The pursuit of martial arts encompasses more than physical prowess and mastery.
Mindfulness, meditation, and reading offer additional routes to help your journey.
Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai translates to Sword Spirit School.
Mindfulness, meditation, and reading offer additional routes to help your journey.
Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai translates to Sword Spirit School.
This article speaks to the 2026 seminar held in Slovenia. The link is here.
In Ljubljana, a seminar on traditional Japanese martial arts is currently taking place — an event that, in terms of quality and pedigree, can easily be ranked among the most prestigious gatherings of its kind in Europe.
From 16 May to 24 May, masters and their students are gathering at the Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai Sports Centre — a centre for the comprehensive study of martial arts — on Mesarska Street in Ljubljana, to receive first-hand knowledge that is increasingly rare in the modern world of martial arts.
The organiser of the seminar is Aleš Primčič, founder and head instructor of the Ljubljana-based club Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai — Centre for the Comprehensive Study of Martial Arts.
Aleš Primčič is no ordinary teacher; he is a direct student of the legendary American martial arts master Roy J. Hobbs, Hanshi. Primčič’s achievements speak for themselves: 8th dan in Aikijujutsu, 8th dan in Shorin Ryu Karate, 6th dan in Goju Ryu, 6th dan in Kobujutsu, as well as high ranks in Iaido and other styles. This is not a man who collected belts at seminars, but a practitioner who has built his knowledge over decades under the guidance of the highest authorities.
The main star of the seminar is, of course, Roy J. Hobbs himself from the United States.
Roy J. Hobbs is a retired colonel of the United States Air Force with 33 years of military service in elite units — First In, Last Out, SPEC OPS, Pathfinder, Airborne and Air Assault. Over the course of his distinguished military career, he took part in missions in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf War and Somalia, among others.
His ranks in the martial arts are truly impressive and exceptional even by global standards: 10th dan in Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate, 10th dan in Shorin Ryu Karate, 10th dan in Okinawan Dento Kobujutsu, Menkyo Kaiden in Kokodo Jujutsu, Iaido and more.
In Kokodo Jujutsu — a branch of Hakko-ryu founded by Irie Yasuhiro — Kaiden / Menkyo Kaiden is the highest rank. Roy J. Hobbs received it in 1997/1998 from Irie himself. This confirmed that he had mastered everything Kokodo had to offer and that he was qualified to teach at the highest level.
Roy J. Hobbs is not merely a martial arts master. He is a man who has tested the knowledge of Japanese combat systems where theory ends and reality begins. He is regarded as an exceptional teacher who consistently demands courage, precision and discipline from his students.
From the United Kingdom, the seminar is also attended by the legendary martial arts master and instructor Chris Spencer-Hicks.
Chris Spencer-Hicks also holds Menkyo Kaiden — the highest rank — in Kenshinkan Aikijujutsu, 8th dan from the Nippon Seibukan Academy in Nihon Jujutsu, and 6th dan in Toyama Ryu Iaido. He is a former “Use of Force” instructor and commander of riot teams, with more than 40 years of operational experience in the justice system. Hicks represents that rare combination of technical mastery and practical, street-level, operational knowledge — the kind that simply cannot be learned from books.
The seminar is attracting participants from Canada, Ukraine and other countries as well. This is not an ordinary “karate camp”.
It is a gathering of people who have chosen not to follow commercial trends, but rather the original, traditional, often raw and demanding knowledge of Okinawan and Japanese martial systems.
This is not a place where people talk about “energy” and “self-development” for Instagram. The focus is on effectiveness, history, discipline and what truly works when things get real.
Under Primčič’s leadership, Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai has for years maintained a standard that is exceptional in Slovenia and the wider region. Instead of following the fads of mixed martial arts or diluted “budo tourism”, they remain committed to original styles, strict protocol and the direct transmission of knowledge from teacher to student.
That is what makes this seminar special: it is not a mass spectacle, but intensive work within a small, carefully selected group.
At a time when martial arts are increasingly being turned into fitness or circus, the event in Ljubljana proves that serious centres of knowledge still exist. And that these centres — at least for now — are still capable of attracting masters of the calibre of Hobbs and Hicks.
For anyone looking for something more than mere training, for anyone interested in true tradition rather than a watered-down version for the masses, this seminar in Ljubljana is currently one of the few places in the world where this is still happening. No embellishment, no illusions. Just the pure, old, effective path of budo.
Anyone interested in this field can visit the club in person at Mesarska Street 4, courtyard entrance, and take part in the training sessions.
In Ljubljana, a seminar on traditional Japanese martial arts is currently taking place — an event that, in terms of quality and pedigree, can easily be ranked among the most prestigious gatherings of its kind in Europe.
From 16 May to 24 May, masters and their students are gathering at the Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai Sports Centre — a centre for the comprehensive study of martial arts — on Mesarska Street in Ljubljana, to receive first-hand knowledge that is increasingly rare in the modern world of martial arts.
The organiser of the seminar is Aleš Primčič, founder and head instructor of the Ljubljana-based club Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai — Centre for the Comprehensive Study of Martial Arts.
Aleš Primčič is no ordinary teacher; he is a direct student of the legendary American martial arts master Roy J. Hobbs, Hanshi. Primčič’s achievements speak for themselves: 8th dan in Aikijujutsu, 8th dan in Shorin Ryu Karate, 6th dan in Goju Ryu, 6th dan in Kobujutsu, as well as high ranks in Iaido and other styles. This is not a man who collected belts at seminars, but a practitioner who has built his knowledge over decades under the guidance of the highest authorities.
The main star of the seminar is, of course, Roy J. Hobbs himself from the United States.
Roy J. Hobbs is a retired colonel of the United States Air Force with 33 years of military service in elite units — First In, Last Out, SPEC OPS, Pathfinder, Airborne and Air Assault. Over the course of his distinguished military career, he took part in missions in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf War and Somalia, among others.
His ranks in the martial arts are truly impressive and exceptional even by global standards: 10th dan in Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate, 10th dan in Shorin Ryu Karate, 10th dan in Okinawan Dento Kobujutsu, Menkyo Kaiden in Kokodo Jujutsu, Iaido and more.
In Kokodo Jujutsu — a branch of Hakko-ryu founded by Irie Yasuhiro — Kaiden / Menkyo Kaiden is the highest rank. Roy J. Hobbs received it in 1997/1998 from Irie himself. This confirmed that he had mastered everything Kokodo had to offer and that he was qualified to teach at the highest level.
Roy J. Hobbs is not merely a martial arts master. He is a man who has tested the knowledge of Japanese combat systems where theory ends and reality begins. He is regarded as an exceptional teacher who consistently demands courage, precision and discipline from his students.
From the United Kingdom, the seminar is also attended by the legendary martial arts master and instructor Chris Spencer-Hicks.
Chris Spencer-Hicks also holds Menkyo Kaiden — the highest rank — in Kenshinkan Aikijujutsu, 8th dan from the Nippon Seibukan Academy in Nihon Jujutsu, and 6th dan in Toyama Ryu Iaido. He is a former “Use of Force” instructor and commander of riot teams, with more than 40 years of operational experience in the justice system. Hicks represents that rare combination of technical mastery and practical, street-level, operational knowledge — the kind that simply cannot be learned from books.
The seminar is attracting participants from Canada, Ukraine and other countries as well. This is not an ordinary “karate camp”.
It is a gathering of people who have chosen not to follow commercial trends, but rather the original, traditional, often raw and demanding knowledge of Okinawan and Japanese martial systems.
This is not a place where people talk about “energy” and “self-development” for Instagram. The focus is on effectiveness, history, discipline and what truly works when things get real.
Under Primčič’s leadership, Kenshinkan Sogo Budo Kenkyukai has for years maintained a standard that is exceptional in Slovenia and the wider region. Instead of following the fads of mixed martial arts or diluted “budo tourism”, they remain committed to original styles, strict protocol and the direct transmission of knowledge from teacher to student.
That is what makes this seminar special: it is not a mass spectacle, but intensive work within a small, carefully selected group.
At a time when martial arts are increasingly being turned into fitness or circus, the event in Ljubljana proves that serious centres of knowledge still exist. And that these centres — at least for now — are still capable of attracting masters of the calibre of Hobbs and Hicks.
For anyone looking for something more than mere training, for anyone interested in true tradition rather than a watered-down version for the masses, this seminar in Ljubljana is currently one of the few places in the world where this is still happening. No embellishment, no illusions. Just the pure, old, effective path of budo.
Anyone interested in this field can visit the club in person at Mesarska Street 4, courtyard entrance, and take part in the training sessions.
Fascinating video concerning Okinawan Karate from NHK World:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVOL02Ea958&t=197s
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVOL02Ea958&t=197s
The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho (translated by William Scott Wilson)
"Takuan was a giant in the history of Zen; he was also a gardener, calligrapher, poet, author, adviser to samurai and shoguns, and a pivotal figure in Zen painting. He was known for his brilliance and acerbic wit. In these succinct and pointed essays, Takuan is concerned primarily with understanding and refining the mind—both generally and when faced with conflict. The Unfettered Mind was a major influence on the classic manifestos on swordsmanship that came after it, including Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings and Yagyu Munenori’s Life-Giving Sword."
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/217267/the-unfettered-mind-by-takuan-soho-translated-by-william-scott-wilson/
"Takuan was a giant in the history of Zen; he was also a gardener, calligrapher, poet, author, adviser to samurai and shoguns, and a pivotal figure in Zen painting. He was known for his brilliance and acerbic wit. In these succinct and pointed essays, Takuan is concerned primarily with understanding and refining the mind—both generally and when faced with conflict. The Unfettered Mind was a major influence on the classic manifestos on swordsmanship that came after it, including Miyamoto Musashi’s Book of Five Rings and Yagyu Munenori’s Life-Giving Sword."
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/217267/the-unfettered-mind-by-takuan-soho-translated-by-william-scott-wilson/
Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat translated with commentary by Patrick McCarthy
Simply put, martial arts are a very physical and mental exercise. McCarthy offers an English translation of what is thought out as a "bible of karate". While some items within this tome will not necessarily be as applicable. it offers a worthwhile guide to those seeking to broaden their knowledge of karate.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25986978-bubishi?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=PA9MYzYaNN&rank=3
Simply put, martial arts are a very physical and mental exercise. McCarthy offers an English translation of what is thought out as a "bible of karate". While some items within this tome will not necessarily be as applicable. it offers a worthwhile guide to those seeking to broaden their knowledge of karate.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25986978-bubishi?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=PA9MYzYaNN&rank=3
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, MD with Bill Gifford
Excellent and easy-to-read guide on helping live a longer life with a higher quality of life even in the later years of life. Dr. Attia has a holistic approach to his ideas on longevity: food intake, exercise, mental health, and more all play in a role in a longer, more healthy life.
From a martial art perspective, this book offers keen advice on how to better your overall health - exercise, eating well, and focusing on your mental health are all vital to bettering your martial art path.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61153739-outlive
Excellent and easy-to-read guide on helping live a longer life with a higher quality of life even in the later years of life. Dr. Attia has a holistic approach to his ideas on longevity: food intake, exercise, mental health, and more all play in a role in a longer, more healthy life.
From a martial art perspective, this book offers keen advice on how to better your overall health - exercise, eating well, and focusing on your mental health are all vital to bettering your martial art path.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61153739-outlive
How to Live or a Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell
Bakewell's monograph about Montaigne offers a unique vision of the stateman's influence since the 16th Century. Montaigne's essays offer a wealth of information, and Bakewell breaks down his work about "How to Live". (I would have pushed the title a little further, though: "How to Live Well".)
We get to view ideas about paying attention, not worrying about death, surviving love and loss, waking from the sleep of habit, and reflect on everything while regretting nothing.
From a martial art perspective, this book offers thoughts on how to deal with issues outside of the dojo. Things that could burden us mentally while in the dojo itself.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7624457-how-to-live?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=GYrbA6kCkV&rank=4
Bakewell's monograph about Montaigne offers a unique vision of the stateman's influence since the 16th Century. Montaigne's essays offer a wealth of information, and Bakewell breaks down his work about "How to Live". (I would have pushed the title a little further, though: "How to Live Well".)
We get to view ideas about paying attention, not worrying about death, surviving love and loss, waking from the sleep of habit, and reflect on everything while regretting nothing.
From a martial art perspective, this book offers thoughts on how to deal with issues outside of the dojo. Things that could burden us mentally while in the dojo itself.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7624457-how-to-live?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=GYrbA6kCkV&rank=4