Wim posted this today on his blog, which reminded me of a story.  Seems about 22 years ago I was a hottie!  I had trained in TKD and karate and I worked out all the time.  I had done some competition and had had some successes. . I was at a tournament in Biloxi - and I was a green belt.  They put me in a ring with a kung fu guy wearing the cool-looking black and white sleeveless kung fu suit with the frog buttons and a gold sash (don't have a clue what that gold sash ... Read Full Story

Photo courtesy of Pay no MindHere's an interesting thing regarding the history of tantojutso (a walking-cane adjunct to SMR jojutsu). Note: I'm no historian and I read this history with a skewed view. This is not gospel, and if I can post this without getting ridiculed by the Koryu snobs, I'll consider myself lucky. It's interesting nonetheless. Read with me between the lines of the following (adapted from the Wikipedia article on Tanjojutsu)...After the Meiji Restoration in 1869 ... Japan [i... Read Full Story

This is one of the greatest self-defense videos I've seen in a long time - The ultimate martial arts self-defense technique is demonstrated starting at 0:49.  Well, at least the penultimate SD technique.  This is the ultimate, best martial arts technique of all.  But still... check out this video and marvel at this master's prowess! ____________ Comment via email or let's hook up on Facebook or Twitter ____________ Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts ... Read Full Story

Today I'm guest blogging at Marks' Blog!  Hop on over there and check it out for another crazy Psy-ki-do idea. ____________ Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮 ____________ Subscribe now for free updates from Mokuren Dojo Read Full Story

I'm sure you've heard this one. "My martial art was invented 3000 years ago and used by noble warrior-monks, who passed it down in an unbroken lineage to us today." The next part of the legend (sometimes implied, but often explicit) is that all other martial arts are inferior, diluted subsets derived from our 3000 year-old martial art. Thus, our 3000 year-old martial art is the best around so you'd better keep paying your dues here and not go study somewhere else. . Think about it some. You d... Read Full Story

Photo courtesy of Dojo Rat (I don't know where he got it) Ooh, check me out!  I'm guest posting at Dojo Rat's blog today.  Hop on over and see what you can make of my crazy ideas about psy-ki-do! ____________ Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮 ____________ Subscribe now for free updates from Mokuren Dojo Read Full Story

Some time back I was surfing and came across an aikido school boasting that they taught their students more than 8000 techniques! Wow! That seems like a lot of value for your money. Tomiki schools (including mine) only teach about 30 unique techniques. Seems like there's no way that someone from the School of 30 Techniques could stand up against someone from the School of 8000 Techniques! Is there? . Maybe there is. Suppose you get about 3 hours practice per week, drilling 6 techniques per ho... Read Full Story

Inspired by The Men Who Stare at Goats, for the next week or so I'll be writing a series of articles on what I'm calling Psy-ki-do. Sort of the soft science, pseudo-science, or psychological side of combative arts. The first post is already available at my newsletter - if you missed signing up for that, you can catch this newsletter at the archive here, and you can sign up for the upcoming newsletters here. . Upcoming psy-ki-do ideas include... how to trick an attacker into total commitment ... Read Full Story

I enjoyed this video a lot.  Not all of it is as I would choose to practice it, but that doesn't make it bad or anything. . ____________ Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮 ____________ Subscribe now for free updates from Mokuren Dojo Read Full Story

Possibly the first video of jujitsu (judo) ever recorded!  Pretty cool stuff! . ____________ Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮 ____________ Subscribe now for free updates from Mokuren Dojo Read Full Story