About this blog

Spirit of Motion is a website about life, martial arts, and travel. I want to share my thoughts and experiences to inspire others to pursue what they love.. Thank you!

"Trying to understand the flow of life and the hidden connections between all things."

About me

Hi, I'm Radek Januš. I was born in Slovakia in 1977 and now live in the Czech Republic. I'm a martial artist, and I run two karate dojos. I'm also into Japanese fencing, kendo.

I've been inspired by martial arts since I was a kid. I grew up in a village, surrounded by nature, and loved watching martial arts movies, samurai films, and historical European stories. That early connection to movement, philosophy, and tradition shaped who I am today.

In 1995, when I started high school, I joined a traditional karate dojo, and that's when my martial arts journey really took off.

I earned my Shodan, black belt under Nishiyama Hidetaka Sensei in Los Angeles in 2001. In 2024, I achieved Rokudan under Rokah Avi Sensei, who is one of Nishiyama Sensei's top students. We've been friends for over 25 years now, and he's not just my teacher, but a close friend too.

Nishiyama Sensei's traditional karate was heavily influenced by his background in Japanese fencing - kendo, which he studied under legendary Mochida Sensei. Before the pandemic, I felt like I needed to level up my personal karate skills and teaching. I wanted to explore the true meaning of martial arts, understand what they can offer beyond technique, and develop a more thoughtful approach to training.

To get a new perspective and connect with the roots of Nishiyama Sensei's vision, I started studying Japanese fencing—kendo. I started in 2019, and it's still been a really enriching experience, especially when it comes to understanding budo. I was lucky and found great teachers, and I also studied Kendo in Japan a few times, where I travel regularly.

Business and flexibility

In 2005, I established a small hi-tech company. Thanks to this, I gained the flexibility to study and travel around the world—gaining experience, discovering new cultures, meeting friends who share the same martial arts path, and developing a broader perspective on life, longevity, and life balance.