As we have just added a few karate classes to our schedule at Eizan Ryu Dojo, I have been thinking about how I have benefitted from training in a full contact Kyokushin-based karate style along with my first martial art, Eizan Ryu Jujitsu. My first instructor, Shihan Felix Berrios, was a very open minded teacher. He not only allowed his students to visit other dojos, go to seminars taught by instructors of other styles, and even train seriously in other martial arts, he activ

A healthy relationship with fear is a very good thing. One does not want to be unreasonably fearful, worrying excessively about things...

Many people who start training in the martial arts discover that the training brings with it many benefits. Physically, training can...

The Significance Behind Eizan Ryu I always knew that the name of our style, Eizan Ryu Jujitsu, referred to a mountain in Japan. However,...

Self defense is one reason people start training in the martial arts, but training should bring many other benefits as well. A good dojo...

People start training in the martial arts for many reasons – to improve their fitness, to get stronger, to take on a new challenge, to...

Eizan Ryu Jujitsu was founded in the Bronx in the 1960s, and the founder of the system was an American (though he had trained in martial...

There are so many reasons people start martial arts training. Acquiring self defense skills. Getting stronger and more fit. Gaining...

Every promotion test in Eizan Ryu Jujitsu begins with the student demonstrating their ability to fall safely. This is known as ukemi....

When people first start training in the martial arts –  and when they are simply considering starting to train – they often are worried...

Many years ago, a student named Martin asked me how I would defend myself from someone who tried to rob me at knife point. I got a...

Whether you are just getting into martial arts training for the first time or trying to return to training after a long lay off, getting...

One often hears about the advantages of cross training in the martial arts, but what exactly is cross-training, and how should it best be...

I sometimes have my students get up and work at the end of class, just taking turns doing whatever technique they want from whatever...

In a previous post, we discussed the various kinds of martial arts schools and the elements to consider when deciding where to train....

When I first started training in Eizan Ryu Jujitsu forty two years ago, I was not a particularly promising student. I understood what I...

The person in the photo – the bald guy – is visiting a martial arts dojo for the very first time. He looks kind of astonished, doesn't he?...

There are many different kinds of martial arts schools, and choosing the one that is best for you – even once you know what style you...

When I started training in Eizan Ryu Jujitsu, I had no talent for it. I was extremely flexible and had decent coordination, the result of...

In my last post, I discussed the difficulty of working on speed, power and precision at the same time, and how it is often necessary to...