(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…
Tag: Style
Was Bruce Lee Right? Why Knowledge Alone Isn’t Enough.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) I was at school in the 1970s when a friend of mine managed to sneak into the cinema to watch Enter the Dragon, the iconic Bruce Lee movie. . The next day he was so enthusiastic about it that, even though I had never heard of Bruce Lee or…
Come on Guys, Karate Deserves Better Than Choreography.
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) Recently I was sent a video to view of two high ranking Goju-Ryu dan grades practicing step-kumite (again). Forwards and backwards, blocking and punching. . Why punch, block, counter, punch, block, counter, moving backwards and forwards in a prearranged manner, with no basis in reality? . I’ve yet to…
Building on Fundamentals: Why Withholding Techniques Until Black Belt Fails Students.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) A comment on one of my recent articles said that they don’t train throws in karate until students reach black belt. Really? Why? . I’ve never understood this mentality as a teacher. I’ve been teaching a long time, both in martial arts and outside of it. If I only…
Wait – You Think Judo and Jujitsu Are the Only Arts with Grappling?
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) On a recent article about not losing functionality in karate, as I do with all my articles I try to find an image that matches. This one happened to show two karateka grappling. . A comment I received stated that “that’s judo or jujitsu”, even going on to say…
The Discipline of Repetition: The Basics Are Not Basic.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I’m sure everyone has heard this sentence before: “The most advanced things you can do are the basics, consistently.” . The more we practice, the less conscious thought goes into our movements. They become automatic, almost like retraining the flinch response, but for karate. . You can learn all…
Taking the Hit: Beyond the Bruises. Why Self-Defense Is More Than Toughness.
(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…
Functionality is Not an Addition – It Is Karate. Let’s Not Lose It.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on a recent article of mine where I spoke about the realities of self-defense, where violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. I gave examples of being attacked at an ATM, in a car or bus, in a pub, at a table in a restaurant, and so on….
The Limits of Technique: Practical Karate for the Unpredictable.
(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 Real Message within Kata: Action Over Reaction.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) One of the first movements you learn when beginning the study of karate is a block. . You are taught to block from day one and to practice blocks at every class until they become a habit and ultimately become an almost unconscious reflex. . This philosophy and its…
Beyond the One Right Way: Avoiding Bad Habits in Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) I get quite a few comments and messages from people who insist that their technique is the answer to a punch, a grab, or any other kind of attack. . Their way is the right way – the only way – and they often go into lengthy explanations about…
Rethinking ‘Uke’ in Karate: Stop Blocking, Start Understanding.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Blocking – one of the most misunderstood actions in karate. . In Japanese terminology we use the word uke, but this little, seemingly simple term doesn’t mean “blocking” at all. Yet so many practitioners still use it that way, and much of their karate revolves around the idea of…