A limiting belief is not simply a wrong idea. It’s a belief that set like concrete over the years. You experienced something once, maybe twice, and without quite realizing it, you filed it away as a permanent truth about your practice. The mind loves efficiency. It doesn’t want to re-examine every experience from scratch, so it […]
The Danger of Certainty Read More »
Following my recent article on kata applications, a familiar response appeared. The essence of it was simple enough: “My instructor taught me the bunkai.” Fair enough. Before going any further, it’s worth acknowledging that while bunkai technically refers to the process of breaking down and analyzing a movement, most karate practitioners use the term when discussing applications.
Does Being Taught Bunkai Make It “The” Bunkai? Read More »
One of the most common debates in karate revolves around kata applications. Someone demonstrates a movement from a kata and then explains what they believe it represents. Another person offers a different interpretation. Before long, the discussion turns into an argument over which application is the “correct” one. Underlying this debate is an assumption that
The Problem With Looking for “The Application” Read More »
Imagine stepping into an Okinawan karate dojo over a hundred years ago. It probably wasn’t a dojo in the way most people think of one today. Training often took place in a garden, courtyard, or private home. Instruction was given to a small number of students, and much of what was taught was passed on
Looking Beyond the Label Read More »
The martial arts are full of variety. Different systems, different traditions, different ways of doing things, all shaped by history and the people who carried them forward. Most practitioners are looking for the same thing in the end: a sense of progress in their own training. But it is not unusual to find strong resistance
Tradition and Progress in Martial Arts Read More »
Kata is often misunderstood because many people view it through a modern lens. Today we live in a world of instant access to information. There are videos, books, seminars, online courses, slow-motion breakdowns, and endless commentary available at the touch of a screen. When kata was developed, none of that existed. There was no social
In many dojos, respect is taught early. Listen. Follow. Don’t question. And for a long time, that works. Until it doesn’t. Because somewhere along the line, respect can quietly turn into silence – and silence doesn’t always lead to understanding. When I first started training in 1974 under a Japanese sensei, I rarely questioned anything.
Respect Shouldn’t Replace Understanding Read More »
“Enbusen isn’t just about where you face when you perform kata. Enbusen is the opponent themselves. Enbusen represents the opponent’s attacks or movements, the practitioner must move accordingly to the movements of the opponent, and react to said attacks accordingly… Enbusen is the opponent.” Toshihiro Oshiro One of the biggest mistakes people make with kata
The Blueprint of Combat: Enbusen Is Not a Floor Pattern Read More »
Many people today study martial arts as a hobby. They do not train to the level that develops robust and functional real-world self-defense skills. That is why the non-physical side of self-protection is so important. While many people can make physical skills work, not everyone can develop a knockout punch or a strike that will
The Limits of Fighting Skills Read More »
There’s a difference between seeking guidance and expecting someone else to do your thinking for you. Over the years, I’ve had many people ask about how I approach training. How do I pressure test? How do I adapt traditional material for modern realities? How do I prepare students for unpredictability rather than compliance? I understand
Are You Teaching What You Understand? Read More »
When I was younger and competing, I had a couple of favorite techniques. Most of us did. They were the moves that felt natural, the ones I could rely on to score points or end a match. There’s a certain satisfaction in finding something that works; it gives you a sense of certainty. But even
The Danger of Being Right Read More »
I saw a video recently that reinforced everything I’ve been saying about how stagnant karate has become. It’s a recurring frustration. You see the caption – Black Belt Training Course – and you expect to see the refinement of high-level skills. The people tasked with leading the next generation. Instead, you see grown men and women with
The Ritual of Stagnation Read More »
