Walking With The Tengu

Wherein we tackle some seemingly nonsensical phrases like to be moving but not moving and words like suigetsu (water reflecting the moon) and how underneath both apply to the most serious of modern combatives. Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu  

What do we mean when we say "traditional" or "modern" martial art? Is there a better way we could approach this topic? We explore this idea and look at a possible alternative framework based more on the traits of a style rather than approaching each with our narrow preconceived notions. For more information check out our reading list.  Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu  The...

Finishing out chapter 2 the tengu gives us some thoughts on teaching the martial arts to children. Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

We continue chapter 2 with some serious talk about lanterns.  Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu  

In today's episode we revisit the work of Zhuangzi with a look at a particularly skill butcher and how this works in understanding what is meant when someone talks about a "Way" or "the Way." Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

We get started on chapter 2 picking up right where we left off. Getting into some pretty heady stuff about how to bring everything we talked about in chapter 1 together.  Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

Today we take a brief interlude from the Tengu's Sermon proper and take a light hearted look at one of his other short parables about some very philosophical creatures and all the big words they like to use. Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

A quick update with some listener feedback I wanted to share. Happy New Year! Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

In this episode we close out chapter one as things start to get serious when a more senior tengu weighs in on the discussion so far and relates a message that strikes directly at the heart of all martial arts, both traditional and modern, today. Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

In this episode we finally come to one of the main points that the last two episodes were building up to and tackle the sometimes annoying word "mushin" (無心). Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

In this episode we tackle the next part of the first chapter of the Tengugeijutsuron wherein Issai spends some time addressing facing a bigger, stronger, untrained opponent. Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu  

We dig into the first part of chapter 1 of "The Tengu's Discourse on the Martial Arts" in today's episode. Wherein the tengu talk a bit about technique versus principle and I spend some time justifying Chozanshi's use of the word "chi." Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu  

In our first supplemental episode, we briefly introduce Issai Chozanshi, the author of the work we'll be looking at for the next few months. Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu

In this episode we begin work on the text known as the "Tengu's Discourse on the Martial Arts." In the preface, written by a contemporary of the author it becomes obvious that things haven't changed all that much in the world of martial arts.  Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu  

In this episode we consider a story about some hawks being jerks to an owl and the owl's totally cool response.  Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu   References: Setsuninto--Katsujinken

In this episode we look at a story that is over 2000 years old and how it's lessons on fear and stress are just as critical today to the modern martial artist as it was so long ago. 

In this episode we tackle a story from the Inaka Soshi about change and acceptance of one's state. 

In this episode we take a look at a section of the classic Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi about speed. 

In this episode we take a brief look at what a tengu is and why I chose it as representative of this podcast. Support us at:   https://www.patreon.com/walkingtengu  

In this episode we talking briefly about what the plan is for this podcast. I relate a short example from Aesop's Fables and quickly address the challenges with some of the words found in classic martial arts texts. Support us at: https://patreon.com/walkingtengu