Kuden! Martial Arts, Self-defense & Survival

Is there a process that underpins the seeming chaos of the world and everyday life? And, if there is, can it be understood, harnessed, and used to achieve the results and ultimate success we’re looking for? Within the ‘spiritual’ lessons that I was exposed to coming up through my training in the martial arts and […]

One of the most contested areas of Ninjutsu training I was exposed to from the earliest days of Ninjutsu in the West, is a framework known as the Godai, or “5 Elements”. Some argue that this ancient system has little to do with the art of Ninjutsu and the training of the Bujinkan, while others […]

If you’re in the martial arts and/or self-defense training realm, I’m sure you’ve heard the argument being thrown around that says: “Kata don’t work on the street for fighting or self-defense”. But if that’s true, then why did the past masters-combat veterans many times over – create them and pass them down to us? During […]

Your brain is wired to protect you from death or perceived death/danger. This includes both instinctive, hard-wired things like not letting the saber-toothed tiger eat you, all the way to guarding against what you tell it you’re afraid of. During this episode, we’ll be taking a look at the lessons I received regrading just “how […]

I began in the Ninja’s arts in 1980 (I know, I’ve got a few years behind me!). Over the years I’ve seen, not only the “face” of the art change but also, the way students approach the art change. Hollywood and teen slang aside, one of the biggest changes I’ve seen has to do with […]

Are the kata in our (or any) martial art, really usable for real-world self-defense? And, if so, how? Because the stiff, preset, choreographed models – whether done solo or with more than one student – don’t seem to fit what we’ve all seen when it comes to a real fight or self-defense attack. During this […]

Other than identifying one kata or technique from another, is there anything special about their names? Can a kata’s name help you in mastering the technique or not? I mean, what’s in a name, right? We’re going to be exploring several perspectives on this, and more, during this week’s episode of KUDEN! Radio, the podcast […]

We’ve all experience not just the feeling of anger, frustration & even rage; but also suffered from the consequences of our thoughts, words, and actions spawned by that same emotion. During this episode of KUDEN! Radio, we’ll be taking a look at what our philosophical teachings say about the root causes behind anger, but also […]

I actually came at the Enlightenment teachings in a backwards sort of way though my martial arts training in Ninjutsu. Through exploration of conflict, the handling of violence, and the need to protect even my mind from aggression, the art of the invisible warrior actually made it easier for me to see the benefit of […]

It’s been said that when a fool sees or learns something new, he laughs at it; when an arrogant man see or learns it, he explains all the reasons why it’s wrong or it won’t work; but, when a wise person sees or learns it, they seek to understand it in order to understand how […]

Have you set goals, started the process, but keep getting stuck at the same or different points along the way? Do you feel stuck or unable to gain traction in making the kind of changes, progress, or success you’re looking for but see others enjoying? Well, you’re not alone as this is a common problem […]

During this episode, we’re going to taking a historical look at the fortitude, understanding, and consequences of failure when a Ninja acted; the morality behind the “why” of a Ninja’s actions; and the idea of fully committing to the accomplishment of the “mission” or goal. On top of that, what if one of the figures […]

Most of us, at some time or another in our training careers, will encounter those who will dismiss what we’re trying to do in one way or another. Some will roll their eyes, showing their true feelings; others will outright laugh; and still others will actually try to stop you. During this episode, we’ll be […]

Continuing with our exploration of a popular Japanese phrase, including within the martial arts, and what they point to as keys to progress in the mental realm. During this week’s episode, we’ll be looking at the 2nd half of the phrase: Mizu no Kokoro (“mind like water”), what it points to as a goal, and […]

While most students and practitioners focus almost exclusively on physical technique – the “what” what to do – the mental and philosophical aspects point to much more. In the realm of the Master Warrior there are more skills, perspectives, and guiding principles allowing him or her to produce more results in any given situation than […]

What does it mean to be Ninja? Did you know that there is more than one kind – more than the cloaked, long, black-clad warrior we see so often in the movies? Here’s a better question, especially if you’ve set your sights on being one: “What kind of Ninja do you want to be?” “What […]

Do you know you need to take action – to do what needs to be done to move closer to your goals? I understand, because we’ve all had moments where life gets in the way and we end up feeling “stuck”. One of the most common things I hear from those feeling stuck in their […]

Have you ever though about a goal, about being a high level black belt, or spoke a truth and…had to hide the visceral effect…the feeling that you were lying to yourself or others. This feeling holds the key to something deep within us that must be uncovered if we’re to break free of the limitations […]

Do you ever ask yourself, “Why do I think this way?” Not just, why do you DO certain things, but why do you think – why do you believe what you do. During this episode of KUDEN! Radio, we’ll be examining some lessons I was given from teachers who wanted me to not just think […]