(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) I wrote an article recently saying, as I’ve long believed, that the two-person drills came before kata. . Kata was the record, something to memorize, a mnemonic, something to preserve the lessons when you were training alone. But I also pointed out that practicing kata on your own isn’t…
Month: December 2025
Kata Makes Sense Only When You See the Other Person.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) The question of evidence has popped up again from a personal message: “How do we know the creators of kata built them on two-person drills?” . A fair question. . But before we get into it, let me make it clear, and I mean no disrespect, I don’t have…
The Black Belt: A License to Learn.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Well done. You’ve got your black belt, you’ve reached one of your major goals. It feels great, doesn’t it? You can finally tell everyone you’re a black belt. For some it may have taken years, for others perhaps not so. . For a moment there’s euphoria, maybe a celebration…
It’s Just a Word: ‘Sensei’ – Who Actually Cares? Well, I Do.
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) I watched an advertisement for a dojo recently. It was a video reel, and although I understand the need for marketing, if you own a dojo and you teach karate, you should at least know how to use the term “sensei”. . If you’re using Japanese terminology in your…
Seeing the Whole Picture: Teaching Beyond the Basics.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Something different. . There are many great teachers of the martial arts out there, but how do you become a great teacher? I’m not saying I’m a great teacher, far from it. I’m just sharing what’s helped me teach more effectively over the years. . Most instructors fall into…
Not Pretty – Ugly, But Effective. Function Over Form.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Recently I was criticized on someone’s page for saying the pioneers of karate, the masters of the past, preferred “function over form”. He asked, “What proof does he have?” . If I’m wrong, I have no problem admitting it. But in this case, I really don’t think I am….