More offbeat news from the world of martial arts…
“Manga Bible” Casts Jesus Christ as Samurai Warrior
Christian thinkers have tried to make the Bible accessible for centuries, scholars said. Stained glass windows related Bible stories when Europe was largely illiterate. New printing technology in the 19th century made it possible to mass-produce Bibles, including illustrated versions…
The goal of the Bibles is not just to win people to Christ, but to particular ways of thinking, said Jason BeDuhn, associate professor of religious studies at Northern Arizona University. Manga Bible author Mr. Akinsiku said the biblical message he wanted to underscore was justice, especially for the poor…
[Continued in The New York Times]
Attention Anchormen: Not Every Swordsman is a Samurai
Recently confronted by a sword-wielding maniac, German police lower their guns, in favor of the trusty battle broom.
See also: Seattle’s Downtown Samurai, Samurai vs. Scientologists
New eBook Features Martial Arts Quotations
Just when you think you stand
above all others, there will be yet
another kneecap staring you in the face. (Davina Haisell)
The Quote Effect is a collection of inspirational thoughts and quotes from personal development bloggers. Author Davina Haisell has included selections from these Martial Development articles:
Why Wise Men Abandon Their Goals
Conflict Resolution: A Casualty of Nonviolent Martial Arts
The Antidote for Martial Arts Poison
Download the free eBook here.
The Dragon Returns…with Value Meals
A Chinese restaurant chain capitalizes on Bruce Lee’s legacy:
The style of food would be described as modern casual Chinese. It consisted of steam rice with mushrooms, noodles, soup, beef with rice, soy milk etc. Everything was hot and fresh and tasted very good.
The food was all served in branded melamine bowls with lids–even the spoons were melamine and had the Bruce Lee image…
[Reviewed at Mad About Shanghai]
Ninja Shuriken Fridge Magnets
Secure your grocery list, with respect and honor. $19 from Epaulet.
The 88 Postures of Medieval European Fencing
Paulus Hector Mair (1517–1579) was an Augsburg civil servant, and active in the martial arts of his time. He collected Fechtbücher (combat manuals) and undertook to compile all knowledge of the art of fencing in a compendium surpassing all earlier books. For this, he engaged the painter Jörg Breu the Younger, as well as two experienced fencers, whom he charged with perfecting the techniques before they were painted. The project was very costly, taking full four years, and according to Mair, consumed most of his family’s income and property. Three versions of his compilation, and one later, less extensive manuscript, have been preserved (and are now available online)…
[continued at Bibliodyssey]
9-year old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Student Submits a Pitbull
During jiujitsu lessons Tuesday evening, instructor Matt Baker asked 9-year-old Drew Heredia what he would do if put in a certain position he was teaching. I’d get on my back and do a choke hold,” he said.
It’s the same thing Drew did last week when he saved a 12-year-old girl from being mauled by a pit bull. Using a tactic he learned in class, he put the attacking dog in a chokehold and held it for at least 20 minutes until help arrived…
[Continued in The Bakersfield Californian]
Learn to Use “The Force” with this New Toy
Could The Force be with you? A toy due in stores this fall will let you test and hone your Jedi-like abilities.
The Force Trainer (expected to be priced at $90 to $100) comes with a headset that uses brain waves to allow players to manipulate a sphere within a clear 10-inch-tall training tower, analogous to Yoda and Luke Skywalker’s abilities in the Star Wars films…
[continued in USA Today]
Musashi Biography In Graphic Novel Format
Shinmen Takezo is destined to become the legendary sword-saint, Miyamoto Musashi–the most renowned samurai of all time. For now, Takezo is a cold-hearted killer, who will take on anyone in mortal combat to make a name for himself. This is the journey of a wild young brute who strives to reach enlightenment by way of the sword–fighting to the cold, hard edge of death.
Takehiko Inoue’s beautifully illustrated sumi-e graphic novel, Vagabond, is available in both Japanese and English.
Samurai umbrella, $29.95
See also: Jedi lightsaber umbrella
Assassinated by a Make-Believe Katana?
In this bizarre illustration of Osaka’s legendary politeness, random strangers react to imaginary sword and gun attacks.
Credit: Boing Boing
An Editorial Message from Jackie Chan:
Violence Must Only Be Used To Make Millions Of Dollars
Why do so many kids think using their fists is the answer to all of life’s problems? Where do they get these ideas? That’s why I’m using my status as the world’s most famous martial arts movie star to teach children an important lesson. Never, ever take a fist to another person unless you’re profiting handsomely from it.
[continued at The Onion]
See also: Perverted Ninja Enjoys Being Seen
Hi Chris.
Hey, that Force Trainer sounds really interesting! I hope I get a chance to try it. And, thanks for your support of The Quote Effect. I was happy to have you contribute your quotes and that gorgeous photograph.
Those shuriken fridge magnets look pretty cool. Good find. One more thing for the wish list…
Wim
Great collection. Thanks.
It is odd that I should enjoy martial arts study as much as I do and not dig samurai. I like some of the core teachings around the philosophy of ninpo, so I guess I just find the idea that the contexts haven’t changed enough to abandon the katana in favor of the glock to be absurd.
Why not use the good stuff and leave out the archaic?
Why do people need swords and uniforms and belts when back in the day they wore era clothing? 600 years ago martial artists wore normal clothing and learned to defend themselves with the resources around them, now people miss the point of that and think to be authentic they must wear what people 600 years ago wore and learn to fight with things that were common 600 years ago but are rare now.
I wonder if in a few hundred years if people will imitate us in such a silly manner?
Kids submitting pit bulls… that’s what I’m talking about. It’s good that he had a viable reason to use his discipline to help someone else.
Samurai history is a very fascinating subject for me too. Martial arts and samurai weapons are the best partners. To know more aobut Samurai weapons, click the link below:
http://www.samurai-weapons.net
Thanks for this post!
i thought u would be more seriouse.