In Japanese, Jissen means actual combat, and is the title chosen for a new magazine published by pragmatic traditionalist Iain Abernethy sensei.

The magazine is a free online magazine that discusses topics that appeal to traditional martial artists who are studying (or want to study) the applied aspects of their arts.

It is hoped that Jissen will become the central publication for a strong community of pragmatic traditionalists and will be instrumental in a return to the core values and practices of the traditional arts.

Topics discussed in Jissen include

• Practical Martial Arts

• No Nonsense Training

• Self-Protection

• Kata Application / Bunkai

• Physical Conditioning

• In-Depth Information

I am pleased to advised that Jissen magazine is available for download through the Essential Karate Blog.  To be informed when new updates are available, please either subscribe to the blog’s web feed with a blog reader (I suggest Google Reader), or sign up for the Essential Karate Newsletter.

Jissen Magazine Issues for Download

Jissen Issue No. 2

Contents: Karate Grappling: Does it Exist? – Knives: Face Facts of Run Away – The 360 Degree Drill & Traditional Karate – The use of the Forearms in Combat – The Hierarchy of Training – The Street – The Way of Kata: Part 2 – Self-Defence & Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics – How to Spar for the Street: Part 2 – Are Turns Really Turns? – In Defence of Spear-Hand Strikes – Victory Over Myself

Contributors: John Titchen, Iain Abernethy, Jamie Clubb, Lawrence Kane, Kris Wilder, Chris Denwood, Dan Redmond, Lowell Hein, Matthew Sylvester, Brian P. Struchtemeyer, Eric Parsons & Michael Rosenbaum

How to download: Right click on the cover image and then select “save target as” (some times “save page as”). Then choose where you wish to save the file (normally the “desk top”) and download it.

Jissen Issue No. 1

Contents: Tradition and Karate – There is nothing “peaceful” about the Pinans – Kiai: the fading cry of the martial artist – The way of kata – On-Ko-Chi-Shin – Taekwondo Patterns & Self-Defence – Personal Security – The bunkai of basics – How to spar for the street

Contributors: John Titchen, Iain Abernethy, Jamie Clubb, Lawrence Kane, Kris Wilder, Chris Denwood, Stuart Anslow, Peter Consterdine, Mathew Miller

How to download: Right click on the cover image and then select “save target as” (some times “save page as”). Then choose where you wish to save the file (normally the “desk top”) and download it.