Many practitioners are searching for more in their karate practice. They’ve seen modern disciplines like MMA and realized that the karate they’ve been learning doesn’t quite measure up to what they’ve witnessed. . If we want our students to truly grasp the concepts, principles, and ideas of realistic karate, they must experience these things in…
Category: Student
Beneath the Surface: Kata’s Hidden Wisdom and the Lessons of Karate’s Most Misunderstood Practice.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Karate over the decades has been significantly diluted, which means that today, regardless of the reason you’re learning, you might not be getting the full benefit of what this art truly offers. Karate is not just about competition, health, or even the martial art itself – it’s about mastering…
Karate: The Art of Common Sense?
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) If you regularly read my articles, I’m sure you recognize that I prefer my karate to be pragmatic and practical rather than for any kind of competition. In the comments section I often find myself bewildered by the lack of common sense and logic that sometimes pervades discussions and…
The Keiko-Gi Badge: A Symbol Worn With Pride.
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) Wearing your dojo or association badge on your keiko-gi, is a significant tradition in the world of karate, or the martial arts in general. Echoing early medieval and martial arts schools where practitioners displayed or wore patches or symbols identifying their lineage, their clan. . Today, this seemingly simple…
The Reality of Resistance: When Realism Matters.
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) If you promote your martial art to include self-defense, then it’s essential that you incorporate high-intensity, realistic training. This might seem obvious, but often this isn’t the case. . When demonstrating practical applications, the techniques must be shown with a resisting opponent. Initially of course, static training is necessary…
Driven to Win: Chasing Victory, The Drive and Discipline of Sport Karate Competitors.
(Approx 2 minute read) Today, my focus is on the more practical and pragmatic side of karate. However, back in the 1970s and 1980s, I loved the thrill of competition. I’m not talking about street fights of course, but sport karate tournaments. . I wasn’t world champion material, but in my mind, I was. Yes,…
“Kakie. You have to rely on your senses, not power.”
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) “Kakie (カキエ). You have to rely on your senses, not power. Targets open up during an exchange, so strike as they open up. You can sense what’s coming even if you’re looking away. It’s all about this feeling.” – Minoru Higa, 10th Dan Kyudokan Shorin Ryu . Kakie, often…
The Greatest Opponent: The trouble is, you think you have time.
Time is the one opponent we cannot defeat, yet it’s the one we often underestimate the most. . The reason why people keep saying, ‘the trouble is you think you have time,’ is because when we’re younger, time seems to move so slowly. But as we age, it speeds up. . You gain this new…
Beyond the Dance: Kata, A Connection to History, A Method for Today.
The comments on my articles are fascinating; “ditch the dance, modern systems don’t need or use kata, traditional karate is ineffective anyway”. . Traditional karate is not ineffective. The misconception that it’s ineffective often stems from the assumption that “traditional” refers only to the modern, stylized versions seen in tournaments and competition. But traditional karate…
Everything you see is just a reflection of what is inside you. Surface-level practice only reveals part of its depth.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) “As up to now [1938] karate has only partly been introduced in Tokyo, people who exercise karate in Tokyo believe that it solely consists of punching and kicking techniques. When talking about ‘gyaku-waza’ (locks) and ‘nage-waza’ (throws) they assume that these only exist in jūjutsu and jūdō. This way…
Surpassing Expectations: Going Beyond Your Limits.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) In traditional martial arts, success shouldn’t merely be measured by trophies or titles. True success comes from within, from the dedication to improve yourself and the determination to give your best effort in every aspect of training. . If I’m on your case about doing better, it’s because I…
“Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.”
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) We had a great class on Saturday. Those moments where a student has a lightbulb moment and says; “Oh, I get it now.” . You can teach someone something, but quite often students have to ‘feel’ it for themselves, they have to experience it firsthand. . Now, I also…