“Karate has many stances; it also has none”. Genwa Nakasone wrote explaining Gichin Funakoshi’s 17th precept; ”Kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai”. (Fixed positions are for beginners: later, one moves naturally) . So there are no stances in karate? . A common complaint about karate, and its kata, is that the stances are impractical–that…
Tag: Sensei
Your sensei taught you everything you know…
“Your sensei may seem old and frail. Keep in mind, he taught you everything you know…… but not everything he knows.” . Prince Loeffler Shugyokan Dojo Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu . . “A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.”…
Should you ask for a black-belt?
Recently a nidan from another part of our association, with whom we had not seen train before, asked us to grade him to sandan. “I have done part of it”, with another instructor he said. “…are you going to be a good Shihan?”….”I will do [insert syllabus] for my sandan.”….. (Oh oh…this does not bode…
Learn the history and culture of Okinawan karate
“Do not become bored with your training, learn the history and culture of Okinawan karate….” ?? . Shintoku Takara 10th dan Uechi-ryu 90 years of age, certified holder for the prefecture designated intangible cultural property. . . Master Shintoku Takara was born 1930, in Okinawa. He was a student of Kenei Uechi the son of…
Control your ego
“Control your ego properly because the true enemy is inside yourself and this is the toughest opponent to beat.” ?? . Have you checked your ego lately? Keeping ego in check means we must examine who we are, what we want, how we treat others, and our overall actions. Keep self-importance under control: . Who are…
The hardest punch I’ve ever experienced
Too many students (and some instructors) rely solely on their body-weight when performing punches, without thinking to “connect”, transferring the energy from your feet, through to your fist as you hit with your entire body. . It’s NOT the style of karate that has power. NO one style is stronger than any other, regardless of…
Life lessons kids learn from martial arts.
PARENTS. Life lessons kids learn from martial arts. . Because of what we see in the media, movies and television, martial arts can sometimes have a bad reputation with parents, especially if they don’t know very much about the martial arts. . If you’re a parent and your child trains in the martial arts, or…
“No one is perfect, but we can all become a little better if we keep trying.” . “If you teach Karate, you have to practice regularly yourself. You have to practice harder and more than your students. If you have practiced for long enough, Karate is inside you and you can train wherever you are”. ??…
Karate is never about what you are wearing around your waist.
“Karate is in the mind. Karate is in the heart. Karate is never about what you are wearing around your waist.” ~ Mr. Miyagi . . Look beyond the color of the belt around your waist. Shodan is just the beginning, the understanding of basics. Nidan the 2nd level, sandan the 3rd. . If you…
Good morals always involve good manners.
“Inner to outer – we start by dissolving our attitude not by altering outer conditions.” . Bruce Lee . A real martial artist does the right thing, not what suits him. “Meiyo” (honor). It is the most important virtue of all. You only have one judge of your own honor, and that is yourself. The…
Karate begins with courtesy and ends with it.
“Karate begins with courtesy and ends with it. Therefore, we must be courteous to seniors, juniors, friends and even foes.” . Shoshin Nagamine (15 July 1907 – 2 November 1997) 10th dan Matsubayashi-ryu . . Being courteous costs nothing but achieves a lot. It is a behavior that should be seen more often, because words…
Everyone you meet has something to teach you.
“Everyone you meet has something to teach you.” ?? . Adam Carter 7th dan Ryukyu Karate Jutsu . As you go through life, you will meet people whom you gravitate to, and those whom you would rather keep away from. . It is very interesting that you may see something in them that is a lesson…