(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Traditional karate, with its rich tapestry of styles and history, is often seen as a domain of discipline and unity. However, beneath the surface lies a landscape fractured by disagreements and divisions. . A poignant example is the notable dislike between two karate legends, Funakoshi Gichin and Motobu Choki….
Tag: Lineage
“Karate has many stances; it also has none.”
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Nakasone Genwa (1895-1978), once said, “Karate has many stances; it also has none.” This seemingly paradoxical statement highlights a crucial concept in training: stances are not rigid, fixed positions, but rather dynamic movements that serve a specific purpose. . In everyday English, we use the word ‘stance’ to infer…
Kata is not merely a sequence of movements; it’s a timeless link to the wisdom of pioneering masters.
(Approx 2 minute 32 second read) Kata is often viewed as outdated, irrelevant, and, from many comments I receive, totally misunderstood. . It’s important to remember that kata were created in a time without social media, video, hardly any photography, and no books or artwork on the subject. . Most teachings occurred behind closed doors…
Karate’s Missing Link: The Legacy of Tegumi and Its Relevance to Self-Defense Today.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) In the early to mid-1950s, when karate started to spread globally, the emphasis was heavily skewed towards striking and blocking techniques. . Many of the early Western instructors, who had spent varying amounts of time learning from their Japanese and Okinawan teachers, had a wide range of experiences. Some…
温故知新 On Ko Chi Shin — “Study the old, understand the new.”
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Within the structured world of the martial arts, a practitioner’s journey extends beyond expertise in techniques. It’s also about cultivating a personal expression – a unique blend of technical proficiency and individual interpretation. . This pursuit of one’s “martial voice” isn’t a rejection of established forms, but rather a…
“Gichin Funakoshi’s ideal, [..] was to advance from Jutsu to Do. It has become my mission to attain this goal.”
Karate is often suffixed by the terms ‘Jutsu’ or ‘Do’. Understanding these concepts is an important part of your training. . Many people comment on my articles that they don’t need self-defense skills, finding the character-building aspect more appealing. While each to their own, this separation limits their potential. . ‘Jutsu’, translating to ‘method’, refers…
“The karate that high school students practice today is not the same karate that was practiced even as recently as ten years ago.”
(2 minute 42 second read) My recent article about ‘bunkai’ exposed a litany of misconceptions in the comments. . The dedication of karate masters over the decades has ensured the transmission of kata. However, their true depth often remains undiscovered. . For many practitioners, karate remains a striking art. Blocking, punching and kicking. So when…
In the Shadows of Tradition: Challenging Misunderstandings in Karate.
(2 minute read) Karate often finds itself mired in misconceptions and misunderstandings. . How many times have you watched a video or responded to a comment and cringed at what you have just witnessed or read? . Unlike other arts like MMA, Judo, Boxing, jiu-jitsu, etc., which seem to have clear purposes and methodologies, karate…
The Dojo. Where we inherit the wisdom of those who came before, and in turn, prepare to pass it on to those who follow.
(2 minute read) The door to the dojo swings open with its familiar creak, and a wave of calm washes over you, a place when outside problems just fade away. . Do you still feel that rush of excitement when you step inside? . The answer, for most practitioners I would hope, is a resounding…
Many pioneers of karate inform us that the hand opposite to the striking hand is ‘doing something’.
(2 minutes 15 second read) It’s very common in traditional karate to see practitioners performing a technique, while pulling back/drawing back the other hand and placing it on the hip, or with the knife hand, across the abdomen. . In Japanese, the ‘pulling hand’ is called ‘hikite’, and it’s evident in most of the receiving…
Memorization Isn’t Enough: Master the Art of Using, Analyzing, and Adapting Your Skills.
(1 minute 35 second read) Just like any other pursuit, true learning in the martial arts goes beyond rote memorization. It’s not about simply accumulating facts, but about developing the ability to use, analyze, and adapt the skills you’re taught. . Rote memorization may have its place in the initial stages of learning, providing a…
Chaos Training: Building Confidence Under Pressure.
(2 minute read) Some of the comments on my articles recently seem to be producing quite a range of interesting views. . One such comment seemed to suggest that the methods of pressure testing I mentioned in an article; – “to include in your practice pressure testing; unknown wild attacks, pushing, pulling, grabbing, verbal escalation,…