Fighting

Most people are not really prepared or trained, physically or psychologically, for a physical encounter, it’s best to concentrate on something that will work – beginning with avoidance.

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection /

My recent article about keeping your hands up in a guard in self-defense situations, featured several responses, some stating it works in MMA, or other sports. . You’re missing the point. . A guard IS applicable in consensual fights. . In self-protection, either, you are so close that BOTH HANDS SHOULD BE WORKING, or you […]

Most people are not really prepared or trained, physically or psychologically, for a physical encounter, it’s best to concentrate on something that will work – beginning with avoidance. Read More »

In real life, a raised guard just paints a bullseye on your forehead. A liability in the unpredictable chaos of reality.

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

Self-protection or inviting the fight? . In any sporting fighting arena, a tight guard is gospel. But in the real-world where self-defense maybe necessary, it could be a bad idea, both tactically and legally. Why? Because self-defense is NOT a controlled match. It’s messy, chaotic, and often over before you know it. . It should

In real life, a raised guard just paints a bullseye on your forehead. A liability in the unpredictable chaos of reality. Read More »

In real world effectiveness, the ultimate goal is to be prepared, not just to perform.

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Kobudo, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

Emotions are powerful, but are they always the best guide in the martial arts? . While passion fuels our training, logic and common sense should offer a crucial perspective for developing functional combat skills. . The journey towards effective martial arts (if this is your goal), involves not just rote repetition, but also genuine understanding.

In real world effectiveness, the ultimate goal is to be prepared, not just to perform. Read More »

“Nothing is more harmful to the world than a martial art that is not effective in actual self-defense.”

Bushido, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection /

It is said that the Okinawan karate pioneers, Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) and Choki Motobu (1870-1944), did not agree on many things and openly disliked each other. . Funakoshi became an advocate of Karate-do, while Motobu, an advocate of Karate-jutsu. . Motobu in his criticism of Funakoshi, stated that; “Nothing is more harmful to the world

“Nothing is more harmful to the world than a martial art that is not effective in actual self-defense.” Read More »

Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. Self-defense is about survival.

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection /

I have been writing articles for several years now and a misconception about self-defense continuously runs through the comments I receive. . Let’s attempt to clarify things. . Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. . Self-defense

Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. Self-defense is about survival. Read More »

“Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone.”

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

Yoshio Kuba, 10th dan Goju-Ryu karate, once said, “Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone.” This profound statement challenges the popular perception of martial arts as solely about physical combat. Instead, it highlights a deeper principle: true control lies in not needing to use force. . Forget the street-brawler mentality. True strength

“Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone.” Read More »

Symbolic gesture or combative function?

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection /

The martial arts world can be a tapestry woven with intricate traditions and practices. . One intriguing thread that runs through the practice of kata, specifically, the enigmatic movements often interpreted as “salutations.” . These seemingly ritualistic gestures have some practitioners attributing them to hidden meanings and even ancient Chinese symbolism. . However, perhaps a

Symbolic gesture or combative function? Read More »

Self-defense is about stopping the threat, not winning a contest. Keep it simple, keep it effective.

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

In my younger days, high kicks were a speciality of mine. I was very flexible, often using different high kicks to success in the dojo and in competition. And if you had told me high kicks didn’t work for self-defense, I would have strongly disagreed with you. I know several karate-ka who worked on the

Self-defense is about stopping the threat, not winning a contest. Keep it simple, keep it effective. Read More »

“I’ve always tried to put everything in actual use. I try to find the secret within the kata and then express it within my techniques.”

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

“Every day, there is a new discovery. Rather than merely hitting this way or hitting that way, i’m interested now in trying to evolve the foundations of my practice.” – Kenji Yamaki . You can learn all the technical skills you want, all the theories and concepts down to the core. But what’s the point

“I’ve always tried to put everything in actual use. I try to find the secret within the kata and then express it within my techniques.” Read More »

It is useless to explain to a person who is already holding a conclusion.

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

If someone thinks that a lesson is useless, then teaching them will be a waste of time. If the desire doesn’t come from the inside, the person will just go through the motions.….. they will never truly learn or understand. . What I have found over the years is that some people just want to

It is useless to explain to a person who is already holding a conclusion. Read More »

“Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing.”

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Sensei, Student /

Someone made a comment on one of my articles that stated your not an instructor if you look to fail people for a black-belt test and break them down as individuals, that life is tough as it is. . While I understand this perspective, and it’s true that a positive and supportive learning environment is

“Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing.” Read More »

Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting?

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting? . Karate was originally created to protect yourself from civilian attacks….. “villain or ruffian”. (Ankoh Itosu precept quote) . Of course, it depends what we mean by untrained. There are plenty of people who learn how to fight from getting into fights. . A lot

Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting? Read More »