The Way of Least Resistance

How pleased was I to receive an advance copy of  Matthew Apsokardu's Tales from the Western Generation: Untold Stories and Firsthand History from Karate's Golden Age ?! Many of you will be familiar with the author through his groundbreaking blog,  Ikigai Way .  I can tell you right off the bat that this blog is one of the main inspirations for my own (although I hasten to add that I have never sought to cover the same ground that Matt has!). With his book, Matt has done what no one before him has managed to do, and that is fill the gaping void of historical accounts provided  by pioneering Western karateka.  Almost every karate book I've read has accounts from Japanese masters, but those in the West somehow seem forgotten.  Even after 70 years of karate in countries like the United States and those in Europe, karate history inevitably focuses on first hand accounts from Okinawa and the Japanese mainland. Finally, someone (the very capable and thorough...

Introduction I have an idea that this article is going to surprise some folks.  Or, given my declaration at the end of last year that I was over "polemic writing", maybe it won't... Anyway, over the past few years, my thoughts on the issue of the " double hip " have changed subtly - but significantly - and I thought I'd elaborate on them. My views have changed not because I've altered my own way of practising martial arts (and karate in particular), but because I've come to understand better how and why others do so.  (I probably always understood this - but chose to write in my typically polemic style.) Yes, I've railed against the emphasis on "koshi" - hip use in kata very strongly. Why?  It seemed to me that it had become quite popular to practise this kata with a hip  pre-load  on every movement . Those who didn't do so (eg. JKA shotokan) were derided as lacking understanding or knowledge of the "true essence...

Some of you might recall from my essay " My unlikely relationship with the jian " the story of how my father bought me a hunting knife when I was 7 years old - and how I lost it.  In fact, it wasn't "lost" so much as stolen.  Now, after almost exactly 41 years, I have it back.  Almost.  Anyway, here's the story: You might remember that my father and I entered a rather smoky little specialist blade shop somewhere in downtown Belgrade in December 1972 where he bought me a lovely bone-handled hunting knife.  It seemed like a large Bowie in my child-sized hands.  And it was love at first sight. I took that knife home with me to Papua New Guinea.  Back then we were living in the tiny hamlet of Kavieng on the northern and western tip of New Ireland, just 100 km south of the equator.  It was a hot, sticky, remote and totally undeveloped corner of the world where remnants of World War II were still "fresh" - at least in a decomposing, oxidising yet...

I've prepared this short sampler video for promoting my new text "Essential Jo". Please share. Copyright © 2015 Dejan Djurdjevic

If you've been wondering where I've been for last month or so, I have been working at a somewhat furious pace in the background on one of my long-sought after goals.  And now I've finally achieved it: After 6 years of toil and struggle, my first martial textbook, " Essential Jo " has finally been published! The book is intended as a complete instructional manual on practical, as well as sophisticated and elegant, techniques using the jo.  For those who don't know, the jo is the Japanese 4-foot staff, originally taught with the ken (sword) in the samurai arts. As far as I can tell, Essential Jo is the most comprehensive text on the subject to date, offering a course of study from white through to black belt in the "Way of the Jo" (jodo). The book features over 900 professional black and white photographs accompanied by clear, detailed textual explanations. While it is intended primarily for students with experience in weapons arts, pa...

Some of you will recall my article back in 2010: " Uraken: karate's greatest folly? " in which I discussed the relative usefulness of the uraken - the backfist of karate. Over the years I'd heard many opinions on the worth of this technique - mostly disparaging ones. I'm heartened to see that my opinion of the uraken wasn't misplaced.  Paul Felder's knockout of Danny Castillo use of this very technique at UFC 182 on January 3 was, as it turns out, a classic execution - albeit in the context of a spin.  It even used a snap-back at the elbow (rather than a swinging follow-through)! And it had a devastating effect. At first it was suggested by many that the technique was a hammer fist.  Or was intended as a hammer fist.  But, thanks to the work of my friend Noah Legel , the gif below demonstrates that it was indeed a pretty standard uraken as taught in karate - right down to the wrist extension at the end (see the picture above and my uraken example...

I am happy to announce that as of yesterday, this blog had officially passed the 1 million pageviews mark! My sincere thanks to all my readers for helping me achieve this milestone.  When I first started blogging I never dreamt that I would garner more than the occasional read of my lengthy, technical and detailed essays - especially on an internet where soundbites rule.  I've always worked on the basis that I would write what I wanted to write.  I'm heartened to find that being true to oneself doesn't always mean being not having your voice heard. So here's to the next million - and happy new year! Copyright © 2015 Dejan Djurdjevic