(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Have you ever wondered why so many techniques in kata seem aimed at the chudan (mid-level)? . Guess what? Perhaps they’re not. . What if the real purpose is to provoke a predictable reaction from your opponent – one that opens up the head or neck as the actual
What Happens After the Strike? Control Them, Don’t Let Them Control You. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) As a follow-up to yesterday’s article, I thought I would share a couple of comments I received. . Now and then, I get odd messages from people – especially since I’m an advocate for using kata as a kind of practical Swiss Army knife. . Here’s one that shows
Labels, Myths, and the Loss of Function: The Death of Practicality? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Take a single technique from any kata – a reverse punch (gyaku-zuki). Most people think of it as just a punch. But what if it’s more? What if that basic movement – seen in countless kata – is a tool that goes far beyond striking? And of course, gyaku-zuki
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Someone sent me a personal message saying that I “don’t understand the martial arts” and that if I did, I would “show respect”. . I have no idea what article he was referring to – he didn’t say. He just launched into several accusations. . Assumptions like that usually
Respect Isn’t Silence. Martial Arts Without Question Is Just Obedience. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Imagine a drill that moves away from unrealistic stepping patterns and reflects the closeness of a real-world encounter. You’re not stepping away to avoid an attack – you’re already there, reacting. A drill that forces you to engage, not rehearse. Best of all, even beginners can practice it. .
Karate at Close Range: The Subtle Work of Kakie. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In the modern world of martial arts, we have more information than ever before – yet we cling to methods that seem to have lost all meaning. . So many facts and opinions are out there, but none of it really sticks. Many people continue to revolve around outdated
Tradition Isn’t the Problem – Repetition Without Reason Is. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Many of the comments and messages I receive about the continued use of step-kumite – which I’m against practicing – still leave me with the same questions. . Why punch, block, punch, block – moving backwards and forwards in a prearranged manner, with no basis in reality? . I’ve
Why Are We Still Doing Step-Kumite? Prearranged and Pointless? Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I was up at 5:30 am this morning and popped into the dojo. . It was so quiet. . The mats were empty. The only sound was the low hum of the lights and the distant echo of traffic. There’s a kind of stillness here that doesn’t exist anywhere
Before the Noise: Moments Alone – Finding Stillness in the Dojo. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Today, there are many types of karate. But it’s worth saying what often gets left out: it didn’t used to be this way. . Originally, karate was a method of self-protection – pragmatic and rooted in application. The shift to having ‘many types’ of karate is not something that
A Defining Moment – The Meeting That Redirected Karate. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I was recently sent a video of a thug attacking a guy with a machete – a blade over 12 inches long. As you can imagine, a frightening experience. . As I watched the video, it looked as if the person being attacked froze in place while the attacker
Facing a Blade? The Freeze That Kills – Self-Defense Starts in Your Head. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) Too many think kata is just choreography – technique after technique, moving in lines. But without bunkai, it’s empty. . A comment I received the other day from a Shotokan instructor said he doesn’t teach bunkai until the practitioner is at nidan (2nd dan). . Really? Why? Such disregard reflects a
Why Waiting Until Nidan to Learn Bunkai Misses the Point. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat. Read More »
