(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I often wonder why people visit my Page, and feel the need to comment – when it seems they have no interest in the practical side of karate. . One particular comment stood out from a person that said he’s been training in Shotokan for nearly 30 years and…
Category: Self-Protection
Karate That Grabs: It’s Not For Show, It’s For Survival.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) In a recent article, I explored how some people view karate as a performance art. They often believe that the perfect execution of a kata is the ultimate goal – the pursuit of a flawless performance. . But why do they think this? And does it actually make sense?…
Martial Arts Without the Martial: Where Did the Combat Go?
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I came across a quote recently that made me stop and think. It said: “The martial arts is not just a process for training fighters. Fighting is of least importance. What is important is the growth in the student’s physical structure, mental discipline, and emotional control.” . Now, while…
The Shadow in the Mirror: Not So Different – Just Seen Through Another Lens.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) The guy from the other day who suggested I “stop with the crap and go do some real training” got me thinking – not about what he said, but about how common this attitude is. . So many people who comment on my articles practice modern disciplines and openly…
Violence Doesn’t Care Where You Live.
(Approx 2 minute read) The comments on my articles are often fascinating. Sometimes they’re insightful, sometimes frustrating – but every now and then, they give me something else to write about. . Here we go with this gem: “If you need self-defense in your neighborhood, perhaps it’s time you switched neighborhoods.” . It sounds clever…
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…
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…
Teaching Self-Defense: It’s Time to Be Honest – One Size Doesn’t Fit All.
(Approx 2minute 15 second read) First, I want to thank those of you who follow my page and read my articles. If you do. you should know I prefer the practical and effective over rigid, performance-focused modern karate. . I often write about the stark differences between real self-defense and the misleading claims made by…
Balance in Combat – Mastering Your Center of Gravity.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) If you end up having to fight, apart from anything else, having good balance can make or break the outcome. . Balance is one of those things you don’t think about – until you lose it. Suddenly, it’s all that matters. In any martial art, controlling your center of…
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…
Karate and Kobudo: Two Paths, One Tradition – Complementary, Not Opposing.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on my recent article, suggesting that styles also reflect the “weapons reality” that an opponent might use. . He stated that “Okinawan Karate focused on empty hand fighting against weapons such as Bo, Jo, Nunchaku, Sai and Tonfa. This ‘weapons reality’ led to direct, close quarter, power…
Barefoot Training and the Role of Shoes in Karate Practice: Tradition and Practicality.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Step into a traditional karate dojo, and the first thing you’ll do is take off your shoes (hopefully). . Like most Japanese budo – with the exception of kyudo (Japanese archery) – karate is traditionally practiced hadashi (裸足), barefoot. There are plenty of reasons for this, some cultural, some…