内法
Inner Dharma
Inner Dharma is a blog concerned with classical and traditional martial arts and culture I have maintained since 2005 — I appreciate the encouragement and feedback I have received from its readers over the last twenty years. In 2024 I began reworking its content. A selection of its essays can be found below.
27 July 2025
In Memorium: David A. Hall (1947-2025)
On 26 July 2025, the world lost one of its most knowledgeable teachers and scholars of classical Japanese martial culture.
30 June 2025
Raito and Sente in Jikishinkage-ryū
An examination of one of the dominant characteristics of Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu through a discussion and analysis of the to-no-kata portion of its curriculum.
30 June 2025
From Kodachi to Kogusoku in Jikishinkage-ryū
An examination of the kodachi portions of its curriculum and how it might be applied in close range armed grappling (kogusoku).
10 April 2025
The Shin-no-shinkage heihō of Ogasawara Genshinsai
Discussing recent scholarship on the early/proto Jikishinkage-ryū kenjutsu of Ogasawara Genshinsai, which he called Shin-no-shinkage heihō, highlighting the influence of Taoism and esoteric Buddhist practice on his swordsmanship.
15 February 2025
Psychological pressure in Jikishinkage-ryū
We examine the final kata in Jikishinkage-ryū to-no-kata, called enren and relate one example of maintaining pressure (seme) during practice.
09 September 2024
Divergence and Unification in Shinkage-ryū
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.
16 February 2023
General Qi Jiguans's Jixiao Xinshu and Reflections on Claims of Martial Virtue
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.
10 February 2020
Pressure Testing in Classical Budō
A description of some of my efforts to keep my practice of kenjutsu intact after moving to the Pacific Northwest. After moving, I decided to focus solely on Shinkage-ryū and pause my study of Shintō-ryū. I trained initially alone and over time tested my skills in unscripted environments. This is some of what transpired.
23 March 2019
Training intensity in Classical Budō
A discussion of what consititutes proper training intensity in traditional martial arts. An examination of some of the important questions raised by a practice of traditional historical martial arts.
23 February 2017
Aiki and Internal Training
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.
17 June 2013
NAMT Night of Budo 2013 – an analysis
A brief reflection on a demonstration of Araki-ryū and Tenshin Buko-ryū at the NAMT 2013 Night of Budo.