My Perspective

My Perspective shares the personal perspective of different martial  artists and others on martial thought, philosophy and more on USAdojo.com.

Haiku for Miyamoto Musashi

Haiku for Miyamoto Musashi

Dedicated to the Book of Five Rings one hundred haiku Musashi your voice is mine I am your wisdom In this brief volume I have created a series of...
Chi

A Practical Definition Of Chi

As a viable part of the martial artist's arsenal, chi, and specifically noncontact chi, is dubious, at best--at least as long as its proponents...
Donald Miskel

Bruce Tegner Demystified The Martial Arts

The martial arts are my passion. When I was a youth I proclaimed that, “karate is my life”. I’ve since grown past that kind...
Donald Miskel

Martial Art Snobbery

Our nation was built out of protest of class and cast systems. One class being better than another and such similar ideas. We are...
Donald Miskel

Twenty-First Century Martial Arts

I’m a firm believer of growth and evolution. I’m not talking about the Darwinian concept of evolution but the evolution of growth and change...
Tang Soo Do Seoul Forum 2012

1st Tang Soo Do Seoul Forum: Technology and Transparency in the Martial Arts

I was asked to speak at the World Moo Duk Kwan General Federation’s 1st Tang Soo Do Seoul Forum in Korea. I was invited...
Donald Miskel

The Deadliest Man Alive (Getting Over Ourselves)

Personally I think I’m on the deadliest man alive list. My natural ability, my conditioning, my physical prowess and my superior training puts me...
Donald Miskel

Renshi, Shihan, Hanshi (Oh My)

There are teachers, sensei and masters out there in every shape size and variety. They teach some of anything and everything an aspiring martial...
Bible and a Black Belt

Christianity and Martial Arts

There are pastors who study martial arts, but not many who have studied for decades. So, I am among a rare few. (I am...
Donald Miskel

Father’s Day Thoughts: What He Taught Me Paid Off

I want to share with you my Father's Day thoughts. My father, Donald Miskel, is crazy, but what he taught me paid off. Crazy...

The Effectiveness of Taiji in Combat

In my previous articles, Earning a Black Belt and The Sparring Dilemma, I discussed how mastery of the martial arts involves learning how to...
Balance

Martial Arts Training is a Practice in Balance

Training became a practice in balance, as I learned not just the techniques of martial arts but also how to live. Martial arts training tests...
The Cruise of Life

The Sovereignty of God

I found this illustration from Dr. A. W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy to be a very appropriate view of the sovereignty of God. "An ocean...
Pekiti Tirsia Group Photo Camp 2006

Us vs Them Mentality in Martial Arts

When I started training in the Pekiti-Tirsia system in 1975, I was 14 years old. It very quickly became a major part of my...
Donald Miskel

Spirit Boxing

The line between a journeyman or practitioner and a master practitioner is a fine one. As one advances into the dan ranks he'll begin...
Do All For the Glory of God

Christians and the Martial Arts

Some have been called war mongers, mystics, heroes and some, just plain old bad dudes. Martial artists have gone by many names throughout the...