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Joshua Clements
Joshua Clements

199 Followers

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Published in

The Arena

·Jul 18

What is Jiu-Jitsu?

A semi-philosophical view of the art. — Our martial arts history has an age-old debate about the roots, stems, branches, and leaves. I’ve written previously about the differences between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Japanese Jujitsu. This post takes a different look at what we call “Jiu-Jitsu” by critiquing our preconceived notions. …

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

3 min read

What is Jiu-Jitsu?
What is Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

3 min read


Published in

The Arena

·Jun 12

Thus Spake Zarathustra

Nietzsche for Martial Artists — If you’ve ever read anything by or about Friedrich Nietzsche, you may be familiar with his concepts of will to power and the ubermensch (overman). These two key terms express Nietzsche’s defining characteristic: becoming. His book, Thus Spake Zarathustra, is a series of speeches and interactions of the prophet/hermit Zarathustra…

Nietzsche

4 min read

Nietzsche

4 min read


Published in

The Arena

·May 9

Protect Yourself

C.A.T.S. PERSONAL SAFETY SYSTEM — As a martial arts coach and educator, I teach self-defense seminars from time to time. While I enjoy the opportunity, I also prefer calling it a “personal safety” seminar instead of a “self-defense” seminar. I can hear detractors screaming, “semantics!” However, there is a reason for the terminology. As I…

Self Defense

6 min read

Protect Yourself
Protect Yourself
Self Defense

6 min read


Published in

The Arena

·Feb 6

Humanizing Tradition

Finding a Way Forward with Understanding — The Problem of Tradition On a recent Judo coaches’ forum, one coach mentioned a sensei who typically had a cheerful disposition, happily helping young students learn a technique. However, on one particular day, the sensei saw a brown belt, maybe 18 years of age, “walking to his mat area with his belt slung around…

Tradition

3 min read

Humanizing Tradition
Humanizing Tradition
Tradition

3 min read


Jan 9

ChatGPT: Why Write in the Age of AI?

Process Versus Product — In a comment on a recent post about learning, a person asked my opinion about new technologies called Open AI (artificial intelligence) and ChatGPT. This software is causing quite a stir in academic realms and has even made CNN and Wall Street Journal. Douglas Rushkoff, a supporter of humanity and…

ChatGPT

3 min read

ChatGPT: Why Write in the Age of AI?
ChatGPT: Why Write in the Age of AI?
ChatGPT

3 min read


Published in

The Arena

·Dec 5, 2022

Fighting Change Philosophically

Neil Postman’s Loving Resistance Fighter — Since closing my martial arts academy, I’ve found various ways to stay on the mat, including visiting other gyms and helping coach my daughter’s middle school wrestling team. It’s been a bit of a change of pace from teaching several nights a week, but I have enjoyed the different atmospheres. …

Media Ecology

5 min read

Fighting Change Philosophically
Fighting Change Philosophically
Media Ecology

5 min read


Nov 7, 2022

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas Kuhn’s paradigm-changing book. — I first learned about Thomas Kuhn’s 1962 game-changing book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, in my undergrad “History of Science and Technology” class. After reading the book, I see how Kuhn looks at science, not as necessarily a truth-seeking endeavor, but more of a rhetorical process. Scientists aren’t discovering truth…

Science Education

2 min read

Science Education

2 min read


Jul 18, 2022

Death as Life’s Picture Frame

I know it may be an old pastime, but I still enjoy reading a newspaper. I always pay attention to the obituaries section, usually looking for names I know from my parents’ and grandparents’ age. Something struck me the other day, though. I read a name and looked at the…

Death

3 min read

Death as Life’s Picture Frame
Death as Life’s Picture Frame
Death

3 min read


Published in

The Arena

·Jun 20, 2022

Maximum Efficiency

Jigoro Kano and Buckminster Fuller — Jigoro Kano In Judo, we often hear the phrase, “ Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Effort.” Judo’s founder, Jigoro Kano, spoke about the concept in 1932 during a speech at the University of Southern California. He said that for anything to be ideal, it must be performed on the principle of maximum efficiency. Throughout…

Jigoro Kano

3 min read

Maximum Efficiency
Maximum Efficiency
Jigoro Kano

3 min read


May 30, 2022

Don’t Drink the Water

Wisdom From A Seafaring Stranger — In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a haggard-looking old seafarer stops a young man on his way to a wedding. The old man begins to tell his tale to the young wedding guest. …

Literature

3 min read

Don’t Drink the Water
Don’t Drink the Water
Literature

3 min read

Joshua Clements

Joshua Clements

199 Followers

Writer, Martial Artist, and student of Philosophy and Communication. You can see more of my work at joshuaclementswrites.com and thephilosophicalfighter.com.

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