“Kata is Karate.” – Naonobu Ahagon 10th Dan Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo, holder of the Okinawa Prefecture Cultural Merit Award. . Kata is a library of self-protection techniques in karate. Each kata creator encoded their specific knowledge into each movement of the kata they made. Kata are not simply a record of techniques; rather […]
“My old ways of Karate was not readily accepted by everyone. They thought it was too outdated and too crude – I think it was just too hard or maybe my training methods were too severe. Whatever it was, it was the way I learned and the way I taught. It was only later, when
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“The wrong time to learn to meditate is when you’re stressed. It’s a bit like trying to learn martial arts in the middle of a fight. Practice daily, find that totally still place inside that is like a ‘reset’ button and puts everything into perspective. Like martial arts, all its takes is consistent, daily practice.”
“The wrong time to learn to meditate is when you’re stressed.” Read More »
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” – Epictetus . There are situations that arise in which we wish to influence other people and make them understand something that we believe to be important. . But no matter how hard we try, we cannot force people to
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” Read More »
Can you block a punch? . As an experiment, I told one of my students where I was going to strike him, which hand I was going to use, and the type of strike I intended to try and hit him with. I asked him to block it….. Nine times out of ten, he couldn’t.
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“Karate is not for a rank, glory or for revenge. It is way of life: A way to protect yourself, a way to build health, and a way to bring people together.“ – Minoru Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan . Ever wanted to get revenge? . The first thing many of us think of
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“Sword and mind must be united. Technique by itself is insufficient, and spirit alone is not enough.” – Yamada Jirokichi (1863-1930) . One of the most important benefits of martial arts training is that it teaches practitioners how to maintain focus. . Martial arts has a lot to do with our mental state in order
“It is not how much you have learned, but how much you have absorbed in what you have learned.” – Bruce Lee . Most people try but some of them just don’t get there…… The reason…. Because they are only trying. . Using the verb “to try” in your sentences is self-sabotage, because before trying
“NO!… Try not!… DO or DO NOT, there is no try.” Read More »
“I hope that the next generations will not only improve technically but also know how to share their knowledge. People must pass on the traditions and not lose them.” – Teruo Chinen 9th dan Goju Ryu (1941-2015) . What does it mean to leave a legacy? . In simple terms, a legacy is passed from
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Look at your reflection… that’s your competition. . Humility is a very important human trait that all of us should exercise in our daily lives. Being humble means you aren’t too big for any lesson that may come your way. . The core significance of being humble is that humility keeps you constantly receptive to
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Are the martial arts all about fighting? Some people seem to think so. (Even on social media it seems.) . The traditional martial arts originated to satisfy a need for self-preservation during difficult times…… “[Karate] is not intended to be used against a single opponent [consensual] but instead as a way of avoiding injury by
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The truth of being a karate teacher is that students will come, and they will go. Karate training, in a good dojo, is not easy. It is demanding, exacting, you have to be determined, committed…… and not everyone is cut out to be a black belt. . When I accept a new student I usually
It’s never about you… it’s always about your students… Read More »
