Martial Arts and Culture
Inner Dharma is a writing project maintained by Mark Raugas that is concerned with traditional martial arts and culture. I want to thank all of its readers who provided their feedback and encouragement over the last twenty years.
A selection of its content is organized below by area of research. Some of my work has also been published at Kogen Budo (opens in a new tab). I also have a book available on Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu (opens in a new tab) that may be of interest.
Research Projects
[ glossary · topic map · methodology ]
☰ Internal Martial Arts
Chinese internal martial arts — Tàijíquán, Bāguàzhǎng, and Xíngyìquán in the Yin Cheng Gong Fa lineage of Wang Peisheng.
☰ Jikishinkage-ryū History
Notes on the history of Kashima-Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū — its founding stelae, factional descent, and the documentary record.
☰ Densho Analysis
Close readings of classical densho (伝書; transmission scrolls) — comparing their kata, structure, terminology, and lineage across schools.
☰ Japanese Mountain Religion
Shugendō, mountain asceticism, and Japanese esoteric Buddhism — and their influence on classical martial traditions.
☰ The Kōbusho
A description of the late Tokugawa Kōbusho martial academy, including biographical sketches of its kenjutsu and jūjutsu teachers, levels, and related styles and military corps that its instructors founded or joined.
☰ Gekken and the Butōkukai
The Meiji gekken-kōgyō fencing exhibitions, the Dai Nippon Butokukai, and the survival and transformation of kenjutsu into early kendō.
Contact
I may be reached via email at .
