(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 […]
From Stances to Movement – Good Karate Isn’t Static. Read More »
(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
Understanding Karate’s True Purpose: Real Violence, Real Purpose and Why Kata Matters. Read More »
(Approx 3 minute read) Why we need to define self-defense. . In my experience, reading the messages I receive, many people seem to have the wrong idea of what it is, and what it isn’t. . Let’s be clear about what we mean. . Self-defense is not sparring or any kind of step-kumite. It’s close-quarter
Why We Need to Define Self-Defense. Tradition vs. Reality. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Taking the hit. . Someone commented on one of my articles, a Kyokushin practitioner, and said that the best you can do for self-defense is to practice taking the hit. . While I agree it’s important your training includes what it feels like to be hit, within reason and
Taking the Hit: Beyond the Bruises. Why Self-Defense Is More Than Toughness. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. Thinking you can stand toe-to-toe and trade blows with an attacker is a dangerous fantasy. . Far too many people are under the misleading impression that self-protection is all about facing an attacker toe-to-toe, putting your guard up, and “dukeing it out”! .
The Limits of Technique: Practical Karate for the Unpredictable. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) For those of us in the UK old enough to remember going into Woolworths with a little paper bag to make our own pic’n’mix of sweets (candy), karate today isn’t that far off, is it? Everybody picks out the bits they like and then somehow assumes the finished assortment
Context Is Everything: Why Pic’n’Mix Doesn’t Always Meet the Goal. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Imagine a drill that moves away from unrealistic stepping patterns and reflects the closeness of a real-world encounter. You’re not stepping away to avoid an attack – you’re already there, reacting. A drill that forces you to engage, not rehearse. Best of all, even beginners can practice it. .
Karate at Close Range: The Subtle Work of Kakie. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Many of the comments and messages I receive about the continued use of step-kumite – which I’m against practicing – still leave me with the same questions. . Why punch, block, punch, block – moving backwards and forwards in a prearranged manner, with no basis in reality? . I’ve
Why Are We Still Doing Step-Kumite? Prearranged and Pointless? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I was recently sent a video of a thug attacking a guy with a machete – a blade over 12 inches long. As you can imagine, a frightening experience. . As I watched the video, it looked as if the person being attacked froze in place while the attacker
Facing a Blade? The Freeze That Kills – Self-Defense Starts in Your Head. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) This is a follow-up to my recent article about fighting and self-defense – mainly because, based on the comments, it’s clear many people misunderstood the point. So let’s clear a few things up. . The fear of an attack can make many people want to fight back immediately. But
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) I once taught at a dojo where, for the most part, they were good people, strong spirit – but their idea of self-defense was almost entirely built around fighting and fitness. . That mindset wasn’t unique to them either. I’ve seen it many times. . In the same dojo,
Calling It Self-Defense Doesn’t Make It True: Most Dojos Teach Fighting. Read More »
