If you are a serious martial artist, you won’t let anyone interfere with your martial arts. Training time is too important or valuable to be interfered with. It has to be done every day and takes priority over everything else. . Attending the Dojo, lessons and seminars are the same. They go in the calendar…
Tag: Humility
Use your mind as your best weapon, fighting first is NOT your only option.
For those of you who ‘laugh in the face of adversity’, and your response to all things is to fight, to always want to fight first….. You know who you are! . I want to stress the importance of attempting to solve a problem without a physical altercation. You should be trying your best to…
Judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are.
Zen Buddhism teaches a concept of “Shoshin“ (Beginner’s Mind), as a positive attribute that refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions, just as a beginner would. Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki said, in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice; “In the Beginner’s Mind there…
“So my pathetic friend… is there anything that you can do well?”
“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body; it calls attention to the development of an unhealthy state of things.” – Winston Churchill (New Statesman interview, 7 January 1939) . Winston Churchill compared criticism to physical pain, and of course, he was absolutely…
“It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom.”
“Today, there are many instructors who boast of heroic episodes to their students. They are not qualified to be instructors.” – Eiichi Miyazato 10th dan Goju Ryu from the book Okinawa Den Gojuryu Karate-do . Humility is a very important human trait that all people should exercise in their lives. The core significance of being…
“Education means inspiring someone’s mind, not just filling their head.”
The aim of education should be teaching students how to think, rather than what to think. But more than that, to create the “spark” – the curiosity, the passion, for further knowledge that helps them grow as martial artists. . The task of instructors is not just to educate students to perform techniques, drills, kata,…
“Karate is more than simply fighting, it’s a whole art.”
To truly understand your karate, look beyond the technique. . Often, we get fixated on what we’re going to do in order get the result we want. Most people tend to ask the question; “How do I do that?” . I view all techniques and drills to be a means to impart a principle. It’s…
“Karate at its heart is not about sport or beauty. Karate is about SURVIVAL.”
Many people are in denial of the inherent benefits of kata for self-defense, partly because its performance is seen solely as a succession of moves. Without understanding the combative applications they contain, the importance of kata has diminished. If people don’t understand what and why they are doing something, they won’t invest the necessary time…
Why do so many young students quit at brown belt?
Why do so many young students quit at brown belt? . There are so many adults that regret quitting the martial arts when they are young. I can almost guarantee that anyone who quits training at a brown belt level will one day regret it. . So why do so many young people give up?…
You can’t live in the past. You can’t live in the future. You can only live for today.
As human beings we consists of many instincts and fears. As most of us know, the strongest ones are the instincts for survival. . In very stressful situations, a human mind can react with a high dose of fear when we feel like our life is in danger. It’s just a natural human reaction. ….
Is your art sport, or does it have a deeper meaning for you?
For many people, the status of their martial art is something of great importance. For others, it’s not important at all. Is your art sport, or does it have a deeper meaning for you? . Having success in an arena or being able to break boards, ice, bricks etc., or to fight in a controlled…
“I always say that it is not about grade, but about substance..”
“I always say that it is not about grade, but about substance..” – Yasuhiro Uema 10th dan Shubukan Shorin Ryu . Grades, or belt ranks, are without doubt one the most controversial aspects of the martial arts. They can cause many problems and focussing overly on your belt rank, can become extremely toxic. . A…