Research shows that people who train martial arts are more alert and focused than those who have never trained before. It also shows that the longer a person has trained, the more enhanced his or her cognition becomes. . But you need to have an insatiable desire to continually improve your skills. . Martial arts […]
Challenge yourself; go farther than you think you can go. Read More »
“Hikite”…is NOT for power generation. . In several martial arts, it is very common to see practitioners performing techniques with one hand while pulling back / drawing back the other hand. In Japanese, this is called “hikite” (pulling hand..there’s a clue in the translation) and is evident in most of the basic “blocks”, strikes and
“Hikite”…is NOT for power generation. Read More »
How to be unshakeable in your enthusiasm for teaching the martial arts. . Students can tell when we’re just going through the motions. But how can you summon the energy to teach with passion; day in, day out? . Firstly there is authenticity: There are times when we have to act excited about teaching a
How to be unshakeable in your enthusiasm for teaching the martial arts. Read More »
The difficulty of preserving tradition. . (begin quote) “It is very difficult to keep tradition, not only in karate do, but also in other martial arts. In order to do so, both teachers and students seriously need to do their best. Students need to have an understanding of karate while enjoying it. Of course, teachers
The difficulty of preserving tradition. Read More »
Okinawan Karate Pioneers. . Chōshin Chibana (知花 朝信 5 June 1885 – 26 February 1969) was an Okinawan martial artist who developed Shorin-ryū karate based on what he had learned from Ankō Itosu. He was the last of the pre-World War karate masters, also called the “Last Warrior of Shuri”. He was the first to
“Whether you become great depends on only two factors – effort and study.” Read More »
“If you can’t do it slow, you can’t do it fast.” . My sensei would often make us practice our techniques in super slow motion to ensure we were using proper form and really developing an understanding of the nuances of each movement. . Of course, it took me a while to understand why we
“If you can’t do it slow, you can’t do it fast.” Read More »
There are teachers where you can learn the techniques of karate, and there are teachers where you can learn the techniques and principles of karate. There are also teachers where you can learn the “Way of karate”, to develop physique, technique, principles, character, mind and spirit. . To me, the real teachers are those who
Your sensei will not always be there. Read More »
Traditional martial arts are a lifetime journey of maturity and growth, everlasting in the quest of self-improvement; emotionally, physically and spiritually, developing real lifetime skills and wisdom. . Karate is like following a path to the top of a mountain. We are all on different paths in the beginning, but as we get closer to
The journey is often far more interesting than the destination. Read More »
“Life is about knowing if you receive and counter, or just deflect. Knowing the good distance or how your timing should be, these are all part of life. In that sense, karate is to be practiced to toughen yourself, every time over and over…. It’s a lifetime’s work.” – (end quote) . Kenyu Chinen
“It is a cultural asset of Okinawa.” Read More »
“Our karate is not a sport but a budo. By budo, I mean to temper oneself. To never give up. This spirit can be reached only if one goes through hard training with all one’s might. Spiritual strength comes only through hard training. So more than a sport, it is about tempering oneself. It
“Our karate is not a sport but a budo.” Read More »
“Training is everything.…….Good students follow where you practice.” – (end quote) – Masaaki Ikemiyagi 9th dan Goju Ryu . . Consistent practice at the dojo is essential to learn and to improve. Regular attendance and practice outside the dojo is also essential. . Regular practice at home, helps maintain the learning that occurred in the
“Training is everything.” Read More »
“I would like to teach my juniors as I was taught by my teacher, so that I can pass on the traditional karate culture of Okinawa. The challenge is to find the right spirit, the right heart, I teach only those who have the right mind. The more I do karate, the more I
