Tagged "Article"
Systema: Principles of the Russian System
Posted by James Williams on
Mikhail Ryabko was not only given the secrets of this ancient art, he was put in the position of repeatedly applying both the art and its principles in life and death combat on, what for much of his early life, was a day-to-day basis. This System, taught by Mikhail Ryabko, is not a shadow of what once was, it is a living practical art that even now is being applied by warriors in combat.
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Stanley Pranin Interviews James Williams
Posted by James Williams on
The following interview of James Williams was conducted by Stanley Pranin at his dojo in Encinitas, California on November 1, 2004.
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The Truth About Tantos
Posted by James Williams on
The much-hyped style of Japanese knife harkens to the Samurai Era, but modern renditions often mistake the shape and the purpose of this classic warriors’ tool.
The use of knife in close-quarters combat is as old as time. Throughout the world, there have been countless types and styles of knives used by different cultures over the millennia.
Out of all of these blades only a few stand out, perceived as superior to the rest.The Japanese tanto is such a blade.
The Psychology of Combat
Posted by James Williams on
I was pleased to see a review of the book “Bloody Iron” in Volume 24, No. 3 of Aikido Journal. Here is a book that speaks plainly about the reality of conflict with edged weapons in circumstances involving lethal force.
The authors, both long time residents of some of Americas finest prisons, describe in detail the prison environment as regards to the edged weapons conflict that is a part of daily life. The nature of such situations is presented graphically so that there will be no mistake as to their grim reality.
The Eye and The Mind
Posted by James Williams on
Sophisticated ancient warrior arts had particular ways of using the eyes. This methodology maximized the brains ability to process information. The eyes don’t see, the brain “sees”. How the eyes are used determines how effectively the brain can process information. It also impacts how the brain perceives the passage of time.
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