“It’s not only techniques but also your attitude.” – Teruyuki Okazaki 10th dan Shotokan (1931–2020) . . You always have a choice. It’s a wonderful thing to know that at any moment you have the freedom, the ability, the power to choose what to do. How to train or workout, practice at home, whether to…
Tag: Masters
KARATE ISN’T A HOBBY, IT’S A WAY OF LIFE……. ( A BETTER WAY OF LIFE).
“At first one might start it as a hobby, but if you perceive it as a ‘hobby’, it won’t develop any further. I ask this all the time. What do you do in the morning when you wake up? You wake up, you brush your teeth, whatever it might be, it’s mostly run the same…
“Always, whenever possible, stop thinking negatively, always think positively.”
“Always, whenever possible, stop thinking negatively, always think positively.” (End Quote) – Yoshizo Machida 8th Dan Shotokan . . Anxiety and fear can stop you dead in your tracks and hold you back. It’s not easy to face your fears and push through them, but for the martial arts, it is essential. . Fear keeps…
What motivates students to learn and how can we encourage them?
“The reason why I’ve continued it this far is it’s simply I just like it….. I just love training karate.“ (End quote) – Masao Shinzato 8th dan Matsubayashi-ryu . What motivates students to learn and how can we encourage them? . Students may be motivated by their interest in a topic, their prior success…
“Through my years of training, the only thing I’ve learned is that I don’t know everything.”
空手は生涯の研究です- Karate wa shōgai no kenkyūdesu (Karate is a lifelong study) – Mabuni Kenwa (1889-1952) . . Relatively speaking, there is still relatively few who choose to dedicate their lives to studying martial arts and self-defense. In terms of sports, many choose more mainstream past times such as football, basketball, baseball, or soccer (in the…
“To temper oneself. To never give up.”
自分を鍛える. (Jibun o kitaeru) “To temper oneself. To never give up. This spirit can be reached only if one goes through hard training with all one’s might.” (End quote) – Uema Yasuhiro 9th dan Shorin Ryu . If you train, and train hard, you will achieve so much, and that is a fact. If you…
“Sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.”
“Sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.” Adam Carter 7th dan Ryukyu Karate Jutsu – Shuri Karate Dojo . . There are times when we have to test ourselves and push ourselves to the limit. It is how we grow, and it is how we gain life experiences. You…
Don’t build tension in your body.
“The most important points of my teaching are breathing, movement and timing. But breathing is first…. the first thing we do in this world is to breathe and, you know, even today, 90% of people do not know how to breathe correctly. If the breathing is wrong, your body will go wrong – your…
“Enbusen is the opponent themselves.”
“Enbusen (演武線) (embusen) isn’t just about where you face when you perform kata. Enbusen is the opponent themselves. Enbusen represents the opponent’s attacks or movements, the practitioner must move accordingly to the movements of the opponent, and react to said attacks accordingly….. Enbusen is the opponent.” (End quote) – Toshihiro Oshiro 9th dan Shima-Ha…
Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily?
“These days too many people stop training once they pass 2nd or 3rd Dan, they don’t realise that belts are not important. Grades mean nothing; all that matters is to train hard.” (End quote) – Tatsuo Suzuki Wado-Ryu (1928-2011) . Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily? . If your black belt…
Do you revere your sensei or teacher?
“We received from our ancestors, the old masters of karate, the Kata, which they have created with their blood and their hearts, putting their whole souls into them.” (End quote) – Mabuni Kenei . . Do you revere your sensei or teacher, as is often quoted by the older generation of Karate masters? . Reverence…
“Trouble comes to those who don’t have courtesy.”
“If you have good manners, you can survive anywhere. Trouble comes to those who don’t have courtesy.” – Masahiro Nakamoto 10th dan Okinawa Dentou Kobudo . . In society a general definition of courtesy would be polite behavior that is well accepted in the society. This value holds great importance in the correct development…