(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 […]
Labels, Myths, and the Loss of Function: The Death of Practicality? Read More »
(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
(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 Many people continue to revolve around outdated
Tradition Isn’t the Problem – Repetition Without Reason Is. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Many of the comments and messages I receive about the continued use of step-kumite – which I’m against practicing – still leave me with the same questions. . Why punch, block, punch, block – moving backwards and forwards in a prearranged manner, with no basis in reality? . I’ve
Why Are We Still Doing Step-Kumite? Prearranged and Pointless? Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Today, there are many types of karate. But it’s worth saying what often gets left out: it didn’t used to be this way. . Originally, karate was a method of self-protection – pragmatic and rooted in application. The shift to having ‘many types’ of karate is not something that
A Defining Moment – The Meeting That Redirected Karate. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute read) Too many think kata is just choreography – technique after technique, moving in lines. But without bunkai, it’s empty. . A comment I received the other day from a Shotokan instructor said he doesn’t teach bunkai until the practitioner is at nidan (2nd dan). . Really? Why? Such disregard reflects a
Why Waiting Until Nidan to Learn Bunkai Misses the Point. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) As we get older, our karate should change. We no longer need to prove ourselves like we did in our twenties. . Instead, we add another layer to our practical, pragmatic training – moving meditation, more introspection, and a sense of dignity. We begin to think about the legacy
When Older Eyes Meet Unpredictable Hands – Karate, Age, and the Untrained Threat. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) “You cannot get educated by this self-propagating system in which people study to pass exams, and teach others to pass exams, but nobody knows anything. You learn something by doing it yourself, by asking questions, by thinking, and by experimenting.” – Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist . I wrote an
When the Syllabus Stops Working: If You Don’t Ask, You’ll Never Know. Read More »
Karate initially draws people to the dojo with promises of physical strength – discipline, skill, and of course, self-defense. . Those who embrace karate as a sport, for fun, or to follow a lineage have every right to do so. . Kata – for many people today – is just there in the background, something
Kata’s Core: Finding Truth Beneath the Movements. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) The majority of karate today is plagued by dogma. Let me explain. . After the Second World War, Okinawa was in ruins. Many of the teachers who started up again back then had learned the ‘school karate’ model – all about building strong bodies and disciplined minds. Not every
Karate: Stop Bowing to Dogma – Question Everything. Read More »
(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
(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
