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.
Writing Projects
[ glossary · topic map · methodology · references ]
☰ Heigaku [兵学]
Analysis of the history and texts of several koryū — especially Shinkage-ryū and Kashima-area traditions — including close readings of their densho.
☰ The Kōbusho [講武所]
The late-Tokugawa shogunal martial academy (1856–1867), where instructors of Jikishinkage-ryū, Shingyōtō-ryū, Tamiya-ryū and other schools taught swordsmanship, spear and jūjutsu side by side — with biographical sketches of its kenshi, the schools they came from, and the bakumatsu corps they later founded or joined.
☰ Kin-gendai [近現代]
Kin-gendai (近現代; "modern and contemporary") refers to post-Tokugawa periods of Japanese history (i.e., Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa and onward). Changing social mores, nationalist politics, competitive and sportive aspects and how some of these arts flourished in modernity.
☰ Shugendō [修験道]
Mountain Shugendō and Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Their influence on classical martial traditions.
☰ Nèijiā [內家]
Chinese internal martial arts — Tàijíquán, Bāguàzhǎng and Xíngyìquán — their classics, training, and Daogong or Neigong foundations.
Contact
I continue my practice of internal martial arts in the Pacific Northwest. I may be reached via email at .
