(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…
Category: Student
No Meaning? The Pinan Kata – A Complete Fighting System, Not Children’s Play.
(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…
Thinking Like the Creators: Kata as Living Time Capsules – Perspective in Practice.
(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…
Why We Need to Define Self-Defense. Tradition vs. Reality.
(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…
Shaking the Tree: Wake Up to What You’re Really Practicing and Teaching.
(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…
Was Bruce Lee Right? Why Knowledge Alone Isn’t Enough.
(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…
Am I Getting Angry at an Empty Boat? Zen, Karate, and Self-Defense.
(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…
Come on Guys, Karate Deserves Better Than Choreography.
(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…
Building on Fundamentals: Why Withholding Techniques Until Black Belt Fails Students.
(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…
Wait – You Think Judo and Jujitsu Are the Only Arts with Grappling?
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) On a recent article about not losing functionality in karate, as I do with all my articles I try to find an image that matches. This one happened to show two karateka grappling. . A comment I received stated that “that’s judo or jujitsu”, even going on to say…
The Discipline of Repetition: The Basics Are Not Basic.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I’m sure everyone has heard this sentence before: “The most advanced things you can do are the basics, consistently.” . The more we practice, the less conscious thought goes into our movements. They become automatic, almost like retraining the flinch response, but for karate. . You can learn all…
Karate Can Show the Way, but Only You Can Walk the Path.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) People often say that karate builds character. I don’t think so. Your character is shaped over many years and through many different experiences in life – not just by what you do in the dojo. . The Japanese term shūyō (修養) refers to the steady refinement of mind and…