A little while back, a nidan instructor contacted us after his instructor passed away and asked if we could grade him to sandan. From the outset, I had reservations. Even though I knew his instructor, I didn’t know this person. He had never joined us for a session, and I had never seen him train. […]
Rank Is Earned, Not Requested Read More »
We often learn more from searching for an answer and not finding it than from simply being given the answer itself. It’s not hard to learn more if you are open to it. What is hard is to unlearn something when you discover you may have been doing it wrong all along. I remember over
Even Monkeys Fall From Trees – Learning From Mistakes in the Martial Arts Read More »
Being attacked with a knife is terrifying. I have seen the results of many of these attacks in my past careers – some of them fatal. And yet most knife defense demonstrations begin the same way. A single, committed middle thrust from distance. Like a standard karate-type stepping punch. No – that’s not how it happens.
Step Off the Centre Line… Then What? Read More »
“Practice makes perfect.” How many times have you heard that to motivate you? The problem is, the phrase isn’t quite right. Practice doesn’t make perfect. It makes permanent. It should really be: Perfect practice makes perfect. Karate is known for its repetition. How many of you have attended a weekend seminar by a top instructor
Practice Makes Perfect? Read More »
Losing interest in martial arts training happens to everyone at some point. It’s almost inevitable, and there are countless reasons why. How often have you heard someone say, “I used to do karate”? The decision to stop rarely feels dramatic. It’s often quiet. Yet years of work can fade surprisingly quickly. It begins innocently – skipping one
When Training Becomes Who You Are. Read More »
Most dojos have a creed – a Dojo-Kun (道場訓). A list of promises or ideals, framed neatly on the wall. Students recite it at the start or end of class, bow respectfully, then forget half of it before they reach the car park. That isn’t criticism. It’s just observation. A creed is only words until you
The Creed on the Wall. Read More »
Are older systems, older styles, closer to realism? There may be some truth in that. Older systems can preserve deeper material. They can carry forward ideas that were not designed for sport or performance. But age on its own doesn’t guarantee anything. I value lineage. I draw satisfaction from knowing who taught me, and who
Realism Is Not Inherited. Read More »
Almost every promotional video I am sent to watch, or website I am asked to view, mentions one thing – self-defense. Very few say they teach competition. Fewer still say it is primarily for fitness or personal development. Self-defense is the preferred label. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. The problem begins when the content
Is the Karate You Practice Really Suitable for Self-Defense? Read More »
If we don’t understand the applications in kata – are we wasting our time? Someone asked me that recently. It’s a fair question. There is no single, perfect answer to what any movement in kata “is”. Even if the original creator had something specific in mind, that intent is long gone. What remains is the
Does Kata Work – Or Are We Avoiding What It Demands? Read More »
Karate has changed – we all know that. The karate created by the pioneers on Okinawa looks very different from much of what we see today. And of course, those later pioneers were part of that shift themselves. Change didn’t happen by accident. When I watch students from other dojo trying to work out bunkai
What Are You Waiting For? Read More »
When I ran a storefront dojo, it was never meant to replace full-time work. It was something we did because we enjoyed it. That didn’t stop the rent, insurance, and utilities from arriving each month – or the noticeable gaps on the mat when students didn’t turn up. Over the years, I heard many reasons
