(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) A reminder that the real fight is often won in the mind. . For those of us interested in self-defense, awareness is key – being aware of yourself, your surroundings, and your environment. . But what does that really mean? . It’s about spotting pre-incident indicators, practicing good positioning,…
Tag: Bushido
Show Up: The Mat’s Here for You, But You Walk Your Own Path.
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) There comes a point in teaching where you stop chasing people. You realize that the ones who want it will turn up, and the ones who don’t – won’t. That’s not harsh. It’s just how it is. . I’ve had students disappear for months, then return expecting to pick…
A Quiet Strength, a Will to Endure: The Strength That Waits Within.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) The dojo has a way of revealing what you’re really made of. It strips away excuses, exposes your habits, and tests your resolve. But it also offers something deeper – an opportunity to see what’s inside. . Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “Look well into thyself; there is a source…
The Essence of the Martial Arts Lies Not in Strength or Style, but in What You Find Within Yourself.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) When you find what’s truly right for you in your training, you stop needing to explain it to anyone. . Apart from teaching at the dojo, I train every day. Not to fight, not for show, and not to prove anything. I train because it matters to me. It’s…
Thinking Beyond Technique: Self-Defense Isn’t About Techniques (It’s About People).
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I recently wrote about helping a new mother with no experience begin learning self-defense. I wrote about mindset, awareness, and small, practical habits that could fit into a very real, very full life. . But as expected, some of the replies were about techniques. What they would teach. Which…
The Way and the World: When the ‘Way’ Forgets Reality.
(Approx 2 minute 55 second read) Every so often, a comment comes along that is so removed from reality. Well… you decide. . “As a sword arts practitioner (kendo and iaido) I do not understand this obsession with karate having to be effective for self defense or ‘street fight’.” . He continues: “Martial arts became…
Too Many Want to Be Right. Too Few Want to Know.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) I wrote recently that no matter how much evidence you provide, people still will not see past their sometimes preconceived rhetoric. . You know, real martial artists are okay with it when they find out they are wrong. And to me, that is one of the greatest gifts that…
Ego Always Wants the Fight – Wisdom Knows When to Walk Away.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) The martial arts teaches us many things, but one of the most valuable lessons is knowing when not to engage. You can spend years refining technique and self-discipline, but it takes real maturity to recognize that some battles just aren’t worth fighting. . And that maturity should come with…
Beyond the Patch: When Loyalty Is Tested.
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) Not every patch is a symbol of trust. . Over the years, I’ve seen many martial arts groups rise and fall. Names change, alliances shift, and new banners are flown – but the questions stay the same. . What does it mean to be loyal? What should an association…
Stripped of Illusion: Not All Who Wear the Belt Wear the Values.
(Approx 2 minute read) Recently, I wrote an article asking whether karate builds character. We’re often told it does. . It’s a phrase passed down from instructor to student, repeated so often it becomes accepted as truth. It’s written on dojo walls, part of the budo creed. . And maybe – at times – it…
Who Are You When No One’s Watching? Do You Train to Build Character?
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) A recent comment I received said, “Most karate classes are not for self-defense. It’s about the long-term development of your character.” . I’m not sure I agree. The majority of dojo today advertise self-defense classes. So which is it – self-defense, self-improvement or something else? . It’s sad to…
At the Summit: Where the Trail Becomes Your Own.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I wrote the other day that one of my teachers – someone I respect deeply, not just for his karate but for how he lives – once told me, “Carry the tradition into the future”. After more than fifty years of training, he said it was time for me…