Rank, in some environments, can become a trophy for time served, rather than a measure of functional ability. We see this often in the modern martial arts landscape: the rise of the “instant master”. Some individuals move from junior grades to self-appointed high ranks in a matter of years. They trade on titles because they […]
The “Black Belt” Myth: Why Rank Does Not Equal Survival Read More »
There is a specific “fact” in martial arts that has been repeated so often it has become gospel: “90% of all fights end up on the ground”. You’ve heard it, and I’ve heard it. It’s the primary justification for why so many people now spend 100% of their time rolling on mats. But if we peel back
The 90% Ground Fighting Myth Read More »
A friend told me last week he teaches karate on Tuesdays and self-defense on Thursdays. Like they’re two different things. They are two different things. But they weren’t supposed to be. Originally, martial arts were about self-defense. That was the whole point. Somewhere along the way, though, most of what gets taught became something else
Your Dojo Isn’t Preparing You for Violence Read More »
A while ago a student from a different style joined us. As we went through a few drills, one thing became obvious quite quickly – every time there was any kind of pressure, his hands went straight up to the sides of his head. Tight, high guard. He’d clearly spent a lot of time being
When ‘Keep Your Hands Up’ Stops Working Read More »
I have never understood the half-hearted approach to things. Anything. I will try my best, even if it’s not as perfect or as well executed as the next person, I will still try my best. What I don’t understand is how easily people step away when things become difficult, or how many settle for doing
Commitment Over Motivation Read More »
Where does a beginner turn when they want to learn self-defense? What draws them to a particular martial art or school? For me in the early 1970s, it was Bruce Lee movies and the TV series Kung Fu. Today, it’s social media. Every time I open my phone or switch on my computer, there’s another video
Where Does a Beginner Turn for Self-Defense? Read More »
A few years ago, I wrote something about untrained people and how unpredictable they can be in a confrontation. The point at the time was simple enough – just because someone hasn’t trained doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous. In many ways, that unpredictability can make them more difficult to deal with. I still agree with
Why Are We Still Preparing For The Fight First? Read More »
I came across a story told by Seikichi Iha (1931-2024) talking about the origins of kata. What stood out for me wasn’t the detail, it was the simplicity of the idea. He suggested that kata may have been formed by working backwards from what someone found useful in a fight – simply what worked for
Kata as Memory, Not Mystery Read More »
Someone made a comment recently that stuck with me. Not because it was unusual – but because it was honest. The person had been training in Shotokan for nearly 30 years and said he was completely indifferent to self-defense. For him, karate was a kind of moving meditation. Something personal. Something calm. Something far removed
Karate Without Context Read More »
Whenever people ask me about karate or inquire about joining our dojo, a question that occasionally comes up is, “What style of karate do you practice?” But what does that really tell anyone? Does a style actually give insight into a practitioner’s skill or an instructor’s understanding of karate? There are those who place a
What Does ‘Style’ Really Tell You? Read More »
Drills, whether practical or not, are often shown through demonstration. If you want to explain a movement or an idea, you need a partner, and at some level that partner has to cooperate for the demonstration to take place. There’s nothing wrong with that in itself. The problem starts when that cooperation isn’t recognized for
When Self-Defense Becomes the Problem Read More »
Karate doesn’t fail people – unclear goals do. My page is predominantly about practical, pragmatic karate. It says so right at the top. So naturally, everything I write comes from that context. And from that perspective, something all of us have had to practice and learn at one time in our karate journey – step-kumite
Step-Kumite Isn’t the Problem – Misunderstanding It Is Read More »
