WHERE ARE YOU?
Black Belt|Black Belt Spring 2023
In the late 1960s, Donn F. Draeger represented shinto muso ryu at a prestigious public demonstration in Tokyo. Many of Japan’s oldest martial arts — its classical koryu — were demonstrated. It was one of the first times a non-Japanese had been invited.
DAVE LOWRY
WHERE ARE YOU?

Draeger was demonstrating the art with Shimizu Takaji, his teacher. Draeger was using the jo, or stick, and Shimizu the wooden sword. During one kata, Shimizu’s strike caught Draeger’s weapon at just the right angle to take it out of his grip. It went spinning off merrily behind him.

Moments like those, of course, say everything about one’s training. If it’s inadequate or poorly done, the practitioner is apt to lose composure and become flustered. At best, he’ll instinctively turn his head to see where his weapon went and then go off to retrieve it.

Correctly trained martial artists will do exactly what Draeger did: He stopped, maintained equanimity, and remained vigilant and alert. Then, slowly, almost as if it had been planned, he nodded a bow and, without losing eye contact with his opponent, moved back far enough so he could see the dropped weapon and pick it up.

In the demonstration, the stick bounced on the tatami and went off in a weird direction. Somehow, though, Draeger — never taking his eyes off Shimizu — walked calmly and deliberately backward and, without looking down, knelt and retrieved it. Shimizu followed, keeping his distance.

Many in the audience were astounded. It looked as if Draeger had eyes in the back of his head. How could he have seen where the jo landed?

Given his reputation in Japan as a martial artist, some assumed Draeger’s powers of perception were such that he’d heard the sound of the weapon landing and was able to somehow “echolocate” it. It was a moment in the history of demonstrations that’s still talked about today.

This story is from the Black Belt Spring 2023 edition of Black Belt.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Black Belt Spring 2023 edition of Black Belt.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BLACK BELTView All
HOW TO CREATE A MARTIAL ART CASE STUDY: COMBAT HAPKIDO
Black Belt

HOW TO CREATE A MARTIAL ART CASE STUDY: COMBAT HAPKIDO

On October 22, 2022, the International Combat Hapkido Federation celebrated its 30th anniversary. As you might expect, we're proud of our organization's longevity, stability and success.

time-read
4 mins  |
Summer 2023
MARTIAL ARTS ANATOMY 101
Black Belt

MARTIAL ARTS ANATOMY 101

PHYSIOLOGY OF THE LIVER SHO

time-read
3 mins  |
Summer 2023
LOCK UP
Black Belt

LOCK UP

THE CLINCHING LESSONS TAUGHT IN THE ANCIENT GREEK MARTIAL ART OF PANKRATION ARE STILL RELEVANT - AND EFFECTIVE!

time-read
9 mins  |
Summer 2023
KILLER CHARACTER ACTOR
Black Belt

KILLER CHARACTER ACTOR

When Scott Adkins Isn't Headlining His Own Action Movies Like \"Boyka: Undisputed,\" He's Stealing Scenes in Blockbusters Like \"John Wick\" and \"Ip Man\"!

time-read
10 mins  |
Summer 2023
A DEEP DIVE WITH BENNY URQUIDEZ
Black Belt

A DEEP DIVE WITH BENNY URQUIDEZ

Few fighters have a reputation as formidable and a record as impressive as Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. As you will see, his path from the traditional martial arts to full contact and then to kickboxing had more than its share of bumps.

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer 2023
PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKES: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, PART 1
Black Belt

PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKES: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, PART 1

In my six previous columns, pre-emptive striking featured prominently.

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2023
THE DAY JUJITSU DIED
Black Belt

THE DAY JUJITSU DIED

Let us look at one historical instance that illuminates a lesson in task saturation, or what Miyamoto Musashi called \"sword flowers.\"

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2023
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? GUY MEZGER: FROM MMA FIGHTER TO HEALER
Black Belt

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? GUY MEZGER: FROM MMA FIGHTER TO HEALER

To be successful in mixed martial arts nowadays, you need an all-around game.

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2023
KILLER INSTINCT
Black Belt

KILLER INSTINCT

It's not the size of the woman in the fight but the size of the fight in the woman.

time-read
6 mins  |
Summer 2023
HAPKIDO'S BONG SOO HAN: THE MAKING OF A MARTIAL ARTS LEGEND
Black Belt

HAPKIDO'S BONG SOO HAN: THE MAKING OF A MARTIAL ARTS LEGEND

Much has been written about Bong Soo Han (1933-2007), his career as a hapkido master and his connection to the Billy Jack films.

time-read
5 mins  |
Summer 2023