Okinawan Karate Pioneers: Meitoku Yagi (1912-2003) learned Goju-ryu from its legendary founder Chojun Miyagi. . In 1963, Meitoku Yagi (often referred to as Dai Sensei Yagi), most senior student of Miyagi Sensei, was chosen by Miyagi Sensei’s family to receive the Menkyo Kaiden (naming him official successor of the system) along with the masters karate […]
Oku myo zai ren shin. “Practice with a good heart.” Read More »
“To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.” – Bruce Lee . . But there’s a huge problem—finding enthusiastic, hard-working, dedicated students is not an easy task! . Most students quit. And students who don’t quit usually hold back. When I see a student giving half-hearted effort in class, I ask
“To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.” Read More »
“Traditional karate does not depend upon youth and speed for its effectiveness; its strength comes from experience and hard training. In traditional (dento) karate people get stronger as they get older.” . Minoru Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan . . People in Okinawa live longer than almost anyone on earth. This Japanese region
“Traditional karate does not depend upon youth and speed for its effectiveness.” Read More »
YOU’VE GOT YOUR BLACK BELT! GREAT……. . Now what? . You see, the day after you get your black belt, when all the partying and celebrations have stopped, you undoubtedly came to a pretty disturbing realization: . Nothing changes…. Let me repeat that…. Nothing changes. . You may have a few more bruises. Maybe even
YOU’VE GOT YOUR BLACK BELT! GREAT……. Read More »
Okinawan Karate Pioneers. Chibana Choshin (1885-1969) . The great master Itosu Anko studied Karate very hard. He was not only a great Karate expert, but a scholar and excellent calligrapher. I first visited Anko Itosu in 1899 and asked him to teach me Uchinan-no-te [old name for Karate]. . Twice he refused me, leaving me
The great master Itosu Anko studied Karate very hard. Read More »
The martial arts have been my way of life, sometimes my profession, for many, many years. During that time, I’ve often been asked how a person can stay motivated. How does someone get up every morning and continue their training routine? How does a practitioner avoid becoming part of the majority, the people who give
Do it Now! Sometimes later becomes never. Read More »
Sanchin (三戦) is a kata of Southern Chinese (Fujianese) origin that is considered to be the core of several styles of traditional karate. It is the basic form of “Tanren – 鍛錬” (training) that Goju-ryu (Uechi-ryu and Isshin-ryu too) basically is built upon, and is the foundation of their karate training. . The name Sanchin,
“Sanchin is the basic and also ultimate Kata of Goju-ryu.” Read More »
“Practicing karate improves your lifestyle through health and mental stability. Okinawan karate focuses on developing mental strength and willpower. There is no end in the journey of learning true karate.” (End quote) – Ippei Yagi 8th dan Meibukan Goju Ryu . . Learning anything requires commitment and the ability to push through the uncomfortable feeling
“Okinawa traditional karate is budo.” Read More »
Whether you practice karate for fighting, competition, reality or self-defense, if that’s all you want from training then that is your choice. However, you could be missing out on all the other aspects that the traditional martial arts have to offer. . Since ancient times, the Ryukyu Kingdom has built an attractive traditional culture. In
“My mission is to teach the true meaning of Okinawa karate.” Read More »
Teaching is a highly social profession, so it would follow that all teachers are extroverts, right? Wrong. . Many successful teachers are self-described introverts, and one of the biggest misconceptions about this personality type is that they’re shy. . Introversion is more about how you respond to stimulation, including social stimulation. Where as extroverts really
Your sensei is an EXTROVERT! Read More »
When I learned martial arts in the 70’s and 80’s I went to lessons, took a notebook and took notes in my own way. Then when I went home I would practice from those notes I had taken earlier. The notebook went with me everywhere, and whenever the opportunity arose I would open it up
Take notes. Practice what you’ve been taught. Read More »
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant . “Arete.” – Is a powerful word. To the Greeks, it meant ‘excellence’. It was the ultimate expression of human greatness—moral, physical, spiritual. It’s what the Stoics were chasing. It’s what you should be chasing today. .
We are what we repeatedly do. Read More »
