In the 60’s and 70’s martial arts were a cult. If you missed a session everyone would want to know where you were. Training practices were harsh and very dangerous and injuries commonplace. . Everyone attended every seminar and every tournament. Barefoot runs to warm up, barefoot running in the snow during winter just wearing…
Category: Martial Arts
For most traditional karate-ka, kata is the foundation of karate.
What is the purpose of kata in karate? For most traditional karate-ka, kata is the foundation of karate. But why is that? . The trouble with determining the purpose of kata, is that the purpose you find in kata is directly related to your understanding and your training focus. The key to the purpose of…
Don’t just practice at a specific time of the day or week…. Live your art.
There are a number of reasons why you might want to take up a martial art. The regular physical practice can help you keep fit, build confidence, and let off steam. In the right environment you can learn effective self-defense, or become a tournament competitor (they are different). A martial art can also be a…
Be a “black-belt” at whatever you do. In other words, don’t just be good or okay – be the BEST you can be.
Teachers teach content then test students. This cycle of teaching and testing is familiar to anyone who has been a martial arts student. Tests seek to see what students have learned. . Tests are supposed to be evaluations that see what you know at a particular point in time. But teaching students to practice for…
“One must learn how to apply the principles of the kata and how to bend with the winds of adversity”.
Kata are not simply a bunch of techniques one after the other;…. no, each and every kata were created to record the key principles and strategies of a complete fighting system. . Historically, an individual would formulate a kata to record their own personal fighting methods, the styles of the time. . It obviously would…
Nana korobi ya oki
When you’re pursuing a worthwhile goal it’s almost inevitable that at some point you’ll think one or more of the following: “This is harder than I thought it would be.” – “Why is this taking so long?” – “I’m getting nowhere with this.” – “I keep failing at this goal.” – “I can’t do this….
You have to factor in your opponents reaction.
The martial arts require demonstration to supplement the whole teaching process. I get it. I demonstrate to my students. However, I always incorporate some level of failure into my demonstrations. Why? Because a real life attack is unpredictable, chaotic, vicious, and brutal. Your techniques will probably not go as planned and you may have to…
You can still get things out of attending class just as a spectator.
We know injuries are inevitable, and are usually perceived as a huge bummer when time is needed off from training. But with every injury is opportunity, and continuing to show up to class is one way of capitalizing on them. . We learn from watching, everyone is at least somewhat of a visual learner, and…
If you decide to use Japanese language throughout your dojo, make sure you try, at least, to get it right.
Karate has an Okinawan/Japanese cultural background, thus it is common to use Japanese terminology and cultural characteristics in the dojo. It’s important that if someone uses Japanese terms that this someone is using them right and knows what they are saying. . In every field of interest, there is a certain risk in using technical…
Some people just can’t be taught.
Some people just can’t be taught. Not because they think they know it all, but because they are stuck in their ways. Their way is the best and only way. . Someone actually has to WANT to be taught. Everything can be taught, but not everything can be learned. . If someone thinks that the…
Most instructors are not trained to observe intentionally.
Most instructors are not trained to observe intentionally. . When students are in your presence, not just when they are training, practicing or competing, it’s a time to see, evaluate and give feedback. . As instructors you need to learn to become a good watcher and listener, you’ll be rewarded with a wealth of information….
Remind yourself daily: “I AM WHAT I THINK”.
Mental training in the martial arts is often overlooked, with many practitioners spending very little time on this important aspect of training. . According to oriental culture, what affects your mind affects you body, and this can be seen and experienced in everyday life. . Negative thinking rewires your brain and makes you miserable, makes…