Does a change of character begin when we commence karate training? Does karate improve your character? . Character traits can be built, forged, and altered with a sufficient amount of effort and willpower. The benefits of character building largely depend on your personal values and goals. . However, ultimately, the most important question is how…
Tag: Motivation
I maybe wrong!
Are you awesome? An amazing “sensei”. Beyond reproach? Just amazing at everything you do? Always correcting others but not yourself?…… Oh dear, guess what?…. We have some bad news for you. . There is, of course, a dangerous line between self-confidence and arrogance – a line to which some people are totally oblivious. . The…
Don’t rely on a “label”. It probably isn’t the right one.
In the West, where in some cases teaching Karate has become a business, a simple method of “teaching” to large groups of paying customers without much effort was needed. The “3 years spent on one Kata” idea was brushed off since Western consumers generally don’t have that kind of patience and want quick progress, new…
“Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.”
“Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.” – Hohan Sōken (1889-1982) Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū Are you consumed by the desire to want other people’s grade or title? . Comparing yourself to people around you is a trap you can easily fall into. But, trying to get ahead, or measuring your success in karate…
Are you a good role model for your students?
Anyone with any common sense (there’s not a lot of it about) knows that in self-protection, if you have to fight, you fight to flee, to escape. Not to stand there and “win”. . Just being told to “run” is not the answer, and with many instructors being extremely overweight, and many cases obese, it…
“We must think on how to preserve the original karate.”
“I want the students to understand the importance of what they are learning….we must think on how to preserve the original karate not only with words but with a sound philosophy behind it.” – Toshimitsu Arakaki 10th-dan Matsubayashi-ryu . Why is it important to save a martial arts cultural heritage or tradition? . To different…
“Any martial art without proper training of the mind turns into beastly behavior.”
“Karate-do is definitely a martial way, and its identity lies in ‘do’ or principles. Any martial art without proper training of the mind turns into beastly behavior.” – Shoshin Nagamine (1907-1997) . The limit is not in the sky. The limit is the mind. . It’s worth remembering when you’re practicing something new or different,…
“I truly believe it’s important to honor tradition, but never be limited by it.”
“I truly believe it’s important to honor tradition, but never be limited by it.” – Cezar Borkowski 10th dan Northern Karate Schools . In addition to the kyu/dan grading system used by most Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, there is a parallel system called “shogo” (称号). This is the teaching title-system originally set up by…
“A black belt is nothing more than a belt that goes around your waist.”
“A black belt is nothing more than a belt that goes around your waist. Being a black belt is a state of mind and attitude.” – Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) . Many people feel like they deserve the belt, deserve the rank (I don’t like the term ‘rank’ btw). “I can beat this guy, I can…
Kata, the management of failure.
“We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations. If you don’t continue to train with that sense of there being a real opponent, you won’t be able to respond in that kind of situation.” – Takeshi Tamaki 10th dan Shogen-ryu . Kata, the management of failure. . What does this mean?…… In…
Knowledge is power only when you truly understand and can apply it.
“Every day, there is a new discovery. Rather than merely hitting this way or hitting that way, i’m interested now in trying to evolve the foundations of my practice.” – Kenji Yamaki . You can learn all the technical skills you want. You can learn all the theories and understand the concepts down to the…
“Look for the answer inside your question.”
“A teacher, a really good sensei, is never a ‘giver’ of ‘truth’; he is a guide, a ‘pointer’ to the truth that the student must discover for himself.” – Bruce Lee . This quote by Bruce Lee doesn’t mean that a teacher will lie and lead you down the wrong path (or shouldn’t anyway). What…