(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) When you look into kata and their applications, breaking things down, you usually look at individual techniques, sometimes obsessing over what’s going on in a specific movement. . You probably consider the terminology of a technique too, using it to try and work out how a series of moves […]
The Bigger Picture: Principles and Concepts in Motion – The True Gift of Kata. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) “If you know the Way broadly, you will see it in everything.” – Miyamoto Musashi . Someone commented on one of my articles saying that practical karate people are just looking for moves in MMA to match what they do. . Actually, no. That’s the wrong way around. You
“If you know the Way broadly, you will see it in everything.” Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) The other day, I received a comment on an article where I wrote about practices that lack any connection to real-world scenarios, where drills such as yakusoku, renzoku, or sanbon/gohon kumite, etc., are very unlikely, especially when attacking from six feet away using an Oi-zuki. . He stated that
From Boat to Battlefield: Understanding the True Purpose of Karate. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) When I started karate in the 1970s I was in awe of the Japanese instructors that were around at the time in the UK. . They exuded power, focus and precision that I could only dream of attaining. . But there came a time during the beginning of the 1980s that
Tradition, Technique, and Truth: When Karate Doesn’t Adapt to Real-Life Threats. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) No one today has experienced a time when there were no karate styles. . One of the most significant changes in karate’s history was the creation of different styles and the formation of a standard and a terminology everyone understood. A shift that was necessary in order to teach
Training for Purpose: Your Karate, Your Choice. Choose wisely. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) The way that karate is mostly taught today seems to always start with blocking. Any step-kumite, drill, or application from kata is shown with a defender blocking an attack before performing a counter. . In my opinion, this is an overemphasis on blocking as the primary means of defense.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) I often receive comments on my articles that tell me that you don’t need self-defense, you’re never going to need it. Just practice for fun and competition. . Er, no. . As an example, literally a block away from me this morning at 6:30am, there was a carjacking. A
Guard Up? Think Again: A Stark Reminder of Self-Defense Reality. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Kenwa Mabuni, one of Okinawa’s great karate masters, once said, “The karate that has spread to Tokyo is incomplete. Those who believe that karate consists only of kicks and punches, and think throws and joint locks are exclusive to judo or jujutsu, have been misinformed. We should have an
The Missing Pieces: Beyond Judo. The Forgotten Throwing and Grappling of Karate. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Years ago, while I was living in the UK, someone trespassed into my garden. I heard a noise and went outside to investigate. There he was, perched in a tree. I gave him a piece of my mind, to which he shouted back, ‘Come and get me, old man!’
Just Know – Old Age and Treachery Will Always Outsmart Youth and Enthusiasm. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) A comment on my recent article where I was pushed into the road while out for a run read: “Well written but your first mistake was not crossing the road in anticipation, but sometimes in life our senses do not tell us.” . It’s a valid observation, but it highlights an
The Road Ahead: The Choices We Make in the Moment. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) What does personal protection mean today? Let’s face it, it often has little to do with what happens in most martial arts classes. . If you’re thinking about self-protection and you’ve got no choice but to fight, you need to act. Take control, dominate the attacker, and get out.
The Road Home: Staying Safe, One Step at a Time. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) For most people, kata is a solo performance, mostly there to pass a grade. For a practitioner with limited experience, this is an important stage of practice. If you can’t perform the movements efficiently without an opponent, you’ll have no chance of making them work against an aggressive one.
Kata: More Than a Theatrical Performance – A Record of Practical Combat. Read More »
