(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) Most followers of this Page understand that self-defense should always prioritize non-physical approaches first. There have to be alternatives, right? . However, I have always taught my students that if avoidance fails, they must quickly take control – or at least try to. I obviously hope they never have…
Tag: Style
If You Think Fighting Is Self-Defense, Think Again: Can You Protect Someone Without Fighting?
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) This is a follow-up to my recent article about fighting and self-defense – mainly because, based on the comments, it’s clear many people misunderstood the point. So let’s clear a few things up. . The fear of an attack can make many people want to fight back immediately. But…
Building Lasting Skill: The Uncomfortable Truth – Effort Pays Off.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) I’ve been writing articles for a few years now. And it never fails to amaze me when someone comments: “So many words.” . Reading – it’s one of the first things we’re taught. Yet these days, spending even two minutes reading something that might teach you something is too…
More Than a Fist, More Than a Palm: It’s Not About the Hand Shape – It’s About the Purpose.
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) Why do some kata use closed hands and others open hands? Is it simply stylistic differences? . It’s a question that often arises, and it points to a common misunderstanding in modern karate training: the assumption that a fist or an open palm is simply a singular ‘technique’ for…
It’s Not the Name – It’s What It Does: Techniques Must Remain Adaptable.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Lately, I’ve had a lot of comments about how a particular technique is done in this or that style, with this or that detail. Some of these comments are thoughtful… but many miss the point. . If everything goes wrong and you have to fight, you don’t have the…
Practice Makes Permanent: Train It Right from the Start.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) “Practice makes perfect.” How many times have you heard that to motivate you? . The problem is, the phrase isn’t quite right. Practice doesn’t make perfect. It makes permanent. . It should really be: Perfect practice makes perfect. . Karate is known for its repetition. How often have you…
The Essence of the Martial Arts Lies Not in Strength or Style, but in What You Find Within Yourself.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) When you find what’s truly right for you in your training, you stop needing to explain it to anyone. . Apart from teaching at the dojo, I train every day. Not to fight, not for show, and not to prove anything. I train because it matters to me. It’s…
Is Your Self-Defense Training Real? Finding Authentic Self-Protection.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Someone asked me, “How do you spot real, effective training – from the kind that’s not? How can you know the difference, especially if you’re training hard?” . You see it everywhere these days, a dojo on every street corner and in every strip mall, many of them have…
Training Hard, Learning Little: Not All Effort Leads to Effectiveness.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) The dojo, it should make you sweat and demand discipline – but what about when the instructor truly believes they’re teaching the pinnacle of self-defense, yet their methods fall painfully short in real-world violence? . Some dojo pride themselves on intensity. Students train hard, push limits, and earn their…
Too Many Want to Be Right. Too Few Want to Know.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) I wrote recently that no matter how much evidence you provide, people still will not see past their sometimes preconceived rhetoric. . You know, real martial artists are okay with it when they find out they are wrong. And to me, that is one of the greatest gifts that…
As Rare as a Quiet Pub on a Friday Night: What Students Deserve to Know.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) What motivates phony martial artists?… Is it ego, money, or something else? . I’m sure by now everyone has heard the term McDojo – a place that’s found its way onto streets, into strip malls, and community halls all over the world. . What actually is a McDojo? ….
Old Karate, New Words: Understanding Karate’s Original Intent.
(Approx 2 minute read) Imagine stepping into an early Okinawan karate dojo around the turn of the 20th century. It was probably someone’s back garden, surrounded by a wall or fencing so no one could see what was going on. Unlike today, the environment was very different. . Teachers of the time passed down their…