Sparring

“We frequently mistake persistence with a technique for its effectiveness, failing to acknowledge when it’s simply the wrong tool for the job.”

(1 minute 55 second read) Much of today’s martial arts training, often presents a romanticized image of combat. . You bow, assume stances, exchange strikes within a controlled environment, with padded hands and feet, possibly even head guards too. This structured approach fosters discipline, technique, protection, and respect – but does it truly prepare you […]

“We frequently mistake persistence with a technique for its effectiveness, failing to acknowledge when it’s simply the wrong tool for the job.” Read More »

Choosing the right training, the right dojo, is critical, for your safety and for your peace of mind. Do not take that choice lightly.

In a previous article, I delved into a comment from an individual asserting that their karate was “the strongest.” While the article may have been somewhat lengthy for some (a 2 1/2 minute read – for those who prefer an easier read, coloring books are an option), it generated comments stating that numerous fake karate

Choosing the right training, the right dojo, is critical, for your safety and for your peace of mind. Do not take that choice lightly. Read More »

“Conceptually, the fence is simple and anyone, irrespective of their skill level, can adopt it.”

Let’s be clear, self-defense is NOT about brawling. It’s about preventing confrontation and staying safe. There’s nothing to gain and everything to lose by getting pulled into unnecessary fights. So remember this; avoidance is your best self-defense tool. . We know from previous articles that having a static high guard doesn’t translate well to real-world

“Conceptually, the fence is simple and anyone, irrespective of their skill level, can adopt it.” Read More »

In real life, a raised guard just paints a bullseye on your forehead. A liability in the unpredictable chaos of reality.

Self-protection or inviting the fight? . In any sporting fighting arena, a tight guard is gospel. But in the real-world where self-defense maybe necessary, it could be a bad idea, both tactically and legally. Why? Because self-defense is NOT a controlled match. It’s messy, chaotic, and often over before you know it. . It should

In real life, a raised guard just paints a bullseye on your forehead. A liability in the unpredictable chaos of reality. Read More »

Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. Self-defense is about survival.

I have been writing articles for several years now and a misconception about self-defense continuously runs through the comments I receive. . Let’s attempt to clarify things. . Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. . Self-defense

Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. Self-defense is about survival. Read More »

Self-defense is about stopping the threat, not winning a contest. Keep it simple, keep it effective.

In my younger days, high kicks were a speciality of mine. I was very flexible, often using different high kicks to success in the dojo and in competition. And if you had told me high kicks didn’t work for self-defense, I would have strongly disagreed with you. I know several karate-ka who worked on the

Self-defense is about stopping the threat, not winning a contest. Keep it simple, keep it effective. Read More »

“I’ve always tried to put everything in actual use. I try to find the secret within the kata and then express it within my techniques.”

“Every day, there is a new discovery. Rather than merely hitting this way or hitting that way, i’m interested now in trying to evolve the foundations of my practice.” – Kenji Yamaki . You can learn all the technical skills you want, all the theories and concepts down to the core. But what’s the point

“I’ve always tried to put everything in actual use. I try to find the secret within the kata and then express it within my techniques.” Read More »

“Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing.”

Someone made a comment on one of my articles that stated your not an instructor if you look to fail people for a black-belt test and break them down as individuals, that life is tough as it is. . While I understand this perspective, and it’s true that a positive and supportive learning environment is

“Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing.” Read More »

Practice each of the skills of karate repeatedly. Attentively devote yourself to the meaning of each individual technique.

A comment on one of my articles stated that; ”kata and bunkai are useless”, accusing me of not understanding their non-self-defense design, including a “bullshido” label. . You know what? If you think the movements within kata are ineffective, then for you, that’s true. It just shows a complete lack of understanding. . “Why practice

Practice each of the skills of karate repeatedly. Attentively devote yourself to the meaning of each individual technique. Read More »

“My karate is stronger, tougher, more athletic, it is the ultimate…. It is superior to yours!”

“My karate is stronger, tougher, more athletic, it is the ultimate…. It is superior to yours!” . Really? It’s superior, in all things?….. . You have to define what you mean by “superior”. I’m assuming that when people say “superior”, they mean the best in terms of effectiveness and practicality…… But superior? WHERE? In the

“My karate is stronger, tougher, more athletic, it is the ultimate…. It is superior to yours!” Read More »