(Approx 2 minute read) Is doing your best always enough? . In my view – yes. There’s nothing more you can do than your best. That doesn’t mean you can’t improve. It means that right now, with what you know and understand, you’re giving everything you’ve got. Your “best” is a flexible, honest commitment to…
Tag: Meditation
Karate: A Journey Through Many Paths.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone said to me recently that I keep writing about the same thing, and that this page “used to be great”. It was meant as criticism, and I’ll admit, it stung a bit. But maybe it’s true that I keep coming back to the same subject. Perhaps that’s because…
When the Mats Are Empty. And No One’s Watching. Quiet Discipline.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Every time I walk into the dojo I pause and respectfully bow my head. I remove my shoes before I step onto the mats and just soak in the atmosphere, even when I’m alone. I don’t have to. No one’s watching. . It would be easy to just walk…
Am I Getting Angry at an Empty Boat? Zen, Karate, and Self-Defense.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Many martial artists think self-defense begins with a punch, and for many practitioners, it’s the only way they see it. . Maybe because I’m getting on in years now, I think more of my failings and my fallibility. Back in the day I loved to fight, boxing as a…
Karate Can Show the Way, but Only You Can Walk the Path.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) People often say that karate builds character. I don’t think so. Your character is shaped over many years and through many different experiences in life – not just by what you do in the dojo. . The Japanese term shūyō (修養) refers to the steady refinement of mind and…
The Most Underrated Skill in Martial Arts: Stop Talking. Start Listening.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) In the martial arts, one of the greatest skills we can develop has nothing to do with speed, strength, or technique. It’s the ability to truly listen. . Too often, conversations between martial artists – whether about training methods, kata interpretation, or self-defense – turn into battles of conviction….
Before the Noise: Moments Alone – Finding Stillness in the Dojo.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I was up at 5:30 am this morning and popped into the dojo. . It was so quiet. . The mats were empty. The only sound was the low hum of the lights and the distant echo of traffic. There’s a kind of stillness here that doesn’t exist anywhere…
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy…
Protect Yourself – But Think First: The Art of Avoiding Trouble.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) It seems that self-defense is a topic people just can’t get their heads around, if my recent articles are anything to go by. . Instructors in particular often seem convinced that you have to fight first. Yet, many tell me they understand the importance of avoiding the fight, but…
A Quiet Strength, a Will to Endure: The Strength That Waits Within.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) The dojo has a way of revealing what you’re really made of. It strips away excuses, exposes your habits, and tests your resolve. But it also offers something deeper – an opportunity to see what’s inside. . Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “Look well into thyself; there is a source…
The Essence of the Martial Arts Lies Not in Strength or Style, but in What You Find Within Yourself.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) When you find what’s truly right for you in your training, you stop needing to explain it to anyone. . Apart from teaching at the dojo, I train every day. Not to fight, not for show, and not to prove anything. I train because it matters to me. It’s…
Ego Always Wants the Fight – Wisdom Knows When to Walk Away.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) The martial arts teaches us many things, but one of the most valuable lessons is knowing when not to engage. You can spend years refining technique and self-discipline, but it takes real maturity to recognize that some battles just aren’t worth fighting. . And that maturity should come with…