(Approx 1 minute 10 second read) There are always those who want conflict, who want to fight. . We’re told, again and again, that the sensible response is to de-escalate, walk away, disengage, and not react. And most of the time, that is good advice. . But that advice quietly assumes something important. . It […]
When Avoidance Isn’t Enough and Walking Away Isn’t Always the Answer. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Some time ago, while teaching at a Kyokushin dojo, a nidan asked me about the meaning of a particular movement in Kanku. . It wasn’t a version of the kata I had practiced before, but that didn’t really matter. What interested me was the question itself, because it highlighted
When One Movement Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Let’s start with some reality. . There was another serious assault around the corner from where I live. And to those who say self-defense isn’t necessary? Maybe where ‘you’ live. However… . This is a comment I hear very often: “Do the martial arts work in the streets?” .
Performance Is Not Preparation – The Gap Between Training and Reality. Read More »
(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
The Ghost of Practice: When Visualization Helps – and When It Doesn’t. Read More »
(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
Kata Makes Sense Only When You See the Other Person. Read More »
(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
The Black Belt: A License to Learn. Read More »
(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
It’s Just a Word: ‘Sensei’ – Who Actually Cares? Well, I Do. Read More »
(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
Seeing the Whole Picture: Teaching Beyond the Basics. Read More »
(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.
Not Pretty – Ugly, But Effective. Function Over Form. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) There is so much hatred in the martial arts world on social media that I sometimes find myself wondering whether it’s all worth it. . I’ve stepped back from closed minded groups and associations, simply focusing on my own path, staying in touch only with the people who genuinely
Seeking Solutions: Progress Only Comes When You Look for It. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Why do people obsess over things? . People obsess for many reasons, and some are more prone to it than others. . You might try to make sense of a situation but can’t quite understand or accept it, so you keep replaying it. Others want reassurance that they were
Focus on Your Own Path: The Only Authority You Need Is Over Yourself. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Real-world violence is nothing like what most people practice in the dojo. Throughout my life, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of facing real-world confrontations – both as a civilian and in my career. . It’s important to remember that most martial arts schools today teach some form of dueling,
A Weapon Changes Everything – Your Life Matters More Than Your Wallet. Read More »
