Self-Protection

In the Shadows of Tradition: Challenging Misunderstandings in Karate.

(2 minute read) Karate often finds itself mired in misconceptions and misunderstandings. . How many times have you watched a video or responded to a comment and cringed at what you have just witnessed or read? . Unlike other arts like MMA, Judo, Boxing, jiu-jitsu, etc., which seem to have clear purposes and methodologies, karate […]

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The best fight is the one you avoid. So don’t start a fight you can’t finish, but if you do, finish it.

(1 minute 30 second read) If you’re like most people, you probably hope you’ll never face a self-defense situation. But being prepared is key. . Self-defense is a critical skill, but it’s important to understand it’s not about winning a fight. It’s about neutralizing a threat and escaping safely. . Those that keep reminding me

The best fight is the one you avoid. So don’t start a fight you can’t finish, but if you do, finish it. Read More »

Five Steps to Nowhere? The Hidden Flaw in Traditional Five Step Sparring.

(2 minute 26 second read) Punch, block, punch, block; moving backwards and forwards – prearranged step-sparring. . Learning the basics to become proficient requires repetition, over and over again. However, it’s crucial that basics are realistic, wouldn’t you agree? . The movements contained within karate were never meant to receive an attack from another martial

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“Before I pass my technique on to the student, first I have to understand what’s happening.”

(2 minute read) The comments on my articles often inspire me to write another, whether those comments are good or bad. Many are interesting and show a diverse understanding, and sometimes highlighting misunderstandings too. . So, thank you to everyone who follows and comments on my articles. . The foundation of any karate technique lies

“Before I pass my technique on to the student, first I have to understand what’s happening.” Read More »

Many pioneers of karate inform us that the hand opposite to the striking hand is ‘doing something’.

(2 minutes 15 second read) It’s very common in traditional karate to see practitioners performing a technique, while pulling back/drawing back the other hand and placing it on the hip, or with the knife hand, across the abdomen. . In Japanese, the ‘pulling hand’ is called ‘hikite’, and it’s evident in most of the receiving

Many pioneers of karate inform us that the hand opposite to the striking hand is ‘doing something’. Read More »