master john rankin

Hooked walking cane
In today’s society it is against the law to carry almost any type of object which may be deemed as a weapon. The cane may very well be one of the last “permissible” weapons available which you can carry to defend yourself without violating the law. Fortunately, the cane is […]

The Cane

Japanese Samurai Warriors were members of the top social hierarchy of Japan. This social class existed for hundreds of years until about the 19th century. Around this period, the Shogun reigned supreme. The samurai sword is said to be one of three sacred treasures of the Japan. The Sacred Mirror […]

History of the Samurai Sword

As we look forward to the coming year I would like to first wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year. 2012 promises to be another exciting year for the Mountain Academy. Testings are scheduled for March 10th, June 9th, September 8th and December 8th. We look forward to testing […]

2012 – Looking Ahead

As I begin my 42nd year teaching, I think back 41 years ago and my first school in Axis, Alabama. Seven students, very hot and muggy, and very excited to be able to pass on the beauty and power of Martial Arts. Jump forward to 2011, still excited about Martial […]

42 and Counting

by Michael O’Leary A parabola is a type of curve formed by graphing a quadratic equation. A quadratic equation is an equation of the form y=ax2+bx+c where a, b, and c are real constants and a does not equal 0. However, parabolas also show up in physics. Any projectile that […]

Modeling a Crescent Kick: An Application of Mathematics in Martial ...

Juliana Rose Nicole, Black belt test September 2009
If the Mountain Academy had a club flower it would be a rose, Ms Julianna Rose to be exact. Ms Rose has been and will remain an important part of our family. Student, teacher, peer, all of the wonderful attributes any Martial Artist possesses, this is she. As we send […]

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose