The Fighting Man of Japan

I edited and uploaded onto Scribd.com a very interesting book which had been  poorly scanned by Google. Written by F.J. Norman, a British officer who had spent years in Japan at the end of the 19th century, this book entitled " THE FIGHTING MAN OF JAPAN - The training and exercises of the Samurai" describes the Military Training and Education in post Meiji Restoration Japan.

Chapters III and IV are particularly interesting as they respectively treat of Kenjutsu and Ju Jutsu. The author had the rare honor and privilege of probably being the first Westerner admitted to train at high level in these 2 noble arts; and in the process he also became friend with the last Tokugawa Shogun 's Maitre d'Armes...

Full contact Kendo...

You can read or dowload this book at http://www.scribd.com/doc/99921047/Fighting-Man-of-Japan.

TAI CHI increases Brain Size, Improves memory and mental skills

An article published in June 2012 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reports the results of an 8-month randomized controlled trial comparing 120 Chinese seniors who practiced Tai Chi three times a week to a group who did not. The research was carried out by scientists from the University of South Florida (Florida, USA) and Fudan University (China). 

The researchers observed that the subjects who practiced Tai Chi experienced increases in brain volume and improvements on tests of memory and thinking, as compared to a control group that participated in lively discussions three times per week over the same time period.

The control group also displayed brain shrinkage over the study period, consistent with what generally has been observed for persons in their 60s and 70s. 

The study authors report that these findings “show increases in brain volume and improvements in cognition with a largely non-aerobic exercise (Tai Chi).”

View original source 

 

Tai Chi classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday morning at Westgate Park and on Thursday Evening at the Yoshukai Karate Studio in Dothan, AL

for more information contact frederic.lecut@gmail.com