Keikogi (稽古着), or dogi (道着), is a uniform for training in Japanese martial arts and their derivatives. (Keiko means practice, gi means dress or clothes.) The prototype for the modern keikogi emerged in the late 19th century. The keikogi was developed by judo founder Kano Jigoro. Japanese martial arts historian Dave Lowry speculates Kano derived […]
Names of the different parts of a karate gi Read More »
To become a martial arts master, or at the very least a great teacher, you must first become a great student. . You must take responsibility for your own learning and actively pursue knowledge and experience. . Recently I asked a black belt instructor from another ‘style’ to come train with us. He had the
You must become a great student Read More »
“Karate has many stances; it also has none”. Genwa Nakasone wrote explaining Gichin Funakoshi’s 17th precept; ”Kamae wa shoshinsha ni ato wa shizentai”. (Fixed positions are for beginners: later, one moves naturally) . So there are no stances in karate? . A common complaint about karate, and its kata, is that the stances are impractical–that
Karate has many stances; it also has none. Read More »
“Your sensei may seem old and frail. Keep in mind, he taught you everything you know…… but not everything he knows.” . Prince Loeffler Shugyokan Dojo Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu . . “A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.”
Your sensei taught you everything you know… Read More »
“Control your ego properly because the true enemy is inside yourself and this is the toughest opponent to beat.” ?? . Have you checked your ego lately? Keeping ego in check means we must examine who we are, what we want, how we treat others, and our overall actions. Keep self-importance under control: . Who are
Too many students (and some instructors) rely solely on their body-weight when performing punches, without thinking to “connect”, transferring the energy from your feet, through to your fist as you hit with your entire body. . It’s NOT the style of karate that has power. NO one style is stronger than any other, regardless of
The hardest punch I’ve ever experienced Read More »
PARENTS. Life lessons kids learn from martial arts. . Because of what we see in the media, movies and television, martial arts can sometimes have a bad reputation with parents, especially if they don’t know very much about the martial arts. . If you’re a parent and your child trains in the martial arts, or
Life lessons kids learn from martial arts. Read More »
“Karate is in the mind. Karate is in the heart. Karate is never about what you are wearing around your waist.” ~ Mr. Miyagi . . Look beyond the color of the belt around your waist. Shodan is just the beginning, the understanding of basics. Nidan the 2nd level, sandan the 3rd. . If you
Karate is never about what you are wearing around your waist. Read More »
“Inner to outer – we start by dissolving our attitude not by altering outer conditions.” . Bruce Lee . A real martial artist does the right thing, not what suits him. “Meiyo” (honor). It is the most important virtue of all. You only have one judge of your own honor, and that is yourself. The
Good morals always involve good manners. Read More »
“You can’t have a strong house without a strong foundation. The stronger the basics, the stronger the house – it’s as simple as that. Unfortunately a lot of practitioners don’t understand.” . Fumio Demura 9th dan Shito-Ryu . “The most advanced thing you can do, are the basics, consistently.” . You have to keep a
The most advanced thing you can do, are the basics, consistently. Read More »
Hard work always pays dividends. The amount of effort expended to reach a goal determines what you achieve. . The poor work ethic shows in how you see life. It also shows in how you treat others, and the conditions of life you expect from them. It is especially intolerable if you do little work,
Hard work always pays dividends. Read More »
