Martial Arts

“In a real fight, one should seek to strike the head as this is the most effective.”

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection /

If your martial arts are studied in a similar way to its original form, a self-defense system, then targeting the most vulnerable body area when a physical confrontation is unavoidable, should be highly considered. . Perhaps a fit, young, athletic tournament or dojo fighter could survive a real life continuous, sport like encounter, but in […]

“In a real fight, one should seek to strike the head as this is the most effective.” Read More »

“In battle, if you make your opponent flinch, you have already won.”

Bushido, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection /

The flinch response is a natural and innate reaction that occurs when we perceive a sudden threat or danger. In the context of martial arts, the flinch response is an important physiological mechanism that can be used to protect the body from harm. When training in the martial arts, it is essential to understand how

“In battle, if you make your opponent flinch, you have already won.” Read More »

“Many Karate teachers teach a watered down style – no hip action and no depth of punching – so it is easy to say that these teachers have no depth to their knowledge.”

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Sensei, Student /

The proverb “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself”, is a powerful reminder of the role that teachers play in our lives. Teachers are there to provide us with knowledge, guidance, and support, but ultimately, it is up to you to take responsibility for your own learning and growth. . In today’s

“Many Karate teachers teach a watered down style – no hip action and no depth of punching – so it is easy to say that these teachers have no depth to their knowledge.” Read More »

“The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in the interpretation of kata movements.”

Bunkai, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Sensei, Student /

Enbusen (演武線 – embusen) is a term commonly used in the martial arts world. In its simplest form it refers to the pattern or shape of the movements that make up a particular kata. . The enbusen of a kata is an important aspect of its execution, as it provides a visual representation of the

“The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in the interpretation of kata movements.” Read More »

“I can see my strengths and weaknesses, and i’m not afraid to face my weaknesses.”

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy /

Growth in the martial arts comes through repetitive daily practice and studying at every opportunity. Today, society finds repetition boring and stifling. The self-discipline of repetition is at the heart of the martial arts. Through repetition, you can quiet the inner dialogue between the ego and the over-thinking mind. . Everything is a test….. and

“I can see my strengths and weaknesses, and i’m not afraid to face my weaknesses.” Read More »

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”

Buddhism, Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy /

‘Mokuso’ (黙想) is a Japanese term that is commonly used in the martial arts. The term refers to a period of silent meditation that is practiced at the beginning and end of a training session. . Commonly translated as “meditation”, the literal translation means “silence/still” (moku 黙) and “think/focus” (so 想). . Mokuso is often

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” Read More »

WAIT. You’ve only been taught to fight? NOW WHAT?

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

A comment on one of my articles about ‘self-defense or fighting’ said that “if you’re young enough [snip] why can’t you do both? (self-defense and sparring)”. . Well of course, you can. You can do both provided you understand the differences and you are aware of the dissimilarities. . But it’s not wise to do

WAIT. You’ve only been taught to fight? NOW WHAT? Read More »

Self-defense or fighting? Do the research. Be aware of the differences, and be ever mindful of them.

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Self-Defense, Self-Protection, Sensei, Student /

Anyone claiming to teach self-defense has a moral obligation to do the research. . Sport training is created to ensure success in sport. It makes little sense to train to develop one set of skills when they are not the skills you wish to actually attain. If you want self-defense skills, then you should be

Self-defense or fighting? Do the research. Be aware of the differences, and be ever mindful of them. Read More »

You have to PUSH yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you.

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy, Sensei, Student /

PUSH Yourself: Karate in Daily Life . I can no longer separate my advancing years from my almost 50 years of Karate training. Even if I never put on my karate-gi again, I would never be able to separate them. . Those of you who have trained for many years will understand what I’m talking

You have to PUSH yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you. Read More »

“You think it’ll last forever, people and cars and concrete, but it won’t. One day it’s all gone. Even the sky”.

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy /

“You think it’ll last forever, people and cars and concrete, but it won’t. One day it’s all gone. Even the sky”. . Time does not care about anything but moving forward. What do the martial arts offer the aging student? . Young practitioners mostly see karate, or the martial arts in general, as something I

“You think it’ll last forever, people and cars and concrete, but it won’t. One day it’s all gone. Even the sky”. Read More »

“If one trains diligently every day, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate.”

Development, Dojo, Japan, Karate, Learning, Martial Arts, Masters, Motivation, Okinawa, Philosophy /

Losing interest in your martial arts training will happen to everyone at some point, and of course there are various reasons why this can happen. . I have seen this so many times. How often have you heard; “I used to do karate”? The decision to stop is made in a second, and the sad

“If one trains diligently every day, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate.” Read More »