“The most important points of my teaching are breathing, movement and timing. But breathing is first…. the first thing we do in this world is to breathe and, you know, even today, 90% of people do not know how to breathe correctly. If the breathing is wrong, your body will go wrong – your […]
Don’t build tension in your body. Read More »
The technique doesn’t work when your partner is resisting! . A lot of martial arts techniques and applications, in my humble opinion, don’t work against a non-compliant opponent, especially so when applied in the ways that the vast majority of people try to apply it. . Most martial artists, traditional and modern, are in
The technique doesn’t work when your partner is resisting! Read More »
“Enbusen (演武線) (embusen) isn’t just about where you face when you perform kata. Enbusen is the opponent themselves. Enbusen represents the opponent’s attacks or movements, the practitioner must move accordingly to the movements of the opponent, and react to said attacks accordingly….. Enbusen is the opponent.” (End quote) – Toshihiro Oshiro 9th dan Shima-Ha
“Enbusen is the opponent themselves.” Read More »
“These days too many people stop training once they pass 2nd or 3rd Dan, they don’t realise that belts are not important. Grades mean nothing; all that matters is to train hard.” (End quote) – Tatsuo Suzuki Wado-Ryu (1928-2011) . Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily? . If your black belt
Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily? Read More »
“We received from our ancestors, the old masters of karate, the Kata, which they have created with their blood and their hearts, putting their whole souls into them.” (End quote) – Mabuni Kenei . . Do you revere your sensei or teacher, as is often quoted by the older generation of Karate masters? . Reverence
Do you revere your sensei or teacher? Read More »
“If you have good manners, you can survive anywhere. Trouble comes to those who don’t have courtesy.” – Masahiro Nakamoto 10th dan Okinawa Dentou Kobudo . . In society a general definition of courtesy would be polite behavior that is well accepted in the society. This value holds great importance in the correct development
“Trouble comes to those who don’t have courtesy.” Read More »
空手を続ける想い (Karate o tsudzukeru omoi) – To keep practicing karate means……. “Passing down the karate our great masters created to the next generation, and promoting it to the world: that’s our responsibility. . As Master Uechi Kanei said; ‘conditioning the body is important in karate’. Some people think karate is in the mind, but
“I can’t do anything but karate.” Read More »
There is a proverb about horseshoeing, which goes; “For want of a nail, a shoe was lost; For want of a shoe, a horse was lost: For want of a horse, a rider was lost: For want of a rider, a battle was lost; For the failure of battle the kingdom was lost; — And
Are you being taught self defense, or just how to fight? Read More »
If you are going to master a new skill, you have to accept that for the first few times you try it, you’re probably going to get it wrong. You’re going to fail, you may even be embarrassed. You just have to accept that. . Martial arts are complicated – if what we are doing
“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” Read More »
If your coach PUSHES you. If your coach DISCIPLINES you. If your coach DEMANDS the best from you ALL the time… Then he or she truly CARES…….. The McCaw Method. . . Consistently having a good attitude, committing to good routines and habits, controlling the controllables, giving your best effort, putting in the extra time.
Excellence is an attitude. And attitude is your choice. Read More »
“There’s only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) . Sometimes we have to test ourselves and push ourselves to the limit. It is how we grow, and it is how we gain life experiences. You never know your real strength until you push your boundary. .
“There’s only one way to avoid criticism.” Read More »
You QUIT karate? . It’s a harsh reality that the students you’re teaching right now will not be the same students you’re teaching a year or two from now. Every dojo or school goes through it. They quit. . There are many reasons why people quit. The novelty of training may have worn off, or
