Chikushin Martial & Cultural Training Group

09/07/2026

Wishing everyone a relaxed, and enjoyable Labor Day weekend here in the States. Taking advantage of the nice weather in my area to spend time with family and recharge ourselves before tackling another busy week of work. Stay safe!

09/01/2026

- SEPTEMBER TRAINING SCHEDULE -

・Hand-to-hand: Atemi tanren

・Weapon training: Sōjutsu (kamayari)

・Monthly theme: Uchibari

* NOTES *
・Throwing proficiency of uchibari will be worked on regularly, as well as incorporated into kata geiko and other training sessions.

08/23/2026

It's been a minute since I've updated my blog, but it's all for a good reason. I've been working on a new series on Japanese battle formations, a topic I've been wanting to discuss for over a year. This weekend part 1 is up on Light in the Clouds, and will kick off by introducing the famed 8 formations associated with Sengoku period.

These 8 formations are legendary in their own rights, as their names are mentioned in many documents reciting big battles by renown warlords like Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Takeda Shingen. Yet, how much of an impact did they truly have on the battlefield, and which individuals really used them? Answers to this can be found in part 1, along with much more throughout the series.

https://lightinthecloudsblog.com/2026/08/22/battle-formations-part-1-warring-periods-8-formations/

06/27/2026

How's this 2026 treating everyone? Being the Fire Horse zodiac, good things come to those who work hard and are passionate. Here's a folklore that can serve to help guide us on the right path. Named "Manzō to uma" (万蔵と馬), we get to see how the actions of an average man can be life changing...and yes, it does involve horses.

Although introduced as a folklore, it is actually based off of a real life story. How accurate is it? Click the link below to read more on this.

It’s time to visit this year’s horse theme with an old Japanese folklore. Over the years, I’ve introduced various folklores that correlate with that year’s Zodiac pretty clo…

06/02/2026

A new article is online at Light in the Clouds blog, which gives shine to the theatrical world of nōgaku. Many should be familiar with images or depictions of Noh, where actors wear eye-catching masks or face paint, lavish wigs, and colorful outfits on a stage with props depicting medieval Japan layout, singing in an enchantinh voice. When did this style of performing art begin in Japan? Who are the pioneers? Was this form of entertainment popular?

Nōgaku as a field of performing arts has a very long history, and has a systematic structure. The latest serves to give readers a brief introduction and overview of its role in Japanese history, which can be accessed at the link below.

Over the years, many articles here cover medieval Japan, from famous warlords, iconic battles, and legendary weapons. In some of these, theatrical actors and performers have also been mentioned, su…

04/30/2026

Recently I saw a topic about extreme mobility from a low crouching posture while wielding a sword. It was quite impressive, and had me thinking about my own experience in relations to the topic. This led to the following article, entitled "Basics 101: Bending the Knees". Here, I showcase some of the methods used for building strong legs, and what the purposes are in relations to kobudō.

Leg strength is essential in martial arts, but it's more than just building large muscles. To find out more, just click the link below.

Mobility is a core point in all martial arts. Ensuring we strengthen our legs on a regular basis is important. Standard leg exercises is good, such as running, squats, training with weights, and so…

03/20/2026

A while ago I had acquired a tachi (太刀) style sword. A new addition to my training, this allows me to further understand the traits of this sword and its usage in the past, especially how it capable it was against foes wearing gusoku (具足).

Here's a side-by-side comparison of a tachi and a katana. Some differences are pretty obvious, which includes the curvature in both the blade and the handle.

02/01/2026

Early this morning, I did solo training at a field where no one else was around. I moved at a steady pace while working on nagamaki and rokushaku bō techniques, despite the freezing cold due to the recent heavy snowfall.

早朝、静かで人気がない場所によって一人訓練した。最近の大雪で激寒くなっているが、長巻や六尺棒の技法を軽く振ってみた。

#長巻術 #棒術 #一人稽古

01/12/2026

Today we have a bonus article! In honor of Seijin no Hi (成人の日), I put together a short writing about this national holiday celebrated in Japan, as well as some historical background related to its roots. You can find it at A light in the Clouds blog, or click on the link below.

January 12 marks “Seijin no Hi” (成人の日) in Japan. Interpreted as “Coming of Age Day”, those who turn 20 are celebrated as adults. These individuals attend a “Seijin shi…

01/12/2026

With the opening of the new year, the 1st article is now up on Light in the Clouds blog. Continuing with the previous years, this article covers the Lunar year, with the horse being the Zodiac sign. Being an animal that assists humans in all walks of life throughout history, it's no surprise that good fortune tends to be one of the predictions in the year of the horse.

There's a bit of attention in terms of potential success awaiting all of us in 2026...yet a bit of caution to ultimate failure is the buzz as well. Some of this falls on the fact that we are in the year of the fire horse, which is accompanied by double-fire power.

What does this all mean? To learn more, feel free to click on the link below.

Welcome 2026! As the 1st post of the year, we start off with a review of this year’s Zodiac sign. For those who follow this on their own, or have seen related posts on social media, are aware…