(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Take a single technique from any kata – a reverse punch (gyaku-zuki). Most people think of it as just a punch. But what if it’s more? What if that basic movement – seen in countless kata – is a tool that goes far beyond striking? And of course, gyaku-zuki…
Category: Masters
Respect Isn’t Silence. Martial Arts Without Question Is Just Obedience.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Someone sent me a personal message saying that I “don’t understand the martial arts” and that if I did, I would “show respect”. . I have no idea what article he was referring to – he didn’t say. He just launched into several accusations. . Assumptions like that usually…
Tradition Isn’t the Problem – Repetition Without Reason Is.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In the modern world of martial arts, we have more information than ever before – yet we cling to methods that seem to have lost all meaning. . So many facts and opinions are out there, but none of it really sticks. Many people continue to revolve around outdated…
A Defining Moment – The Meeting That Redirected Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Today, there are many types of karate. But it’s worth saying what often gets left out: it didn’t used to be this way. . Originally, karate was a method of self-protection – pragmatic and rooted in application. The shift to having ‘many types’ of karate is not something that…
Why Waiting Until Nidan to Learn Bunkai Misses the Point.
(Approx 2 minute read) Too many think kata is just choreography – technique after technique, moving in lines. But without bunkai, it’s empty. . A comment I received the other day from a Shotokan instructor said he doesn’t teach bunkai until the practitioner is at nidan (2nd dan). . Really? Why? Such disregard reflects a…
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy…
Respect Is Not Blind – It Seeks Understanding, Tested in Reality.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) My article on hikite had the usual amount of naysayers but this comment caught my eye: . “Interesting that you know better than Funakoshi, Nakayama and all the Sensei’s that came from that line. Some may say you were being very disrespectful at the very least?” . He went…
Revisiting Hikite: The Human Body, Nakayama’s Vision, and the Revolving Door.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Much of today’s karate comes from the modernization that took place in the early part of the 20th century. Instruction by prominent sensei from the 1960s shaped what many still teach today. . One such method – which I’ve written about extensively – is hikite. – Not again. ….
Boundaries and Noise – When Integrity Costs You Nothing.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) As we grow older, our priorities shift. Time becomes more precious, and we realize how important it is to surround ourselves with people and situations that add value to our lives. . I’ve learned to balance tolerance with boundaries, recognizing that life is too short to waste on dishonesty,…
Putting Substance Back Into Karate: It Must Mean Something.
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) What on earth has karate become? . Yesterday, I was sent a video of a well-known karateka – a successful competitor with deep roots in karate. Someone with rank, experience, and a famous legacy behind them. And yet what I heard left me shaking my head. . They were…
Why Kata Still Matters: You Just Don’t Understand It.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) In a recent article, I wrote about how a single movement from a kata could be so much more than just a punch – a grab, a push, a setup for a throw and much more. . I explored the idea that kata isn’t just a rigid performance, but…
Kata’s Core: Finding Truth Beneath the Movements.
Karate initially draws people to the dojo with promises of physical strength – discipline, skill, and of course, self-defense. . Those who embrace karate as a sport, for fun, or to follow a lineage have every right to do so. . Kata – for many people today – is just there in the background, something…