(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Real-world violence is nothing like what most people practice in the dojo. Throughout my life, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of facing real-world confrontations – both as a civilian and in my career. . It’s important to remember that most martial arts schools today teach some form of dueling, […]
A Weapon Changes Everything – Your Life Matters More Than Your Wallet. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In a recent article I talked about learning from others, whether from people or other methods, it’s good to have an open-mind to everything, right? . Of course there are people who are deeply stuck in their ways and unfortunately, here is an example of just that. . A
Karate Doesn’t Need More Choreography – It Needs Honesty. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I was watching a video recently of bunkai performed at a tournament in Japan. . It was the usual two against one format. The individuals performing the applications were incredibly athletic, the choreography was really impressive, their techniques crisp, the timing and techniques impeccable. . It was really fun
The Art You See Isn’t Always the Art You Need: Function Over Form. Read More »
eople (Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I’ve taught quite a few people over the last 50 years or so that I have been involved in the martial arts. By now, regulars to my Page, and even those who aren’t, can probably tell that I prefer my karate to be practical and pragmatic. . Sometimes
Why Some People Seek to Learn but Never Change. Read More »
(Approx 3 minute read) A friend of mine recently posted an image of a downward block, or gedan barai, to show it could do something most people never expect: in this case, a throw. . For clarity, he placed text alongside the image that said, ‘Gedan Barai is not a block’. Oh crikey, I know
More Than a Block: One Movement, Many Uses. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) My word it is hard to get through to some people sometimes. . Karate basics are often misunderstood. What are called soto uke, gedan barai, uchi uke, jodan uke, and more – many see these as literal blocks, designed simply to stop an incoming attack. . But if you
Kihon Misunderstood: Where Tradition Ends and Practical Karate Begins. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) I wrote an article recently about keeping movements smaller and tighter to engage the kinetic chain. To stop exaggerating movements and making them too large. . Of course, there were comments saying you have to practice big first so you can become small later. Utter nonsense, of course. If
Kihon done right – seeing the purpose beyond tradition. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Over the years I’ve watched a lot of people perform kata, and one thing that often stands out is the size of the movements. . Arms swinging in wide arcs, steps that cover half the floor, hips turned so far that the intent of the technique gets lost. .
Shrink the Motion, Reveal the Intent. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) It’s interesting that in my articles about self-protection or self-defense, several comments suggest that many people simply don’t need it. . For clarity, in this article I use “self-protection” to describe all the measures we take to stay safe – awareness, avoidance, preparation, and mindset. “Self-defense” refers more specifically to the
Beyond Fighting: Building Safety Before Darkness Arrives. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Karate. Is it a sport, a way to develop character, self-defense, fitness, or more? . In the early stages of my karate journey, competitive fighting was my primary focus. I eagerly awaited the moment to face an opponent and hear the word “hajime”. Other aspects of karate held little
The Problem With Modern Karate: It Isn’t Self-Defense by Default. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) I’m sure many of you have a favorite kata. I have a few that just seem to sit well with me. One of those kata is Naihanchi. Simple in appearance but deep in application. It has a distinctive embusen compared to most other kata. . Gichin Funakoshi called the
The Enduring Value of Naihanchi: The Kata I Keep Returning To. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) Most people look at kata and see “blocking”. It’s the word everyone recognizes, drilled into beginners from day one. But kata teach far more than simply stopping a strike. A more accurate term is “receiving”. . So what does it mean to receive rather than block? . It’s common for less
The Map and the Mnemonic: What Kata Really Teach. Read More »
