(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Achieving a 10th Dan in karate is an amazing accomplishment, symbolizing a lifetime of training, teaching, and contribution to the art that person practices. . So why is it sometimes controversial? . Maybe it is because of the subjectivity of the process. The teacher with a 10th Dan grade […]
More Than Just a Number: 10th Dan – A Life in Karate. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Confidence is something every martial artist needs. Without it, even the most skilled person can freeze when it matters most. I’ve written about this recently – the impact of how a lack of confidence can ruin any skill you may have. . However, just as too little confidence is
“Self-Praise and Over-Confidence is a Sickness That Corrupts Training.” Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) “What the herd hates most is the one who thinks differently; it is not so much the opinion itself, but the audacity of wanting to think for themselves, something that they do not know how to do.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) . Karate, and the martial arts in general,
Thinking for Yourself: Breaking Free from the Illusion in Karate. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Muscle memory is built by repetition, and doing something wrong during that repetition ingrains it into your mind. It’s much more beneficial to do it right the first time, than training bad information out later on. . In the martial arts, faster is usually considered better. Performing a faster
The Art of Slowing Down: Where Technique Meets Application. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Recently, I wrote an article about how a single movement in karate can serve multiple purposes – beyond the common terminology labels we give them. I used a simple example: the movement many call ‘jodan uke’. I shared a picture of two of my students demonstrating it as a
When Tradition Becomes a Cage Without the Key. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Ever notice how we’re really good at ignoring stuff that doesn’t fit what we already think? . This happens in karate a lot. We get an idea in our heads about, let’s say an upper block, and that’s it. That’s how we see it, period. . Of course it
Breaking the Mold: Lessons Hiding in Plain Sight. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) Confidence is one of those things that can make or break you in the martial arts. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you hesitate, even for a split second, it can throw everything off. I’ve seen it happen – in others, and in myself. . Back
Confidence: Skill Means Nothing Without It. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) My recent article* about the old days – when fighting was tough, and injuries were just part of training – got a lot of responses. Not surprising really many of us experienced something similar. . To be honest, most of the comments were reflective. Those of us who lived
The Training That Forged Us: Built by the Past. The Lessons That Shaped Us. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Those of us who have been around in the martial arts for a while remember a time when there was no equipment. We never wore gloves, helmets, or protective gear of any kind when we fought. We had no pads to hit – we hit each other. . We
No Pads, No Limits – The Way We Trained. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) If you were unfortunate enough to be attacked outside the dojo, doesn’t common sense tell you that getting out of the way would be a good idea? . Kata is full of principles covering a wide range of scenarios, and one of the most important lessons is – getting
Getting Off the Attack Line: Enbusen and the Reality of Angles in Kata. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Someone recently told me that if you don’t wait for an attack, or at least attack or defend at the same time (sen no sen), then you have effectively become the attacker. He argued that we can never truly know the exact method of attack, so we should effectively
Karate Before the Labels: No Names, Just Karate. Don’t Wait – Take Control. Read More »
Teaching is the act of sharing the knowledge we have been given by others – as Tomiyama Sensei reminds us – with the hope that someday, in some way, it again will be passed on and shared. . The journey from one generation to the next is not just about preserving movements, techniques, or tradition
