“To all those whose progress remains hampered by ego-related distractions, let humility – the spiritual cornerstone upon which Karate rests – serve to remind one to place virtue before vice, values before vanity and principles before personalities.” – Sokon Matsumura (1809-1899) . . “A good instructor teaches students how to fight, a great instructor teaches […]
“True leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” ~ Tom Peters . Trust is a wonderful thing. Real trust is something that is earned over time. In budo practice, trust is absolutely essential. Without trust there is no respect. Trust is really easy to break and very difficult to gain. Once trust is broken,
Trust is a wonderful thing. Real trust is something that is earned over time. Read More »
Motivation in martial arts training. . I’ve been training in the martial arts for almost forty seven years now and finding the motivation to keep going has been an ongoing process. Sometimes it was easy, other times not so much. Which brings me to the question I think is key to have long-term motivation to
Motivation in martial arts training. Read More »
“When you feel life out of focus, always return to basic of life. Breathing. No breathe, no life.” ~ Mr. Miyagi ?? Nourishing the mind is of utmost importance during these extraordinary times. Karate isn’t just physical. It’s very much a mental discipline too. . Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee said it best: “The possession of
The possession of anything begins in the mind. Read More »
Why you shouldn’t call yourself ‘sensei’. ?? . ‘Sensei’ (先生) is a Japanese word people all over the world use, in and out of the dojo, in place of ‘teacher.’ . But the word ‘sensei’ is much more than simply a synonym for ‘teacher’. When trying to understand a Japanese word, it’s always a good idea
Why you shouldn’t call yourself ‘sensei’. Read More »
“The humble man makes room for progress; the proud man believes he is already there.” ?? . Ed Parker American Kenpo (1931-1990) . In the martial arts world, I have noticed an undesirable trend with many practitioners and instructors. There are those who regularly talk about the things they have accomplished, they exaggerate their success and
Humility is knowing what you don’t know. Read More »
“Push yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you.” ?? . Tatsuya Naka 7th dan JKA Shotokan . No matter how hard you try, some days, your students aren’t engaged. There’s no way around it. Student apathy occurs when the student believes that their pedagogical success lies completely with the instructor, or
Push yourself, because, no one else is going to do it for you. Read More »
“I will train 365 days a year.” ?? . Ryo Kiyuna – 4 Times World Kata Champion – Ryuei-ryu – (劉衛流, Ryūei-ryū is an Okinawan style of karate. It was originally a family style of the Nakaima family of Naha). . “As a beginner, the first kata you learn is the foundation on which all other
If your first kata is sloppy and weak, there is no point learning a new one. Read More »
“To survive as an instructor you have to understand human nature. It is diverse and many people are not like you. Finding another person with a true MA’s spirit, with integrity, loyalty and a true heart is like finding a diamond on a beach of pebbles. . Many people you help will let you down,
To survive as an instructor you have to understand human nature. Read More »
“You rank is not an entitlement.” ?? . Kanei Uechi (上地完英, June 26, 1911 – February 23, 1991) was the son of Kanbun Uechi, founder of Uechi-Ryū, one of the primary karate styles of Okinawa. Kanei was instrumental in the growth of Uechi-Ryū after his father’s death. . . You rank is not an entitlement, nor
You rank is not an entitlement. Read More »
“Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn.” ?? . Patrick McCarthy 9th dan Koryu Uchinadi . “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” ~ Thomas Moore . Becoming a shodan or higher black-belt in karate will be a dream come true for some of you. In order to do
Who dares to teach, must never cease to learn. Read More »
努力怠るなかれ ~ “Doryoku okotaru nakare” (Never neglect effort) ?? . Kenzo Mabuni (1927-2005) . “Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, [..] that delivery of the very best that you can do. . It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you
You have to put in the EFFORT. Read More »
