the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

Since I appeared on Ken Gullette's Internal Fighting Arts podcast a couple of weeks ago I've been contacted by various people about different things and one of them was my old XingYi teacher Damon Smith who runs the Woven Energy podcast. He wanted to see if I'd like to help him out with his new Heretics Podcast.

The Woven Energy podcast is about Shamanism and contains frequent calls to action, so they give ideas you might like to try out and techniques. In contrast, the Heretics podcast is going to be a place where subjects that don't fall under the banner of Shamanism can be discussed, like, say, martial arts. There will also be no call to action.

The name is in reference to the origins of the concept of heresy, back in Gnostic Christianity, and the fact that we will probably be talking about things that are against society's commonly held beliefs. Starting with martial arts.

Anyway, expect the first episode.... soon...

First episode is on Japanese martial arts btw.

In the first episode, I make the mistake of asking Damon, 'what is the history of Jiujitsu?'

Covers: Kempo, Jiujitsu, Japan-China trade, Yakuza, Samurai, Shoguns and much more....

Awesome G - Japanese martial history is a pet subject of mine.. looking forward to it!

Oh, if you're a Japanese martial arts history nerd you'll love this one. I'll be honest, it was too much history for me! We were just getting to the stuff I was interested in most when we had to stop, since we'd been going for an hour. Recording Part 2 this week though!

And we're live!

https://www.spreaker.com/user/9404101/episode01

Thank you Tom. I’m looking forward to maybe getting a word in, but I wouldn’t count on it. The roles of Organ Grinder and Monkey appear to be tightly defined.

btw I can direct questions to Damon so post them here if you have any. Maybe answer a few on a future episode.

Now on iTunes.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/her ... 72590?mt=2

Recorded episode 2 last night - it's much better. Getting into our stride now.

Episode 2 of the history of Kempo and Jiujitsu is out.

Starts in 1850. Extensive discussion of Kano Jigoro, the evolution of Judo and beyond. Plus a lot on the political-cultural situation of Japan at the time. Plenty of martial arts Heresy as always

If you found the first episode too history-heavy this one, while still having a bucket-load of history in it, is more conversational and has some lighter-weight elements, talking about BJJ, Chuck Lidell and other things. We take a slightly controversial listener question at the end.

iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/her ... 2590?mt=2#

Spreaker:

https://www.spreaker.com/user/9404101/e ... 7aJNP4V88Q

Heretics podcast episode 3. Japan, Ninjas and Bartitsu!



And part 3 of our History of Jiujitsu and Kempo is out! This time we have Bartitsu, the truth about Ninjas, the British connection, the controversial origins of the BJJ belt system and the birth of pro wrestling in Japan.

I know. I had you at "the truth about Ninjas".

Listen to "#3 The Origins of Jiu Jitsu and Kempo (part 3)" on Spreaker.

https://www.spreaker.com/user/9404101/heretics-ep-3_1

I'm enjoying it too - just along for the ride really - I've no idea how he remembers all this stuff!

I'm regretting my Chuck Lidell prediction now...

Episode 4 is out:

https://www.spreaker.com/user/9404101/episode4final

I've got a new microphone, so sound better

We had a lot of fun in this one - In part 4 we examine the time period between 1960 and 1980 in Japan, and discuss topics such as martial arts marketing and the different ways in which the Japanese created and promoted a wide range of new martial arts.

Here are a few links to videos of the things we talk about this time:

Gracie vs. Kimura - October 23, 1951 (Maracanã Stadium - Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gErppdxesiw

Gracies vs bullies on a beach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAAnrqDygns

Rikidozan vs Masahiko Kimura (1954 - Part 2/2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtwqmU2eV6M&t=225s

PRIDE 25: Kazushi Sakuraba vs Antonio "Elvis" Schembri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvZEuxOYBiY&t=285s

Ali vs Inoki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh6piq2zWws

Mas Oyama vs "bull":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHuxeV029E

TV show about Iwama and Aikido, Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県, Ibaraki-ken) Japan featuring the late Morihiro Saito Sensei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDkszpk ... e=youtu.be

Taido:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDvnvWKXcE

Kodo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n13JLzkMXIw

I will say that my practical experience of jujitsu is limited but isn't it an omission to not mention that Okinawan Kempo as part of a larger traditon and influence.
I realize that the greater Japanese mainland has the monopoly on modernization meaning the small island Okinawan viewpoint tends to be discounted but it is a great synthesis to see how the mold was made better through the Okinawan world view of its history.

Yes, there is a 'fuzzy' historical accounting if we look at Aikido (Daito-Ryu) and Hapkido, where we see similar personalities but the more visible tend to be made more important through historical interpretation or lack thereof. My reference is that the founder of Hapkido was a house boy (sound familar) who was allegedly kidnapped??? and brought to Japan, was in the house of Takeda until somehow the founder picked up some elements and made it as we know today!

Hmmm.. I've read that twice now and I can't really understand what you're asking/saying?