“Meotode” (夫婦手), an uchinaaguchi (the native Okinawan language) principle literally meaning “husband and wife hands”. In the case of an actual fight both hands should always be used together, which is essential in close-quarter pragmatic karate. It is a way of maximizing strategical advantage in a physical altercation by utilizing both arms and hands equally, […]
“Do not think of attack and defense as two separate things.” Read More »
What is Kangeiko? . ‘Kangeiko’ (寒稽古) a Japanese word meaning; “cold training” or “winter training.” It’s special training, in various forms of budo/bujutsu, in which practitioners endure training in the cold. This mid-winter practice is meant to strengthen not only the body, but the mind. . Kangeiko is a common practice of many traditional Japanese
Be stronger than your excuses. Read More »
What is the true meaning of the martial arts? . The problem with this question is that the answer is going to be very subjective and personal. . We use the term ‘martial arts’ in a very broad sense, to encompass many different types of activities, and many practitioners describe what they do as
What is the true meaning of the martial arts? Read More »
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” – Stephen Hawking or David J. Boorstin . What is knowledge? It is the thoughts, ideas, understanding, facts or information acquired through learning and practice. . What is ignorance? Lack of knowledge, or information about something. . Knowledge improves if we
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.” Read More »
Sensei says (insert dogma), so it must be true and this is the way I will do it, until the end of time. . One problem which constantly crops up in the martial arts, is that often students, and some instructors too, have an idealized image of a sensei. Once a student gives his, or
“You can only fight the way you practice.” Read More »
Know which battles to fight. The real skill is not how to fight. It is knowing which battles to pick and which to walk away from. . If your response to all things is to fight, this is bad thinking, bad practice. After all, life isn’t measured by how many times you stood up to
Know which battles to fight. Read More »
Commonly translated as “meditation”, mokuso (黙想) literally means “silent/still” (moku-) + “thoughts/thinking” (-so). In other words, mokuso is the act of silencing our minds. . Your mind is the most powerful tool you have for the creation of good in your life, but if not used correctly, can also be the most destructive. To control
“You have two choices, to control your mind or to let your mind control you.” Read More »
Ever felt so worried you’re constantly thinking about the future and what is going to happen?……. Yes? Well remember, no one knows what the future holds. . Anticipatory anxiety describes fear and worry around bad things that could happen. It can happen in a lot of different contexts, but it commonly focuses on things you
The martial arts have been my way of life, sometimes my profession, for many, many years. During that time, I have often been asked how to stay motivated. How does someone get up every morning and continue their training routine? How does a practitioner avoid becoming part of the majority….. those who give up before
Disappointment is a part of life. Read More »
During my time working as an EMT, there were many instances of stabbings. The victim(s) was usually stabbed multiple times. . The dangerous truth is that if people mean to stab you…. you either are stabbed before you even notice it, or the attack is immediate the moment you notice that they have a knife
“Your physical safety is up to you, as it really always has been.” Read More »
If you’re like most people, you probably hope you will never find yourself in a self-defense scenario. . As a general rule, self-defense only justifies the use of force when it is used in response to an immediate threat. The use of force in self-defense generally loses justification once the threat has ended. Any use
“Sport sparring is not self-defence and has very little to do with it.” Read More »
No matter your age or occupation, every day you are confronted with unexpected challenges. You either accept these challenges and meet them head-on, or you resist them, wishing they would just go away. Yet challenges are woven into the fabric of our lives. They are the tests we all have to face daily. . No
