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.

What Karate Kata Reveals About the Center of Balance

There's a moment in training when movement begins to feel off. 

The technique is recognizable, and the form holds up. But there's a quality missing that you can't quite name. You've drilled it hundreds of times, and it still hasn't fully arrived.

This feeling comes from the center of balance, and whether the center of balance is leading.

The Body Has One True Starting Point

The center of balance sits in the lower abdomen, roughly an inch and a half below the navel. Most practitioners learn this early. It appears in nearly every text on traditional Japanese martial arts, and within any reputable Japanese Karate Association, students can point to it without hesitation by the end of their first year.

What transforms technique is whether a practitioner has felt the center function during movement, rather than being dragged along behind.

How the Center Changes Movement

Once you start looking for it, disconnected movement appears in almost every early training error.

• Students step into a punch, leading with the foot, followed by the rotation of their shoulders before the hips have committed.
• The individual pieces are moving, but the body is not moving as a unit.
• That fragmentation shows up in the technique in a way that's hard to disguise, no matter how clean the external form looks.

When a student steps forward before the center has moved, the body works in pieces rather than as a whole. This points back to a structural cause: movement that started at the wrong place.

The correction requires going back to the actual source of movement and learning fundamentals. 

What Changes When the Center Leads

Once you know the center of balance, it becomes visible in the movements within yourself and others.

When it leads through physical habit, techniques start to feel more complete and less forced. Limbs arrive in place as a natural habit, rather than pulling the body into place.

This observation goes beyond the dojo floor. When you learn to move from your center of balance, all of your movements become seamless. Posture and smoothness of movements are quick to improve.

That quality is what marks senior practitioners, not just years of training.

Deepen Your Understanding Through a Japanese Karate Association

If you’re interested in exploring these principles, the Japanese Karate Association can aid in your growth as a practitioner.

SMAA is a traditional budo organization with members across the United States and internationally. Membership connects you to an internationally recognized ranking, the quarterly SMAA Journal, seminars, and a global network of practitioners engaged in the same pursuit.

Read more in our full article, or reach out directly: https://www.smaa-hq.com/contact.

The Martial Artist as a Shapeshifter: One Body, Many Expressions

Have you ever noticed how training in one martial art seems to unlock understanding in another?

Do certain movements feel familiar—even when the techniques look completely different?

Many martial artists reach a point where they sense there’s something deeper connecting their training across disciplines. This idea sits at the heart of Martial Artists as Shapeshifters by Daniel Holland, and it reflects a core principle long supported by the International Martial Arts Association: true mastery comes from understanding movement, not memorizing techniques.

The Martial Artist as a Shapeshifter

In Martial Artists as Shapeshifters, Daniel Holland presents a compelling idea: martial arts are not 
simply collections of techniques, but systems of postural intelligence. Each art trains the body to express energy in specific, intentional ways—ways that can be adapted across contexts.

Rather than viewing jujutsu, judo, and iaido as isolated practices, Holland encourages us to see them as different expressions of the same underlying human mechanics. The martial artist becomes a “shapeshifter,” capable of reorganizing posture, balance, and intent to meet changing demands.

This perspective aligns strongly with the broader educational mission of the International Martial Arts Association, which emphasizes principle-based understanding over rigid stylistic boundaries. You can learn more about this in our latest article. 

Why Unified Movement Matters in Martial Arts Study

Seeing martial arts as systems of postural intelligence transforms how we train, learn, and evolve. When jujutsu, judo, and iaido are understood as different expressions of the same human mechanics, practitioners gain adaptability, insight, and longevity in their practice.

Explore more martial scholarship, historical perspectives, and movement-based insights through the SMAA Library, and continue developing as a martial artist who understands not just what to do—but why it works. Have questions? Reach out! 

Why Traditional Budo Focuses on Self-Mastery Over Competition

Competition can teach discipline, conditioning, and focus—but it is not the ultimate goal of traditional budo. Classical martial arts emphasize lifelong development rather than short-term success.

Through repetitive practice and careful study, budo practitioners develop heightened awareness, orderly thinking, and mental balance. These qualities extend beyond the dojo, influencing education, careers, and relationships. Advanced training even points toward “no-mind,” a state of calm, alert presence that allows full engagement in any activity.

Budo culture also reinforces timeless values such as sincerity, courage, courtesy, and responsibility. These principles remind us that martial arts are not merely physical skills, but a framework for living with integrity.

Learn more in our latest article.

Start Your Journey at Our Martial Arts Association

SMAA has divisions for aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate. If one or more of these is your passion, SMAA is the martial arts association for you!

To reach out about joining, call 734-720-0330 or submit an online contact form.

What Does "Real Victory" Mean in Traditional Martial Arts?

When people think about victory in martial arts, they often imagine winning a match, scoring a decisive point, or overpowering an opponent. While those achievements can be satisfying, traditional budo teaches that real victory is something much deeper.

In classical martial arts, victory is defined as mastery of the self—body, mind, and spirit. Through long-term, disciplined training, practitioners learn humility, balance, and self-awareness. Rather than inflating the ego, budo helps place the individual within a broader social and moral context.

Traditional training also emphasizes safety and sustainability, allowing practitioners to continue their study without constant interruption from injury. Over time, this steady approach builds not only physical control, but also mental clarity, emotional stability, and ethical grounding.

Learn more in our latest article.

Start Your Journey at Our Martial Arts Association

SMAA has divisions for aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate. If one or more of these is your passion, SMAA is the martial arts association for you!

To reach out about joining, call 734-720-0330 or submit an online contact form.

How to Use "Sensei" for Western Martial Artists

Are you a western martial artist? 

Are you feeling a little unsure of how to use the word “sensei?”

Western practitioners sometimes worry that calling more than one person sensei is disloyal. In Japan, this concern does not exist. A person may address many teachers or professionals as sensei in a single day. Loyalty belongs to one’s lineage, instruction, and training relationship—not to exclusive use of the word.

Traditionally, Japanese students use sensei both inside and outside the dojo. The title reflects an ongoing teacher–student relationship, not a situational courtesy. Limiting its use to the training hall can unintentionally reduce the teacher’s role to that of a technician rather than a lifelong guide and mentor, which runs counter to the values of budo.

For Western dojo wishing to honor Japanese practice, several principles are helpful: use Name Sensei rather than reversing the order; reserve sensei for addressing others, not for self-promotion; and clearly distinguish between courteous address and formal qualifications by stating ranks and teaching titles directly. It is also important to remember that sensei is widely used outside martial arts in Japanese society, reinforcing that it is a living part of the language, not a dojo-specific rank.

Read more in our latest article.

Join a Martial Arts Association that Supports Your Art

SMAA has divisions for aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate. If one or more of these is your passion, SMAA is the martial arts association for you!

To reach out about joining, call 734-720-0330 or submit an online contact form.

What Does "Sensei" Mean?

You may use the word “sensei” for your martial arts instructor, but do you know what it really means?

In Japanese culture, the word sensei (先生) is an honorific used to show respect for someone recognized as a guide through knowledge, skill, or public service. Teachers, doctors, lawyers, artists, authors, and elected officials are all commonly addressed as sensei. The word literally means “one who was born before,” emphasizing experience rather than rank or certification.

In Japanese usage, honorifics follow the name—Tanaka Sensei—and are never used for oneself. This reflects keigo, the Japanese system of respectful language, in which honorifics elevate the other person, not the speaker. Understanding this simple rule helps Western martial artists use the term more authentically.

Because sensei is an honorific, it is not a rank. In budo, formal qualifications include dan and kyu grades, as well as teaching licenses or titles such as menkyo, shogo, shidoin, or shihan, depending on the tradition and organization. Legitimate martial arts associations clearly list these credentials, but none list “sensei” as an earned title. While it is appropriate to address a teacher as Sensei, their certificates will reflect rank or teaching authorization—not the honorific itself.

Read more in our latest article.

Join a Martial Arts Association that Supports Your Art

SMAA has divisions for aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate. If one or more of these is your passion, SMAA is the martial arts association for you!

To reach out about joining, call 734-720-0330 or submit an online contact form.

Historical Figures and Meditation

Have you ever tried meditation?

Prominent figures such as Zen priest Takuan Soho, swordsman Yagyu Munenori, and Miyamoto Musashi wrote about freeing the mind from attachment and fear—principles still central to budo today. This mental discipline was considered just as crucial as physical skill, forming the triad of shin-gi-tai (心技体): mind, technique, and body.

Beyond Zen, many warriors also practiced esoteric Shingon Buddhism, using mantras, mudra (hand gestures), and meditation to build concentration and courage. These practices were integrated into schools like Katori Shinto Ryu, reflecting the seamless union of martial and spiritual cultivation.

Facing death without fear was another cornerstone of the warrior spirit. Texts like Hagakure and Budo Shoshinshu taught that meditating on mortality freed warriors from hesitation in battle. By accepting death, they found clarity and purpose—a lesson echoed in the term seishi o choetsu (生死を超越): “to transcend life and death.”

Learn more in our latest article.

Train Your Mind and Body at a Japanese Martial Arts Association

SMAA is a martial arts association for all martial artists who want to be part of a community of dedicating to keeping the spirit of budo alive. If you love your art and want to share it with others, give us a call at (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form to talk about joining!

Intro to Meditation in Martial Arts

Did you know meditation is a key aspect of budo?

In many dojos, it’s common to see students begin and end practice with mokuso (黙想)—a brief meditation to quiet the mind. This tradition reminds us that Japanese martial arts are not only about physical technique but about cultivating the mind and spirit.

Historically, the samurai (bushi) integrated spiritual disciplines like Zen and Shingon Buddhism into their training. Zen’s focus on discipline, awareness, and acceptance of fate resonated deeply with the warrior class. Meditation improved their focus and calm under pressure, leading to the belief that mastering combat required mastering oneself.

Over time, meditation became a vital part of martial training. Concepts such as mushin (無心, “empty mind”), fudoshin (不動心, “immovable mind”), and zanshin (残心, “remaining mind”) described mental states of clarity, emotional stability, and alert awareness. These ideals, often cultivated through meditation, allowed warriors to act decisively and without fear.

Learn more in our latest article.

Train Your Mind and Body at a Japanese Martial Arts Association

SMAA is a martial arts association for all martial artists who want to be part of a community of dedicating to keeping the spirit of budo alive. If you love your art and want to share it with others, give us a call at (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form to talk about joining!

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.

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.

Practice Doesn't Always Make Perfect

What do you think of the phrase “practice makes perfect?”

Koryu study is basically this: you break down bad habits and try to institute new ones, hopefully better ones. It takes years of training, but training without thinking or self-correction produces no improvement. You are simply reinforcing bad habits and making them harder to break. I think it was football coaching legend Vince Lombardi who said something like, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.”

What he meant was, even if you put in time and effort in training, if you are training the wrong way, you aren’t really getting any better, you’re only getting better at doing something badly.

Even the best teachers I know are never satisfied. Of their own kata, they would say, “Mada, mada.” (“Not yet, not yet.”) They were constantly polishing their skills. These were men and women who were superb in their arts, yet they were never satisfied. And that dissatisfaction was what, perhaps, caused them to excel as far as they did.

Finally, going back to your mental approach: You also need the ability to self-evaluate. That means you have to see clearly whether or not you are doing things right for yourself. You need to tame your body and ego so that they do not get in the way of a truthful, honest feedback.

A teacher may guide you along the way, but a teacher can’t carry you to the end. He or she is only a guide, who points the way. It’s really up to you to walk that road and get to your destination yourself. The really hard work has to be done by you, as in other aspects of your life.

Read more about effective practice in our latest article.

Work Towards Perfection at a Japanese Karate Association

Looking for a martial arts community?

SMAA is a Japanese karate association that also offers aikido, iaido, judo, and jujutsu. To get started, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here. If you need a second opinion, check our Google reviews!

Perfect Your Practice

How confident are you in your martial arts skills?

In all traditional Asian combative arts, there is a strong emphasis on reaching a particular expertise in the repetition of proper form, none, perhaps, more so than in iai. Since iai proper does not have competitive matches (although lately they have instituted a kind of forms competition in some organizations in Japan) that pit one person against another, the only way to evaluate expertise in iai is through perfection of form.

There may be variations from one dojo to another, and one teacher to another in the same school, but there are some basic signposts that declare that you either “get it” or you don’t: your timing, perhaps, or the way you move, handle the sword, the angle of your chiburi, or angle of the cut with the sword. This is one step beyond simply repeating the steps or procedure. This is polishing the steps and instilling in them the particular way you move with the sword in hand.

When you begin to “get it,” your sword work begins to assume an actual personality: that of your own, of course, but also that of the ryu you are performing. That balance, that tension between individual character and the characteristics of the ryu is the hardest to attain as beginners. When you start with iai, everything may seem random and arbitrary. If you progress, however, and you observe other ryu, you should come to a realization that there are implicit reasons why you do things a certain way, and why another ryu does things a different way.

You may want to slouch and hunch your shoulders because all your life that’s how you’ve stood. Or your body wants to use your shoulder and arm strength instead of your hip muscles. You have to consciously, mentally, force yourself to make the corrections. The other part is you also have to make the connection with your own body, forcing it to move that way too when you perform the kata. Again, there may be long-standing habits in your body that you have to break.

You have to see what is being done, internalize the concept in your mind, but you then have to transmit that movement to your body. A lot can mess things up in this two-step process.

Read more about effective practice in our latest article.

Work Towards Perfection at a Japanese Karate Association

Looking for a martial arts community?

SMAA is a Japanese karate association that also offers aikido, iaido, judo, and jujutsu. To get started, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here. If you need a second opinion, check our Google reviews!

Building Up Small Steps

How does focusing on the small steps make a difference?

Envision the outcome if your time in the dojo was 100% engagement 100% of the time. Improvement would be continually notable. Skill level would skyrocket. And this, of course, is the obvious reason for such conduct. It is the reason it became a maxim on a daimyo’s wall.

Now envision the outcome were this is always the case, period. To propagate principle analyzed in the dojo to everyday life is perhaps the most valuable element of martial arts training. If we can muster the mental and physical fortitude to be wholly engaged in the interval between bowing in and bowing out, and expand that awareness to the interval between waking and sleep, we can tap into one of the most powerful techniques for character development and personal growth.

This is the way to treat matters of great concern lightly. What is the big, but a concentrated buildup of the small? The big can be overwhelming with a backlog of minutiae trailing unattended in its wake, but when the small things are mastered, the big loses gravity. To analogize, a test is no problem when its material has been personalized through diligent study; a physical confrontation loses its edge when the mind and body are integrated through methodical practice. Most importantly, the daily challenges we face in life become surprisingly manageable when we eliminate clutter and execute matters of small concern with full attention and ambition.

Unfortunately, the effort to lead a life of happiness and success is monumental in nature. But it is easy to fix the small things one at a time.

Bolster Your Routine at a Martial Arts Organization

Sliding back on your martial arts goals?

Find the support, encouragement, and discipline you need to stay on track at SMAA. Our martial arts organization offers aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. To get started or reach out with questions, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Remember the Fundamentals

Do you find yourself falling into a routine with no meaning?

In the Hagakure, by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, there is a passage that reads:

"Among the maxims on Lord Naoshige’s wall there was this one: 'Matters of great concern should be treated lightly.' Master Ittei commented, 'Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.'"

This is interesting, because we tend to behave the opposite.

For the martial artist, the dojo is the setting to pursue this wisdom. Let the dojo be a place of meticulous focus where every breath and footstep bear heavy significance, where every motion and intention dominate the mind. Our time is so limited in the confines of the training hall, restricted by countless obligations of the modern economic climate that we must aspire to make the best of every moment we have. It is a difficult task to be continuously present, without lapse of attention or admittance of distraction, and it can only be achieved with determination.

Begin with the fundamentals: Formalities and repetitions should never be mindless. Too habitually they are! It is easy to stare off into space or pick at the nails during stretches and warm-ups — not out of disrespect, but ennui. Begin by destroying that stultified detachment. Begin by occupying the body with the mind.

When stretching, seek comfort in flexibility. When striking, or standing for judo uchikomi (repetitive throws stopped short of throwing), be stentorian in count. During ukemi (falling), focus on posture before, during, and after the fall; and when being uke (the receiver of a technique), remember that the ability to receive technique is equally as crucial as the ability to effect it. During demonstrations be attentive, when bowing, be sincere, and when instructed, yell “Hai!” or “Yes, sir!” and take the lesson to heart. Everything — every little thing — should be considered with serious regard.

Bolster Your Routine at a Martial Arts Organization

Sliding back on your martial arts goals?

Find the support, encouragement, and discipline you need to stay on track at SMAA. Our martial arts organization offers aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. To get started or reach out with questions, 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.

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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!