Is the demonstration of techniques by your instructor successful….. every-time? . Why this could be a problem?….…. Because those techniques will often fail, more often than you think….. and students need to understand this, and practice and prepare for failure. . The success of any demonstrated technique is largely dependent upon having predetermined knowledge of…
Tag: Karate
Can you learn karate by watching videos?
Can you learn karate by watching videos? . Let’s be honest. You will never, ever become a great martial artist just from watching videos! To become a great martial artist, you need a real-life teacher and real-life training partners. . Videos are a goldmine of information and inspiration. They are a learning tool that no…
Today, many people are thrust into teaching…. Perhaps too soon.
You’ve just earned a black-belt and in an instant you’re teaching children and young students? Today, many people are thrust into teaching…. Perhaps too soon. . If you haven’t been guided through the process, you won’t have a clue as to what it really takes to guide others. No one learns by osmosis, no matter…
“Do not think of attack and defense as two separate things.”
“Meotode” (夫婦手), an uchinaaguchi (the native Okinawan language) principle literally meaning “husband and wife hands”. In the case of an actual fight both hands should always be used together, which is essential in close-quarter pragmatic karate. It is a way of maximizing strategical advantage in a physical altercation by utilizing both arms and hands equally,…
Be stronger than your excuses.
What is Kangeiko? . ‘Kangeiko’ (寒稽古) a Japanese word meaning; “cold training” or “winter training.” It’s special training, in various forms of budo/bujutsu, in which practitioners endure training in the cold. This mid-winter practice is meant to strengthen not only the body, but the mind. . Kangeiko is a common practice of many traditional Japanese…
What is the true meaning of the martial arts?
What is the true meaning of the martial arts? . The problem with this question is that the answer is going to be very subjective and personal. . We use the term ‘martial arts’ in a very broad sense, to encompass many different types of activities, and many practitioners describe what they do as…
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.”
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” – Stephen Hawking or David J. Boorstin . What is knowledge? It is the thoughts, ideas, understanding, facts or information acquired through learning and practice. . What is ignorance? Lack of knowledge, or information about something. . Knowledge improves if we…
“You can only fight the way you practice.”
Sensei says (insert dogma), so it must be true and this is the way I will do it, until the end of time. . One problem which constantly crops up in the martial arts, is that often students, and some instructors too, have an idealized image of a sensei. Once a student gives his, or…
Know which battles to fight.
Know which battles to fight. The real skill is not how to fight. It is knowing which battles to pick and which to walk away from. . If your response to all things is to fight, this is bad thinking, bad practice. After all, life isn’t measured by how many times you stood up to…
“You have two choices, to control your mind or to let your mind control you.”
Commonly translated as “meditation”, mokuso (黙想) literally means “silent/still” (moku-) + “thoughts/thinking” (-so). In other words, mokuso is the act of silencing our minds. . Your mind is the most powerful tool you have for the creation of good in your life, but if not used correctly, can also be the most destructive. To control…
Ever felt so worried you’re constantly thinking about the future and what is going to happen?
Ever felt so worried you’re constantly thinking about the future and what is going to happen?……. Yes? Well remember, no one knows what the future holds. . Anticipatory anxiety describes fear and worry around bad things that could happen. It can happen in a lot of different contexts, but it commonly focuses on things you…
Disappointment is a part of life.
The martial arts have been my way of life, sometimes my profession, for many, many years. During that time, I have often been asked how to stay motivated. How does someone get up every morning and continue their training routine? How does a practitioner avoid becoming part of the majority….. those who give up before…