protectivearts

WAKIZASHI

My first historical Japanese sword, forged by the first Hizen Kuni Kawachi Daijyo Fujiwara Masahiro, a swordsmith of the Nabeshima clan who created a unique hamon with the grandson of the first Tadayoshi. He changed his name to Masahiro November 2 in the 2nd year of Kanei (1624) and received Kawachi Daijyo in May ofContinue reading “WAKIZASHI”

SIZE MATTERS

Coaches always look quizzically when they see me approach my boys. The polite ones catch themselves, but inevitably ask, “Where do they get their height?” My boys are both over 6′ and have at least 8″ on me when they stand up straight. At 15, Kyrian is still filling out, but is whip-strong lean fromContinue reading “SIZE MATTERS”

CAMMING ACTION

The banner image shows a cam with a flat follower. Cams are used to convert rotary to linear motion. As the cam rotates, the follower rises and falls: Abrupt changes in the cam’s velocity results in large accelerations and cause the follower to jerk or chatter. In operating machinery, that is not a good thing, butContinue reading “CAMMING ACTION”