Inner Dharma is a blog maintained by Mark Raugas that explores traditional martial arts and culture, especially topics in Japanese swordsmanship and internal martial arts. I want to thank its readers for their interest and feedback — over time I have distilled this site down to a few of my essays, which can be found below.
Blog
Kiai is Not a Sound – Shin-no-Shinkage heihō
30 March 2025
Discussing my study of Japanese swordsmanship in the context of internal martial arts principles and esoteric Buddhist practice.
Enren – Continued Circles
15 February 2025
Analysis (kuzushi) of the final section of Jikishinkage-ryū to-no-kata.
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.
The Gassankan
01 September 2021
I provide some information on the organization, goals, and overal training context of my efforts at preserving a practice of Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu (heiho) and related arts as part of the Gassankan.
Gogyō Exegesis
14 May 2020
An essay describing my experience, thinking, and choices regarding attempting to practice multiple koryū and then deciding not to.
Perspective and Priorities
23 March 2019
More sometime can be gained by walking further along fewer paths. An examination of some of the important questions raised by a practice of traditional historical martial arts.
Proper Training Intensity in Traditional Martial Arts
01 September 2018
A discussion of what consititutes proper training intensity in traditional martial arts.
Solitude and Insight
10 September 2017
I have spending time at solo practice, consulting with colleagues, and free sparring. I remain inspired by what I see some of the local HEMA community doing with their arts and have benefited from being able to witness some of their skill first hand.
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.
Enbu for Karunakaran
15 September 2016
Memorial demonstration in honor of the late Karunakaran-sensei, senior student of Donn Draeger in Shinto Muso-ryu Jo.
Princeton Bagua and Taiji Seminar
15 September 2015
At the end of summer, I traveled to Princeton for a seminar in Bagua and Taiji and was accepted as a formal lineal student by my teacher, Zhang Yun. I also traveled to the Pacific Northwest, where I was able to visit with budo colleagues in Oregon.
Focus is Forever
17 November 2014
I am, over time, attempting to focus my kenjutsu practice. I have studied under two schools of Japanese swordsmanship that may once have been related in the distant echoes of time, but now are quite divergent. It is interesting the explore the benefits each provide to a practitioner, and how they relate to my continued focus on internal martial arts.
Are You Connected?
11 April 2014
An analysis of basic concepts of normal force in the context of internal martial arts.
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.
NYC Aiki-jujutsu History & Anthropology
30 November 2012
A summary of NYC area aiki-jujutsu history.
Gassankan Jujutsu
10 October 2008
In Baltimore, after leaving my first dojo in NYC, I continued to work on refining the modern goshin-jutsu護身術 methods I had first learned with my colleague Ben Lawner. The result was a smaller curriculum informed by our practice of Gao lineage bagua.
Three Treasures and Six Harmonies
03 March 2008
In 2004 I began training under Bob Galeone in Silver Spring, Maryland. He and I would meet at his house or at Capital Aikido to work on the Gao lineage Bagua he had learned from Allen Pittman and Paul Cote. Bob is a senior Aikido disciple of Kanai and Saotome and working with him has been a very important gift in two parts:
Early Training Influences
30 November 2006
From 1989 to 2001, while living in New York City, I practiced at an independent Aikido dojo that focused on self-defense methods. I continued this effort after moving, and began training in Gao Lineage Bagua in 2004.