(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) After decades of practicing and teaching karate, I’m still surprised by how many misconceptions and misinformation continue to swirl around this art. Whether in the dojo or online, I regularly hear the same misunderstandings repeated. . One of these misconceptions that pops up quite regularly is about ‘hikite’. .
Perfect Form, Misguided Function? The Hand That Pulls. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I mentioned in an article recently that an Okinawan teacher showed his black belts a series of techniques meant to showcase ‘real’ karate. Unfortunately, expectations are never as exciting as reality. . Firstly, someone said to me in the comments section, “Can you provide a link to the video?”
When ‘Real’ Karate Isn’t Quite Real Enough: Static Steps or Dynamic Survival? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Someone commented on an article I wrote, suggesting I was “getting carried away” and advising I should “spend time in Japan” to better understand Japanese traditions. . Assumptions often lead to misunderstanding and conflict. His comment was based on a misreading of my article; and he doesn’t know me
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) The problem with many karate techniques is that they are often taught as having a single, fixed use. Consider modern karate and the tools it provides. Let’s take an example: the “Jodan age uke”, the ubiquitous upper rising block. In modern karate, it’s typically used to block, deflect, or
Creativity in Motion: The Power of Possibility Through Asking the Right Questions. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) After decades of practicing and teaching karate, and several years of writing about it, I’m still surprised by how many misconceptions and misinformation continue to swirl around this art. Whether in the dojo or online, I regularly encounter the same misunderstandings repeated. . Karate is not as complicated as
Teaching Karate? Then Get It Right. When the Internet Gets It Wrong. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) All combat sports are one-on-one fights with rules. Self-protection, on the other hand, is not consensual fighting and should be approached differently. . Training for success in sport is designed to ensure success in sport. It makes little sense to train to develop one set of skills when they
The Trouble With Trying to Do It All: Have Clarity of Purpose and Choose the Right Path. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) The comments on my articles are inspiring, often funny, and sometimes, just uninformed. . To all the armchair enthusiasts, keyboard warriors, and practitioners from other methods who think kata is useless – let’s get this out of the way: You do not fight with kata. . The kata were
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) There are all sorts of great tips for improving your karate, but for many, the issue isn’t technical; it’s about presence. It’s not that you need to be perfect, but rather that your mind isn’t fully there. . You might find yourself distracted or tense, caught up in your
Inhale Presence, Exhale Tension: Grounded in Breath, Connected in Spirit. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I often get asked, “How can I improve my karate?” The answer is very simple: ‘Practice’. . It never ceases to amaze me how some people will boldly say, “I’ve forgotten what you taught me.” This is not a failure of memory but of discipline. Improvement in karate –
The Missing Ingredient in your training: Dedication. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Has karate become nothing but a demonstration art? . Many people send me messages asking my thoughts on various karate videos, as I often write about realism and practical karate. This week, I watched a video of an instructor from Okinawa, demonstrating applications from kata. . To be honest,
Karate: Art or Illusion? No – Let’s Get Back to Reality. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) It’s astonishing to me that I need to clarify this further, something as straightforward as practical self-defense, yet here we are. Once again, the armchair enthusiasts seem unable to grasp the situation with any common sense. . To set the record straight: regarding the article where I was asked
Practical Self-Defense: Ditch the Drama and Embrace Reality. Sitting Pretty or Prepared? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) While teaching at a Kyokushin dojo a little while ago, a Nidan there asked me about interpreting a specific move from the kata ‘Kanku’. . The Kyokushin version of the kata was not one I had practiced before, so we talked about how looking at one movement on its
Beyond the Isolated Movements: How Transitions Bring Kata to Life. Read More »
