(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) I recently came across a comment claiming that karate contains techniques for ripping flesh. Yes, you read that right. . Apparently, hidden within traditional karate are moves that allow you to tear open human skin with your bare hands. . It’s the kind of nonsense that makes you wonder…
Category: Masters
Through the Dojo Door: Stepping Into Change.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Change. Even the word makes some karateka open their mouths in horror, as if you’ve insulted their family or spat on their dojo floor. . People resist change because they believe they will lose something of value, or fear they will not be able to adapt to new ways….
Naihanchi Is Not Everything. But it’s a Great Place to Start.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Naihanchi – one of my favourite kata. . Filled with close-range fighting and grappling techniques. It’s probable that Itosu believed Naihanchi to be so effective that, even if it was the only kata a student ever learnt, they would still become an able fighter. . The phrase “Everything is…
The Art of Learning: Empty Your Cup.
A great master received a university professor who came to enquire about wisdom. . The master served tea. He poured the visitor’s cup full, then kept on pouring. The professor watched the cup overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. . “It is overfull. No more will go in!” . “Like this cup”, the…
Kata as a Textbook: Understanding Its Misunderstood Language.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Kata means many things to many people. For some, it’s just a bunch of basics – something to help practice those basics, or maybe something more. Once again, only recently someone said to me, “Kata is useless.” . You can choose to see kata as something you do for…
Exploring Kata: More Than Techniques. From Motion to Meaning.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Something someone brought up recently about kata. They were asking, “If we don’t really understand the applications, the why behind the moves, are we just wasting our time?” . There’s no single, perfect answer to what any move in a kata is supposed to be. Even if the old…
Beyond the syllabus: True progress starts when you look deeper.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) I remember a little while ago being invited to teach at a dojo and hanging on the wall in plain sight was the curriculum or syllabus they followed. It was structured, organized, and served as a clear guide for what students were expected to learn. . But as I…
When Self-Defense is Just Pruning Your Roses.
(Approx 2 minute 55 second read) What is awareness, and why is it so important in self-defense? . Many practitioners focus solely on physical techniques, treating force as the solution to every problem. Some even adopting a fight-first mentality, giving little more than lip service to avoidance. . But we all know that avoidance is…
Purpose-Driven Practice: Cut Through the Unnecessary, Focus on Function.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Over the years, karate has been modified to fit a non-combative formula such as competition, athleticism, style, and aesthetics. However, traditionally, karate – and its kata – were designed as records of practical fighting methods for civilian self-defense. . Now, I understand that not everyone trains for self-defense or…
Walking with My Teachers – A Moment of Reflection.
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) I started my ‘journey’ in 1974 and now everything I do carries the lessons and experiences of the Sensei I have trained under. Their insights, wisdom, and guidance have shaped my understanding, and in many ways, they walk with me still. . Throughout life, we encounter mentors who leave…
No One Size Fits All: Are You Training for the Wrong Fight? Finding Your Path in Martial Arts.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Whenever I write an article about real-world self-defense, the comments seem to explode into “my style is the best”. . I don’t think a lot of these people actually train themselves – maybe keyboard warriors, maybe just inexperienced – but these comments usually revolve around one style in particular:…
“A student also had to have a good character or they wouldn’t teach him.”
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Does a change of character begin when you commence karate training? Does karate improve your character? . It is often cited that one of the precepts of modern karate was to improve the character. But can karate truly shape who we are? . Character traits can be built, forged,…