One of the most common debates in karate revolves around kata applications. Someone demonstrates a movement from a kata and then explains what they believe it represents. Another person offers a different interpretation. Before long, the discussion turns into an argument over which application is the “correct” one. Underlying this debate is an assumption that […]
The Problem With Looking for “The Application” Read More »
Imagine stepping into an Okinawan karate dojo over a hundred years ago. It probably wasn’t a dojo in the way most people think of one today. Training often took place in a garden, courtyard, or private home. Instruction was given to a small number of students, and much of what was taught was passed on
Looking Beyond the Label Read More »
A student once watched me demonstrate a movement and remarked, “We have a long way to go”. He was referring to how relaxed the movement appeared compared to how stiff and tense he felt when performing the same technique. I smiled because, in a sense, he was right. There is a long way to go.
Learning the Why Behind the Technique Read More »
One of the biggest problems in martial arts is that many people discuss violence without ever having experienced what genuine violence actually feels like. I don’t mean sparring in the dojo under pressure, demonstrations, or competitive exchanges. I mean the kind of violence that is sudden, emotionally charged, physically overwhelming, and nothing like theory. There
Violence Is Not a Puzzle Waiting for a Secret Answer Read More »
The martial arts are full of variety. Different systems, different traditions, different ways of doing things, all shaped by history and the people who carried them forward. Most practitioners are looking for the same thing in the end: a sense of progress in their own training. But it is not unusual to find strong resistance
Tradition and Progress in Martial Arts Read More »
People often associate practical karate with fighting, self-defense, and physical confrontation. That is understandable. Much of my own writing over the years has focused on practical application, violence, realism, and the realities surrounding self-protection. Those things matter. But after more than fifty years of training, I have come to realize that karate eventually becomes something
What Karate Becomes Over Time Read More »
Kata is often misunderstood because many people view it through a modern lens. Today we live in a world of instant access to information. There are videos, books, seminars, online courses, slow-motion breakdowns, and endless commentary available at the touch of a screen. When kata was developed, none of that existed. There was no social
In many dojos, respect is taught early. Listen. Follow. Don’t question. And for a long time, that works. Until it doesn’t. Because somewhere along the line, respect can quietly turn into silence – and silence doesn’t always lead to understanding. When I first started training in 1974 under a Japanese sensei, I rarely questioned anything.
Respect Shouldn’t Replace Understanding Read More »
“Enbusen 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.” Toshihiro Oshiro One of the biggest mistakes people make with kata
The Blueprint of Combat: Enbusen Is Not a Floor Pattern Read More »
Many people today study martial arts as a hobby. They do not train to the level that develops robust and functional real-world self-defense skills. That is why the non-physical side of self-protection is so important. While many people can make physical skills work, not everyone can develop a knockout punch or a strike that will
The Limits of Fighting Skills Read More »
There’s a difference between seeking guidance and expecting someone else to do your thinking for you. Over the years, I’ve had many people ask about how I approach training. How do I pressure test? How do I adapt traditional material for modern realities? How do I prepare students for unpredictability rather than compliance? I understand
Are You Teaching What You Understand? Read More »
When I was a kid, I wanted to join the Army Cadets, but I was too young. So I lied about my age and got in anyway. I became known as the “little bloke”. I threw myself into everything they offered – sometimes literally. During one escape and evasion exercise, after being caught, a group
The “Little Bloke” Read More »
