Know which battles to fight. The real skill is not how to fight. It is knowing which battles to pick and which to walk away from. . If your response to all things is to fight, this is bad thinking, bad practice. After all, life isn’t measured by how many times you stood up to…
Year: 2021
“You have two choices, to control your mind or to let your mind control you.”
Commonly translated as “meditation”, mokuso (黙想) literally means “silent/still” (moku-) + “thoughts/thinking” (-so). In other words, mokuso is the act of silencing our minds. . Your mind is the most powerful tool you have for the creation of good in your life, but if not used correctly, can also be the most destructive. To control…
Ever felt so worried you’re constantly thinking about the future and what is going to happen?
Ever felt so worried you’re constantly thinking about the future and what is going to happen?……. Yes? Well remember, no one knows what the future holds. . Anticipatory anxiety describes fear and worry around bad things that could happen. It can happen in a lot of different contexts, but it commonly focuses on things you…
Disappointment is a part of life.
The martial arts have been my way of life, sometimes my profession, for many, many years. During that time, I have often been asked how to stay motivated. How does someone get up every morning and continue their training routine? How does a practitioner avoid becoming part of the majority….. those who give up before…
“Your physical safety is up to you, as it really always has been.”
During my time working as an EMT, there were many instances of stabbings. The victim(s) was usually stabbed multiple times. . The dangerous truth is that if people mean to stab you…. you either are stabbed before you even notice it, or the attack is immediate the moment you notice that they have a knife…
“Sport sparring is not self-defence and has very little to do with it.”
If you’re like most people, you probably hope you will never find yourself in a self-defense scenario. . As a general rule, self-defense only justifies the use of force when it is used in response to an immediate threat. The use of force in self-defense generally loses justification once the threat has ended. Any use…
If you don’t give anything TO the martial arts, don’t expect anything FROM the martial arts.
No matter your age or occupation, every day you are confronted with unexpected challenges. You either accept these challenges and meet them head-on, or you resist them, wishing they would just go away. Yet challenges are woven into the fabric of our lives. They are the tests we all have to face daily. . No…
What is the purpose of having a goal?
What is the purpose of having a goal? . A sense of direction, a path of where you’re headed in your training or a specific aspect of it? A goal need not be everything but should give you a direction and path. The specifics of the goal can change, but its values give you a…
The importance of focus in your training.
The importance of focus in your training. . The word gets tossed around so much in the martial arts that it’s almost become a cliché, but focus is one of the most important tools you can apply to your training routine. . Focus and attention to detail during training is key to improving and making…
Knowledge speaks. Wisdom listens.
The martial arts are closely intertwined with traditions that take long lives and healthy living seriously. Old masters not only exist, many are known for outshining the young. . The karate masters of the past were at the forefront of martial arts wisdom and knowledge. Why? Because they had memories of what had and hadn’t…
There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula.
There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula. . Social media is a powerful communications medium, with widespread influence. Online communication has brought information to people and audiences that previously could not be reached. . Previous generations looked up to genuine experts, who had spent decades perfecting their art. Now, anyone…
Your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations.
When you analyze kata, breakdown the movements within, your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations. The kata were created for this reason. . Some of the applications put forward as interpretations of kata movement vary from the wonderful to the ridiculous, and unfortunately it is often hopelessly inadequate. ….