Posts by crimsonbison10

It’s funny, isn't it? How we sit here, typing away into the digital void, expecting some kind of profound connection or perhaps just a moment of clarity. I find myself staring at the cursor—that little blinking line—and thinking about how much like life it actually is. Just this rhythmic, repetitive pulse. On, off, on, off. Waiting for the next character to give it purpose. I was reading this article earlier about urban planning in Chicago—not that it has anything to do with our discussion, but my mind tends to wander toward these structural things. The way streets intersect, the way certain avenues feel purposeful while others feel like accidents. It’s like a poorly choreographed dance. We try to impose order on the chaos, much like we try to impose logic on these forums. We build these rigid structures of usernames and timestamps, hoping they’ll hold the weight of our opinions. But then someone drops a comment that defies all reason, and the whole architecture starts to wobble. Anyway, I suppose I’m getting ahead of myself. My apologies. I tend to drift. It’s a habit. Like a slow-moving current pulling you away from the shore before you even realize you’ve lost sight of the sand. One minute you’re focused on the task at hand, and the next, you’re wondering why the light hits the skyscrapers in Manhattan just the way it does during the golden hour. Where was I? Right. The point. Or rather, the lack of one. Let's see where this goes. kaže:
Explain. 🙂

Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (TSKSR) stands as one of the oldest—possibly *the* oldest—martial arts lineages out there where you can actually trace the unbroken chain of transmission from the founder straight down to the current headmaster. Because it’s a true koryu, this isn't some hobbyist club; it’s a serious matter, and very few people on the planet actually hold the official authorization to teach it. Now, let's be real: plenty of people go around teaching it without any formal credentials at all. As far as I know, Mr. Scherk falls into that category of unauthorized instructors. I could be wrong, obviously—I don't claim to have all the answers—but if anyone here has actual, verified information on his status, please, do speak up.
Personally, I’ve only caught small glimpses of those TSKSR school presentations. But based on what I’ve gathered from people who were actually there in the room, looking at them eye-to-eye? I have to say, what they’re presenting as the "TSKSR standard" here in America doesn't bear much resemblance to reality. Maybe that’s an overstatement—call me cynical if you want—but until someone brings some actual proof to the table to debunk it, I’m sticking to my guns on this one.
I honestly feel like this exact question has already surfaced on this forum before, so maybe do yourself a favor and dig through the archives for a bit...

Bryan Brown said:I gotta be honest, Kendo just doesn't do anything for me.

Got a question for you guys—does Kenjutsu actually involve any throwing techniques, disarming moves, or anything like that, besides just swinging the sword?

Alright, I only brought that up because you mentioned Kenjutsu specifically.
Kenjutsu can certainly branch out into other elements beyond just swinging a blade, though honestly, that really depends on which specific school you're looking at. There is the Katori Shinto Ryu style, for instance—though if you ask me, their curriculum seems a bit questionable. Still, you should probably go check them out for yourself.

Bryan Brown said:Hey there.

Got a few questions and some dilemmas spinning around in my head, so I figured I’d toss them out here. I’ve been scrolling through the forum for a bit, but honestly, there’s so much going on that I might end up asking something someone else already covered a dozen times. Sorry in advance if I’m repeating myself.

So, I’m 19 and decided it’s time to get back into some kind of martial art. I did Taekwondo for about five years, but then I spent the last four doing absolutely nothing. I’m really drawn to Eastern styles—specifically stuff tied to Japanese culture. Calling it a "sport" isn't quite right, though, because I couldn't care less about the competitive side of things. It's purely about the skill for me.

Physicality is key. I need the training to be intense enough to actually build some decent conditioning. I gave Ki-Aikido a shot recently, but it just didn't hit that level of physical demand I was looking for.

Now I’ve got Kenjutsu and Ninjutsu stuck in my mind. The problem is, I have zero clue what a typical session for either one actually looks like. What do you guys think? I'm based out of Chicago...

Thanks!

Since you aren't afraid of a grueling workout and you seem to have an affinity for Japanese traditions, I’d suggest looking into Kendo.

placidbison20 said:I was actually wondering about the same thing—what exactly does 😕
mean?

Well, we'll just have to wait and 😬

urbanstag89 said:... and that's how I end up fueling my own aggression.

And there you have it—just one more unexpected side effect of training.

Ninjutsu and Tai Chi...
someone just needs to pick up where this left off

Paul Peterson8 said:a belt isn't just some scrap of cotton you tie around your waist to keep your gi from falling off

I don't know... I think Tupac Shakur would have had a different take on that one. 😬

velvetwolf17 said:When the season comes to an end, which club is actually sitting at the top of the table?

"Agatsu."
http://agatsu.kendo.com

It’s funny, isn't it? How people operate. You see these discussions popping up, all kinds of noise, just a constant stream of chatter that doesn't actually lead anywhere. It’s like watching a slow-motion car crash on the I-95—you know it’s going to be messy, you know there's going to be debris everywhere, but you can't quite look away because the sheer absurdity of it keeps you hooked. I was sitting there this morning, sipping my coffee—black, obviously, none of that sugary syrup nonsense—and thinking about how much energy is wasted on trivialities. We spend so much time arguing over the small stuff, the minor details that won't matter in twenty-four hours, let alone ten years. It reminds me of those old debates back in high school about whether a hot dog is a sandwich. Completely useless. Purely performative. People get so worked up. They raise their voices, they type in all caps, they act as if their specific grievance is the pivot point upon which the entire universe turns. It's exhausting to witness. There’s a certain dignity in being measured, in taking a moment to actually process a thought before letting it fly into the void. But I suppose that’s asking too much from most folks these days. Most people would rather scream into a megaphone than have a conversation. Anyway, just some thoughts while the world continues its inevitable slide into chaos. Nothing serious. Just observing. kaže:
I’ve been thinking about this lately—I’d honestly love to pick up some kind of swordsmanship. There’s something about it, I don't know, a discipline there. But here’s the catch: I’m living out in Dubrava, and let's be real, trekking all the way down to Black Rock every single day just for a training session? It’s just not worth the gas or the headache. It's like trying to commute from the suburbs to downtown Manhattan every morning just to hit a specific gym; eventually, the logistics just kill the motivation.

There’s this group of guys—been coming out from the East Side for quite a few years now—to hit the mats for training.
I'll pass. I actually know someone from a town like Des Moines who makes the trek out here too. If you really want, I can have them give you the lowdown on whether the drive is actually worth the training sessions.

Jamie Fowler2 said:How could I forget about Dinko! 🙈 Is he still hanging out in NYC or did he build his own damn arena down south?

To be perfectly honest, I haven't the slightest clue, though I suppose I could find out. Last time I caught wind of him was sometime last year 😢 , and since I actually owe him a favor, I’m in no rush to go digging. 🙈

Maybe we should actually consider giving Dinko a shot after all

When you're looking at Iaido, you’re dealing with an Iaito. Now, some of these can actually be sharp, though there’s still this subtle, nagging distinction between them and a true Shinken—you know, a real steel blade. If we're being precise about the "tool" used in Iaido, the correct term is Mogito. Usually, they're made from an Al/Zn alloy weighing somewhere between 750 and 850 grams, though you will run into outliers that feel almost like a real Shinken, hitting that 1200-1300 gram range. The edge is dull, making it nearly impossible to accidentally cut yourself, yet the kissaki—the tip—is incredibly piercing. You could still cause serious damage if you aren't careful. A Mogito isn't designed for any kind of cutting. On the flip side, an Iaito can actually be used for cutting tests, what people call Tameshigiri. The fittings, the koshirae, can get ridiculously expensive if you decide to go all out; it’s not uncommon to see a Mogito priced north of $1,000. But honestly, for practical use, you're looking at the $300-$500 range. Anything beyond that is just
overkill.

Every once in a while, you stumble upon those rare gems that actually get martial arts right. You know, films that don't just rely on flashy nonsense but actually capture some sense of realism. Take those classic Kurosawa flicks, for instance. When it comes to swordplay specifically, they really hit the mark.

velvetwolf17 said:Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone here could give me some insight into the current state of Japanese martial arts in the States. Specifically, does anyone know which local clubs are active for Kendo, or where one might go to properly study Iaido? On a related note, I’ve been curious about the technical side of things—could anyone explain the practical differences between a standard katana and one specifically designed for Iaido practice?

Kendo, Iaido ---> www.kendo.org, then just look under ---> clubs

The gap between a shinken and an iaito (bogito) is massive. We're talking material, build quality, how they're forged, price points... basically everything about their purpose and design differs.

Linda Palmer said:He was even appearing on CNN this past Saturday.
Can anyone give me a rundown of the actual techniques shown there?
What kind of stuff is even blended together in this movie?

Thx.

It’s probably just a big mishmash of everything, especially in the second half. As far as the swordplay goes, I heard someone mention elements of Kator Shinto Ryu, but honestly, I'm just passing along what a guy with actual experience in those arts told me.
At the end of the day, though, it's still just a movie. 😬

There’s this old kendo master who used to say:
... if you skip training for just one day, you’ll feel it yourself,
if you miss two days, your opponent is going to notice the edge is gone,
but if you let three days slip by, even the crowd in the stands will see the difference.

Daniel Chavez14 said:To me, there’s nothing more disrespectful than a fighter taking a heavy shot and then acting like—oh, please, hit me harder, you can do better than that, that didn't even hurt!😬

Heh, just some preschool-level psychology right there.😬

Listen, guys, once I finally get this guy back on his feet, I’m definitely thinking of you all. I'll be picking up the tab for some burgers and beers on me.

Jerry Thompson said:Oh, give me a break! That’s what happens when you go asking a local for actual intel! ugh

Look, if we're talking about who's the most "outsider" in the city, he's definitely at the bottom of that list.

Jerry Thompson said:Here’s a little nugget for you: the "sophisticated" folks living in the heart of the city don't even know which streets they call home. Today, I was looking for Kwon. I asked some guy which house was near where Jelasicka is... he just stares at me, totally bewildered. Like, zero clue. He tells me he doesn't know. Then I ask a cop about Old Samoborska... and the guy basically sends me out to the suburbs. Like, "Oh, that's way out in the outskirts, buddy." Honestly? It’s laughable.

It’s a good thing you weren't asking for Mexican Street or something similar. Who knows what kind of trouble those local idiots would have sent you into. 😬