Swordfighters

Much of what you learn in one discipline is transferrable to another. In this post I share some of the things that I have learned from the spear about fighting in general and in particular fighting empty handed.

What Karate Folks Can Learn from the Spear I begin my Sunday practice as usual, with the spinning ebb and flow of the spear drills. It’s early, and the air is crisp again; spring has not yet fully established itself. Sunlight is reaching in…

Where Boys Learn to Become Dangerous- and Trustworthy

In this post I talk about the value of practice as a developmental tool for boys and men.

https://martialenergyworks.com/2026/04/13/where-boys-learn-to-become-dangerous-and-trustworthy/

This weeks post is about avoiding delusion...its also about a sparring practice called one attack.

Avoiding Delusion I have spoken before about the generational shift that occurs in systems over time. Generational shift happens when an original idea gradually transitions into a form that is accessible to more peo…

The Yoda Effect

The Yoda Effect: The “Impossible” Vitality of Practice in Old Age At seventy-two years of age, I sometimes begin a practice session feeling tired and my energy is low. Yet something curious happens when I step into the horse stance and begin moving the iron ball.…

This weeks blog post is about an esoteric practice that a senior introduced to me.

Some things cannot be explained with words. I have tried for years to explain the subtle use of internal connections to produce power. Words may create appreciation or intellectual recognition that such a thing exists, but neither of these helps a person generate power or truly feel it.

The Iron Ball Some things cannot be explained with words. I have tried for years to explain the subtle use of internal connections to produce power. Words may create appreciation or intellectual recognition that…

I just returned from the Vancouver International Sword Symposium where I taught several workshops. VISS this year was very thought provoking and enjoyable. It is a wonderful experience to meet the young people who are engaged in HEMA. Kudos the Academie Duello - Centre for Swordplay and to Devon for once again putting on a great gathering. The following link contains my reflections of the event:

Reflections about VISS (VISS is the Vancouver International Sword Symposium. It is hosted by Academie Duello ) I sat there on the first morning watching Matteus teach. I remember when he was just starting out—long and le…

At Vancouver international sword symposium

This next blog piece is about the relationship between safety and martial practice. It began as a simple reiteration of safety recommendations for my archive that is available on my web site. It turned into this discussion about harsh practice, intensity and the drift away from substantial practice towards uniformity....Here it is:

Safety When I first started this essay, my intent was to refurbish a set of safety rules that I had previously established for my Swordfighters group. The earlier article existed as a webpage listing equi…

Forms exist in many martial arts including HEMA and yet there is ongoing controversy about the efficacy of forms. Here are some thoughts about how to learn from forms and how to incorporate them into your practice.

"I met with my karate friends again today. They had asked me to talk a bit about Tekki. Tekki, for those of you who do not know, is a karate form with origins in China. It is one of the hallmark forms in Shotokan and many other karate styles. My introduction to this form was in the 1970s. I don’t really fathom why, but it became my favorite kata, and I practiced it assiduously. The kata is short but rigorous to perform, owing to its reliance on the horse stance throughout. I daresay I have performed the kata over 100,000 times—I stopped counting after that..."

Practicing Tekki I met with my karate friends again today. They had asked me to talk a bit about Tekki. Tekki, for those of you who do not know, is a karate form with origins in China. It is one of the hallmark for…

https://www.facebook.com/share/17zCTCJVXf/