(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In the modern world of martial arts, we have more information than ever before – yet we cling to methods that seem to have lost all meaning. . So many facts and opinions are out there, but none of it really sticks. Many people continue to revolve around outdated…
Month: July 2025
Why Are We Still Doing Step-Kumite? Prearranged and Pointless?
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Many of the comments and messages I receive about the continued use of step-kumite – which I’m against practicing – still leave me with the same questions. . Why punch, block, punch, block – moving backwards and forwards in a prearranged manner, with no basis in reality? . I’ve…
Before the Noise: Moments Alone – Finding Stillness in the Dojo.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I was up at 5:30 am this morning and popped into the dojo. . It was so quiet. . The mats were empty. The only sound was the low hum of the lights and the distant echo of traffic. There’s a kind of stillness here that doesn’t exist anywhere…
A Defining Moment – The Meeting That Redirected Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Today, there are many types of karate. But it’s worth saying what often gets left out: it didn’t used to be this way. . Originally, karate was a method of self-protection – pragmatic and rooted in application. The shift to having ‘many types’ of karate is not something that…
Facing a Blade? The Freeze That Kills – Self-Defense Starts in Your Head.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I was recently sent a video of a thug attacking a guy with a machete – a blade over 12 inches long. As you can imagine, a frightening experience. . As I watched the video, it looked as if the person being attacked froze in place while the attacker…
Why Waiting Until Nidan to Learn Bunkai Misses the Point.
(Approx 2 minute read) Too many think kata is just choreography – technique after technique, moving in lines. But without bunkai, it’s empty. . A comment I received the other day from a Shotokan instructor said he doesn’t teach bunkai until the practitioner is at nidan (2nd dan). . Really? Why? Such disregard reflects a…
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy…
Respect Is Not Blind – It Seeks Understanding, Tested in Reality.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) My article on hikite had the usual amount of naysayers but this comment caught my eye: . “Interesting that you know better than Funakoshi, Nakayama and all the Sensei’s that came from that line. Some may say you were being very disrespectful at the very least?” . He went…
The Warrior Within: Quiet Strength, Ready When Needed.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Some people look like they were born fighters. Of course they’re not – but it feels that way when you see how they step forward while others shrink back. . That’s the warrior within – something you either have or you don’t. . For those of you who aren’t…
Revisiting Hikite: The Human Body, Nakayama’s Vision, and the Revolving Door.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Much of today’s karate comes from the modernization that took place in the early part of the 20th century. Instruction by prominent sensei from the 1960s shaped what many still teach today. . One such method – which I’ve written about extensively – is hikite. – Not again. ….
Self-Defense: Fight When You Must – Escape When You Can.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) The fear of an attack can make many of you want to fight back immediately. But in the real world, the best defense often lies not in fighting it out, but in cultivating other tactics. . Many people send me videos to comment on – usually it’s some guy…
Boundaries and Noise – When Integrity Costs You Nothing.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) As we grow older, our priorities shift. Time becomes more precious, and we realize how important it is to surround ourselves with people and situations that add value to our lives. . I’ve learned to balance tolerance with boundaries, recognizing that life is too short to waste on dishonesty,…