(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) The martial arts teaches us many things, but one of the most valuable lessons is knowing when not to engage. You can spend years refining technique and self-discipline, but it takes real maturity to recognize that some battles just aren’t worth fighting. . And that maturity should come with…
Tag: Humility
One Path Known, One Path New: Which Path Would Your Teacher Choose Today?
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) The martial arts are great, aren’t they? So much diversity, so many differences – steeped in rich traditions and varied styles. . While the pursuit of proficiency and personal growth is what most of us strive for, it’s not uncommon to encounter practitioners who show a certain stubbornness when…
Karate Then and Now: What Are We Really Studying?
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) When karate was widely introduced to the public through the school system in Japan in the early 1930s, it had to meet certain criteria. To be accepted, the curriculum needed to promote physical health, build confidence, improve endurance, enhance concentration, and so on. . It specifically could not be…
Beyond the Patch: When Loyalty Is Tested.
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) Not every patch is a symbol of trust. . Over the years, I’ve seen many martial arts groups rise and fall. Names change, alliances shift, and new banners are flown – but the questions stay the same. . What does it mean to be loyal? What should an association…
Stripped of Illusion: Not All Who Wear the Belt Wear the Values.
(Approx 2 minute read) Recently, I wrote an article asking whether karate builds character. We’re often told it does. . It’s a phrase passed down from instructor to student, repeated so often it becomes accepted as truth. It’s written on dojo walls, part of the budo creed. . And maybe – at times – it…
A Train Ride, Not a Showdown: Common Sense Before Combat.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Most of the people who visit my page regularly – thank you, by the way – will know that aside from the header that clearly states Practical Karate, much of my writing centers around exactly that. . Recently, I received a message from someone who claimed that self-defense is…
Are You Teaching What You Understand – or Just Instructing What You Were Told?
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) There’s a difference between asking a question and asking someone else to do your thinking for you – especially when it comes from someone you don’t know. . Lately, I’ve been receiving messages from instructors – some new to teaching, others with different backgrounds – asking how I approach…
Revisiting Step-Kumite: Because “Beginners Have to Start Somewhere” Isn’t Good Enough.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) With regard to my recent article on step-kumite, someone argued that beginners need a starting point, and that step-kumite is often seen as an entry-level method. . He made the comparison to teaching a child how to catch a baseball – starting with a tennis ball at a short…
The Past Informs Us, But It Doesn’t Define Us – What Matters Is What You Can Do with It.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) I’ve always been fascinated by history. When I lived in a rural area of the UK, reminders of the past were everywhere – Bronze Age burial sites, a Roman town and amphitheater, a 10th-century church. You could almost feel the weight of time beneath your feet. That sense of…
The Lost Lessons of Kata: Is it Time to Move Beyond the Myths?
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) It’s hard not to feel frustrated when reading comments about kata. So many people speak with confidence – but little understanding – about what kata is for, how it works, or why it was created in the first place. . Most of the time, their explanations are rooted in…
Who Are You When No One’s Watching? Do You Train to Build Character?
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) A recent comment I received said, “Most karate classes are not for self-defense. It’s about the long-term development of your character.” . I’m not sure I agree. The majority of dojo today advertise self-defense classes. So which is it – self-defense, self-improvement or something else? . It’s sad to…
You Still Recognize the Game – Karate Should Be No Different.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) There’s a common belief in classical karate that it gives you a reliable way to protect yourself. But plenty of people – especially those from more modern systems – say otherwise. A big part of the problem is that karate has often gone unchallenged. Because of Japan’s culture of…