Inner Dharma
Inner Dharma [
Seattle, WA
☰ Contrasting Modern and Classical Mindsets
October 2025
We examine some features of armed and unarmed grappling and small weapon styles from the medieval period to modernity and draw some parallels and distinctions between them, especially as related to combat sport and contemporary military practices.
☰ Modern Masters of Jiki Shinkage-ryū
September 2025
Survey of contemporary research on the modern transmission of Jiki Shinkage-ryū kenjutsu.
☰ From Kodachi to Kogusoku
June 2025
Examining the role of kodachi kata in the progression of skill in Jiki Shinkage-ryū kenjutsu, with a description of application to close quarter armed grappling.
☰ Raito and Sente
June 2025
Examining the relationship between combative posture and initiative in a portion of Jiki Shinkage-ryū. What is first observed may be quite different from hidden layers of meaning and practice.
☰ Koryu-wa Koryu-nari
May 2025
The title is a pun on a famous saying associated to Shinto-ryu, the art of war is the art of peace. Old traditions are small traditions — it is the content that matters.
☰ The Shin-no-shinkage heihō of Ogasawara Genshinsai
March 2025
Review of contemporary research on the formation & transmission of Jiki Shinkage-ryū.
☰ Divergence and Unification in Shinkage-ryū
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.
☰ Pressure Testing in Classical Budō
February 2020
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.
☰ YCGF Weapons Practices
January 2020
The Taiji, Bagua, and Xingyi taught as part of Yin Cheng Gong Fa includes an extensive curriculum of jian (sword), dao (saber), and qiang (spear).
☰ Classical Taijiquan
June 2017
Yin Cheng Gong Fa North America has published an important book on the on Taijiquan Classics, authored by Zhang Yun laoshi and some of his senior disciples.
☰ Aiki and Internal Training
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.