(Approx 2 minute read) Too many think kata is just choreography – technique after technique, moving in lines. But without bunkai, it’s empty. . A comment I received the other day from a Shotokan instructor said he doesn’t teach bunkai until the practitioner is at nidan (2nd dan). . Really? Why? Such disregard reflects a […]
Why Waiting Until Nidan to Learn Bunkai Misses the Point. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) My article on hikite had the usual amount of naysayers but this comment caught my eye: . “Interesting that you know better than Funakoshi, Nakayama and all the Sensei’s that came from that line. Some may say you were being very disrespectful at the very least?” . He went
Respect Is Not Blind – It Seeks Understanding, Tested in Reality. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Some people look like they were born fighters. Of course they’re not – but it feels that way when you see how they step forward while others shrink back. . That’s the warrior within – something you either have or you don’t. . For those of you who aren’t
The Warrior Within: Quiet Strength, Ready When Needed. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) The fear of an attack can make many of you want to fight back immediately. But in the real world, the best defense often lies not in fighting it out, but in cultivating other tactics. . Many people send me videos to comment on – usually it’s some guy
Self-Defense: Fight When You Must – Escape When You Can. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) As we grow older, our priorities shift. Time becomes more precious, and we realize how important it is to surround ourselves with people and situations that add value to our lives. . I’ve learned to balance tolerance with boundaries, recognizing that life is too short to waste on dishonesty,
Boundaries and Noise – When Integrity Costs You Nothing. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) “You cannot get educated by this self-propagating system in which people study to pass exams, and teach others to pass exams, but nobody knows anything. You learn something by doing it yourself, by asking questions, by thinking, and by experimenting.” – Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist . I wrote an
When the Syllabus Stops Working: If You Don’t Ask, You’ll Never Know. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) What on earth has karate become? . Yesterday, I was sent a video of a well-known karateka – a successful competitor with deep roots in karate. Someone with rank, experience, and a famous legacy behind them. And yet what I heard left me shaking my head. . They were
Putting Substance Back Into Karate: It Must Mean Something. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) In a recent article, I wrote about how a single movement from a kata could be so much more than just a punch – a grab, a push, a setup for a throw and much more. . I explored the idea that kata isn’t just a rigid performance, but
Why Kata Still Matters: You Just Don’t Understand It. Read More »
Karate initially draws people to the dojo with promises of physical strength – discipline, skill, and of course, self-defense. . Those who embrace karate as a sport, for fun, or to follow a lineage have every right to do so. . Kata – for many people today – is just there in the background, something
Kata’s Core: Finding Truth Beneath the Movements. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) The majority of karate today is plagued by dogma. Let me explain. . After the Second World War, Okinawa was in ruins. Many of the teachers who started up again back then had learned the ‘school karate’ model – all about building strong bodies and disciplined minds. Not every
Karate: Stop Bowing to Dogma – Question Everything. Read More »
Karate is something you learn properly when you have a good teacher – someone who explains things clearly, allows you to question, and has the depth of knowledge for you to grasp the principles behind what you’re doing. Then, when all this is conveyed, you repeat it – over and over – until it becomes
Why I Keep Repeating Myself: Repetition Keeps Karate Honest. Read More »
