The 7-5-3 code is very much influenced by the Bushido codes of honor that dictated the Samurai, or Japanese warriors, way of life. Bushido is a code of conduct that emerged in Japan from the Samurai who spread their ideals throughout society. They drew inspiration from Confucianism, which is a relatively conservative philosophy and system […]
The Way of the Warrior. Read More »
“ ‘Ishiki’ (意識) is very important. ‘Awareness – Take more attention and focus’. Without ‘Ishiki’: you wouldn’t realize what is happening here and there. By doing it you see and realize things happening. During everyday training with more attention and focus you will see and realize how your stance, form and technique are. Do not
Always do your best. Read More »
“During Matsumura’s generation, unlike today, great emphasis was placed on balancing physical and mental learning.” . Nagamine Shoshin (1907-1997), the founder of Matsubayashi-Ryu, published a book called “Tales of Okinawa’s Great Masters”. The quote above comes from that book, and highlights the importance of “Bun Bu Ryu Do” (roughly “Cultural and Martial Studies Together”) in
Great emphasis was placed on balancing physical and mental learning. Read More »
“There is only one opponent and he is in front of you. Turning to face a new direction while performing the kata does not mean you are turning to face a new opponent.” ~ Seikichi Toguchi (1917-1998) . “The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in
There is only one opponent and he is in front of you. Read More »
Ever had the feeling that you were being had? The rise of the internet has allowed many unscrupulous people to suddenly become “experts” in a particular field and touting themselves as the perfect source of knowledge for you to follow. . If you want to, you can begin a martial arts school, or even an
Ever had the feeling that you were being had? Read More »
“Recently I hear people saying that sports karate, competition karate, is the tradition of our time…. But if I may express my personal opinion, I’d like to ask ‘so then what is karate in Okinawa?’….. . It is an unbroken culture and tradition that our ancestors have carried through history. For hundreds of years especially
Forging the exceptional, out of the ordinary. Read More »
“I don’t mean to suggest that I have a totally negative opinion about karate-do’s competitive element, it’s just that I feel that it is too shallow. Regardless of whether it is Okinawa, the Japanese mainland, or the world in general, jiu-kimite (free sparring) ignores the principles to which kata apply. Simply put, jiu-kumite should reflect
Jiu-kumite should reflect the kata Read More »
I have learned that you cannot teach someone who doesn’t want to learn or grow. Without that desire, there is no use in advising or coaching them, because it just won’t work. People reach a particular level of knowledge because their interests and motivations bring them to a point, but then they don’t want to
To be a master you must be a great & humble student. Read More »
Knowledge is knowing the right answer. Intelligence is asking the right question. ?? . . “The world is full of people who are determined to be somebody or to give trouble. They want to get ahead, to stand out….” ~ Bruce Lee . Everybody wants to progress, everyone wants to wrap themselves in another black belt,
Knowledge is knowing the right answer. Intelligence is asking the right question. Read More »
“Traditional karate is what we learned from the time we started, traditional Okinawan karate. As did our elders. We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations. If you don’t continue to train with that sense of there being a real opponent, you won’t be able to respond in that kind of
We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations. Read More »
Imagine the fear. You have been training in your dojo for a few years, but a weird feeling is slowly creeping up on you, giving you that uncomfortable sensation in the pit of your stomach. . You gradually start noticing things. You start seeing stuff in a new light, and day by day you realize
Fake black belts and McDojo’s; Should We Get Angry? Read More »
BAD GUYS DON’T STAND STILL. . When you first learn self-defense techniques, it’s natural to stand still to perform them. Static training give you and your partner time to understand what an attack feels like and allow you to coordinate your response. . However! That IS just the FIRST step. . If you believe the
BAD GUYS DON’T STAND STILL. Read More »
