(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I often receive messages from people that say that in their dojo, or school, their instructor doesn’t teach bunkai applications – or are not very realistic. . This isn’t unusual. Many instructors were brought up on the idea that you shouldn’t question. You just did as you were told. […]
Sparring Isn’t Self-Defense: You Must Understand the Difference. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) A question for the instructors out there: what do most of the students who come into your dojo want? . I stopped and asked all my young and beginner students this question a while back. Without exception, they answered that they wanted some form of self-defense – something to
The Surface and the Core: What Karate Has Become – and What It Was Meant to Be. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 55 second read) For many, earning a dan grade is the pinnacle of their journey. It feels like a mountain climbed – years of effort, sweat, and achievement wrapped up in a black belt and a certificate. And for a time, that feeling is enough. . After the novelty of the belt
Surface Knowledge, Shallow Roots: The Illusion of Progress. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I never thought I’d enjoy writing articles as much as I do, but some of the comments are so incredibly misinformed they keep me fired up and ready to write again. . One comment from a Kyokushin shodan sums up, I think, what any serious practical karate enthusiast knows
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I wrote the other day that one of my teachers – someone I respect deeply, not just for his karate but for how he lives – once told me, “Carry the tradition into the future”. After more than fifty years of training, he said it was time for me
At the Summit: Where the Trail Becomes Your Own. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) My recent article on awareness someone asked me, “But how do you train awareness?” . They expect a drill. A pattern. Something they can rehearse on the mats. But awareness isn’t a technique you run through a few times before bowing out. It’s not something you add on top
Training Awareness – It’s Not What You See – It’s What You Notice. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) In a world that’s moving faster every day – and feels more unstable than ever – traditions matter more than ever. They give us something steady to hold onto, offering a bit of order and comfort in the chaos. . Tradition is really just a belief, a habit, or
When Tradition Becomes a Crutch: The Danger of Blindly Following The Past. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) I’m going to start this article with a simple analogy. . You’re making decisions – judgements – based on what you see, hear, and feel. But what happens when you’re missing something? . How can your choices be sound if crucial information isn’t even on your radar? . So,
Look Again: It’s the Small Details That Matter. Awareness Doesn’t Clock Off. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I often wonder why people visit my Page, and feel the need to comment – when it seems they have no interest in the practical side of karate. . One particular comment stood out from a person that said he’s been training in Shotokan for nearly 30 years and
Karate Solely as Meditation? Why That Worries Me. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) The guy from the other day who suggested I “stop with the crap and go do some real training” got me thinking – not about what he said, but about how common this attitude is. . So many people who comment on my articles practice modern disciplines and openly
The Shadow in the Mirror: Not So Different – Just Seen Through Another Lens. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) The comments on my articles are often fascinating. Sometimes they’re insightful, sometimes frustrating – but every now and then, they give me something else to write about. . Here we go with this gem: “If you need self-defense in your neighborhood, perhaps it’s time you switched neighborhoods.” . It sounds clever
Violence Doesn’t Care Where You Live. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Here we go again. Every time I write about the benefits of kata – really trying to help people understand what it is and how it works – I get a troll in the comments. This time, he proudly declared the virtues of his “street-real” jiu-jitsu and MMA training.
Kata Isn’t Necessary – But That’s Not the Point. Read More »
