After enough years in the martial arts, you stop asking only what is legitimate, and start asking how legitimacy should be handled. . Senior rank does not just confer authority. It reveals how someone behaves when given the power to accept or reject others. . In every generation of martial arts, there is a tension…
Tag: Sensei
What Remains When Distraction Is Removed – Awareness Is Not a Drill.
In my recent article I talked about awareness – something everyone should be thinking about in relation to self-defense. Even if your goals are elsewhere, such as competition, awareness still matters. . But the question that always follows is this: how do you train it? . Awareness isn’t trained by adding content. It’s trained by…
Self-Defense Starts Long Before the First Strike.
Self-defense. It’s mostly about the fight, right? After all, that’s what the vast majority of training in the dojo is geared toward. . But when I speak of self-defense, I’m not talking about kumite drills or sparring. I’m talking about what happens in the real world, where the possibility of actual physical harm exists. ….
Karate-Do Is Not the Opposite of Practical Karate.
Someone said to me the other day, ‘Why don’t you give up practical karate, as you call it, and just do karate-do?’ . It’s an interesting comment, but one built on a misunderstanding. . What sat beneath the comment was the assumption that karate itself cannot be pragmatic. That once effectiveness and real-world purpose are…
What Makes a Great Teacher – and What Students Carry Forward.
I have been fortunate in my karate journey to have had some truly great teachers. I would say that though, wouldn’t I? No disrespect intended, but I imagine most people feel the same about those who have guided them. . But that raises an important question – what actually makes a great teacher? . A…
When a Black Belt Stops Meaning Anything – and the Outcome Is Already Decided.
There are so many clichés about becoming a black belt, being a black belt, and how you should behave once you eventually get one. . But the problem is that for some people, it doesn’t stop there. One black belt isn’t enough. They want another grade, then another. More stripes on the belt. . When…
When Purpose Isn’t Clear – Context Is Everything.
Self-defense and karate – two words that can be the difference between chalk and cheese, or, if trained within the correct context, can comfortably coexist. . Some people believe combative skill, that is, self-defense, will somehow emerge despite never training to develop it, even while calling what they do “self-defense”. . That assumption sits at…
Sabaki – Movement and Control Without Collision.
If you’ve followed my writing for any length of time, you’ll know that I’ve never been comfortable with step-kumite. I don’t want to reopen that debate here. Some people value it as tradition; others, myself included, take a more pragmatic view and question its usefulness. This article isn’t about winning that argument. . What is…
Learning Isn’t the Hard Part – When Experience Gets in the Way.
We all want to be acknowledged for our work, our performance, our dedication. It’s a natural human desire to know that we are doing a good job. . Praise is one of those small things that can mean a great deal. Positive reinforcement feels good, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But it can also…
Predictable Responses Are Not Guaranteed Outcomes.
Following my recent article on bunkai and choreography, I found myself returning to the idea of “predictable responses”. It’s a familiar concept, and on the surface it makes sense. Certain actions often provoke certain reactions. . But often isn’t always. Nothing is guaranteed. . Yes, bodies respond to input. Strike, pull, disrupt balance – something…
Bunkai Without Reaction Is Still Choreography.
Bunkai – in some circles it is getting better. Practitioners and instructors are beginning to understand the reality of violence rather than relying on the familiar, stylized karate-type attacks. Intent, distance, and targets are improving. In others, however, there is still a long way to go. . But something fundamental is still missing in many…
What Do We Mean When We Say “Original Kata”?
This question comes up again and again in karate, usually after a video is shared or a book is mentioned. Someone performs a kata and the discussion quickly turns into claims about what is “original”, who learned from whom, and who was closest to the source. Before long, the kata itself is almost forgotten, replaced…