If someone thinks that a lesson is useless, then teaching them will be a waste of time. If the desire doesn’t come from the inside, the person will just go through the motions.….. they will never truly learn or understand. . What I have found over the years is that some people just want to […]
It is useless to explain to a person who is already holding a conclusion. Read More »
Someone made a comment on one of my articles that stated your not an instructor if you look to fail people for a black-belt test and break them down as individuals, that life is tough as it is. . While I understand this perspective, and it’s true that a positive and supportive learning environment is
Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting? . Karate was originally created to protect yourself from civilian attacks….. “villain or ruffian”. (Ankoh Itosu precept quote) . Of course, it depends what we mean by untrained. There are plenty of people who learn how to fight from getting into fights. . A lot
Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting? Read More »
How many kata is “enough”? . Of course this is very subjective. What are your goals in training? What are your goals in teaching? How many are contained in your syllabus? Etc. etc. . If you want your students to quickly learn self-defense skills, then a smaller amount is obviously going to be more efficient,
How many kata is “enough”? Read More »
A comment on one of my articles stated that; ”kata and bunkai are useless”, accusing me of not understanding their non-self-defense design, including a “bullshido” label. . You know what? If you think the movements within kata are ineffective, then for you, that’s true. It just shows a complete lack of understanding. . “Why practice
“My karate is stronger, tougher, more athletic, it is the ultimate…. It is superior to yours!” . Really? It’s superior, in all things?….. . You have to define what you mean by “superior”. I’m assuming that when people say “superior”, they mean the best in terms of effectiveness and practicality…… But superior? WHERE? In the
Practice intensity is the will, commitment, and enthusiasm to practice with a purpose. Most instructors consider it an important characteristic for any student. . One of the primary reasons people pursue martial arts is to acquire self-defense skills. And making a habit of questioning your training ensures that you can continuously refine and internalize these
“Shoshin” – the evergreen state of having a beginner’s mind. . This principle, drawn from Japanese philosophy, encourages practitioners to approach each moment with an open and receptive mind, unburdened by preconceived notions. . In essence, it urges practitioners to embrace the learning process with the same enthusiasm and openness that they had as beginners.
Someone said to me recently; “I’m getting my black belt at the weekend.” . This may strike a chord with many instructors, and it raises an important question: Can you simply just “get” a black belt? (It’s a rhetorical question by the way) . The black belt, a symbol of dedication and skill, earned through
One principle that has stuck with me in my martial arts training is the belief that “once learned, never forgotten”. This principle is not just a personal mantra but a tribute to the dedication and wisdom of my teachers, whose teachings I endeavor to cherish and uphold. . It bewilders me how some individuals can
“The difference between who YOU are and who you want to be… is what YOU do.” Read More »
Personally I believe being polite serves us best. I receive many messages on social media with just a couple of words. As an example: “where are you?”, “who taught you?”, “how can I learn karate?”, “what is your style?”, “what black-belt do you have?”. And many, many more. . Nothing promotes silence from me more
The realm of martial arts is vast and diverse, encompassing various styles and techniques, each with its unique history and purpose. While tournaments serve as platforms for martial artists to showcase their skills and compete, the line between tournament techniques and self-defense is often blurred. Incorrectly teaching tournament techniques as self-defense can have serious consequences
