“From the hoplological perspective, we clearly distinguish two primary types of combative systems, (fighting arts). As raised several times over the years in HOPLOS, and most recently in Donn Draeger’s article, “Understanding East Asian Combative Culture,”1 martial and civil fighting are two areas of combative behavior that have evolved for different applications under stimulus from different combative contexts. More importantly, however, I intend to show that their distinctions are based in biological adaptations though certainly influenced by cultural mechanisms.”
Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.
“Often when an individual thinks of influential characters in kendo, more likely than not, that individual will think of Japanese kenshi like Mochida Moriji or Takano Sasaburo, or even present day heroes like Eiga or Miyazaki (rightfully so as these people have left a tremendous mark). However, few would think of an American named Dr Gordon Warner. Little information is readily available about Dr Warner and therefore his contributions go unnoticed for the most part. Dr Warner was a pioneer and is largely responsible for bridging the western world to Japanese kendo”
Brian Kagen is an avid web researcher with a particular interest in martial arts. His training background includes both judo and aikido. He has contributed hundreds of article links over the years for AJ readers.
Many people forget what it was like to start for the very first time.
“Most people involved with the study of fighting arts are familiar with the name Donn Draeger . For some, they only knew him as ‘that guy who wrote all those martial art books’. To others he was one of the most highly trained, knowledgeable and experienced professional warriors they ever met. Through out his life he focused his energies on the fighting arts. In fact, Donn Draeger became known as the founder of modern hoplology.”
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“Usually things work the other way around. First there is a relationship to a teacher, maybe to the teacher’s teacher and then naturally one joins the group of those people. If for whatever reason that relationship, that lineage, is broken, the dojo responsibles will first have to look for a sponsor, a sensei, a shihan who they can respect, who’s training they like and benefit from. Then they can join that person’s group and find a home for their rankings.”
“Discussing Aikido during dinner using props…”
“[Y]ou should never lose a sense of humility as a practitioner even in the presence of a beginner. Imagine that a beginner enters the dojo. This person, of course, doesn’t know anything about Aikido, which means he is completely pure. Since he is pure he may have some good points which you don’t have or you may realize your bad points through him. Therefore, a sense of humility where you consider a person who enters your dojo for the first time as your instructor is required.”
“The idea of the wristlock is to use these physical devices to control a person. This is done either through pain compliance or by locking the joint directly, linking to the subjects core, and physically controlling him . While many of Aikido’s wrist techniques do have some application in this area; thinking of them simply as wristlocks seriously limits their true potential.”
The article below has been selected from the 
