Knowledge is knowing the right answer. Intelligence is asking the right question. ?? . . “The world is full of people who are determined to be somebody or to give trouble. They want to get ahead, to stand out….” ~ Bruce Lee . Everybody wants to progress, everyone wants to wrap themselves in another black belt,…
Tag: Sensei
We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations.
“Traditional karate is what we learned from the time we started, traditional Okinawan karate. As did our elders. We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations. If you don’t continue to train with that sense of there being a real opponent, you won’t be able to respond in that kind of…
Fake black belts and McDojo’s; Should We Get Angry?
Imagine the fear. You have been training in your dojo for a few years, but a weird feeling is slowly creeping up on you, giving you that uncomfortable sensation in the pit of your stomach. . You gradually start noticing things. You start seeing stuff in a new light, and day by day you realize…
The most advanced thing you can do, are the basics.
“The most advanced thing you can do, are the basics, consistently.” ~ Morio Higaonna 10th Dan Goju Ryu . Train your basics everyday to improve in your karate training; it sounds so logical and makes so much sense. Now, it’s up to you, the student(s), to rise to the challenge. . It’s true, through daily…
“In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods..”
“In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included.” ~ Gichin Funakoshi . Many students, and instructors, who stand toe-to-toe and exchange techniques, forget (or should that be neglect?) that at some point in a self-protection/self-defense scenario, you will undoubtably end up in a clinch….
You must get up, must train.
“Fighting may not kill you. Opponent may not kill you. Couch will kill you. Food will kill you, the chair, the traffic, the office. You must get up, must train.” . . Dedication and commitment are what transfer dreams into realities. For the sincere student, it mustn’t be enough to simply understand karate. We must…
What motivates you to practice karate?
What motivates you to practice karate? . In all honesty, the only way to do it is to do it. The mistake people make with motivation is that they think it’s something you either have, or you don’t have. Unfortunately, you have to work at motivation. This means you have to actively tell yourself that…
Don’t be a dimwit!
Continuing the McDojo theme…… In the field of psychology, the Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with low ability at a task, overestimate their ability. . People believe that they are more knowledgeable and capable than they really are. Essentially, low ability people do not possess the skills needed to recognize their…
You never call yourself sensei.
You see and hear a lot of different titles in Japanese martial arts. Unfortunately, a lot of people have little or no idea how these titles and honorifics are actually used. . Now, if you are following Karate and using Japanese language in your dojo or school, then you should know how to use these…
Please leave me alone. I’m training.
Please leave me alone. I’m training. . Success and progress come from the hundreds of hours of work no one sees. . Keep training. ?? . Polite too. ?
“The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
“The only difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson . As a senior teacher, seeing this in students and instructors, going that extra distance, that extra effort, seeing the connections made and that light-bulb moment. As a teacher, it is why we teach. Seeing the extraordinary……. . (McDojo rant begins)…
Are you a good mentor, a good role model?
The martial arts are known to enhance the abilities of students beyond just the physical. Growth can be seen in many areas such as self esteem, confidence, focus, self-defense, self-control, discipline. The positive changes students achieve in martial arts is significant. However, the positive effects do not stop there, an inspiring teacher, mentor, coach, or…