(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) A comment on my recent article stated “Trying to encourage a young student (say 7-10 year old) to embrace the multiple options for jodan age uke as a starting point is simply impractical. Surely it is better to focus on getting the technique correct from the feet up (on […]
Guiding Young Minds: Teaching Kids Karate Without Losing Its Depth. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) Recently, I wrote an article about “Keiko Saki, Rikai Wa Ato” (稽古先，理解 後) – “Practice First, Understanding Later” – a concept in traditional karate. . One comment stood out, saying, “Thru [sic] the technique…the doctrine shall be revealed.” . The person explained that his belief that principles will reveal themselves, comes
A Thousand Blocks, Still No Understanding: Why Repetition alone Isn’t Enough. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Even for those who are passionate about the martial arts, especially for those who teach, training can reach a point where it becomes overwhelming. Many times we show up to class simply out of habit, when truthfully our minds or hearts are elsewhere. . While the martial arts requires
Burnout: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Your Way Back. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I’m sure you have heard the term, ‘renshū’ (練習) – practice through repetition. It’s about ingraining a skill by doing it over and over again until it becomes second nature. . In many Western dojos, when a new technique, drill, or application is introduced, students will often carefully mimic
“Keiko Saki, Rikai Wa Ato” (稽古先，理解 後) – Practice First, Understanding Later. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I’m writing about angles again as I had so many comments and messages about this, I want to try and make my case a little clearer. . When you’re in the dojo and you begin to practice any step-kumite, drills, or sparring, you stand facing an opponent, right? .
Meeting it Head-On: Shouldn’t Angles Define Kata and Your Responses? Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) In the dojo, we all follow strict rules – often guided by a ‘creed’ or ‘Dojo Kun’ (training hall precepts). Every bow, every gesture, and every word carries meaning. . We call this ‘Reishiki’ (礼式) – the practice of manners, etiquette, and respect. It shapes how we interact with
The Lost Art of Politeness: More Than a Bow. The Deeper Meaning of Reishiki. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Achieving a 10th Dan in karate is an amazing accomplishment, symbolizing a lifetime of training, teaching, and contribution to the art that person practices. . So why is it sometimes controversial? . Maybe it is because of the subjectivity of the process. The teacher with a 10th Dan grade
More Than Just a Number: 10th Dan – A Life in Karate. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Confidence is something every martial artist needs. Without it, even the most skilled person can freeze when it matters most. I’ve written about this recently – the impact of how a lack of confidence can ruin any skill you may have. . However, just as too little confidence is
“Self-Praise and Over-Confidence is a Sickness That Corrupts Training.” Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) “What the herd hates most is the one who thinks differently; it is not so much the opinion itself, but the audacity of wanting to think for themselves, something that they do not know how to do.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) . Karate, and the martial arts in general,
Thinking for Yourself: Breaking Free from the Illusion in Karate. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Muscle memory is built by repetition, and doing something wrong during that repetition ingrains it into your mind. It’s much more beneficial to do it right the first time, than training bad information out later on. . In the martial arts, faster is usually considered better. Performing a faster
The Art of Slowing Down: Where Technique Meets Application. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Recently, I wrote an article about how a single movement in karate can serve multiple purposes – beyond the common terminology labels we give them. I used a simple example: the movement many call ‘jodan uke’. I shared a picture of two of my students demonstrating it as a
When Tradition Becomes a Cage Without the Key. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Ever notice how we’re really good at ignoring stuff that doesn’t fit what we already think? . This happens in karate a lot. We get an idea in our heads about, let’s say an upper block, and that’s it. That’s how we see it, period. . Of course it
Breaking the Mold: Lessons Hiding in Plain Sight. Read More »
