Essays on the martial arts and related disciplinesnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 7 Jun 2026 10:37:58 +0800Blogger http://www.blogger.com418125http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/en-usnoEssays on the martial arts and related disciplinesnoreply@blogger.comhttp://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2023/12/harvest-breed-my-latest-novel-is-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Fri, 22 Dec 2023 20:33:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-778717374008628017My first novel since 2016 has finally been published today! And it features karate action!Harvest Breed is a psychological thriller that also explores the human condition through the lens of 2 characters who are both survivors of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe. It is part murder mystery, part espionage tale, part character study that has been 15 years in the making.The novel's blurb reads as0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2022/07/the-importance-of-basics.htmlbasicsDavid Carradinefundamentalsgong fugroundingmovementRalph Macchiostancesnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:22:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-7835243272448591553Over the years, I have often written about basics but I don't think I've ever talked about them more broadly - in particular about their importance.Recently I have been watching excerpts of David Carradine in the television series "Kung Fu" (my YouTube feed has assumed I'm a huge fan and this is inevitably reinforced every time I watch another video). One thing I notice is just how bad 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2018/05/robert-alwyn-davies-1945-2018.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 13 May 2018 07:37:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-1465244772668112920 Martial pioneer Bob Davies has passed away. Technically brilliant, encyclopaedically knowledgeable, uncompromisingly exact, frighteningly powerful, brutally efficient and unerringly resolute, he taught me that nothing is impossible. His biggest lesson: endure. A flawed man who provided endless inspiration, his lessons will live on in me, my brother and our students. He will 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/09/looking-away-from-your-opponent-in.htmlbrush kneehigh pat on horsekaratelooking at your opponentsaifaseparate legtaijiquannoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 24 Sep 2017 23:17:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-2978538525441054954 The double punch of naihanchi by Choki Motobu In traditional forms-based martial arts, whether they be Okinawan, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Indonesian etc., there is an unspoken rule - a cardinal assumption - that your head should face your "imaginary opponent" at all times. And when you think about it, this seems to make sense. Almost every analysis (in karate called "bunkai") of traditional1http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/08/3-reasons-why-learning-to-horribly.htmlattackcivilian defencejustice fantasyresistanceself defenceStephan Kestingsucker punchTFTTim Larkinnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Mon, 7 Aug 2017 04:35:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-4550661790657963620Introduction Photoshopped image. Original is by Wikimedia Commons user Stillwaterising A particular approach in reality-based self defence (RBSD) is becoming increasingly popular: that of learning how to inflict maximum damage to dangerous attackers. On paper this approach looks like it could have merit - and correspondingly any criticism (of the kind I'm about to make) might seem to be0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/05/combat-tai-chi-seriously.htmlcombat tai chitai chitaijiquanWei LeiXu Xiadongnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 14 May 2017 01:33:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-5423010778264410143 Back in about 2009 I was talking to a friend of mine who does krav maga, telling him I was off to Taiwan to train in combat taijiquan (tai chi). He laughed. "Combat tai chi? Isn't that an oxymoron?" I can see why he thought that. Because when you look at the soft, slow art of taijiquan, adding the descriptor "combat" does seem to be a contradiction in terms. In fact, the idea of it being used2http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/04/receiving-intent-art-of-flipping-script.htmlflipping the scriptintentKen Gullettementalismreceivingukewu-weinoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Mon, 17 Apr 2017 14:15:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-6922641074118599649Here is an excerpt of part of my interview (from around the 59:33 min mark) with Ken Gullette on his podcast. This excerpt deals specifically with the use of "uke" - ie. "receiving", not only in the sense of receiving techniques, but also in the sense of a wider meaning of "receiving intent" in order to diffuse conflict. Enjoy! *   *   * On receiving generally - "I win if I 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/04/live-blade-practice.htmldan daolive blade practicemiao daoswordnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Wed, 12 Apr 2017 15:14:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-5889415646493765787 I had the following query from a fellow named John: How often do you practice forms with a sharpened blade vs training weapon, do you see extra benefit from using the live blade? My answer was as follows: I actually practise almost entirely with a live blade - at least on forms with which I am sufficiently familiar (I tend to start with a blunt weapon first - until I feel I know it well 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/04/my-podcast-interview-with-ken-gullette.htmlflipping the scriptinterviewKen Gullettepodcastwu-weinoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Fri, 7 Apr 2017 14:00:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-6388081654008242417 I was very honoured to be a guest on veteran US radio and television journalist Ken Gullette's Chicago-based podcast show a few weeks back. The interview ranged over a wide variety of topics and ran for 90 min. I didn't expect Ken to include all of it in the podcast, but he did! And I'm even more amazed that people are still downloading it and giving me positive feedback a week later! Most 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/01/hiki-te-what-is-it-really-about.htmlbalancedcounter balancehiki teNoah Legelpullpull backpullbackrunningnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 15 Jan 2017 15:25:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-3347882617452088224 Pull backs in basic punches are ubiquitous in Asian traditional martial arts. You'll find the same concept - usually chambered at the hip - in arts are diverse as karate, taekwondo, silat, hung gar gong fu and taijiquan... the list goes on. I've previously dealt with the subject of "chambers" quite exhaustively, as I have the traditional "corkscrew" punch, and I encourage readers to check out 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/01/winner-best-martial-arts-blog-2017.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sat, 7 Jan 2017 12:26:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-5671943731194550848I'm very proud to announce that The Way of Least Resistance has received a "Best Martial Blog"award from the security site CreditDonkey! 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2017/01/rousey-v-nunes-tutorial-on-how-not-to.htmlAmanda Nunescivilian defencecivilian defence grapplingdefencegrapplingRonda Rouseynoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 1 Jan 2017 13:49:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-286220704789114802It's more than a year since I wrote my analysis of Ronda Rousey's loss to Holly Holm.  My conclusion back then was as follows: "If there's a lesson in there for Rousey it is this: in a stand up fight, simple aggression is often enough to win against an unskilled opponent.  And if you're a good grappler, it will certainly give you some good chances to close the gap and use your real 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/07/train-as-if-someone-is-recording-you.htmlconcentrationdeterminationfocustraining methodswork ethiczanshinnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 3 Jul 2016 22:19:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-7111900746100568255 One of my role models in hard training - Graham Ravey Sensei 8th Dan Goju Ryu When I first started karate my instructor told a story in class about a student he observed training on his own.  He'd arrived at the dojo during a time when no class was scheduled, gone onto the floor and undergone a 1 1/2 hour training session so disciplined, so focused that my instructor had watched the 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/06/the-debt-we-owe-to-our-masters.htmldutygiriknowledgeteachersnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Fri, 24 Jun 2016 17:45:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-1717184328599323121In most karate schools it is common for students to bow not only to the teacher and each other - but also to the shomen (front) where pictures of the dojo's founders are displayed.  Karate students will be familiar with the expression "shomen ni rei" (or "shinzen ni rei") - ie. "bow to front/tradition".  We used to do this but discontinued the practise in the mid '90s - partly because 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/05/mastery-and-question-of-time.htmladvancedkaratemasteryrepetitiontaijiquantimenoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Tue, 31 May 2016 17:25:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-7120626413951900461There is an old rule of thumb in martial arts: 1,000 repetitions to get the basic idea of a movement, 10,000 repetitions to get it more or less right, 100,000 to get it near perfect. And that's just a movement.  We've not yet talked about application.  Application takes much, much more practice. Let's put it in the perspective of some other art - say, music. You might want to be a 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/04/join-me-for-world-tai-chi-day.htmlWorld Tai Chi Daynoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:28:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-1522198105819515591 If you're in Perth on 30 April 2016, feel free to join me in celebrating World Tai Chi Day.  The details are below! 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/03/book-review-fighter-within-by-chris.htmlbookChris OlechreviewThe Fighter Withinnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 6 Mar 2016 15:05:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-4640590041452738281I must confess that I approach book reviews with some trepidation nowadays.  I get asked to it very often and I really hate giving bad reviews - it's not my thing.  If you scroll through Youtube you won't find me dropping negative comments on people's honest performances of forms, kata or sparring etc.  I just don't see the point in being mean.  Nor do I think it is "0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/02/a-season-for-awards.htmlawardQialanceTop 15 Tai Chi Blogsnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Mon, 8 Feb 2016 22:08:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-6692980141202029263I have just received word that this blog has received another award - making it to the Top 15 Tai Chi Blogs on Qialance! Thank you Angelika for this honour! Copyright © 2016 Dejan Djurdjevic0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/01/essential-jo-dvd-finally-published.htmlDVDessential jonoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sat, 16 Jan 2016 16:29:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-9148218524996656308A year after the publication of my bestselling martial arts textbook Essential Jo (and more than 5 years after the book was written and photographed), I am proud to announce the publication of the long-awaited companion DVD of the same name. Essential Jo, the DVD, covers the same ground as the book, along with some very useful bonus material, notably a detailed0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2016/01/voted-into-top-30-favorite-martial-arts.htmlawardnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:53:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-3710944696931994757Well this was an unexpected and very highly appreciated new year gift: The Way of Least Resistance was recently selected by BookMartialArts.com as one of its Top 30 Favorite Martial Arts Blogs! To be up there with Ikigai Way, KARATEByJesse and so many others that I have followed and appreciated over the years is truly an honour and a privilege. Thank you, most sincerely, BookMartialArts.com!0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2015/12/a-wonderful-new-review-for-essential-jo.htmlbookessential joreviewnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Thu, 31 Dec 2015 21:27:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-8347856187509000034I've received an absolutely wonderful New Year's Eve gift from Dr Arnold Rosenstock in the form of a 5 star review of Essential Jo. Thank you Arnold! Edit: and a great 5 star review from Josh Fiebig - thanks Josh! Copyright © 2015 Dejan Djurdjevic 0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2015/12/essential-jo-official-amazon-bestseller.htmlamazonbestsellerDVDessential jonoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Wed, 30 Dec 2015 08:59:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-1338098461878818169 After making an entry several times this year into the "hot new release" list (but languishing in the top 200 generally), last night "Essential Jo" finally cracked Amazon's Martial Arts Bestseller list overall, reaching at least 46. [Edit: as of 31/12/2015 it is at 33!] Given that the sales have steadily been increasing from month to month - and the fact that I'm about to release the companion0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2015/12/physical-prerequisites-for-grades.htmlblack beltconditioningendurancefitnessgodangradingshodanstrengthtestnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Mon, 21 Dec 2015 12:18:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-5758624595604006142Our Wu-Wei Dao syllabus at the Academy of Traditional Fighting Arts contains physical prerequisites for grading. The first reaction I tend to get from more mature students is one of horror.  I guess that is understandable: the older I get, the less I like the idea of having keep up with 20-somethings.  I guess I feel a bit like some ancient police sergeant having to do an obstacle0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2015/12/kata-based-defences-against-combinations.htmlblocksbunkaicombinationsconsecutive attacksdefenceskaratelunge punchesmultiple attacksnoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 20 Dec 2015 21:27:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-3703420175870936964 Over the last 2 decades I've noticed an explosion of interest in karate in "bunkai" - applications of karate's kata (forms).  There was a time (in the not too distant past) where karate had stagnated badly.  Kata were practised almost in a vacuum: forms as a series of movements and no analysis on one hand - sparring or two person drills with no nexus to the kata on the other.  0http://www.wayofleastresistance.net/2015/12/blocking-jab.htmlblockcivilian defencecombat sportsdeflectioninterceptionjabmelee rangenoreply@blogger.com (Dan Djurdjevic)Sun, 20 Dec 2015 13:21:00 +0800tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5135073576999431197.post-5360797212272275698"You can't block a jab - and that shows blocks don't work" I recently made a video on this topic and I'm surprised by the reactions - especially the private ones: my inbox this morning is full, mostly of some very strongly worded negativity towards what I thought was a fairly honest, unremarkable analysis of the possibilities and limitations of blocking jabs.  I guess people can't seem to 0