In response to my recent article about a video of a practitioner demonstrating self-defense techniques, coming from a respected karate legacy, a comment stated that it is virtually impossible to train for real-world encounters, and that even MMA fighters lose in street situations. . Statements like this often sound insightful, but they hide a deeper…
Tag: Sparring
Training for What You Can’t Predict – When Practice Meets Reality.
In a previous article, I wrote about how suddenly violence can appear, and how little control any of us may have over its arrival. . I also wrote about an incident from my early twenties, when I was attacked while out running. That experience stayed with me not because of technique, but because of what…
Failing Your Kata: When Exhaustion Replaces Education.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) It is one thing to argue that kata is misunderstood as a concept, but it is another entirely to witness how that misunderstanding manifests in the daily reality of the modern dojo. . Following my previous article, a reader shared a reflection that perfectly captures the frustration felt by…
Performance Is Not Preparation – The Gap Between Training and Reality.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Let’s start with some reality. . There was another serious assault around the corner from where I live. And to those who say self-defense isn’t necessary? Maybe where ‘you’ live. However… . This is a comment I hear very often: “Do the martial arts work in the streets?” ….
The Art You See Isn’t Always the Art You Need: Function Over Form.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I was watching a video recently of bunkai performed at a tournament in Japan. . It was the usual two against one format. The individuals performing the applications were incredibly athletic, the choreography was really impressive, their techniques crisp, the timing and techniques impeccable. . It was really fun…
The Problem With Modern Karate: It Isn’t Self-Defense by Default.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Karate. Is it a sport, a way to develop character, self-defense, fitness, or more? . In the early stages of my karate journey, competitive fighting was my primary focus. I eagerly awaited the moment to face an opponent and hear the word “hajime”. Other aspects of karate held little…
Ever Seen Someone Freeze in a Fight? It May Not Be Fear – It’s Just Too Many Options.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) In a real fight, the one who hesitates usually loses. There’s a reason for that, and it’s not just instinct, it’s science. . Hick’s Law tells us that the more choices we have, the slower our reaction time becomes. . The brain has to sort through options before committing…
Are We Practicing Karate or Borrowing from Kendo? Did Modern History Shape Our Training?
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) If you’ve spent any time defending the practicality of Okinawan karate, you’ve probably run into detractors. I know I have. . When karate moved from Okinawa to mainland Japan, pioneers like Gichin Funakoshi faced a challenge: how to get an unknown martial art accepted into a national system built…
Sparring Isn’t Fighting. It’s Learning: Train Smart – Not Just Hard.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) I write a lot about self-defense. Really? Yes, because it’s my priority now. . However, back in the day I loved to compete. It was great fun, and because at the time that’s all most people were interested in, fighting and sparring, it had to be done. . Sparring…
Remember Why You Started: Karate That Protects – Not Modern Performance.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) When I started karate back in 1974 I wanted to learn to protect myself, I wanted self-defense. Someone said in a comment recently that “most people who do karate have very little interest in self-defense.” I disagree. . In my experience, most people begin karate because they want to…
From Stances to Movement – Good Karate Isn’t Static.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Everyone starts the same way: we learn how to punch, kick, block….. and how to stand. . In everyday English, we use the word ‘stance’ to infer a fixed, unchanging position or viewpoint. This common usage of the word can confuse people into thinking that we utilize ‘stances’ in…
Understanding Karate’s True Purpose: Real Violence, Real Purpose and Why Kata Matters.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Kata was born in a time of real violence, not sport or rules. To think its creators couldn’t defend themselves is absurd. Context matters, and ignorance is not bliss. . I recently received a comment that read: “No fighter ever trains kata to learn how to fight. Only old…