Be proud of your character, not your Belt rank. ?? . Adam Carter 7th dan Ryukyu Karate Jutsu ~ Shuri Dojo . . Some people seem to be focussed primarily on obtaining rank and status instead of working on themselves, their character, and their martial arts abilities. . Belts are not a trophy to display and […]
Be proud of your character, not your Belt rank. Read More »
It is not about ‘time OR training’ but about ‘time AND training’. ?? . You have to do the time, and promotion will come when you are ready, and you have the minimum ‘time in grade’. Note that the time in grade requirement is a ‘minimum’. Therefore, if you are training three times a week, the
It is not about ‘time OR training’ but about ‘time AND training’. Read More »
“To all those whose progress remains hampered by ego-related distractions, let humility – the spiritual cornerstone upon which Karate rests – serve to remind one to place virtue before vice, values before vanity and principles before personalities.” – Sokon Matsumura (1809-1899) . . “A good instructor teaches students how to fight, a great instructor teaches
Motivation in martial arts training. . I’ve been training in the martial arts for almost forty seven years now and finding the motivation to keep going has been an ongoing process. Sometimes it was easy, other times not so much. Which brings me to the question I think is key to have long-term motivation to
Motivation in martial arts training. Read More »
Why you shouldn’t call yourself ‘sensei’. ?? . ‘Sensei’ (先生) is a Japanese word people all over the world use, in and out of the dojo, in place of ‘teacher.’ . But the word ‘sensei’ is much more than simply a synonym for ‘teacher’. When trying to understand a Japanese word, it’s always a good idea
Why you shouldn’t call yourself ‘sensei’. Read More »
“Why I Stopped Practicing My Karate Style. (Maybe YOU Should Too?)” ~ Jesse Enkamp . . “There is no place in contemporary Karate for different styles. I have heard myself and my colleagues referred to as the ‘Shotokan style’, but I strongly object to this attempt at classification. My belief is that all ‘styles’ should
“There are no styles of karate-do, just varying interpretations of its principles.” Read More »
The difficulty of preserving tradition. ??� . “It is very difficult to keep tradition, not only in karate do, but also in other martial arts. In order to do so, both teachers and students seriously need to do their best. Students need to have an understanding of karate while enjoying it. Of course, teachers have to
It is very difficult to keep tradition. Read More »
“[..] there are many quotes that refers to Zen in relation to martial arts and life.” ?? . Morio Higaonna 10th dan Goju Ryu . “A quiet mind is more important than a positive mind.” ~ Deepak Chopra . . An overcrowded and stressed mind blocks the flow of peace, clarity, wisdom and creativity more than
“A quiet mind is more important than a positive mind.” Read More »
“Many Karate teachers teach a watered down style – no hip action and no depth of punching – so it is easy to say that these teachers have no depth to their knowledge. You are what your teacher is, and if he knows a lot, you should be able to demonstrate this knowledge.” ?? . Yuchoku
“Many Karate teachers teach a watered down style….” Read More »
However keen you may be to begin teaching, before you venture on to the mat and attempt to teach any of the basic techniques (or advanced) to students, it is necessary to know something of the combative principles they contain. . The instructor needs to ask himself/herself what are they training for? Are you training
Make sure, as instructors, your students know exactly what they are being taught. Read More »
“Push yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you.” ?? . Tatsuya Naka 7th dan JKA Shotokan . No matter how hard you try, some days, your students aren’t engaged. There’s no way around it. Student apathy occurs when the student believes that their pedagogical success lies completely with the instructor, or
Push yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you. Read More »
“I will train 365 days a year.” ?? . Ryo Kiyuna – 4 Times World Kata Champion – Ryuei-ryu – (劉衛流, Ryūei-ryū is an Okinawan style of karate. It was originally a family style of the Nakaima family of Naha). . “As a beginner, the first kata you learn is the foundation on which all other
If your first kata is sloppy and weak, there is no point learning a new one. Read More »
