“You rank is not an entitlement.” ?? . Kanei Uechi (上地完英, June 26, 1911 – February 23, 1991) was the son of Kanbun Uechi, founder of Uechi-Ryū, one of the primary karate styles of Okinawa. Kanei was instrumental in the growth of Uechi-Ryū after his father’s death. . . You rank is not an entitlement, nor…
Tag: Dojo
Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn.
“Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn.” ?? . Patrick McCarthy 9th dan Koryu Uchinadi . “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ~ Thomas Moore . Becoming a shodan or higher black-belt in karate will be a dream come true for some of you. In order to do…
You have to put in the EFFORT.
努力怠るなかれ ~ “Doryoku okotaru nakare” (Never neglect effort) ?? . Kenzo Mabuni (1927-2005) . “Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, [..] that delivery of the very best that you can do. . It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you…
Never neglect courtesy and etiquette.
礼儀怠るなかれ ~ “Reigi okotaru nakare.” (Never neglect courtesy and etiquette) ?? ~ Kenei Mabuni (1918-2015) . There is a cultural element to karate which should be well observed. This cultural element involves courtesy, humility, etiquette, rank, tradition, protocol and much more. . Whenever or wherever you train Karate, you should follow certain etiquette and manners called…
“Okinawan Karate kata feature mostly low level kicks.”
“Okinawan Karate kata feature mostly low level kicks.” ?? . Paul Enfield 8th dan Goju Ryu – GKCglobal . In the modern dojo, practically every combination has a kick somewhere within it. This is primarily because kicking is very effective in the competitive environment. Also, because high-level competitors are amazing athletes, they can apply kicks in…
Always be ready to make a defense.
“In the real world, you can’t expect people to do what they’re supposed to do.” ?? . Sensei Johnny Lawrence . “Zanshin” can be translated literally as “the remaining mind” or “the lingering mind”. It is a concept found in Zen and Budo that emphasizes a continued alertness to an endeavor. In other words, it is…
I love the term winning or learning.
“Why do I think it is important to study the fighting arts? . There’s a lot of challenges in the life we live. Nothing is easy in life and I think many of us learn very early in life, that failure is something that can destroy a person, or it can teach them a lesson….
To be a master you must be a great & humble student.
“To be a master you must be a great & humble student; being a great & humble student, you will never call yourself master.” ~ anon ?? . Humility is a very important human trait that all people should exercise in their lives. Being humble means you aren’t too big for any lesson that may come…
Facing the makiwara.
“Facing the makiwara.” ?? . Minoru Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan Dojo Okinawa . The makiwara (巻藁) is a padded striking post used as a training tool in various styles of traditional karate. It is thought to be uniquely Okinawan in origin. The makiwara is one form of hojo undō (supplementary training) used by Okinawan…
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.”
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” – Japanese proverb ?? . Teachers undoubtedly have the ability to change the lives of their students. Most of us can remember a particular teacher that helped shape who we are today. An inspiring and informed teacher is among the most…
Assumptions are ALWAYS wrong.
“I stopped explaining myself when I realized people only understand from their level of perception.” ?? . It’s easy to make assumptions. All you need is incomplete information about a situation or person, and an unwillingness to ask the questions you need to complete the information. . You fill in the blanks with YOUR interpretation of…
People must pass on the traditions and not lose them.
“I hope that the next generations will not only improve technically but also know how to share their knowledge. People must pass on the traditions and not lose them.” ?? . Teruo Chinen 9th dan Goju Ryu (1941-2015) . . Old-style karate was for use in self-defense in a civilian environment. For karate to be ‘traditional’…