Gichin Funakoshi’s 6th precept stated – “Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu” (心は放たん事を要す). Be ready to free your mind. . There are many interpretations of the exact meaning of Funakoshi’s precept, but I believe part of it is that we should always keep our minds open to learning new things. . I often watch students […]
Be ready to free your mind. Read More »
“What do you think is the most valuable thing you might have in your life, that you really don’t pay attention to, especially when you’re young, because you just feel you have an abundance of it? It’s never ending…….… Time.” – Sylvester Stallone . The reason why people keep saying, “the trouble is you think
Don’t waste your most valuable asset…… Read More »
Close-minded is when you believe in something or in someone and your mind will stay closed to that belief and will not even try to acknowledge any other idea or concept. . Nobody wants to admit they’re close-minded. Ask anyone, and 90% of the time, they’ll tell you they’re an open-minded, positive individual who’s (apparently)
The problem with closed-minded people, is that their mouths are always open. Read More »
“A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.” – Bruce Lee . Strictly speaking, education and instruction are mutually exclusive. You instruct soldiers. You teach students. An instructor lays down rules to be obeyed; a teacher strews ideas to
Are you an instructor, a teacher, both, or something else? Read More »
My karate is stronger than yours! . Really? You think so? . It’s essential to define what people mean by “strongest”. I’m assuming that when people are looking for the strongest karate styles, they mean strongest in terms of effectiveness and practicality. But strongest, WHERE? In the dojo? In a ring? In a competition? In
My karate is stronger than yours! Read More »
When is the time to retire from the martial arts? . I’m finally old enough to examine it with some objectivity. The issue, of course, is when one should retire in karate or other forms of budo. No serious martial artist “retires” in the sense that the person ceases to train, study and explore life
When is the time to retire from the martial arts? Read More »
Karate “blocks” only work in a predefined attack….. Shock, horror….you mean my karate blocks won’t work in a spontaneous attack? . Action is always faster than reaction even when you’re anticipating it. When you’re reacting your brain goes through what could be described as a “defensive reaction cycle”; perception, evaluation and reaction. That takes time.
Karate “blocks” only work in a predefined attack. Read More »
We are scared of change, and always avoid it for as long as possible. People appreciate regularity, security and comfort. Change is the contrary, it takes you out of your comfort zone, it is unstable at first, scary because unknown. And we have always fear what we ignore. . Another way of thinking would be
“Carry the tradition into the future.” Read More »
As instructors and teachers we have a duty of care to our students. While they are at our schools or dojo, we have a legal responsibility, and it is called; “Duty of Care”. It is associated with physical welfare as well as moral, intellectual, and the social wellbeing of students. . There are several aspects
As instructors and teachers we have a duty of care to our students. Read More »
“I think people should really take more time in promoting karate as a cohesive vehicle for self-improvement rather than individualize it to a specific style.“ (End quote) – Cezar Borkowski 10th dan Northern Karate Schools . There are a lot of lessons karate teaches us throughout our journey, most of which will hopefully draw out
Modern life sometimes encourages an individual to act without thinking, to treat others carelessly, to feed the ego. By contrast, etiquette, discipline, and a respect for others is at the heart of the martial arts. . Etiquette is not simply a matter of tradition, nor is it a matter of “being polite.” It is at
Never neglect courtesy and etiquette. Read More »
“I teach karate as a life protection art, not as a sport….. My son commands the 4th Marines he trains Marines to go to war, and then you pray you never have to. It’s the same thing in training karate, that you train to win, there are no silver medals in a life protection situation.”
“I teach karate as a life protection art, not as a sport.” Read More »
