(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….
Tag: Style
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…
Honesty, Integrity, and Skill – What Gives a Martial Arts Title Meaning?
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) In recent years, it seems that rank and titles in the martial arts have become surprisingly easy to obtain – and very controversial. . Certificates can be printed, titles adopted, and positions claimed with little more than a website and a few followers. . But when we lose sight…
Context Is Everything: Why Pic’n’Mix Doesn’t Always Meet the Goal.
(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…
When Belief Becomes Dogma: The Danger of Being Certain.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Conviction. It’s crazy when people are so confident, so absolutely certain, so entrenched in their own ideas, that they just can’t see outside the box. Their way is the only way – end of discussion. . As well as the martial arts – with a little boxing thrown in…
Step Off the Center Line and Gain the Advantage.
(Approx 1 Minute 50 second read) I was asked a great question: “Do all kata start with a move to the left? Are there any kata that start to the right?” . Many beginners start off by learning maybe ‘Fukyugata’, ‘Gekisai’, the ‘Pinan’ kata, which all share one commonality – the first movement goes left….
Labels, Myths, and the Loss of Function: The Death of Practicality?
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) As a follow-up to yesterday’s article, I thought I would share a couple of comments I received. . Now and then, I get odd messages from people – especially since I’m an advocate for using kata as a kind of practical Swiss Army knife. . Here’s one that shows…
Kata Without Labels: Rethinking What You See – Discovering the Function Within the Movement.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Take a single technique from any kata – a reverse punch (gyaku-zuki). Most people think of it as just a punch. But what if it’s more? What if that basic movement – seen in countless kata – is a tool that goes far beyond striking? And of course, gyaku-zuki…
Tradition Isn’t the Problem – Repetition Without Reason Is.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In the modern world of martial arts, we have more information than ever before – yet we cling to methods that seem to have lost all meaning. . So many facts and opinions are out there, but none of it really sticks. Many people continue to revolve around outdated…