this though. i’ve seen people saying that naruto and sasuke’s relationship basically consisted of “one being better than the other” and yet sasuke himself says he and naruto got stronger together.

and yes, there was a part of them that wanted to win and “be better”. but when they said they wanted to fight the other, it’s much more about acknowledging the other’s strength as an equal. that’s also why when there it has to be a winner both at vote1 and vote2, naruto says that wasn’t the fight he wanted.

this panel also changes what some people thought of sasuke. it wasn’t only his jealousy and inferiority complex towards naruto after naruto improved his skills. he really felt like naruto was progressing without him, leaving him behind, alone.

"Is the human dancing?"

"Doesn't look like a dance to me. Maybe a ritual?"

"Why don't we just ask"

"And potentially disturbe a ritual? You know wjat happened to Zaati when he decided to not be culturally sensitive"

"Yeah yeah, he got a spear thrown an inch of his face by a very angry Attra matriarch..... and now they are married."

" I'm just saying Dessa, If you wanna talk to him, stay close to cover"

Vakk was an asahole, But Dessa knew he had a point. So she aproached the sparing mat slowly while watching thw human performe his routine.

"Uum, excuse me" They said

" Huh?" The human said with a slightly startled reaction" OH! m i hogging the mat? Sorry. I'll be done in a minute or 2 if that's ok"

"No, that's allright. I just wanted to ask you as to what this ritual is" now relaxed Dessa said.

"Ritu- OH! yes this does look pretty ritualistic I guess. Mind I finish though?

" Oh no, not at all!"

The human just smiled and nodded, proceeding with his ritual. While Dessa kept watching.

And shortly after the human knelt slowly, put his forehead to the mat, slowly rose while obviously avoiding touching the amt with his hands, took a step backwards and boues the final time.

"Wooh!" He said, jumping in place. Conpletely shattering the calm demeenor he exuded not 10 second ago.

"Now, Propper introductions! I'm Teddy, I'm a translator and linguist with UN diplomatic core" the human said stretching his arm. A gesture of good will found in many species

"Dessa, amature xenoculturologist and medical officer on board this station" Dessa replied

"That explains your interest in my, ritul" Teddy added with a smile

"Well, yes. I find different beliefs and rituals other species performe intriguing. If you would be willing to explain I'd be greatfull." Dessa said trxing to be as cordial as her curiosity would allowe

"Please, talk more casually. I hear enough diplomatic talk a work as it is. And I'd be glad to explain." Teddy said

" What you saw was called Nage-no-kata it's a stric performance form made of 15 techniques of Judo. And Judo is a martial art I train"

Dessa looked confused " Military skill? Is my translator malfunctioning?"

"Yeah the translation pack still isn't up to speed with coloquialism and cultural elements. That's another reasons I preffere casual conversations lets me know what I'll need to work on in the future"

"Ok so. What would the proper translation be?"

"Well.." Teddy paused "either fighting sport or self defence skill"

"... so the translator wasn't wrong..."

"Technically not"

"And you humans .... made military grade combat into a sport" Dessa stated withoit a hint of wmotion

"Well no, the sport was develloped before" Teddy retorted

"Well... I don't know if that makes me feel more or less uneasy"

"Look it sounds bad if you phrase it like that but Judo has among the lowest rate of serious injury qmong human sports and among the highest percentage of highly educated people in its ranks"

"That ... sounds like a salesman pitch"

"Did it help calm you down though?"

"I ... guess? I stil don't understand why a linguist would need combat training"

"I actually started practicing as a teenager so I wasn't even a linguist-"

" you teach combat to kids?! And I tought Attra were militaristic" Dessa interrupted

"What I was gon a say is that Judo is ot just fighting it's a philosophy." Teddy retorted, seemingly finding this ordeal amusing

"Another sales pitch?" Dessa asked.

"Yup."

" I stand guard .... that's a coloquialism for I'm listening for my people"

"Noted" Teddy said before co ti uing his explenation

"As I said. JUDO is a philosophy. It's based of using the oponenta strenght against him. If pushed, you pull back, if pulled, you push. But it's also built upon respect. Towards the referees, towards your coach, towards your oponemt and even the mat you stand on during the match"

"That woukd be all thw bowing". Dessa persumed

"Correct!" Teddy said happily " you see, I used to be a troublemaket as a kid and gor cought shoplifting. The judge saw I was just a lost kid so he offered me a deal. I can get a record which would make getting a job much harder, or I can join his friends program that aimed to reform troublemakers" Teddy said with a melancolic look

"Ok so ... you were a criminal?" Desaa asked

"Basically, yeah"

"And what stopped you continuing doing crime is ...combat training"

"I guess."

"Oh we are talking about this more later over drinks!" Dessa said grinning from ear to ear

"Ok, but you're buying" Teddy added

Can I just say that Im looking forward to Yuuka fighting magic people with nothing but her fists? Like, yeah, Yuuken manages to keep up with nothing but a wooden sword but Yuuka? Homegirl here has nothong but her fist and is probably gonna be punching arrogant magic people in the face and honestly, I think that would be both cool and hilarious.

I actually don’t think Yuuka will be fighting anyone with her fists. At least, I know she probably won’t be punching anyone 😅

She may practice a martial art, but the particular one that she does is judo, which is a very defensive (NOT offensive) discipline that often involves throwing. The rules and philosophy associated with judo specifically dictate that you should not intentionally harm your opponent, you cannot kick or punch them, and you cannot touch their faces. It would tarnish her status as a practitioner of judo to break that code.

I’m also interested in seeing how Yuuka conducts herself and handles conflicts compared to Yuuken 🤔 though just from the first chapter, I don’t think of Yuuka as the type to throw the first hands with people that are rude (no matter how much the English-speaking fandom thinks of her as a cool tomboy girlboss) 💦 We’ll have to see when more of the Episode of Savanaclaw comes out.

Hey, I just finished reading Peregrine Phoenix vol.1 - I adored it enough to come poke the author about it. I'm a fervid martial arts guy, and I noticed that, despite the relatively sparse description of grappling in comparison to the abundant striking, both of Mokou's barehanded fights ended with suplexes. Interestingly, she fights taurs both times. I'd love to hear more about the process behind choreographing this, particularly the process of figuring out what might and mightn't work on a quadrupedal body plan. Were you inspired by judo, wrestling, something else?

thank you so much for this ask. it's maybe the perfect question so i hope i can do it justice.

it's been about 2-2.5 years since i wrote the fight scenes in book 1, so i don't have as precise an idea anymore of my peripheral inspirations. as far as personal experience with martial arts, i don't have a whole lot - i took karate in high school at a suburban McDojo and got to... brown belt? then a whole lot of nothing. but by the time i started writing book 1, my wife's interest and appreciation of Wing Chun got me into the off-and-on habit of doing daily Si Lim Tao with her.

because of this, i'm a bit of a chameleon when it comes to my influences. i rely on media depictions a lot. i see a cool martial arts movie (like the Ip Man movies for Wing Chun, or like The Raid for Silat, etc) and i'm like "well that's cool as fuck, and mokou loves to tussle and she's lived forever so i bet she knows that." i like to give her worldly influences and i also like to give her otherworldly/larger-than-life/future influences because she's been part of this unbroken continuity of being and her knowledge and practice should reflect that. so it's things like Wing Chun and Silat, but it's also things like Lunarian CQC from the Lunar Wars, Danneskjold Pit Style from her life across the Moghra'yi, or Heaven Sundering Fist from wherever the hell you learn fake anime martial marts in the time and space between Gensokyo and Qud.

the suplex finisher is for any number of reasons. number one, there's something incredibly decisive and definitive about a suplex. number two, it's flashy as hell and i love flashy things. number three, and perhaps most critically, it gets your foe off of their feet! and when you're facing a quadruped, that's very important, that's the root of their strength! they can get twice the leverage out of the ground as you can, so the sooner you can negate that advantage, the better!

writing this series has me thinking about the ergonomics and design philosophy of centaurs more than i usually do, which, if you look at my #taurposting tag, you can probably understand is something i already think about a great deal. whenever agate fobs off mokou's interest or training offers with "i have my own techniques" i'm always like god. but actually what do those look like. how do you get gains as a centaur in a world with no gyms. one of these chapters in one of these books i'll probably go into it.

mokou's moveset in ULiL/AoCF is also a big inspiration! she's got all these great stomps and kicks and flips and nasty fire-claw punches whenever she deigns to pull her hands out of her pockets. she's not a very "honorable" fighter, she cares way more about getting to cut loose. agate's lucky she didn't catch a handful of homemade explosives to the face!

my choreography process is usually like… well i do a lot of rotating these gals in my mind and seeing what would be the coolest thing for them to do, the most sensible thing for them to do, the most emotionally or thematically resonant thing for them to do, the best nod to that dope move in the martial arts flick i just watched, etc, and then whatever i settle on i try to depict as clearly as i can. then if there's room for textual flourishes i'll spruce it up some.

Judo wasn't really a direct influence over book 1's fight scenes - i think the first judo-centric martial arts film i've seen was Sanshiro Sugata (1943), and i saw that one for the first time in may of 2022, too late to influence book 1. hilarious movie for fight choreography btw, he just fucking shuffles up and GETS them and then they fly across the room and almost die and it keeps happening. beautiful.

that said, there's some tussles coming up in book 2 that give a nod to Judo! this is because i've been getting way into Sumo lately and Judo has a good playbook to help in Sumo bouts. also Judo is a great style for someone who is too depressed to regularly keep herself in peak condition, because a lot of it is about putting what force you have to best use, and using your enemy's force against them. Wing Chun is also good for folks who aren't in the best shape, so that's another of my justifications as to why she talks that one up.

and finally, caves of qud as a game is one that has sadly underdeveloped (though not nonexistent!) barehand combat support, so there's a bit less inspiration i can pull directly from the game. mokou's new in town anyway, so she hasn't had a chance to soak in the styles regardless. i'm gonna take this opportunity to plug the Qud-Fu - Mixed Martial Arts Skills mod which i keep meaning to install and play around with but so far haven't. but if i do it strikes me as one very likely to show up in the fic XD

thank you again and i hope this gave you better insight!

What would say surprised you the most when you first started learning Judo seriously? Were there any assumptions you had that were very interesting to learn otherwise about?

A few things surprised me like being on the receiving end of moves designed to move someone without much effort. You hear so much about how Judo's central philosophy is "Maximum effciency with minimal effort" but I was surprised just how easy it is for a trained person to make someone bend.

Part of it instinct and part of it is that some parts on the human body are just naturally prone to being manipulated a specific way.

The other thing that surprised me is how passionate debate can get on the rule set. For example, how leg grabs are taught in class but aren't allowed in competition is very fiercely debated among Judo players. I, myself, am on the pro leg-grab side. Bring those back.

15 questions tag game

I was tagged by the wonderful @diplomaticprincess, thank you so much! <3

Were you named after anyone? No.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't remember exactly, but probably earlier this year when everything was 12-hour days and no weekends and I was exhausted.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope. Never quite fit into my life.

WHAT SPORTS HAVE YOU PLAYED/DO YOU PLAY? Running, cycling, softball, yoga, judo, swimming. (Only doing yoga and running now though, some cycling when I feel like it.)

DO YOU USE SARCASM? I've been trying to quit.

FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? I don't know . . . I actually really don't know. Maybe whether they seem approachable or not? I love this question though. I'm going to be walking around for a few days now looking at strangers trying to figure out what I'm seeing first when I look at them. I'm sure that's not creepy at all.

WHAT IS YOUR EYE COLOR? Brown

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings! They can be scary if they must but I need a happy ending.

ANY TALENTS? Hopefully writing? If I'm no good at it, please don't tell me, it's literally all I have, haha. At the very least I have the ability to be asked a very simple question and ramble on for half an hour about things nobody ever asked about.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Germany

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? Writing, reading, sports, crafty things (I like sewing, I wish I had more time for it)

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? A dog and a cat

HOW TALL ARE YOU? 1.73m

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL? That always depended a bit on the teachers. I hated school with a passion, but if anyone could convince me that something was worth my time, I got interested. And I had some great teachers. So at different times during my time at school my favorite subjects were english, german, history, music, french. That's also how I ended up minoring in philosophy at uni because I took one class with a professor who was so enthusiastic about it all that he just made me want to know more. And it turned to be pretty cool.

DREAM JOB? Writer! Haha. Realistically though, I'd love to be an editor. Dream job fr. Maybe one day, who knows. I'm working towards it.

Okay, tagging people . . . if you've done this before or don't want to, feel free to ignore this, no pressure!! @baronessblixen, @figureofdismay, @calimanc, @edierone, @patrice-bergerons, @oohnotvery, @actual-changeling, @notnotafangirl @deathsbestgirl

The Judo Argument book review

Debates about whether God exists have raged for ages and probably always will. Such arguments typically play out in philosophy and theology. However, some reason from a scientific perspective - employing findings about the natural world to argue for divine origins. These "judo arguments” attempt to beat science at its own game, citing laws and evidence to make a faith-based case. While novel, they universally come up short when scrutinized scientifically.

A common argument notes that complex life could not have evolved randomly, as entropy dictates decay toward disorder. Thus, intentional intelligent design must be involved. However, Earth isn’t a closed system – the Sun provides ample energy for local organizing processes to emerge so long as net universal entropy increases. Another argues that amino acids forming the first proteins randomly would be astronomically unlikely. However, while a precise protein repeating by chance is unlikely, some self-replicating molecule arising eventually becomes probable - and selection could amplify it.

The Ontological Argument: Defining God Into Being One of the earliest scientific arguments for God's existence is the "ontological argument" put forward by St. Anselm in 1078. His reasoning goes that the very concept of a perfect being implies its existence since non-existence would be an imperfection. This argument attempts to define God into existence through logic, without the need for evidence. While inventive for its time, modern philosophers largely reject it as unsupported semantic trickery. As sci-fi author Asimov notes with humor in his essay titled “The Judo Argument,” conceiving even a “perfect gas” does not necessitate its physical existence in reality.

Thermodynamics and the Improbability of Order A more common judo argument invokes the second law of thermodynamics, which holds that entropy or disorder universally tends to increase in closed systems. The case goes that evolution's drive towards greater order and complexity over billions of years appears to violate this. Thus, intentional intelligent design must be involved to circumvent random decay. However, Asimov adeptly counters that Earth isn’t a closed system – the Sun provides ample incoming energy to facilitate local organizing processes so long as net entropy increases in the larger solar system. Just as a refrigerator can stay cold inside by releasing more heat to its surroundings, life can self-organize additional order so long as there is an external energy gradient to exploit.

Probability Calculations and the Origins of Life In his 1947 book "Human Destiny," French biophysicist Pierre Lecomte du Noüy calculates the absurdly low probability that the amino acid chains forming the first proteins could have been linked by pure chance random interactions within the lifetime of Earth. He presents this tiny probability as persuasive evidence for intentional divine design seeding life. Asimov admits the odds of randomly hitting on an exact known protein are infinitesimal. However, his rebuttal shows that while likely amino acid combinations are still insufficient to spark replication, some variability remains probable. Thus, once any self-copying molecule like RNA eventually forms by chance, mutation, and selection can take over to bridge the gap from chemistry to evolutionary biology. This incremental bootstrapping pathway is now supported by decades of origin of life experiments, rather than necessitating one impossibly unlikely jackpot molecule.

Order Emerging Spontaneously from Chaos While Asimov stops short of any definitive statements on God’s existence either way, his systematic take-downs of such arguments rooted in shaky logic demonstrate the awesome power of emergent order possible from chaotic physical and chemical laws alone. Contrary to Creationist doctrine, complexity does not imply an intelligent Creator. In Asimov’s model grounded by evidence, life proliferates not despite, but precisely because of, the organizational trends intrinsic to dynamic non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems with sufficient energy flows. Those seeking an honest assessment of how far science can go in engaging with faith will find “The Judo Argument” a thought-provoking and enlightening read. More broadly, it highlights the wonder, chance, and self-organization built into nature that allowed humankind to eventually emerge and ponder such eternal questions - no deities required.

The March of Science Towards Natural Explanations Over the centuries, phenomena once cited definitively as proof of divine influence - from lightning to human origins to disease treatment - have consistently yielded to natural scientific explanations rather than legitimizing supernatural ones. While gaps remain in our knowledge, the march towards material and empirical causes continues unabated. Those hoping science will reach its limits and endorse intentional explanations are invariably disappointed. Today mysteries like consciousness, dark matter, and the spark of life draw those seeking transcendence for what science has yet to explain. But theories are already emerging of these grounded in complex feedback loops, exotic particles, and energetic chemistry alone, without any need for external souls, creators, or vital energies.

Can Science and Religion Ever Be Reconciled? While judo arguments fail to leverage science to demonstrate the intent behind life’s emergence, the impasse between scientific and spiritual worldviews persists. They operate in separate spheres concerning very different kinds of questions - the mechanical how versus the numinous why. Asimov gives reason for optimism by engaging deeply with the science cited rather than dismissing it outright, respecting religious conviction even while disputing faulty logic. In that spirit of mutual respect for evidence and belief, the relationship between science and philosophy might finally leave behind centuries of tension. Just as interdisciplinary research unifies micro and macro fields, more grace-filled profound dialogues between leading thinkers pursuing different facets of truth may continue to relieve friction and enlighten humankind.

The Judo Argument: Wrestling with Science and Faith In his thought-provoking book "The Judo Argument," author Shoaib Rahman examines several longstanding attempts to use science to definitively prove the existence of God. He dubbed these "judo arguments" - when believers try to flip science's logic against itself to argue for supernatural explanations from a rational perspective.

Order Emerging from Chaos

Many such arguments hinge on the claim that complex structures like the human eye could not have evolved randomly or that the spark of life itself beating the odds is too improbable without guidance. However, as Rahman points out, the second law of thermodynamics only probabilistically favors increased entropy rather than strictly mandating it. With ample external energy sources like the Sun, locally reversing entropy through organizing processes that ultimately enable life is not unlikely over billions of years.

Probability Statistics Misapplied

In perhaps the book's most compelling chapter, Rahman unpacks the fallacies in prominent creationist probability calculations. While authorities cite the infinitesimal chances of proteins or DNA chains forming exactly as they exist today spontaneously, he notes this is the wrong comparison. The first self-replicating molecules would likely be far simpler, adapting later by evolutionary processes. Moreover, while any given outcome is very unlikely, some outcome proving viable is still probable - especially with chemical building blocks already extant.

When Statistics Fail Philosophy

Yet at its heart, Rahmansympathetically explains these arguments stem from cognitive gaps left unsatisfied by reductionist science. Statistical improbabilities argued as necessitating guidance disguise deeper existential grappling. But just as dividing accident from intent may provide comfort, 'God' often inserts higher questions rather than answers. Neither statistics nor semantics can capture the whole of reality. By revealing judo arguments' overreliance on these tools, Rahman shows how they fail philosophy before even reaching faulty science.

A Reasonable Path Forward

While cataloging gaps in past efforts, Rahman notably stops short of conclusively disproving God, remaining open to new evidence. He simply shows the folly of attempting proof, either way, advocating humility. Within those wise constraints, his dismantling of shaky logic sympathetic to the motivations provides a blueprint for more constructive dialogues between science and faith. For non-believers, it unpacks assumptions reflecting existential angst. For believers, it respects faith's convictions while avoiding easily falsifiable scientific extrapolations in tension with theology's teachings.

By showcasing judo arguments' inadequacies with both evidence and meaning, Rahman's "The Judo Argument" charts a reasonable path forward for reconciling the compatibility questions haunting science and religion’s conflicted past. Perhaps their interplay can yet offer mutual illumination of both immanent and transcendent mysteries. But crudely wielding each against the other proves nothing, clarifies little, misses the point entirely, and impoverishes all parties. This book provides helpful guideposts to move that stalled conversation into more enlightened territory.

Bestial Sorcery

The devil Beliar in front of the gates of hell, woodcut, Augsburg 1473

Lilith is also known as the 'screetch-owl.' When she was excommunicated, she was outcast to the desert with the hyeanas and serpents.

Sammael is the serpent in the Garden of Eden.

Leviathan is the Oceanic Dragon with Seven Heads.

Behemoth is a bipedal elephant.

In folklore the magical lodestone comes from the belly of the frog who is Satan in disguise. The black cat, the bat, and the wolf are all relegated to the vampire, who is also known as the Son of the Devil.

Beasts and monsters have been allies to the Devil and Witch since time immemorial. Echidna ('she-viper') is considered the mother of monsters in Greek Mythology, and is the wife of Typhon ('hurricane'), an avian-serpent like giant.

Hekate has many forms, mostly bestial. She is know as Leader of the Dogs (Skylakagetis), serpents (Opheôplokamos ‘Coiled with Snakes’, ‘With Snaky Curls’), but is also known for appearing as a bull-formed (Tauromorphos), cow-eyed (Boopîs), and 'she-wolf' (Mormolykeia).

In Japanese mythology there is the goblin demon king Sōjōbō, the red faced goblin with raven wings. Under Sōjōbō are the kerasu, the humanoid crow mountain warriors. There is the nodeppo, the flying squirrel vampire, the bakenekko, two tailed cat, the white demon cat who taught swordsman philosophy, magic, and of course, swordsmanship. The most famous is the nine tailed fox kitsune, a shapeshfting witch. Even more, there is the kappa, the hollow headed turtle demon found among small bodies of water.

Japan, as you can see, has a rich history of bestial demonic creatures. Some are merely mischevious (bakenekko), some are extremely brutal (nodeppo and kappa), while some are more grey (tengu).

Bestial Ritual

Ritual is a great way to acheive bestial mindset and structure. My prefered way is to make a little fire and pour some fresh herbs into it to make a blazing fire with unique smells in a private outdoor area. If privacy permits, strip down to nothing to really get into the shape of the beast. Mimic its sounds and movements to the best of your ability.

Since my current living situation makes it near impossible to really engage in bestial psychodrama as mentioned above I use my martial arts as a way to mimic animals. The style I was taught utilizes eight different animals, so taking that knowledge I can adapt those animal shapes into whatever animal I choose.

I also have certain workouts dedicated to certain animals concepts, or I manipulate basic calisthenic movements to make them fit into the animalistic form. Such as air squats with a jump I call Bullfrog Squats, there is already a pushup varation from Judo called a Scorpion Pushup, and a WeckMethod Squat I call the Phoenix.

Play and enjoy. Bestial magic is less about results in love or career and more about opening your consciousness to its instinctual nature. As a Satanist/Chaos Magician, it is best to learn to play in the magical arena then be bogged down by illumination so much. Illumination has its place, but especially for the younger people out there, magic is about suspenaion of disbelief to achieve a sense of freedom. Bestial Sorcery is an excellent method.

15 Questions 15 Mutuals

I was tagged by @valasania-the-pale, thanks so much for tagging me! :)

Rules: answer the questions and tag fifteen mutuals

1. Are you named after anyone?

Not my first name, but my middle name belongs to one of my mom's best friends, who I love :)

2. When was the last time you cried?

Hmm... I recently teared up while rereading The Silmarilion, does that count?

3. Do you have kids?

No, and it's not something I see for myself.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

Sometimes, but I prefer to just outright criticize things rather than being sarcastic.

5. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

I notice how they treat me and others around them.

6. What's your eye colour?

Blue.

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings! Although this frames it as a choice between two things that are not really opposites, so... I also happen to love tragedies.

8. Any special talents?

Depends on whether I'm actually talented, but I think I'm a good writer, and I also have some skill with drawing/painting, although I don't do it often enough these days.

9. Where were you born?

In the Pacific Northwest.

10. What are your hobbies?

Reading, writing, drawing/painting, photography, hiking, and martial arts.

I'm currently reading two books: one about the Coastwatchers in Solomon Islands during World War II, and the other about the Guadalcanal and Bougainville campaigns... also WWII.

I'm also currently working on some writing projects, namely the one giant writing project that has consumed the past three years of my life, although I've been taking a long-ish break for the holiday period (I've been too busy).

I'm also working on my first digital artwork, which has taken a few years at this point... partly because it keeps getting bigger and bigger! Ack!

There are a lot of things I'd like to learn how to do or do more of, like scuba diving, archery, and getting a pilot's license (but I need to save up money for that).

11. Any pets?

Two cats that I love very much. One of them is a tortoiseshell named Minou (there are pictures of her in the link). She is tiny! She is only 6 pounds. She doesn't really know how to meow, so when she wants food or attention she will gently and politely tap me with her paw (it is SO cute).

The other one is an orange cat with white socks named Percy, which is short for Persimmon. She is a troublemaker, and will steal ANYTHING from the kitchen. I once saw her running out of the room with a very long udon noodle trailing from her mouth. She is very cuddly and likes to spend all of her time on my lap, purring. Otherwise she's dashing madly around the house.

I also have a Juniper bonsai, which I think counts as a pet. I have had him for about three years.

12. What sports do you play/have played?

I played soccer as a child, and loved it. I played basketball for one season and it was not for me - neither was cross country. I started doing Muay Thai and boxing when I was 17 and I liked that a hell of a lot better. Then I started doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo in college. Nothing makes me happier than getting to do MMA multiple times per week, and I only wish that I could train regularly right now! I don't live close enough to the school I want to go to - but once I find a new apartment I'll be able to. I also enjoy weightlifting.

13. How tall are you?

5′4″... I would like to be taller, but this IS average height for a woman in the United States (where I live), which is what I remind people who tell me I'm short!

14. Favorite subject in school?

History, to be sure, which was my major. I also enjoyed Philosophy, Russian Literature and my language classes - over the years I took Latin, Japanese, German and Russian. Unfortunately my language skills are a bit rusty now, but I don't regret the time I spent studying them. :) I would like to learn some of the languages of the Pacific Islands - there are certainly a lot to choose from.

15. Dream job?

The one I have now, basically! Although I would like to live in the South Pacific one day. I work for a research institute and my field of study is the Pacific Islands. I love what I do, I get to travel, my coworkers respect me - I'm literally so happy! It's a big relief, because I was not happy at my previous job, and it's hard to find jobs in my field, at least where I live now.

Tagging friends: @softlypause, @wishiwould, @jtulipe, @lonelysocksclub, @orestes-hungry-and-pylades-sober, @frodo-baggins, @princeofnerds, @carinatae, @cosmologicalhedgehogephemera, @igotofetchthesun, @tuulikki, @belljarsandrabbitholes, @warrioreowynofrohan, @daegred-winsterhand, @katbatmagat, @softpyrate, @lie-where-i-land, @speckled-jim, @orangechickenpillow, @potatoobsessed999, @armenelols, @actuallyfingolfin, @backgroundelf, @stillcantgetoverthesilmarillion, @rhymes-with-sky, @kookyburrowing, @novemberblueskyink, @legolasbadass, @playingjax, @calliopechild, @randomphases Okay sorry I tagged a lot of people. No pressure to do it though! And anyone else can join in :)

character ask game raven pls 🥹🥹

i gotchu anon

one aspect about them i love

everything. jk. not really. as you all know i am VERY fond of raven getting to drive and i personally believe that every god tier hive book features a chaotic raven driving scene because they are always SUCH GOOD FUN. the parts of raven that make me really adore her are the parts that make her feel more human - her swearing at all the brazilian drivers in portuguese, admitting that her tech skills are basically limited to turning her computer on and off again, her complete lack of patience towards otto and shelby’s shenanigans in interception point. i always compare raven to yassen gregorovich from alex rider because “russian assassin with older male mentor figure and incredibly traumatic backstory who won’t hurt children” is a pretty niche trope but the thing that has always made raven my favourite out of the two is how human she feels. she’s funny and she likes cars and she hates fancy dresses and sometimes her temper gets the better of her. raven really feels like a well rounded person and i love her for it

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

once AGAIN i think the hive fandom gets miss raven pretty well, so this is kind of a nitpick. i think i wish more people understood that her relationships with otto and wing are fundamentally very different relationships in the sense that i think raven views otto, however begrudgingly, as her peer and friend, whereas she views wing as a student and mentee (and friend! but in a different way to otto). in a way i think otto is fundamentally better aligned with raven’s personality and philosophy because he’s open to the idea that sometimes violence Is the answer, and he isn’t a fan of moral absolutism - i actually think the real reason why wing got to her so much in rogue was because he was starting to remind her of dmitri’s “you are not a killer” line, because in rogue wing fundamentally does Not understand that killing otto might end up being the lesser of two evils. i don’t think the politician world killing tour could’ve been done by any other combination of people and i think that raven, while she does genuinely care and respect for all of the main six, shares an understanding with otto that she doesn’t have with wing IN THE SAME WAY that her mentoring wing in martial arts is something she doesn’t share with otto. tl;dr raven’s favourite student is less of a question of otto vs wing and more “they all understand each other for different reasons”

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

she is a Lesbian (which is canon TO ME). i also think she went by natasha as a little girl because it’s the diminutive of natalya and, post bloodline, she eventually starts going by natasha strictly in her personal life to more cleanly separate the line between herself/the raven persona. Because also i think her shoulders are fucked LOL and imo she ends up retiring a few years after bloodline to become a judo instructor or something.

one character i love seeing them interact with

we been fucking knew but OTTO. otto and raven interactions make me so insane. i love them i love their banter my favourite joke in the entire series is in escape velocity when raven threatens to knock otto out and carry him out of the building and he just looks at her and says “nine stone”. mark walden if you’re reading this please give me an otto raven reunification scene post bloodline it is what we all deserve

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

SHELBY. SHELBG SHELBY SHELBY. i joke and indeed i jape about raven hating shelby for no reason in interception point but genuinely they did deserve some kind of bonding moment and i think they might have connected over the idea of most of their bio family just being Awful. i’ve headcanoned before that raven sees a lot of young natalya in shelby and that’s why she’s so sharp with her because Shit Hurts but i would much rather be wrong and have them being silly together because they have very similar senses of humour and i think the two of them could tease wing to oblivion

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

raven has been telling otto to call her natalya for five years. He is Yet To Do So. her favourite hobby at enforced nero family bonding dinners is to pick a topic that nobody could possibly argue about and watch nero and nathaniel try and argue about it anyway. so fucking niche but i think she went on a blind date with nile from alex rider in cuba and they both hated it so much that they mutually agreed to never speak again. oh yeah and i also think post retirement she gets really into sports car collecting and her and shelby have mini rivalry about who has the nicest ferrari LOL

The Enduring Influence of Japanese Culture on the World

Japanese culture has captivated the world with its unique traditions, aesthetics, and way of life. From its rich history to its modern innovations, Japan's cultural impact has transcended borders and influenced various aspects of global society. In this article, we will explore the profound influence of Japanese culture on the world and how it has left an indelible mark in areas such as art, cuisine, technology, fashion, and popular culture. Artistic Heritage: Japanese art forms such as traditional painting, calligraphy, and woodblock prints have fascinated artists worldwide. The delicate brushwork, attention to detail, and appreciation for nature have inspired countless artists and art movements. From Impressionism to Anime, Japanese art continues to influence and shape the artistic landscape globally. Culinary Delights: Japanese cuisine, with its emphasis on fresh ingredients, precision, and aesthetic presentation, has garnered immense popularity worldwide. Sushi, ramen, tempura, and other Japanese dishes have become beloved staples in many countries, with Japanese culinary techniques and flavors influencing chefs and food enthusiasts around the globe. Technological Innovations: Japan's advancements in technology have had a profound impact on the world. From electronics and robotics to high-speed trains and video games, Japanese innovations have reshaped industries and transformed our daily lives. The meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail that are synonymous with Japanese products have set new standards globally. Fashion and Design: Japanese fashion has made a significant impact on the global fashion scene. Designers like Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo, and Issey Miyake have challenged conventional fashion norms with their avant-garde designs and minimalistic aesthetics. Japanese street fashion, characterized by its creativity and individuality, has also influenced global youth culture. Pop Culture Phenomena: Japan's pop culture, including anime, manga, J-pop music, and video games, has gained a massive following worldwide. Anime series like "Dragon Ball," "Naruto," and "One Piece" have captured the imagination of audiences globally, while video game franchises like Pokémon and Super Mario have become iconic symbols of Japanese pop culture. Zen Philosophy: The principles of Zen Buddhism, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, have permeated various aspects of life around the world. The emphasis on mindfulness, simplicity, and the pursuit of inner peace has influenced practices such as meditation, mindfulness techniques, and minimalist lifestyles adopted by many individuals seeking balance in a fast-paced world. Traditional Customs: Japanese customs and traditions have fascinated people globally. The tea ceremony, martial arts like karate and judo, and the beauty of cherry blossom viewing (hanami) have all become synonymous with Japan. These cultural practices have been embraced and celebrated in many countries, showcasing Japan's enduring influence. Literature and Film: Japanese literature, including works by renowned authors like Haruki Murakami and Yukio Mishima, has gained international acclaim and provided a glimpse into Japanese society and its unique perspectives. Japanese cinema, with iconic filmmakers like Akira Kurosawa and Hayao Miyazaki, has captivated audiences worldwide, contributing to the global appreciation of Japanese storytelling and visual aesthetics. Architectural Marvels: Japan's architectural achievements, from ancient temples and castles to modern skyscrapers and innovative urban planning, have inspired architects and designers globally. The blending of traditional Japanese architecture with modern elements has resulted in breathtaking structures that showcase Japan's cultural identity. The influence of Japanese culture on the world is undeniable. From its artistic heritage to its technological innovations, culinary delights to pop culture phenomena, Japan's impact can be felt across continents. As the world continues to appreciate and embrace the allure of Japanese traditions, aesthetics, and values, it is clear that the enduring influence of Japanese culture will continue to shape and enrich our global society. Read the full article

Hi Lei! I saw you mentioned in your bio that you're a martial artist. I've been wanting to get into martial arts for like, fitness purposes and to learn how to defend myself (I'm an eeny teeny 4'11 girl). There are so many kinds though, I don't know how to choose?? do you have recommendations? 🙏

oh babes, I was SO excited to answer this. I could literally talk about martial arts ALL DAY. I've been a student for...oof, I think it's 14 years now? maybe 15.

You have to think about what's important to you, and what you like. Do you want styles that are more grappling, more focused on taking your opponent to the ground? If so, then judo and Brazilian jiu jitsu is more up your alley. Do you want to focus on flexibility and speed? If so, then tae kwon do might be more what you're looking for. Do you want a street style, one where you learn to take a punch as much as you learn to throw one? If so, then maybe kyokushin is for you.

Every martial art--any martial art--is better than no martial art. There's weird attitudes between the disciplines--grappling is superior to stand up styles, and harsher ones are better than soft and more fluid ones--but it's a ridiculous argument. Every martial art will teach you to defend yourself, and to be more aware of your surroundings.

I do kyokushin karate, but before I tell you why I chose that, let's review some of the other common styles.

Judo and BJJ are great if you're tiny (like me!), because it teaches you how to use an opponent's brute force and weight against them. You don't have to be strong to throw someone into a wall. But these styles are more focused on ground work, and on taking the fight to the ground--these styles won't teach you how to punch, or how to take a punch, or necessarily teach you how to avoid one from somebody who's throwing haymakers in a bar. These styles are focused on the joints and on avoidance--how to lock up an opponent in a real painful way so that they CAN'T throw a punch. If you want a ground style, one that focuses not on strikes but more on locks and literally tying up your opponent with your own body, then go for one of these.

Tae kwon do on the other hand is a stand up style, and one that focuses primarily on the legs. Tae kwon do's philosophy is that the legs are the longest, strongest part of any human body--so they should be used as weapons. Tae kwon do martial artists are INCREDIBLY flexible and very quick, they use their legs to both strike and block. A huge emphasis is on flexibility so if that's your jam, then this style is for you. You will learn to strike and to block, and you'll get some sparring experience in a safe environment. Even in the dojo (the karate school/training hall), all protective gear is worn when sparring with fellow students. You'll be fully padded, and there's minimal risk for things like a black eye or an injury.

Chinese forms of martial arts deserve much consideration as well-things like kung fu/wushu, wing chun. These are more deeply rooted in tradition and you'll learn a fluidity of movements along with what we call kata, a series of movements a bit like a dance. I don't know how much fighting is involved in these because I'm not very well versed in them, but they are by FAR one of my favourite martial arts to watch. Their kata are nothing short of absolutely poetic and mesmerizing.

Now, I can speak more to kyokushin karate because that's my discipline--I've been practicing it for well over a decade and I earned my shodan, my black belt, 4 years ago.

Kyokushin is a brutal style, and I continuously refer to this passage in quite possibly my favourite book ever:

“Kyokushin fighters, you can see it the minute they step into a sparring ring. Kyokushin fighters—Kyokushinkai, they call themselves—do one thing: they fight. They don’t circle, they don’t work angles, they don’t dance around, and they don’t do a lot of fancy kicking. They go straight in, and they don’t stop. They block solely to clear a path for their own strikes.

Other styles of karate have pronounced strategic preferences—for example, the linearity of Shotokan karate, the circular tactics of Goju-ryu. But the only thing like a kyokushin sparring strategy that I’ve ever been able to discern is: hit the other guy first, and hit him so hard he can’t hit you back. It is ferocious and brutal and, frankly, not an especially artistic approach to the martial arts. “One punch,” Sensei used to tell us, “should be all you need.” That is Kyokushin. It’s a ruthless approach to karate and to life; it’s the way the bad guys fought in The Karate Kid."

We fight. I chose kyokushin because it was very important to me that I 1) would learn how to take a punch, and 2) would learn how to fight someone considerably bigger than me, because I'm 5'2. Kyokushin's basic operating principle is that you will likely never get attacked by someone smaller than you.

It was also really important to me that I learned what it was like to get hit--to get well and truly punched, because let me tell you, the firs time it happens--it's shocking. Your brain just shuts down. You might cry. You go into shock over the fact that someone is trying to hurt you. Your body has zero fight or flight response, and instead just stays there stunned.

In kyokushin, we don't wear protective gear when we fight. We believe in the importance of feeling the pain, and most importantly--of quickly getting over it. Of overcoming it. Of barely registering it anymore. I go into a fight and I get socked full force to the gut and I just have zero response, because any flight response has been trained out of me through 15 years of getting punched in the gut. Furthermore, we learn not to show pain--in tournaments if we take a hit, not only are we docked points for taking the hit but we're docked FURTHER points if our face registers any pain--a grimace, an oof, a contortion of features--more points lost.

Because you need to learn to take the punch and to not even feel it. Your only response should be indignation, anger that they got one in.

I chose kyokushin for its brutality, it's emphasis on the real world. We go through exercises where we're blindfolded and have to defend ourselves, we go through exercises where we can only fight with either one or two limbs. And it's to mimic a real life scenario where maybe we won't have all of our senses when we need to fight, or maybe we won't have all of our limbs in good enough shape to strike--so how do you defend yourself, at a disadvantage? This is why I chose it. I chose it because I liked that it emphasized that if you're being attacked, you're already at a disadvantage--so what the fuck do you do from there?

But it's not for everyone. I've gone to work with a black eye. I've broken almost every bone in my body. For an entire week after my yudansha shinsa--my black belt grading that lasted over 8 hours--I was pissing blood from so many hits to the kidneys. Kyokushin hurts. But moreimportantly--it teaches you that pain is no reason to panic, and it teaches you to get angry when someone tries to hurt you.

Do some research, watch some videos on YouTube. Find a style that speaks to you--and it's okay to try some, until you find one you like. It's okay to do several. I still practice in Kyokushin, but I snag a Krav Maga or a BJJ class whenever I can too.

Ryunosuke Tsukigata and Susumu Fujita in Sanshiro Sugata (Akira Kurosawa, 1943) Cast: Susumu Fujita, Denjiro Okochi, Yukiko Todoroki, Ryunosuke Tsukigata, Takashi Shimura, Ranko Hanai, Sugisaki Aoyama, Ichiro Sugai, Yoshio Kusugi, Kokuten Kodo. Screenplay: Akira Kurosawa, based on a novel by Tsuneo Tomita. Cinematography: Akira Mimura. Art direction: Masao Tozuka. Film editing: Toshio Goto, Akira Kurosawa. Music: Seiichi Suzuki. You know the plot: A talented, cocky young newcomer takes on the old pros and gets his ass kicked, but he learns self-discipline and becomes a winner. You've seen it played out with young doctors, lawyers, musicians -- it's even the plot of Wagner's Die Meistersinger -- and others challenging the established traditions. But mostly it's the plot for what seems to be about half of the sports movies ever made, including Akira Kurosawa's first feature, Sanshiro Sugata. It's also a film about the conflict between rival martial arts disciplines, jujitsu and judo, but fortunately you don't need to know much about the nature of the conflict to follow the film. From what I gather from reading the Wikipedia entry on judo, the founder of that discipline, Jigoro Kano, wanted to give jujitsu a philosophical underpinning that would put an emphasis on self-improvement for the betterment of society, and he called it judo because "do," like the Chinese "tao," means road or path. Kano's renaming was meant to shift the emphasis from physical skill to spiritual purpose. In Kurosawa's film, young Sanshiro (Susumu Fujita) comes to town wanting to find someone to teach him jujitsu, and signs up with a teacher who accepts a challenge from the judo master Shogoro Yano (Denjiro Okochi) -- the name is an obvious twist on "Jigoro Kano." Sanshiro watches as not only the teacher but all of the other members of his dojo are defeated -- in fact, tossed into the river -- by Yano. Whereupon Sanshiro becomes a follower of Yano's, but has to undergo some defeats and a cold night spent in a muddy pond before he gets the idea of what judo is all about. The film was not a big hit with the wartime Japanese censors, who wanted more aggression and less philosophy in their movies, so 17 minutes were cut from it, never to be seen again. In the currently available print, the missing material is summarized on title cards, but what's left is more than enough to show that Kurosawa arrived on the scene as a full-blown master director. His camera direction is superb, and he knows how to tell a story visually. For example, when Sanshiro joins up with Yano, he kicks off his geta, his wooden clogs, so he can pull Yano's rickshaw more efficiently. Kurosawa cuts to a passage-of-time montage in which we see one of the abandoned geta lying in the road, then in a mud puddle, covered with snow, then tossed aside as spring comes. The film's crucial scene is a showdown between Sanshiro and his jujitsu rival, Higaki (Ryunosuke Tsukigata),  in a field of tall grasses, swept by wind with rushing clouds overhead; it's a spectacular effect, even if the battle turns out to be a bit anticlimactic. However much the censors may have disliked it, audiences were enthusiastic enough that Kurosawa was persuaded to make a sequel.

Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two (Akira Kurosawa, 1945) 

Cast:  Susumu Fujita, Denjiro Okochi, Ryunosuke Tsukigata, Akitake Kono, Yukiko Todoroki, Soji Kiyokawa, Masayuki Mori, Kokuten Kodo, Osman Yusuf, Roy James. Screenplay: Akira Kurosawa, based on a novel by Tsuneo Tomita. Cinematography: Takeo Ito. Production design: Kazuo Kubo. Film editing: Akira Kurosawa. Music: Seiichi Suzuki. 

Patched together from what aging film stock could be gathered during the end-of-war shortages in Japan, and interrupted during its filming by bombing raids, Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two was a labor imposed on the writer-director by the studio, Toho, and Kurosawa's lack of enthusiasm for the project shows. The story is routine: Sanshiro has helped judo triumph over jujitsu as the primary Japanese martial art, but he has gone into retreat for several years, honing his spirituality. But one day he comes across an American sailor (Osman Yusuf) beating up a rickshaw driver -- a job he once took on himself -- and thrashes the bully. This brings him to the attention of a promoter who wants to stage a fight between the judo master and an American boxer named William Lister (Roy James). Eventually, after another fighter is beaten to a pulp by Lister, Sanshiro gives in and thrashes Lister, giving the prize money to the fighter who had been beaten. Meanwhile, his old opponent, Gennosuke Higaki (Ryunosuke Tsukigata), whom he defeated at the end of the first film, warns him that his brothers, Tesshin (also Tsukigata) and Genzaburo Higaki (Akitake Kono), are out to revenge themselves for Gennosuke's defeat. They are masters of karate, which originated on Okinawa and was just making its way into mainland Japan at the time when the film is set, the late 19th century. Gennosuke gives Sanshiro a scroll depicting the basics of karate to help him in the eventual fight with the brothers. Naturally, the film concludes with a fight between Sanshiro and Tesshin -- the other brother is recovering from an epileptic seizure -- that takes place in the snow, an echo of the fight in the original film with Gennosuke in a windswept field of tall grasses. This battle is the only part of the film that shows much commitment on the part of Kurosawa, who insisted that the principals fight barefoot in the snow, not without many complaints from the actors. Unfortunately, the poor film stock, unable to provide shades of gray, turns much of this fight into a battle of silhouetted figures. Much has been made of the propaganda in the film, particularly the portrayal of the hapless American sailor and boxer, but Kurosawa, no lover of the imperial regime, manages to shift the film's emphasis to the fearsomely wild Higaki brothers. 

Hector (Gill And Urien's Father)

Name: Hector Age: 30's (at time of death) Ethnicity: Greek Headcannon Voice Actor: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese Voice Actor); Liam O'Brien (English Voice Actor) DOB: March 18th Relatives: Atalanta (wife); Gill (older son); Urien (younger son); Kolin (future daughter in law); Gbohunmi (future daughter in law); Grace (future daughter in law) Occupation: Bio-genetic Scientist/Scholar Fighting Style: Pankration/Illuminati Techniques Birthplace: Athens, Greece Personality: Like his wife, he was a dedicated member of the Illuminati and the sciences. He also had an added interest in his Greek heritage which includes the practice of Pankraton and admiration of Greek sciences. His devotion was so great that he was willing to have a relationship with a woman to have children that could be president candidates. His dedication to the Illuminati was the belief that the organization can be a source of good for the world and has a desire to help it. He believed that the use of science could be used to push humans to greater levels than thought before. He did condone most of the extreme actions they did in the name of saving the world and leading them to a new life. Despite marrying Atalanta to produce great offpsring, he grew to really love her as a person and was extremely devoted to her. He even rejected Grace who romantically pursued him in favor of her. And while he had mixed feelings along the way being a bystander in his children's lives, he felt it was ultimatily going to pay off in the end. He was very religiously dedicated to the Book Of Mihra and influenced some of his work as well. Background: He was biogenetics expert who held a Phd in his field and was famous for his research. He was also a practitioner of Pankaration on the side due to his love of ancient Greek culture. He was then recruited by the Illuminati to become one of their members and he accepted. He was allowed to do as much research as he could do and beyond what was regularly available in his previous position. He also then met Atalanta a notable Olympic level judo master and who had a Phd in Sports dynamic. They became very interested in each other's capabilities and oftend worked together to the point they thought each other's capabilities could produce offspring with great potential. They decided to marry despite previously the Illuminati Elder, Grace, having interest in him and wanted to produce a union with Atalanta. They then after birthed Gill then Urien. They were then sent to be raised collectively by the Illuminati while they took a bystander role. However, when the boys were still young Hector was killed in a lab accident and died from his injuries. This cause great devastation to Atalanta who still mourns his death to this day. * His sons have studied his research. * He could speak Latin, Greek, and even Sanskrit. * He got the Nobel Prize for his research. * Although he was a formidable fighter, he believed his wife was the better one. * If he had actually gotten to raise his children personally, he would have been very close with Urien. * He was a big booker reader, especially of philosophy. Created through picrew.me/image_maker/633192/c…

“ Today's guest is Sigmund Werndorf - and we definitely gave him no preparation for what we'd talk about.  What did we talk about? 

  Different and interesting club setups, what happens when you shift focus from training to teaching, what is the hema community???

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A desire line is formed from many people over time choosing not to walk the paved paths, but instead go the way that seems most expedient to them.  they are typically formed when planners don't account for real human behavior.

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About us!

Sigmund Werndorf is an accomplished scholar, coach, and fighter. He has competed internationally and medaled at many of the top events of the country.

 He is the co-founder and head instructor at the Los Angeles Historical Martial Arts Society. His focus is early KdF Longsword, as well as the pedagogy and philosophy of learning in HEMA at large.

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James is the founder and principal instructor of the Goliath Historical Fencing Academy. He began fencing in 2009, after being inspired by the film Reclaiming The Blade. At Goliath, he instructs several weapons systems including longsword, rapier, dagger, unarmed combat, quarterstaff and halberd. He has taught at private seminars at major fencing events in Europe and Canada as well as across the US.

Jess Finley has had a sword in her hand for the past twenty years. Her initial interest was in stage combat, but not too long after beginning that pursuit began to ask "... but how did they really fight?" From that question, she branched out to German Medieval Martial Arts after being accepted as a student by Christian Tobler, who remains her mentor to this day.   She is the head instructor at Ritterkunst Turnhalle in Lawrence, Kansas. She has taught and competed internationally as well as private intensives at her home.  She also has a background studying Judo under the tutelage of Arden Cowherd of Topeka Judo Club.

She is a published author, having written a book entitled "Medieval Wrestling" on the fifteenth century Master Ott's wrestling treatise of German wrestling techniques..  She also researches medieval clothing construction and fabric armor, and has presented her findings at the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo and published an article in Medieval Clothing and Textiles (Boydell and Brewer) on her study of a 15th century quilted armor.

Jess's Patreon is http://www.patreon.com/jessfinley”

And of course some talk of the sources and principles of KDF and fighting in general

For anyone who hasn’t yet seen the following links:

Some advice on how to start studying the sources generally can be found in these older posts

Remember to check out  A Guide to Starting a Liberation Martial Arts Gym as it may help with your own club/gym/dojo/school culture and approach.

Check out their curriculum too.

Fear is the Mind Killer: How to Build a Training Culture that Fosters Strength and Resilience by Kaja Sadowski may be relevant as well.

Another useful book to check out is  The Theory and Practice of Historical European Martial Arts (while about HEMA, a lot of it is applicable to other historical martial arts clubs dealing with research and recreation of old fighting systems).

Worth checking out are this blogs tags on pedagogy and teaching for other related useful posts.

Consider getting some patches of this sort or these cool rashguards to show support for good causes or a t-shirt like to send a good message while at training.

And stay safe