There are so many clichés about becoming a black belt, being a black belt, and how you should behave once you eventually get one. . But the problem is that for some people, it doesn’t stop there. One black belt isn’t enough. They want another grade, then another. More stripes on the belt. . When […]
When a Black Belt Stops Meaning Anything – and the Outcome Is Already Decided. Read More »
Self-defense and karate – two words that can be the difference between chalk and cheese, or, if trained within the correct context, can comfortably coexist. . Some people believe combative skill, that is, self-defense, will somehow emerge despite never training to develop it, even while calling what they do “self-defense”. . That assumption sits at
When Purpose Isn’t Clear – Context Is Everything. Read More »
If you’ve followed my writing for any length of time, you’ll know that I’ve never been comfortable with step-kumite. I don’t want to reopen that debate here. Some people value it as tradition; others, myself included, take a more pragmatic view and question its usefulness. This article isn’t about winning that argument. . What is
Sabaki – Movement and Control Without Collision. Read More »
We all want to be acknowledged for our work, our performance, our dedication. It’s a natural human desire to know that we are doing a good job. . Praise is one of those small things that can mean a great deal. Positive reinforcement feels good, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it can also
Learning Isn’t the Hard Part – When Experience Gets in the Way. Read More »
Following my recent article on bunkai and choreography, I found myself returning to the idea of “predictable responses”. It’s a familiar concept, and on the surface it makes sense. Certain actions often provoke certain reactions. . But often isn’t always. Nothing is guaranteed. . Yes, bodies respond to input. Strike, pull, disrupt balance – something
Predictable Responses Are Not Guaranteed Outcomes. Read More »
Bunkai – in some circles it is getting better. Practitioners and instructors are beginning to understand the reality of violence rather than relying on the familiar, stylized karate-type attacks. Intent, distance, and targets are improving. In others, however, there is still a long way to go. . But something fundamental is still missing in many
Bunkai Without Reaction Is Still Choreography. Read More »
This question comes up again and again in karate, usually after a video is shared or a book is mentioned. Someone performs a kata and the discussion quickly turns into claims about what is “original”, who learned from whom, and who was closest to the source. Before long, the kata itself is almost forgotten, replaced
What Do We Mean When We Say “Original Kata”? Read More »
Some of the messages I receive are incredibly short-sighted. “You would fail if you were taken to the ground.” . Firstly – fail at what? . I don’t compete anymore. The karate I teach, and have taught for several decades, is practical and pragmatic in approach. Yes, we occasionally have fun and do competition-style sparring,
“Take Them to the Ground” That Is The Failure Read More »
The global estimate of people who practice martial arts ranges from as low as 50 million to as high as 150 million. . So what is it that all these people see in the martial arts? . Despite those numbers, the vast majority of practitioners will never use their skills in a real act of
Karate Doesn’t Fail – Unclear Goals Do. Read More »
There is a modern belief that achievement is something you can hold in your hand – a certificate, a diploma, a grade, a title, a rank. Something printed, stamped, and signed that proves you have arrived. It’s a comforting illusion, and it has taken root in karate. . The logic is simple. If the box
Certificates, Curiosity, and the Disappearance of Depth in Karate. Read More »
History is a strange thing. We have snippets here and there, sometimes probabilities creep in, but very little that is truly concrete. We study, we interpret, and some attempt to reverse engineer, but at the end of the day we can only work with what we have now. . There is an ongoing discussion around
When Function Comes First – Kata as Record, Not Puzzle. Read More »
In response to my recent article about a video of a practitioner demonstrating self-defense techniques, coming from a respected karate legacy, a comment stated that it is virtually impossible to train for real-world encounters, and that even MMA fighters lose in street situations. . Statements like this often sound insightful, but they hide a deeper
Real Violence Isn’t a Fight – And That Changes Everything. Read More »
