How many times do you hear students in your dojo or school say, “I can’t”? Doesn’t that phrase make you cringe? I always tell my students; “Don’t say you can’t, because you can. Just say you’re going to try.” . As teachers, the most important and rewarding part of our work is to recognize the […]
BELIEF starts with “YES I CAN.” Read More »
We have all heard, “always do your best.” Whether it came from our parents, a teacher or instructor, doing our best has always been a precept echoed throughout our lives. But what does doing your best really mean? And is it even possible to always do your best? . Emphatically I say yes, yes it
Your BEST is always enough. Read More »
“The reason why I’ve continued it this far is it’s simply I just like it….. I just love training karate.“ (End quote) – Masao Shinzato 8th dan Matsubayashi-ryu . What motivates students to learn and how can we encourage them? . Students may be motivated by their interest in a topic, their prior success
What motivates students to learn and how can we encourage them? Read More »
Don’t do a technique 5 times and wait for the instructor to tell you WHAT’S NEXT. Do the technique 500 times and wait for the instructor to tell you to STOP. . . Researchers who have investigated expert and novice performance have uncovered important distinctions between ‘deliberate practice’ and repetition alone. . Deliberate practice is
Perfect practice makes perfect. Read More »
“These days too many people stop training once they pass 2nd or 3rd Dan, they don’t realise that belts are not important. Grades mean nothing; all that matters is to train hard.” (End quote) – Tatsuo Suzuki Wado-Ryu (1928-2011) . Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily? . If your black belt
Are black belts in martial arts given away too easily? Read More »
“We received from our ancestors, the old masters of karate, the Kata, which they have created with their blood and their hearts, putting their whole souls into them.” (End quote) – Mabuni Kenei . . Do you revere your sensei or teacher, as is often quoted by the older generation of Karate masters? . Reverence
Do you revere your sensei or teacher? Read More »
You QUIT karate? . It’s a harsh reality that the students you’re teaching right now will not be the same students you’re teaching a year or two from now. Every dojo or school goes through it. They quit. . There are many reasons why people quit. The novelty of training may have worn off, or
“At the world level, with the spreading Covid-19 pandemic, we are in a situation in which many have to refrain from going out. I think many will spend more time practicing at home. Taking advantage of the characteristics of karate that are that anyone can practice anytime, anywhere and even alone, let’s do our
You think training once a week is enough? Read More »
Gichin Funakoshi’s 6th precept stated – “Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu” (心は放たん事を要す). Be ready to free your mind. . There are many interpretations of the exact meaning of Funakoshi’s precept, but I believe part of it is that we should always keep our minds open to learning new things. . I often watch students
Be ready to free your mind. Read More »
“A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.” – Bruce Lee . Strictly speaking, education and instruction are mutually exclusive. You instruct soldiers. You teach students. An instructor lays down rules to be obeyed; a teacher strews ideas to
Are you an instructor, a teacher, both, or something else? Read More »
As instructors and teachers we have a duty of care to our students. While they are at our schools or dojo, we have a legal responsibility, and it is called; “Duty of Care”. It is associated with physical welfare as well as moral, intellectual, and the social wellbeing of students. . There are several aspects
As instructors and teachers we have a duty of care to our students. Read More »
“Karate and kobudo are difficult, if you do not practice seriously with a traditional approach, you may miss the important points.” – Fumio Demura 9th dan Shito-Ryu . . The truth is to become good at karate, to get anywhere near being proficient with your techniques, drills and kata, you need to do hundreds and
Karate and kobudo are difficult…… Read More »
