Many practitioners talk about kata interpretation, or bunkai as an element of their karate practice. And many of these practitioners say the movements aren’t practical, they wouldn’t work for real, kata is useless, no-one comes to my dojo to learn kata, etc, etc……. and you know what? That’s true, for the way most people practice…
Tag: Masters
The journey is the destination.
Is there a decline in what it means to be a ‘Martial Artist’, rather than just train in the martial arts? . Traditional philosophies in the martial arts have been watered down, and have become difficult to practice due to changes in society. . We don’t the have the time, the attitudes, the common interest,…
The warrior mindset.
A warrior is not the one who seeks out fights. A warrior is the one who stands between the fight and the ones we love. A true warrior isn’t hateful or malicious. They are caring and aware of the needs of others. A warrior understands that not every fight is fought with hands and feet,…
“Learning is not simply about acquiring knowledge.”
Students develop an interest in a subject for reasons that have meaning for them. They may be motivated by their interest in a topic, their prior success, a desire to please parents or their instructors, or simply by their own drive to succeed. . There are two main types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsically…
“If you want to make friends, you have no time to make enemies.”
Cooperation and sharing are basic life skills that enable us to make friends, work successfully in groups, and get along well with others. . “If you want to make friends, you have no time to make enemies.” – Seikichi Iha 10th Dan Shorin Ryu Shidokan; above quote from an interview with the Lansing City…
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.”
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain . So much of what you will accomplish in life is influenced by the people you surround yourself with. If you surround yourself with…
Are you a serious martial artist?
If you are a serious martial artist, you won’t let anyone interfere with your martial arts. Training time is too important or valuable to be interfered with. It has to be done every day and takes priority over everything else. . Attending the Dojo, lessons and seminars are the same. They go in the calendar…
Judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are.
Zen Buddhism teaches a concept of “Shoshin“ (Beginner’s Mind), as a positive attribute that refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions, just as a beginner would. Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki said, in his book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice; “In the Beginner’s Mind there…
History is a valuable teacher. If you care to take a look.
Tegumi (手組) or Mutō (無刀) is a traditional form of wrestling from Okinawa. A common practice in Okinawa’s Ryukyu Kingdom period, ‘tegumi’ nearly disappeared from the Okinawan martial arts curriculum. . It is believed by many researchers that tegumi was probably the original form of fighting from Okinawa. And those researchers believe that tegumi, along…
“It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom.”
“Today, there are many instructors who boast of heroic episodes to their students. They are not qualified to be instructors.” – Eiichi Miyazato 10th dan Goju Ryu from the book Okinawa Den Gojuryu Karate-do . Humility is a very important human trait that all people should exercise in their lives. The core significance of being…
“One cannot understand the true meaning of something without putting it into practice.”
Kata was never meant to be used just to pass the next belt or simply practiced for aesthetic purposes. Kata should be practiced for the knowledge of the extremely effective techniques and principles upon which they are based, and practitioners should develop the ability to apply that knowledge. . Kata and sparring, often two words…
“Education means inspiring someone’s mind, not just filling their head.”
The aim of education should be teaching students how to think, rather than what to think. But more than that, to create the “spark” – the curiosity, the passion, for further knowledge that helps them grow as martial artists. . The task of instructors is not just to educate students to perform techniques, drills, kata,…