The Way of Least Resistance

If you're in Perth on 30 April 2016, feel free to join me in celebrating World Tai Chi Day.  The details are below!

I must confess that I approach book reviews with some trepidation nowadays.  I get asked to it very often and I really hate giving bad reviews - it's not my thing.  If you scroll through Youtube you won't find me dropping negative comments on people's honest performances of forms, kata or sparring etc.  I just don't see the point in being mean.  Nor do I think it is "constructive" to tell people when I think where they are going "wrong". (I might draw the line at something fraudulent or harmful, but that is a different story.) Similarly I get concerned about reviewing books because I'm not sure what to do when faced with a stinker: do I lie and say something "nice" (perhaps damning with faint praise) or am I honest? With Chris Olech's new book "The Fighter Within: Everyone Has a Fight" I had no such concerns.  As a fight journalist with practical ring experience, Chris brings both professionalism and authenticity to th...

I have just received word that this blog has received another award - making it to the Top 15 Tai Chi Blogs on Qialance ! Thank you Angelika for this honour! Copyright © 2016 Dejan Djurdjevic

A year after the publication of my  bestselling  martial arts textbook  Essential Jo  (and more than 5 years after the book was written and photographed), I am proud to announce the publication of the long-awaited companion DVD of the same name. Essential Jo , the DVD, covers the same ground as the book, along with some very useful bonus material, notably a detailed analysis of "Jusan" - the 13 count form - both in single person and two person form. The jo - the Japanese 4-foot staff - was originally taught with the ken (sword) in the samurai arts. This two hour video is arguably the most comprehensive on the subject to date, offering a course of study from white through to black belt in this practical, yet elegant, art. While it is intended primarily for students with experience in weapons arts, particularly jodo, the book can also be used by beginners for home study. The art of jodo makes an excellent addition to any martial art system. ...

Well this was an unexpected and very highly appreciated new year gift: The Way of Least Resistance was recently selected by BookMartialArts.com as one of its Top 30 Favorite Martial Arts Blogs ! To be up there with Ikigai Way , KARATEByJesse and so many others that I have followed and appreciated over the years is truly an honour and a privilege. Thank you, most sincerely, BookMartialArts.com! Copyright © 2016 Dejan Djurdjevic

I've received an absolutely wonderful New Year's Eve gift from Dr Arnold Rosenstock in the form of a 5 star review of Essential Jo. Thank you Arnold! Edit: and a great 5 star review from Josh Fiebig - thanks Josh! Copyright © 2015 Dejan Djurdjevic

After making an entry several times this year into the " hot new release " list (but languishing in the top 200 generally), last night "Essential Jo" finally cracked Amazon's Martial Arts Bestseller list overall, reaching at least 46. [Edit: as of 31/12/2015 it is at 33! ] Given that the sales have steadily been increasing from month to month - and the fact that I'm about to release the companion DVD in the next week or two, I have no reason to suspect the situation will change except for the better.  Every single month brings increased awareness and sales. Either way, I'm officially a bestselling writer! So much for the two publishers who, after a full year each of wasting my time with indecision, finally rejected my text as "not commercially viable".  (One of them had the gall to write to me recently asking me to review their titles on my blog!) Anyway, look out for the DVD folks! Copyright © 2015 Dejan Djurdjevic