(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Why do people obsess over things? . People obsess for many reasons, and some are more prone to it than others. . You might try to make sense of a situation but can’t quite understand or accept it, so you keep replaying it. Others want reassurance that they were […]
Focus on Your Own Path: The Only Authority You Need Is Over Yourself. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Real-world violence is nothing like what most people practice in the dojo. Throughout my life, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of facing real-world confrontations – both as a civilian and in my career. . It’s important to remember that most martial arts schools today teach some form of dueling,
A Weapon Changes Everything – Your Life Matters More Than Your Wallet. Read More »
eople (Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I’ve taught quite a few people over the last 50 years or so that I have been involved in the martial arts. By now, regulars to my Page, and even those who aren’t, can probably tell that I prefer my karate to be practical and pragmatic. . Sometimes
Why Some People Seek to Learn but Never Change. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) In a recent article I wrote about lineage, one of the comments I received said, “The worth of a teacher is not measured by the fame of their lineage, but by the depth of their understanding, their ability to transmit, and their humanity.” . He added, “…what truly matters:
Good Teachers Are Measured by What They Inspire, Not What They Need to Prove. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Something a little different today. . People talk a lot about confirmation bias, Dunning–Kruger, and all the psychological reasons why some can’t see past their own viewpoint. You don’t need the labels. You see the behavior every day, people so stuck in their own little world that anything outside
Not Every Argument Is Worth Your Time – Experience Teaches You That. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) ‘Fighting’. If you think about it, it’s not difficult, is it? Most of us had scraps as kids, play fights with parents, siblings, or mates down the park. We all had a fight now and then. . Then we joined a karate club, and suddenly it became difficult. We
The Hardest Lesson in Karate: Unlearning What We Thought We Already Knew. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) It’s interesting that in my articles about self-protection or self-defense, several comments suggest that many people simply don’t need it. . For clarity, in this article I use “self-protection” to describe all the measures we take to stay safe – awareness, avoidance, preparation, and mindset. “Self-defense” refers more specifically to the
Beyond Fighting: Building Safety Before Darkness Arrives. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) I’m often asked, “Who is your teacher?”, “What style is it you practice?”. Well, I like to say that I’m forging a personal path. . Ultimately, karate-ka who put in the training hours with the right teachers and mentors eventually end up doing their own thing, right? . After
Standing on Shoulders of Giants: Forging a Personal Path in Karate. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) People love to talk about lineage. Personally, I care more about ability. So, how important is lineage to you? . We all have a martial arts lineage of sorts. Some remain faithful to one, others, perhaps through no fault of their own, have several. There are those who believe
Lineage, Ego, and the Myth of Inherited Skill. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) The phrase “karate ni sente nashi”, often mistakingly translated as “there is no first attack in karate”, has been repeated by karate-ka for generations. . Gichin Funakoshi made this principle the second of his Niju Kun (Twenty Precepts), reminding us that “karate begins and ends with courtesy”. . However,
Karate ni Sente Nashi: There’s No First Attack… Or Is There? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) Is doing your best always enough? . In my view – yes. There’s nothing more you can do than your best. That doesn’t mean you can’t improve. It means that right now, with what you know and understand, you’re giving everything you’ve got. Your “best” is a flexible, honest commitment to
The Spirit of Karate Begins with How You Do the Simplest Things. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone said to me recently that I keep writing about the same thing, and that this page “used to be great”. It was meant as criticism, and I’ll admit, it stung a bit. But maybe it’s true that I keep coming back to the same subject. Perhaps that’s because
Karate: A Journey Through Many Paths. Read More »
