内法
Inner Dharma is concerned with classical and traditional martial arts. In 2024 I began reworking its content — a selection of essays can be found below. I want to thank its readers for their feedback and encouragement over the last twenty years.
Raito and Sente
30 June 2025
Raito (the variation of jodan no kamae used in Jikishinkage-ryū) is often viewed as a strong offensive kamae, good to attack from. However, in to-no-kata, we actually do not see shidachi using raito to directly attack, except in one introductory kata called menkage. We examine a bit of the structure of to-no-kata to explain why this might be, and the combative initiative involved.
From Kodachi to Kogusoku
30 June 2025
Using kodachi practice as an example, we discuss how different kata sets in Jikishinkage-ryū relate to and inform one another and describe some applications and variations on standard practice. Kodachi can be an entry point to close-range armed grappling, which we call kogusoku.
Hōjō ken Kororo-e sho
29 June 2025
Text on Jikishinkage-ryū Hōjō (foundational) swordsmanship, provided for reference based on Jikishinkage-ryū Sōhonbu and Hōbyōkan material. This is typically chanted or recited before performance of the Hōjō kata of Jikishinkage-ryū.
Comparing Patanjali's 8 Limbs with Buddha's Noble 8-fold path
05 May 2025
Last year I began additional training in the union of Yoga and Buddhism offered through Tibet House. As part of this training, an essay comparing the Astanga (8-limbs) of Patanjali with the Buddhist Noble Eightfold path.
Jikishinkage-ryū from Muromachi to Meiji
10 April 2025
Discussing recent scholarship on the early/proto Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu of Ogasawara Genshinsai, which he called Shin-no-shinkage heihō, highlighting the influence of Taoism and esoteric Buddhist practice on his swordsmanship.
Divergence and Unification in Shinkage-ryū
09 September 2024
Link to an essay on kata, heiho and shugyo, where I compare and contrast different surviving lines of Shinkage-ryū and reflect on my own practice.
General Qi Jiguans's Jixiao Xinshu and Reflections on Claims of Martial Virtue
16 February 2023
An essay published at Kogen Budo, where I look at some older writings from Japanese koryu that reference classical Chinese military treatises, and then examine how practices described in those works may be represented in arts surviving today.
Gogyō Exegesis
14 May 2020
An essay describing my experience, thinking, and choices regarding attempting to practice multiple koryū and then deciding not to.
Pressure Testing in Classical Budō
15 October 2019
Description of some of my efforts to keep my practice of kenjutsu intact after moving to the Pacific Northwest. After moving, I decided to focus solely on Shinkage-ryū and pause my study of Shintō-ryū. This is some of what transpired.
Aiki and Internal Training
23 February 2017
Collected thoughts on the historical influence of Chinese martial arts on Japanese jujutsu and how they relate to the topic of aiki in Aikido and Daito-ryu. What interested me about internal martial arts and how I have related that experience to my practice of Japanese budō.
NAMT Night of Budo 2013 – an analysis
17 June 2013
A brief reflection on a demonstration of Araki-ryū and Tenshin Buko-ryū at the NAMT 2013 Night of Budo.