(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) People often say that karate builds character. I don’t think so. Your character is shaped over many years and through many different experiences in life – not just by what you do in the dojo. . The Japanese term shūyō (修養) refers to the steady refinement of mind and…
Category: Learning
Taking the Hit: Beyond the Bruises. Why Self-Defense Is More Than Toughness.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Taking the hit. . Someone commented on one of my articles, a Kyokushin practitioner, and said that the best you can do for self-defense is to practice taking the hit. . While I agree it’s important your training includes what it feels like to be hit, within reason and…
Functionality is Not an Addition – It Is Karate. Let’s Not Lose It.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on a recent article of mine where I spoke about the realities of self-defense, where violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. I gave examples of being attacked at an ATM, in a car or bus, in a pub, at a table in a restaurant, and so on….
The Limits of Technique: Practical Karate for the Unpredictable.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. Thinking you can stand toe-to-toe and trade blows with an attacker is a dangerous fantasy. . Far too many people are under the misleading impression that self-protection is all about facing an attacker toe-to-toe, putting your guard up, and “dukeing it out”! ….
The Real Message within Kata: Action Over Reaction.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) One of the first movements you learn when beginning the study of karate is a block. . You are taught to block from day one and to practice blocks at every class until they become a habit and ultimately become an almost unconscious reflex. . This philosophy and its…
Beyond the One Right Way: Avoiding Bad Habits in Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) I get quite a few comments and messages from people who insist that their technique is the answer to a punch, a grab, or any other kind of attack. . Their way is the right way – the only way – and they often go into lengthy explanations about…
Rethinking ‘Uke’ in Karate: Stop Blocking, Start Understanding.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Blocking – one of the most misunderstood actions in karate. . In Japanese terminology we use the word uke, but this little, seemingly simple term doesn’t mean “blocking” at all. Yet so many practitioners still use it that way, and much of their karate revolves around the idea of…
When Students Leave: Teaching and Letting Go – Some Stay, Some Leave, Reflections on the Path of Teaching.
(Approx 2 minute read) In the martial arts, a few students will stay with their teacher for what seems like forever, and those relationships become rare treasures. But many will leave, sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually, and that too is part of the journey. Both paths carry value, and both shape what it means to teach….
Beyond the Punch: Why True Self-Protection Starts in the Mind.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Karate – the ultimate in self-defense, right? . That’s what nearly every dojo and school claims. But how useful is it really when it comes to real-world situations? . Yes, karate teaches you how to fight. You’ll learn how to punch, kick, and even apply joint locks. But is…
礼儀怠るなかれ (Reigi okotaru nakare): Never neglect courtesy and etiquette.
Personally I believe being polite is the way to go. . I receive many personal messages on social-media and email with just a couple of words. As an example: “where are you?”, “who taught you?”, “how can I learn karate?”, “what is your style?”, “what black-belt do you have?”, “what makes you such an expert…
Honesty, Integrity, and Skill – What Gives a Martial Arts Title Meaning?
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) In recent years, it seems that rank and titles in the martial arts have become surprisingly easy to obtain – and very controversial. . Certificates can be printed, titles adopted, and positions claimed with little more than a website and a few followers. . But when we lose sight…
“If anything deserves our protection, it is the authenticity of the art, not the vanity of those who claim to own it.”
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) If you teach, you’ve probably noticed the difference between the student who can’t get enough and the one who’s just… well, there. Some people walk into the dojo full of enthusiasm and want to absorb everything they possibly can. . Others go through the motions and never quite seem…