The global estimate of people who practice martial arts ranges from as low as 50 million to as high as 150 million. . So what is it that all these people see in the martial arts? . Despite those numbers, the vast majority of practitioners will never use their skills in a real act of […]
Karate Doesn’t Fail – Unclear Goals Do. Read More »
There is a modern belief that achievement is something you can hold in your hand – a certificate, a diploma, a grade, a title, a rank. Something printed, stamped, and signed that proves you have arrived. It’s a comforting illusion, and it has taken root in karate. . The logic is simple. If the box
Certificates, Curiosity, and the Disappearance of Depth in Karate. Read More »
I was watching a video of a practitioner going through some self-defense techniques, presented as coming from a respected karate legacy. . To be honest, it would have been totally ineffective for that goal. . In a recent article, I explained how, as a young man in my early 20s, actively competing at a national
Choreography and the Dangers of Untested Confidence. Read More »
Karate has always been a long road. It was never meant to be a collection of certificates to gather, but a lifetime of practice that slowly shapes the person who walks it. . The early grades mark progress, but they are only the beginning. Shodan literally means “first step”, the point at which you finally
What Seniority Was Meant to Represent – When Titles Outpace Training. Read More »
In a previous article, I wrote about how suddenly violence can appear, and how little control any of us may have over its arrival. . I also wrote about an incident from my early twenties, when I was attacked while out running. That experience stayed with me not because of technique, but because of what
Training for What You Can’t Predict – When Practice Meets Reality. Read More »
Driving past a martial arts school yesterday, I noticed some of the students leaving – children barely three or four years old. . Personally, I have never taught children this young. In my opinion, karate for this age group is little more than structured play and games. If this is your income source and it
Purpose Shapes Practice – Karate, Context, and Age. Read More »
After I posted my thoughts about the word “osu”, I expected a few people to disagree. But what surprised me was how many long‑time practitioners, including instructors, admitted they weren’t actually sure where the word should be used, or even why they say it at all. . Some people told me they’d been using it
A Word That Wandered: How ‘Osu’ Drifted Through Karate. Read More »
Respect for your teacher is paramount and following instructions is instilled from day one. But sometimes this culture of respect leads to habits that are repeated without thought – phrases, behaviors, and rituals that people copy simply because they’ve seen others do them. . I often receive comments on my articles and messages that consist
Respect, Habit, the Word ‘Osu’ – and Where It Doesn’t Belong. Read More »
I remember some time ago visiting a dojo to teach. Hanging on the wall was the syllabus the students had to follow. One of the kata I had chosen to teach that day wasn’t listed, and they remarked that they didn’t need to learn it because it wasn’t on the syllabus. . We all want
The Syllabus Is a Guide, Not a Cage – Learning Beyond the Wall Chart. Read More »
Why do some discussions shift from reality to rank the moment clarity or experience is questioned? . This question came up recently in response to one of my articles: “Are the views stated your own views, or are they transmitted from your teachers?” . On the surface, it sounds reasonable. But it reveals something deeper
Understanding Without Permission, Discomfort With Independent Thought. Read More »
A comment on one of my articles suggested that Western students want answers immediately, whereas the Japanese are prepared to wait patiently for a ‘lightbulb moment’. . In other words, understanding should come to us in its own time, and until then we simply repeat. . There is some truth in this, but it is
Waiting for the Lightbulb Moment – When Patience Becomes an Excuse. Read More »
Repetition. You must perform a movement hundreds of times for it to become automatic, instinctive. . Students need repeated exposure over time for skills and understanding to settle into long-term memory. . But there’s an obvious problem that rarely gets addressed. . What happens if you’re repeating something the wrong way hundreds of times? .
Repetition Without Understanding Is Just Practice in Error. Read More »
