No matter your age or occupation, every day you are confronted with unexpected challenges. You either accept these challenges and meet them head-on, or you resist them, wishing they would just go away. Yet challenges are woven into the fabric of our lives. They are the tests we all have to face daily. . No […]
There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula. . Social media is a powerful communications medium, with widespread influence. Online communication has brought information to people and audiences that previously could not be reached. . Previous generations looked up to genuine experts, who had spent decades perfecting their art. Now, anyone
There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula. Read More »
When you analyze kata, breakdown the movements within, your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations. The kata were created for this reason. . Some of the applications put forward as interpretations of kata movement vary from the wonderful to the ridiculous, and unfortunately it is often hopelessly inadequate. .
Your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations. Read More »
Do you only know one way? Have you only been taught to fight? . For all the importance we place on learning how to fight and defend ourselves, the martial arts should at their core, teach that it is best NOT to get into a fight in the first place. . There are dojo and
Do you only know one way? Read More »
“The satisfaction of one answer merely leads to asking another question.” – Alberto Manguel . Questions are more important than answers because questions seek to understand, to clarify and frame and evaluate. While answers, at their best, are temporary responses whose relative quality can decay over time, needing to be reformed and remade and reevaluated
“The satisfaction of one answer merely leads to asking another question.” Read More »
What does it mean to be a Senpai (sempai)? . Senpai (先輩) translates as “Senior” and can be applied in any situation where someone is senior to you. But the meaning for those in a traditionally run martial art school is far deeper than simply ‘Senior’. . The senpai of a dojo has usually trained
What does it mean to be a Senpai (sempai)? Read More »
Why do people quit and give up when they are so close? . They want the outcome more than they want to obtain a skill. . How many people do you know that speak often of something prestigious they want to be…. gain a black-belt, become an instructor, and yet never actually take the necessary
Why do people quit and give up when they are so close? Read More »
“Okinawans recognize two kind of karate. One is sport karate, and one is called Budo karate. I choose Budo karate. Budo karate is commitment and dedication. In this case, the teacher has to pick those who want to learn true karate. These individuals train hard and are mannerly in their ways. Real Budo karate is
Making connections with students, through humor, kindness, likability, and more is important in any dojo. It can also be astonishingly rewarding. However, you should never be friends with students. Friendly, yes. Friends, no. There is a danger in building relationships with students and that line can never be crossed….. Be a teacher, mentor, and role
“Karate makes true friends.” Read More »
Creating your own style of martial art. . Why is this frowned upon? What makes us any different from the old masters? Didn’t they spend time with several teachers and then after a time, “go out on their own”? . Understanding our lineage, and the traditions that have been passed down over generations is of
Creating your own style of martial art. Read More »
“ The risk of learning something new is that you may have to completely change what you’re doing and what you are thinking, as a result of what you’ve learned. Yet, when you’ve reached a level of experience, you don’t want to change, you don’t want to lose everything you’ve gained. Well guess what? You
Try something new, incorporate “meotode” into your training. Read More »
