There’s a difference between seeking guidance and expecting someone else to do your thinking for you. Over the years, I’ve had many people ask about how I approach training. How do I pressure test? How do I adapt traditional material for modern realities? How do I prepare students for unpredictability rather than compliance? I understand […]
Are You Teaching What You Understand? Read More »
When I was a kid, I wanted to join the Army Cadets, but I was too young. So I lied about my age and got in anyway. I became known as the “little bloke”. I threw myself into everything they offered – sometimes literally. During one escape and evasion exercise, after being caught, a group
The “Little Bloke” Read More »
When I was younger and competing, I had a couple of favorite techniques. Most of us did. They were the moves that felt natural, the ones I could rely on to score points or end a match. There’s a certain satisfaction in finding something that works; it gives you a sense of certainty. But even
The Danger of Being Right Read More »
Rank, in some environments, can become a trophy for time served, rather than a measure of functional ability. We see this often in the modern martial arts landscape: the rise of the “instant master”. Some individuals move from junior grades to self-appointed high ranks in a matter of years. They trade on titles because they
The “Black Belt” Myth: Why Rank Does Not Equal Survival Read More »
I have never understood the half-hearted approach to things. Anything. I will try my best, even if it’s not as perfect or as well executed as the next person, I will still try my best. What I don’t understand is how easily people step away when things become difficult, or how many settle for doing
Commitment Over Motivation Read More »
Whenever people ask me about karate or inquire about joining our dojo, a question that occasionally comes up is, “What style of karate do you practice?” But what does that really tell anyone? Does a style actually give insight into a practitioner’s skill or an instructor’s understanding of karate? There are those who place a
What Does ‘Style’ Really Tell You? Read More »
In the world of martial arts, grades are often viewed as a reflection of a practitioner’s journey – a blend of technical ability, deeper understanding, and personal character. Yet, from time to time, we come across individuals whose grade far outweighs their actual ability, knowledge, or behavior. And when that happens, it’s hard not to
When Rank Loses Its Meaning Read More »
Every dojo has its own rhythm, its own expectations, its own way of doing things. Mine is simple: if you train here, you show up. Not perfectly, not endlessly, not more than your life allows – just consistently. Recently someone suggested that expecting this might be a “privileged stance that lacks empathy”, or that speaking
Standards Don’t Judge You – They Reveal You Read More »
Anyone teaching martial arts knows the student who talks about wanting to train but somehow can’t manage to show up on time, or may not show up at all. And when they don’t, there’s always a reason. There usually is. But it tells you something. It shows you where training really sits on their list
Showing Up: When You Can’t Train Read More »
Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher. It sounds right. It feels right, and most people accept it without question. But taken as it stands, it isn’t quite true. There’s no doubt that teachers can change the direction of someone’s training. Most of us can think of
One Day With a Great Teacher? Read More »
I watched a 95-year-old Okinawan Uechi-ryu master recently performing Sanseiryu, Shintoku Takara, and it stayed with me longer than I expected. Not because of anything dramatic, but because of how little seemed to be happening on the surface. There was no urgency, no obvious effort, and none of the exaggerated movement that people often associate with
What Survives at 95? Read More »
I was asked recently what actually happens when someone steps away from an organization, goes on their own path. You’re part of something for years. You put time into it, help where you can, stand alongside people, and for the most part you don’t question any of it because it feels normal. It feels like
When You Step Outside Read More »
