A discussion with Hanshi Juchnik regarding the development of the Martial Arts Collective Society and recognition of participants of The Gathering events over the years. Unfortunately, The Gathering has been cancelled this year. Other Regional events to be announced soon.

Do you deserve anything in the martial arts or in life?  Are you a true student?  How hard are you working for what it is you want.  Here are my thoughts.

by Jeff Driscoll, Kyoshi

The terms Shoden, Chuden, and Okuden are frequently used to describe the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of a martial arts system. They are frequently looked upon as merely the basic, intermediate, and advanced techniques, which comprise most martial systems; but the meaning of these three terms can also be interpreted as part of a developmental process that a practitioner will go through when studying the martial arts.

Most traditional martial arts systems were intended to be comprised of a physical side and a spiritual/philosophical counter part. Through time however, some successors of traditional art forms have allowed the spiritual/philosophical to fade, due to feeling that it has lack of importance, or that they may never have truly understood it to begin with. Many modern forms of martial arts today focus solely of the combative aspects, totally ignoring the philosophies which are meant to enhance the practitioner as a person, as well as a...