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...

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...

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...

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.

The human mind hasn't really changed all that much for thousands of years, so could a Roman legionary suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? The Reddit thread referenced in this episode can be found here .

How does discipline help with a warrior mindset? What is it and how does it interact with other facets of warrior psychology? 

With 39 years of regular, reserve and Guard military service and over 20 years of federal law enforcement and national intelligence service, Todd K. Hulsey is someone who knows a thing or two about warriorship. In this episode I review his book, On Warriorship: A Guide for your Warrior Path. You can find Todd Hulsey aka The Colonel here.

The final episode in my short series on the tenets of a warrior mindset. What is honour and why is it important to a warrior?

What can Japanese martial traditions teach us about preparing the warrior for entering and surviving combat mentally intact? 

The Japanese term for etiquette is "reigi". It is found in most Japanese martial art dojo but are manners important to the warrior mindset? 

Continuing with my short series on aspects of a warrior mindset. What does it mean to be selfless?

Joe Saunders is a leading expert in workplace violence and verbal de-escalation, as well as a lifelong martial artist. He has hosted the Managing Violence Podcast for close to five years and joins me to talk about managing risk, situational awareness and the role of martial arts in today's world. You can learn more about Joe Saunders here: Youtube channel Instagram

What is the point of training in an archaic fighting system that comes from Japan? Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of such a practice. 

What is violence? Who is more likely to experience violence in their life time and what can we do about it? 

What values did Native American warrior cultures hold dear and what lessons can we learn for today's warrior mindset.  

Before Europeans colonised New Zealand, the people, known as Māori, thrived here with their own warrior culture. So what was this society like?

What happens to people who must often face death? What if these deaths are sometimes due to their own actions? Let's take a dive into dealing with death. 

What is courage? I return to one of the five tenets of a warrior's mindset. Can you train courage - let's find out. 

Corporal Apiata, VC, was the first ever recipient of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. The highest decoration for valour in the Commonwealth. His story is told in the book "Willie Apiata - VC - The Reluctant Hero.