(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) As I’ve mentioned before, the comments section of my articles often inspires me to write again, and my recent article on kata’s true purpose was no different. . This time, a reader asked a very thoughtful question. They explained how, despite training kata in both Shotokan and Kyokushin, they […]
How Many Kata Do You Really Need? One Kata, Three Years – Still Enough Today? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Kata was born in a time of real violence, not sport or rules. To think its creators couldn’t defend themselves is absurd. Context matters, and ignorance is not bliss. . I recently received a comment that read: “No fighter ever trains kata to learn how to fight. Only old
Understanding Karate’s True Purpose: Real Violence, Real Purpose and Why Kata Matters. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) My recent article about not working hard for a black belt, paying for it, or getting it too easily brought a lot of thoughtful comments. Many people shared their own journeys, what the belt meant to them, and the effort behind it. . But there’s always one (usually more
Karate, Context, and the Critics Who Miss the Point. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) When I took my shodan (a long time ago) I had no idea it was happening. I turned up for class as normal, always early, the first to arrive, as I helped teach the children class. . My instructor then informed me, “you’re taking shodan tonight.” Wait, what? There
Black Belts for Sale: What Happened to Earning It? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 55 second read) The comments section on my articles reveals quite a bit about people’s knowledge, sometimes the lack of it, their dogma, and sometimes, just a way to put across an opinion. . It’s all good, but when a comment is wide of the mark it gives me impetus to write
No Meaning? The Pinan Kata – A Complete Fighting System, Not Children’s Play. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Do kata have a theme, or are they just a collection of techniques? . Many people see only the techniques, but what we should be doing is learning how to uncover what each kata is trying to teach. The goal is to discover the individual theme and message in
Thinking Like the Creators: Kata as Living Time Capsules – Perspective in Practice. Read More »
(Approx 3 minute read) Why we need to define self-defense. . In my experience, reading the messages I receive, many people seem to have the wrong idea of what it is, and what it isn’t. . Let’s be clear about what we mean. . Self-defense is not sparring or any kind of step-kumite. It’s close-quarter
Why We Need to Define Self-Defense. Tradition vs. Reality. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) There are many instructors that are passionate about their karate. They want to appeal to a wider audience and they obviously need to keep the doors of their dojo open. I know, I’ve been there. . There’s nothing wrong with wanting to grow your school or attract students, but
Shaking the Tree: Wake Up to What You’re Really Practicing and Teaching. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) I was at school in the 1970s when a friend of mine managed to sneak into the cinema to watch Enter the Dragon, the iconic Bruce Lee movie. . The next day he was so enthusiastic about it that, even though I had never heard of Bruce Lee or
Was Bruce Lee Right? Why Knowledge Alone Isn’t Enough. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Many martial artists think self-defense begins with a punch, and for many practitioners, it’s the only way they see it. . Maybe because I’m getting on in years now, I think more of my failings and my fallibility. Back in the day I loved to fight, boxing as a
Am I Getting Angry at an Empty Boat? Zen, Karate, and Self-Defense. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) Recently I was sent a video to view of two high ranking Goju-Ryu dan grades practicing step-kumite (again). Forwards and backwards, blocking and punching. . Why punch, block, counter, punch, block, counter, moving backwards and forwards in a prearranged manner, with no basis in reality? . I’ve yet to
Come on Guys, Karate Deserves Better Than Choreography. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) A comment on one of my recent articles said that they don’t train throws in karate until students reach black belt. Really? Why? . I’ve never understood this mentality as a teacher. I’ve been teaching a long time, both in martial arts and outside of it. If I only
Building on Fundamentals: Why Withholding Techniques Until Black Belt Fails Students. Read More »
