Zentokan Dojo - 前途館道場

09/16/2026

Juzu (数珠) or nenju (念珠) or mala (in India) are traditional Buddhist beads used for various practices across different sects and traditions, including in shugendo. In the Kurikara Ryu we use a main strand of 27 beads to explore the connection between the body and the Kurikara mandala. The number 9 is significant because Kurikara Ryu is rooted in the kuji-ho (九字法), a system of 9 mudras, mantras, and other connected practices that guide each person through their process of development.

Each student makes their own juzu when they reach the appropriate level in training.

09/09/2026

Morning tanren at Zentokan

08/19/2026

Cutting detached pieces of the mat like this is a good way to evaluate the quality of the cutting action. And of course… waste not, want not!

08/16/2026

Nebaru (粘る) means to be sticky or adhesive. “Nebari ken” is the sticky sword, a practice we use to develop sensitivity and connection.

08/10/2026

Tameshigiri training begins with a single target and and the progressive addition of new tasks: footwork, drawing, kiai, and multiple cuts. It’s important to proceed systematically to make sure bad habits don’t develop along the way.

07/29/2026

This sequence looks pretty good, right? Let’s analyze it together. Michael won’t mind! 😉

Cut 1: Poor zanshin and ki-ken-tai-ichi into the cut leads to an incomplete cut that doesn’t “finish” properly

Cut 2: Weak coordination during the step back leads to disconnection of upper and lower body; the cut coming too much from the arms; too much turning of the hips; unstable head; and disturbance of posture

Cut 3: Posture compromised

Cut 4: Small collapse in the waist, and the finishing position is a bit high

Cut 5: Needs more enkeisen (circular trajectory) in the path of the blade

Tameshigiri is about more than just the mat. 🙇‍♂️

07/24/2026

This incredible katana (on display at the Japanese Sword Museum in 2023) was made in 1636 by Hizen Tadahiro (肥前国住藤原忠広). It was dated a lucky day in the 2nd month of the 13th year of Kanei (寛永十三年二月吉日).

07/22/2026

This pulse oximeter reading was taken in between exercises during a tanren practice session.

A low resting heart rate on its own does not imply amazing cardiovascular health, though athletes commonly have lower than average resting heart rates (and all martial artists should be sure to do some cardio!).

In this case, what this does show is how the breathing practices of the tanren activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn modulates the heart rate. So this is an example of a highly responsive system finely tuning oxygen conservation to counteract the body’s natural “fight or flight” response.

In other words:

“Although transforming the breathing process is central to tanren, it is not increased intake of oxygen, but intensification of the energy or inner wind associated with breathing that is required. In fact, as we have noted earlier, success in tanren leads to a reduced requirement for oxygen.” — Kurikara: The Sword and the Serpent, by John Evans / John Maki Evans

07/21/2026

Congratulations to Ahmed on receiving your menjo from Japan!

07/19/2026

New on the blog: practice makes permanent.

Budo in general and swordsmanship in particular are mind-body disciplines. This is to say that they engage the body and the mind concomitantly and that this engagement is not just parallel but deeply interdependent. Once these connections have been built they require regular attention and maintenance of one kind or another depending upon one’s stage in training and in life.

All arts or skills that require melding great physical dexterity with finely tuned participation of the mind – playing a musical instrument, sleight of hand, speaking a foreign language – share one thing: the requirement for practice.

Budo in general and swordsmanship in particular are mind-body disciplines. This is to say that they engage the body and the mind concomitantly and that this engagement is not just parallel but deeply interdependent. Once these connections have been built they require regular attention and maintenanc