Interview Transcriptions

Tim: Today, I have the honor and privilege of speaking with the man responsible for bringing Kenpo Karate to the New England area of the United States.

Tim: Today I’m speaking with Alex Haddox of the practical defense podcast. Alex has trained in Kenpo, Hapkido, Kubotan Self-defense and firearms. On the Practical Defense Podcast, he talked about practical ways of staying safe in increasingly dangerous urban environments.

Tim: Today, I’m speaking with martial arts author John Donohue, with a PhD in Anthropology from the state university of New York at stony brook. John constantly studies the blend of philosophy and action that the martial arts offers. He’s written several books of both fiction and non-fiction, including Sensei, Deshii and Complete Kendo and The Overlooked Martial Arts Reader.

Tim: Well, I’m here today with Sifu Stephen Murphy at Mystics Athletic School in Beverly, Massachusetts. Steve is a certified Gymnastics coach, a Chinese healer, also teaching Praying Mantis Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Chi Kung, and other styles for about 27 years now.

Tim: Hello and welcome to the Martial Arts Lineage podcast. I’m your host, Tim Johnson. Join me as I interview instructors and martial arts masters from across the country and around the world. In an effort to learn and share knowledge of martial arts style from the mainstream to the exotic, I’ll be speaking with a variety of people who have devoted their lives to these arts.

Tim: Today I bring you Antonio Graceffo, the host of Martial Arts Odyssey, which has aired over 170 episodes. He’s the author of “The Monk from Brooklyn”, and the “Warrior Odyssey”, among several other books.

Tim: Well, this is part two of my interview with Shihan Dana Abbott, where we’re starting to talk about the spirit of the Samurai. If you didn’t catch Part One, be sure to go back and check that out. Without further ado, this is Part Two.

Tim: Today, I bring you Japanese sword instructor, Shihan Dana Abbot. Inducted into the Blackbelt Hall of Fame in 2004 as Weapons Instructor of the Year, Shihan Abbott is the International Director of the International Sports Chanbara Association which represents more than 160,000 members in 30 countries around the globe.