Over the years, I have been interested in Martial Arts from a very early age.
My first interest was when I was 10 years old in Judo. I had no formal training and, in looking back, my "study" at that time appalls me. My "study" consisted of getting a book from the library (Judo Katas by Charles Yerkow) and practicing some of the interesting looking throws with friends.
Later, during High School, I got my first formal training in martial arts--Chinese Kenpo. I studied this for about a year, ending when the money ran out.
After high school, I entered the Air Force and, while there, sampled various martial arts. I spent about 6 months studying Isshin-ryu karate and a short time studying Taekwondo. I dropped the Taekwondo quickly because it became obvious that several of the senior students were more interested in "looking pretty" than in doing anything effective. The isshin-ryu school was going well, but I had to stop when I got reassigned.
Later, during my last duty assignment, I found a training group in Togakure-ryu ninjutsu. Since then, it has become more popular to call the art by the name "Bujinkan" or "Bujinkan Tai-jutsu" to reflect the mix of nine ryu rather then the single.Togakure-ryu. When I left the Air Force I again returned to a state of no money and no school near where I lived. And so it was for many years.
Recently, I regained an interest in the martial arts, coupled with a realization that in the intervening years I had gotten 50 lbs overweight and badly out of shape. This time, however, I wanted something different from the martial arts than what I had sought in the past. And this time, I chose judo.
So, over the years, there are two arts that I am most comfortable with: Bujinkan, which I studied for the longest, and Judo, which I am studying now.
Return to my home page
Sign My guestbook