Martial Arts, The Open Hand Notebook, Page 112

“Sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.”

February 9, 2020

“Sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.” ?? . Adam Carter 7th dan Ryukyu Karate Jutsu ~ SHURI KARATE DOJO . When we are tested or challenged by something, often we find that our weaknesses seem exaggerated. However, during this time, we can learn to focus and discover what our […]

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Knowing when to walk away is wisdom.

February 7, 2020

“Knowing when to walk away is wisdom. Being able to is courage.” ?? . Seikichi Odo 10th dan Okinawa Kenpo Karate & Kobudo (1926-2002) . In martial arts we are always told never give up, keep going, no matter what. Is this the right attitude? . The problem with persistence is that every decision you make

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The best revenge is to have enough self-worth not to seek it.

February 7, 2020

“Revenge is never a straight line. It’s a forest, and like a forest it’s easy to lose your way, to get lost, to forget where you came in.” ?? . Hattori Hanzo . . The best revenge is to have enough self-worth not to seek it.

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You must make ‘mushin no shin’ (mind of no mind).

February 5, 2020

“You must make ‘mushin no shin’ (mind of no mind).” ?? . Minoru Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu Kyudokan . . The word “mushin” is comprised of two kanji characters: 無 (mu), meaning “nothingness”, and 心 (shin), meaning “heart,” “spirit,” or, in this case, “mind.” In this way, mushin can be roughly translated to “nothing mind”

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Stillness is as important as activity and both need to be trained daily.

February 4, 2020

“It’s no good waiting until you are attacked before training in self defence and it’s no good waiting until you are about to have a breakdown before meditating. . . Good Martial Arts is a toolbox for coping with life. They should train both mind and body. Your physical and mental health should improve with

Stillness is as important as activity and both need to be trained daily. Read More »

Always return to basic of life: Breathing.

January 31, 2020

“When you feel life is out of focus, always return to basic of life: Breathing. No breath, no life.” ?? . Mr. Miyagi . Every system in the body relies on oxygen. From cognition to digestion, effective breathing can not only provide you with a greater sense of mental clarity, it can also help you sleep

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Excuses are made out of pure laziness.

January 30, 2020

“While you are still waiting to find an easy way (or a perfect time), someone else is already getting results. Because they decided making progress is more important than making excuses.” ?? . . Most of the time, excuses are made out of pure laziness. For people who are constantly making excuses….the negative energy it takes

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Students should not come to class late.

January 29, 2020

“Students should not come to class late.” ?? . Rika Usami ~ World Karate Champion . When students come to class late, it can disrupt the flow of the lesson, distract other students, impede learning, and generally erode class morale. Moreover, if left unchecked, lateness can become chronic and spread throughout the class. . There are

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No one is stopping you. Except you.

January 28, 2020

“There’s a time to persevere and a time to let go. Your ability to know the difference will be your greatest source of strength.” ?? . Dr. Alan Goldberg . . Sometimes you’ll need to push through the pain, other times it’s wiser to let go. Will you know the difference when it’s time to make

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“The biggest adversary in our life is ourselves.”

January 22, 2020

“Know the difference between a catastrophe and an inconvenience. To realize that it’s just an inconvenience, that it is not a catastrophe, but just an unpleasantness, is part of coming into your own, part of waking up.” . . “The biggest adversary in our life is ourselves. We are what we are, in a

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‘To study the old is to understand the new.’

January 21, 2020

“There is an ancient Chinese maxim which says, ‘On ko chi shin.’ This means, ‘To study the old is to understand the new.’ In short, the ‘Bubishi’ is the bible of Karate tradition – irrespective of modern interpretations – as all ‘styles’ rest upon identical principles influenced only by various interpretations of common knowledge.” ?? .

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Without in-depth study of bunkai, kata practice loses all meaning.

January 16, 2020

“I don’t mean to suggest that I have a totally negative opinion about karate-do’s competitive element, it’s just that I feel that it is too shallow. Regardless of whether it is Okinawa, the Japanese mainland, or the world in general, jiu-kimite (free sparring) ignores the principles to which kata apply. Simply put, jiu-kumite should reflect

Without in-depth study of bunkai, kata practice loses all meaning. Read More »