What this site is

ArtfulMartial.com is a research-driven publication covering the history, philosophy, and cultural traditions of martial arts across the world — from samurai duels in feudal Japan and the 72 arts of Shaolin, to the belt systems of modern karate and the evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The focus is on the stories, codes, and philosophies behind the techniques. How did the samurai sword become a spiritual object as much as a weapon? Why does the bushido code still influence martial artists today? What's the real history of the black belt? These are the questions we dig into.

Who writes here

Marco Reyes — Contributing Editor & Lead Researcher

I'm Marco Reyes. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. My interest in martial arts started as a teenager watching old Bruce Lee films — not the technique as much as the philosophy behind it. That pulled me into East Asian history in college, and years later I'm still researching and writing about it.

I want to be upfront: I'm not a trained martial artist myself. I don't hold a belt or a dan rank. My role here is editorial and research-focused. When I write about the history of kenjutsu or the founding of Shaolin, those are topics I've spent years studying through primary sources, academic works, and the records of the organizations that preserve these traditions.

When ArtfulMartial covers technical topics — belt requirements, specific techniques, training methodologies — those sections reference cited sources: Kodokan manuals, Kukkiwon curricula, JKA training protocols, or documented statements by recognized practitioners. I don't claim to know what a spinning back fist feels like from the inside. I can tell you who systematized it and when.

If you're looking for "my black belt instructor taught me X" content, there are excellent sites for that. If you want the history, the cultural context, the philosophy, and the stories behind how martial arts became what they are — that's what you'll find here.

How we research and write

Every article on ArtfulMartial follows the same process:

1. Topic research — primary sources where available (period texts, organizational archives, academic papers), plus secondary sources from recognized historians and practitioners.
2. Cross-reference — claims about dates, founders, lineages, and techniques are checked against multiple sources before publishing.
3. Source-cited writing — each article includes 3+ external authority links to Wikipedia, Kodokan, Kukkiwon, IBJJF, university history departments, or other recognized organizations. Where a claim is legendary or disputed, we say so.
4. Editorial review — every piece is read end-to-end before publication. Errors get corrected, sources get verified, hedging gets flagged.
5. Updates — articles are revisited as new research emerges. Every post shows a "last updated" date.

For the full standards, see our Editorial Standards page.

What you'll find here

ArtfulMartial publishes long-form articles across these topics:

• History & Masters — biographies of historical figures, period histories, legendary fighters
• Styles — overviews and comparisons of martial traditions from around the world
• Weapons — the sword, spear, bow, and armor traditions behind martial arts
• Philosophy & Mindset — bushido, Zen, the warrior codes and mental traditions
• Technique — explainer-style articles on specific techniques, sourced from documented tradition
• Training — approaches to training as recorded in historical and modern traditions
• Belts & Ranks — the history and structure of belt systems across styles

A few quick numbers

• 40+ articles published spanning samurai history, sword arts, philosophy, belt systems, and global martial traditions
• 3+ external authority sources cited per article (Wikipedia, Kodokan, IBJJF, etc.)
• Readers in 30+ countries — primary audiences in the US, UK, Canada, Australia
• Updated regularly — articles are revisited as new research emerges

Our editorial process (visual summary)

Get in touch

I read every message — corrections especially welcome.

Marco Reyes
Contributing Editor, ArtfulMartial.com
marco@artfulmartial.com

Or use the contact form.

For our approach to research, sourcing, and corrections, see our Editorial Standards.

If you'd rather start by exploring the site — the Start Here page lays out where to dive in based on what interests you.

If you want a personalized recommendation based on what you're looking for, take the Which Martial Art Fits You? quiz — 8 questions, an article matched to your style.