Musha Shugyo: A Warrior's Journey

Tobin Threadgill is the Shihan/Kaicho of the Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Kai and Honbucho of the Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu Honbu Dojo in Evergreen, Colorado in the United States of America. In 1985 he met and became a student of Takamura Yukiyoshi, the headmaster of the Obata/Takamura line of Shindo Yoshin Ryu. Threadgill sensei holds a Menkyo Kaiden issued to him by Takamura in 2001.

It was my great pleasure and honour to speak with Threadgill sensei about what it takes to lead and teach a koryu bujutsu (a classical Japanese martial art). This is part 2 of that interview.

You can learn more about Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu here.

Tobin Threadgill is the Shihan/Kaicho of the Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Kai and Honbucho of the Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu Honbu Dojo in Evergreen, Colorado in the United States of America. In 1985 he met and became a student of Takamura Yukiyoshi, the headmaster of the Obata/Takamura line of Shindo Yoshin Ryu. Threadgill sensei holds a Menkyo Kaiden issued to him by Takamura in 2001.

It was my great pleasure and honour to speak with Threadgill sensei about what it takes to lead and teach a koryu bujutsu (a classical Japanese martial art). This is part 1 of that interview.

You can learn more about Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu here.

This episode explores some thoughts I have around the naming conventions of the fighting systems some of us practice. How do we define what is a martial art versus, say a combat sport? Does it really matter?

Did a race of women warriors really exist at the same time as the Ancient Greeks? A society where girls having their right breast cut off to fire a bow and mothers killing their infant sons certainly entertained the Greek populace, but how much was fact?
Let's find out.

Overheard at National Geographic 

This short episode explores the relevance of classical jujutsu and its place in the modern world. It was inspired by the video below.

Kevin Secours video

Join me as I look back in time to a warrior of historical renown. Was Joan of Arc divinely inspired or a crazy, military genius?

Every country has their tomb to the unknown warrior, those overlooked soldiers could well be female. What role did women play in combat prior to the twentieth century? Sarah Percy's book, Forgotten Warriors: A history of women on the front line, looks to answer this question.

Forgotten Warriors

Arguably, one of Akira Kurosawa's most influential films, Seven Samurai is an epic adventure classic with a interesting story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that has been remade in various forms ever since. But what does Kurosawa say about the mentality of his warrior protagonists? I invite Matthew Krueger, host of the Walking with the Tengu podcast, to discuss this with me.

Walking with the Tengu

Lou Fisk is someone who has an eclectic mix of movement practice and knowledge. She is a martial artist, stunt performer and horse archer. Currently, she is teaching traditional archery in  Canada. Discover what she has to say on women warriors and warrior mindset.

You can learn about traditional archery here.
Contact Lou Fisk on her Instagram.

What goes through a warrior's head in the moment of killing? That is what this episode is going to explore.