefits. In an article on WebMD, researchers stated that regular exercise releases chemicals called endorphins. The endorphins affect the way your brain perceives pain, often triggering a positive feeling in the body. Not only do they act as analgesics (covering the feeling of pain), but they also act as sedatives. This means that the chemicals relieve stress, alleviate anxiety and depression, improve self-esteem, and act as a sleep-aid.

Get in Shape with a Martial Arts Industry Association!

Martial arts are beneficial, no matter where you’re coming from. Budo can prevent aging, such as muscle atrophy and illnesses. It improves your mental health by boosting your mood and relieving stress. You gain muscle, pump up your metabolism, and increase your flexibility. You improve your cognitive functions. You cultivate connections with like-minded, happy people.

To get started at a legitimate martial arts industry association, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Anti-Aging and Fitness in Martial Arts

Have you been looking for an enjoyable way to get in shape?

Not only are martial arts fun and exciting, but their benefits include anti-aging, weight loss, flexibility, and strength gain.

ANTI-AGING

A study that compared martial artists and sedentary 40- to 60-year-olds concluded, “The results provide evidence that…. training is an effective intervention that may reduce or prevent [the] declines associated with normal aging” (Douris et al 146).

In the study, martial art practitioners were more flexible, had better muscle strength and endurance, and improved balance. They also tended to have a lower body fat percentage.

Because training in martial arts has cardiovascular benefits, fewer of the martial artists had heart diseases, compared to the group that didn’t practice martial arts. The sedentary lifestyle and high body fat percentage that leads to hypertension, diabetes, and other illnesses did not affect the martial arts practitioners.

WEIGHT LOSS, FLEXIBILITY, AND STRENGTH GAIN

One acronym: HIIT. High intensity interval training means doing periods of short, intense anaerobic exercise. It’s good for athletic conditioning, improving the metabolism, and fat-burning. In many martial arts dojo, where the martial art is more sports oriented, the movements tend to involve high repetitions, or cycles, in a short amount of time. The movements also range from using your own body weight to shouldering someone twice your size.

There’s a huge calorie deficit. You need 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat. Depending on your weight and the martial art, you can singe anywhere from 500-1500 calories in an hour. Compare that to having to run seven miles at a 10-mph pace.

Not only that, but building muscle promotes a calorie burn after you’ve stopped working out. Because martial arts involve a combination of slow and fast twitch muscle conditioning, you promote muscle development.

In a study done on sedentary men and women, it was shown that after 15 weeks of strenuous HIIT activity, type I and IIb muscle fibers improved dramatically. The first muscle type is good at resisting fatigue, whereas the second muscle type increased glycogen metabolism.

Get in Shape with a Martial Arts Industry Association! 

Martial arts are beneficial, no matter where you’re coming from. Budo can prevent aging, such as muscle atrophy and illnesses. It improves your mental health by boosting your mood and relieving stress. You gain muscle, pump up your metabolism, and increase your flexibility. You improve your cognitive functions. You cultivate connections with like-minded, happy people.

To get started at a legitimate martial arts industry association, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Kano Sensei's Books

Are you interested in the history of Japanese martial arts?

On his way to becoming a renowned Japanese educator, martial artist, and the founder of judo, Kano Sensei made significant contributions to the world of martial arts and physical education. A part of his legacy lives on through the books he authored. Let's summarize each one:

• Judo Kyohan (The Kodokan Judo Textbook)

Judo Kyohan is one of Kano Sensei's most influential works and serves as a comprehensive (though somewhat outdated) guide to the art of judo. In it, Kano Sensei outlines the principles and techniques, providing detailed explanations and illustrations. It covers not only the physical aspects of judo but also its philosophical and ethical foundations. Throughout the book, Kano Sensei emphasized the timeless concept of "maximum efficiency, minimum effort," known as seiryoku zenyo, which is a fundamental principle of judo. Judo Kyohan has been instrumental in spreading knowledge of judo around the world and remains a classic for both beginners and advanced judoka.

• Kodokan Judo: The Essential Guide to Judo by its Founder

Kodokan Judo is another important work by Professor Kano. It offers a comprehensive overview of judo's history, philosophy, and techniques. This book highlights the evolution of judo from its traditional roots to the modern sport it became under Kano Sensei's guidance. It includes detailed descriptions of Judo techniques and training methods. Kano Sensei's approach to judo as a means of physical and moral education is a central theme, as it was in all his judo work. He explored the concepts of jita kyoei (“mutual benefit”) as well as seiryoku zenyo (“maximum efficiency”) as the guiding principles of judo and emphasized their relevance in everyday life.

• Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo

Mind Over Muscle is a collection of Kano Sensei's writings, including essays, articles, and speeches that provide valuable insights into his philosophy and his vision for judo. Kano Sensei believed that judo should not be limited to physical combat but should also contribute to personal and societal development. He discussed the importance of mental discipline, character development, and the moral aspects of martial arts, which shed light on his efforts to promote judo as a way to build both physical and moral strength.

Kano Sensei’s books are not only important resources for judo practitioners but also valuable contributions to the broader fields of physical education, martial arts philosophy, and personal development. Kano Sensei's emphasis on principles of efficiency and personal development highlights his commitment to the idea that judo is more than a sport; it is a path to physical and moral improvement. His writings continue to inspire martial artists and educators around the world, carrying forward the legacy of one of the most influential figures in the history of martial arts.

Read More from an International Martial Arts Association

Did you enjoy reading about the Extraordinary Professor Kano? 

An international martial arts association can teach you more than just the physical moves! The SMAA Journal provides monthly articles and insights on the world of martial arts, and there are stacks of books written by our staff that you can learn from! To get started on your martial arts journey, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

***

Image Source: https://www.amazon.com/Kodokan-Judo-Essential-Founder-Jigoro/dp/156836539X#:~:text=Book%20overview&text=This%20book%20by%20the%20creator,hand%2Dto%2Dhand%20combat.

Professor Kano's Early Life and Education

What do you know about the history of Judo?

Kano Jigoro Sensei was the founder of Kodokan judo. While he’s mainly known for his contributions to the world of martial arts and physical education, his abilities and his influence extended far beyond sports and the dojo. He was not just a visionary in the martial arts world, he was also instrumental in the careers of many other famous martial artists, as well as a significant figure in the political landscape of Japan during a crucial period of its history. When we’re celebrating this remarkable man, we should not miss the opportunity to showcase his works, his connections, and involvement in education, international diplomacy, and physical fitness as a means of fostering national pride and unity.

Kano Sensei was born in 1860 in Mikage, a small town near Kobe, Japan. He grew up during the Meiji Restoration, a period when Japan was undergoing rapid modernization and a transition from a feudal society to an industrialized nation. It was a time of significant political and social change. This historical backdrop had a powerful effect on Kano Sensei's political outlook and ambitions.

His education also played a pivotal role in shaping his political beliefs. At university, he was exposed to Western ideas and the newly evolving approaches to education, governance, and cultural change. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in political science and economics. These two influences proved instrumental in his later political endeavors.

Further Your Cultural Education at an International Martial Arts Association

Did you enjoy reading about the Extraordinary Professor Kano? 

An international martial arts association can teach you more than just the physical moves! The SMAA Journal provides monthly articles and insights on the world of martial arts, and there are stacks of books written by our staff that you can learn from! To get started on your martial arts journey, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Japanese Swords: the Meiji Period Onwards

Is the katana the only Japanese sword you’ve heard of? There’s actually a lot more!

Blades made from the ninth year of Meiji (1868-1912) until present day are referred to as gendaito (modern swords). As of the Hatorei decree in 1876 (banning civilians from wearing swords), the need for swords declined. However, in Meiji 39 (1906), the craft gained imperial patronage. The sword smiths Gassan Sadakazu and Miyamoto Kanenori were appointed Tei Shitsu Gi Gei In (craftsmen by imperial appointment—equivalent to National Living Treasure). Since then, the sword smith’s craft has continued through the Meiji, Taisho (1912-1926), Showa (1926-1989), and Heisei (1989-) eras until today. Today’s sword smiths try to recreate the workmanship of eminent smiths of every period, regardless of whether they are koto, shinto, or shin-shinto. In particular, recreations of tachi of the Kamakura period are a popular aim for many modern sword smiths.

To read more, download volume 20, issue 3 of the “SMAA Journal” in our library.

Choose an Authentic Martial Arts Association

SMAA offers five divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts: aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you’re looking for a new martial arts association to kickstart the new year, give us a call at (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to helping you develop your art!

An Intro to Japanese Swords

Do you have an interest in Japanese swordsmanship?

Sensei Paul Martin gave us a detailed history of Japanese swords in volume 20, issue 3 of the “SMAA Journal.” Here’s a brief overview from that article:

Jokoto are ancient straight blades with no curvature. They are usually constructed in the hira-zukuri and kiriha-zukuri styles. Hira-zukuri swords have no ridgelines, and they are flat on both sides, whereas the kiriha-zukuri swords have a ridgeline near the blade edge.

It is thought that the shift from straight blades to Japanese swords with curvature happened around the mid to late Heian period (794-1184). This was during the mid-10th century: about the time Taira Masakado and Fujiwara Sumitomo rebelled against the government in the Johei (931-938) and Tengyo (938-947) eras. Blades before these are continental style blades called jokoto, and they were brought to Japan from the Asian continent. Examples of these blades have been excavated from Kofun period tombs, and some still reside in the Shosoin Imperial Repository in Nara.

Learn More About Japanese Swords at a Martial Arts Association

SMAA offers five divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts: aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you’re looking for a new martial arts association to kickstart the new year, give us a call at (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to helping you develop your art!

Expectations for a Martial Arts Student

Are you unsure what’s expected of you as a martial arts student?

As the student, you agree to attend classes as often as you can, putting forth all your effort, and practicing with energy and a positive attitude. You promise to consider the teachings I put forth, taking time outside of class to think about the relationship between my words and the techniques of your martial art. You promise to respectfully raise any issues you may have with your training, and give real consideration for my answers to your questions. You agree to practice safely to help prevent injury to yourself and other students. You agree to pay your dues on time and agree not to take advantage of our policies to help you avoid paying a fair dues rate. You agree to work hard to learn your art and to trust my decisions about when you are ready for promotions. You agree to commit yourself to the learning process and to pass on the positive lessons you learn while at the Japanese Martial Arts Center.

Looking to earn a black belt certificate in karate? Get started at SMAA!

Does the martial arts social contract sound fulfilling? If so, you’re ready to be a martial artist!

SMAA offers five different divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts, including karate-do. To start your journey towards a karate black belt certificate, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

A Brief View of the Martial Arts Social Contract

Are you curious about the dynamic between a martial arts instructor and student?

Between the martial arts teachers at the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor and their students, there exists a social contract. The contract—mostly implied, sometimes written down—goes something like this: 

As the teacher, I agree to give you, the student, the absolute best training opportunity I can give you, be it in judo, jujutsu, or iaido. I promise to offer you the complete martial art I know, including all physical power, mental strategies, cultural aspects, and any spiritual benefits that are part of the art. I promise not to deceive you with martial arts mumbo-jumbo, and I promise not to try to falsely build up your self-esteem without providing any basis in real martial arts skill. I promise not to ask you to pay absurd dues rates, but will ask you to pay a fair rate in keeping with the expenses of the dojo and my need to earn a modest living. I won't give you a black belt unless you deserve it, but at the same time, I won't unnecessarily prolong your journey to black belt by making the standards impossible. I will try my best to help you develop yourself—mind, body, and spirit—so that you can excel in the dojo and in life.

Earn Your Karate Black Belt Certificate at SMAA

Does the martial arts social contract sound fulfilling? If so, you’re ready to be a martial artist!

SMAA offers five different divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts, including karate-do. To start your journey towards a karate black belt certificate, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Confucius Today

Have you thought about how ancient principles apply to our everyday lives?

Confucius’s four corners principle says that a teacher’s role is really limited. No matter how much he offers, he is only, as the Buddha would say, a “pointing finger” showing you the path to wisdom. It is up to you, the student, to take that road and find its end. The teacher is a marker, a pathfinder. He’s not going to carry you all the way to the end like a baby. 

A teacher, a sensei (“one who has lived more than you”, i.e., an elder, someone with more experience), can teach you only a smidgeon of what you need to know as a martial artist. The rest, the majority of the learning, in fact, is up to you. You can be shown one corner of the room by the teacher. Given that one corner, as a student you should have enough wits about you to be able to discern where the other three are. The teacher shouldn’t have to show you all the rest of the corners one by one.

It made me realize that, as gifted a martial artist as my head instructor was, he couldn’t teach me all I needed to know. Other people had to show me things a different way for me to grasp everything fully. And I had to spend more time working things out on my own to make the knowledge fit my body morphology and ways of movement.

Improve Your Martial Arts at a Japanese Karate Association

Have you been looking for an authentic Japanese karate association?

SMAA offers five different divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts. Submit a contact form here or call 734-720-0330 to start your martial arts journey!

Confucius and the Four Corners

Are you familiar with Confucius’s idea of four corners?

“Every truth has four corners. As a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.”

Confucius has been influential in the premodern educational system of many East Asian countries. This is true too of Japan. The Confucian classics were part of the traditional education of the warrior class before Japan’s modernization, and Confucian philosophy still exerts great influence over Japanese culture and society. It’s easily seen, of course, in the way teachers are supposed to be accorded great respect by their pupils.

What I find more wanting, however, is the self-motivation espoused by Confucius in the above quote. One would think that this lack of motivation would be expected in Japan, China or Korea, countries that were the bedrock of Confucian societies and whose educational system relied heavily upon rote memorization and repetition. But in many martial arts dojos in America, this lack of self-discovery and personal initiative is also easy to find.

Learn More from a Japanese Karate Association

Have you been looking for an authentic Japanese karate association?

SMAA offers five different divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts. Submit a contact form here or call 734-720-0330 to start your martial arts journey!