(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…
Tag: Student
Respect Is Not Blind – It Seeks Understanding, Tested in Reality.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) My article on hikite had the usual amount of naysayers but this comment caught my eye: . “Interesting that you know better than Funakoshi, Nakayama and all the Sensei’s that came from that line. Some may say you were being very disrespectful at the very least?” . He went…
The Warrior Within: Quiet Strength, Ready When Needed.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Some people look like they were born fighters. Of course they’re not – but it feels that way when you see how they step forward while others shrink back. . That’s the warrior within – something you either have or you don’t. . For those of you who aren’t…
Revisiting Hikite: The Human Body, Nakayama’s Vision, and the Revolving Door.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Much of today’s karate comes from the modernization that took place in the early part of the 20th century. Instruction by prominent sensei from the 1960s shaped what many still teach today. . One such method – which I’ve written about extensively – is hikite. – Not again. ….
Self-Defense: Fight When You Must – Escape When You Can.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) The fear of an attack can make many of you want to fight back immediately. But in the real world, the best defense often lies not in fighting it out, but in cultivating other tactics. . Many people send me videos to comment on – usually it’s some guy…
When the Syllabus Stops Working: If You Don’t Ask, You’ll Never Know.
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) “You cannot get educated by this self-propagating system in which people study to pass exams, and teach others to pass exams, but nobody knows anything. You learn something by doing it yourself, by asking questions, by thinking, and by experimenting.” – Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist . I wrote an…
Putting Substance Back Into Karate: It Must Mean Something.
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) What on earth has karate become? . Yesterday, I was sent a video of a well-known karateka – a successful competitor with deep roots in karate. Someone with rank, experience, and a famous legacy behind them. And yet what I heard left me shaking my head. . They were…
Why Kata Still Matters: You Just Don’t Understand It.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) In a recent article, I wrote about how a single movement from a kata could be so much more than just a punch – a grab, a push, a setup for a throw and much more. . I explored the idea that kata isn’t just a rigid performance, but…
Kata’s Core: Finding Truth Beneath the Movements.
Karate initially draws people to the dojo with promises of physical strength – discipline, skill, and of course, self-defense. . Those who embrace karate as a sport, for fun, or to follow a lineage have every right to do so. . Kata – for many people today – is just there in the background, something…
Karate: Stop Bowing to Dogma – Question Everything.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) The majority of karate today is plagued by dogma. Let me explain. . After the Second World War, Okinawa was in ruins. Many of the teachers who started up again back then had learned the ‘school karate’ model – all about building strong bodies and disciplined minds. Not every…
Why I Keep Repeating Myself: Repetition Keeps Karate Honest.
Karate is something you learn properly when you have a good teacher – someone who explains things clearly, allows you to question, and has the depth of knowledge for you to grasp the principles behind what you’re doing. Then, when all this is conveyed, you repeat it – over and over – until it becomes…
Stop Pretending – You Either Train or You Don’t.
My recent article, “To train or not to train. The choice is yours”, brought up a few comments about reasons for not training. . Money seemed to be at the forefront, along with a dojo closing. . I asked one person who commented – he said his home life is problematic and he doesn’t have…