空手を続ける想い (Karate o tsudzukeru omoi) – To keep practicing karate means……. “Passing down the karate our great masters created to the next generation, and promoting it to the world: that’s our responsibility. . As Master Uechi Kanei said; ‘conditioning the body is important in karate’. Some people think karate is in the mind, but…
Tag: Masters
“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”
If you are going to master a new skill, you have to accept that for the first few times you try it, you’re probably going to get it wrong. You’re going to fail, you may even be embarrassed. You just have to accept that. . Martial arts are complicated – if what we are doing…
“There’s only one way to avoid criticism.”
“There’s only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) . Sometimes 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 never know your real strength until you push your boundary. ….
Progress comes to those who train and train.
The martial arts requires practice (shock)…… And the way anything is developed is through regular, consistent practice. It is that simple….. But how many hours a day should you practice? 2 hours? 4 hours? 8 hours? 12 hours? How much is enough? Is there an optimal number of hours that you should practice? . Have…
So, modern martial arts effectiveness is intentionally reduced?
So, modern martial arts effectiveness is intentionally reduced? Is it fair to say that modern martial arts are intentionally made less effective, in order to appeal to a broader range of people? . In 1868 Japan moved from a feudalistic government to a democratic one that resulted in a few changes to the martial arts….
You think training once a week is enough?
“At the world level, with the spreading Covid-19 pandemic, we are in a situation in which many have to refrain from going out. I think many will spend more time practicing at home. Taking advantage of the characteristics of karate that are that anyone can practice anytime, anywhere and even alone, let’s do our…
Be ready to free your mind.
Gichin Funakoshi’s 6th precept stated – “Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu” (心は放たん事を要す). Be ready to free your mind. . There are many interpretations of the exact meaning of Funakoshi’s precept, but I believe part of it is that we should always keep our minds open to learning new things. . I often watch students…
Are you an instructor, a teacher, both, or something else?
“A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.” – Bruce Lee . Strictly speaking, education and instruction are mutually exclusive. You instruct soldiers. You teach students. An instructor lays down rules to be obeyed; a teacher strews ideas to…
“Carry the tradition into the future.”
We are scared of change, and always avoid it for as long as possible. People appreciate regularity, security and comfort. Change is the contrary, it takes you out of your comfort zone, it is unstable at first, scary because unknown. And we have always fear what we ignore. . Another way of thinking would be…
“I think people should really take more time in promoting karate as a cohesive vehicle for self-improvement.”
“I think people should really take more time in promoting karate as a cohesive vehicle for self-improvement rather than individualize it to a specific style.“ (End quote) – Cezar Borkowski 10th dan Northern Karate Schools . There are a lot of lessons karate teaches us throughout our journey, most of which will hopefully draw out…
Never neglect courtesy and etiquette.
Modern life sometimes encourages an individual to act without thinking, to treat others carelessly, to feed the ego. By contrast, etiquette, discipline, and a respect for others is at the heart of the martial arts. . Etiquette is not simply a matter of tradition, nor is it a matter of “being polite.” It is at…
“I teach karate as a life protection art, not as a sport.”
“I teach karate as a life protection art, not as a sport….. My son commands the 4th Marines he trains Marines to go to war, and then you pray you never have to. It’s the same thing in training karate, that you train to win, there are no silver medals in a life protection situation.”…