(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) “What style do you practice?” . I get asked this question whenever someone learns that I practice karate or when someone with a little knowledge of karate inquires about joining our dojo. . It’s as if the style of karate you practice is more important than the kind of…
Tag: Style
A Lifelong Commitment: Tie The Belt, The Path Could Be Long.
(Approx 2 minute read) Most people who start martial arts don’t stay. Some quit after a few months, others after a few years. A rare few keep training for life. Why? . Kenwa Mabuni once said, “空手は生涯の研究です” – Karate wa shōgai no kenkyū desu (“Karate is a lifelong study”). Many of the early masters believed…
Rattling the Cage: Karate and the Questioning Mind.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) My first exposure to karate was Wado-Ryu in 1974. The bulk of the classes focused on the basics, with plenty of exercises thrown in to keep things ‘enjoyable’. . Of course, there was kata and I was told that it required years of dedicated practice to truly understand, yet…
Beyond the syllabus: True progress starts when you look deeper.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) I remember a little while ago being invited to teach at a dojo and hanging on the wall in plain sight was the curriculum or syllabus they followed. It was structured, organized, and served as a clear guide for what students were expected to learn. . But as I…
Purpose-Driven Practice: Cut Through the Unnecessary, Focus on Function.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Over the years, karate has been modified to fit a non-combative formula such as competition, athleticism, style, and aesthetics. However, traditionally, karate – and its kata – were designed as records of practical fighting methods for civilian self-defense. . Now, I understand that not everyone trains for self-defense or…
From Tradition to Function: Making Every Stance Count.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) In everyday English, we use the word ‘stance’ to infer a fixed, unchanging position or viewpoint. This common usage of the word can confuse people into thinking that we utilize our karate ‘stances’ in the same way, that they represent a fixed position….. They do not! . A recent…
Can You Really Apply That Lock? Reality vs. Fantasy.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Some of the comments I receive on my articles are truly remarkable (I’m being polite here). They certainly inspire me to write, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain. . Recently, a few people argued that fine motor skills work under high stress – some comparing the skills of martial…
Cognitive Dissonance in Training: When Belief Clashes with Reality.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) A friend of mine reminded me, in relation to an article I wrote about keeping karate grounded in reality when approaching self-defense, about cognitive dissonance in the martial arts. . Ever feel that discomfort when two ideas just don’t sit right? . That’s cognitive dissonance. . We dedicate years…
No One Size Fits All: Are You Training for the Wrong Fight? Finding Your Path in Martial Arts.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Whenever I write an article about real-world self-defense, the comments seem to explode into “my style is the best”. . I don’t think a lot of these people actually train themselves – maybe keyboard warriors, maybe just inexperienced – but these comments usually revolve around one style in particular:…
The Ugly Truth of Self-defense – Keep Your Training Grounded.
(Approx 2 minute read) A comment on one of my articles about self-defense challenged my point that techniques in real combat should rely mostly on gross motor skills. The commentator disagreed, insisting that fine motor skills work just as well in such scenarios. I’m not sure he had any experience in this, as he didn’t…
Not All Grades Are Equal: A True Grading Tests Understanding, Not Just Memory.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) In an ideal world, a grading should reflect genuine progress in understanding and skill. A student advancing in rank should be able to demonstrate not just physical ability but a deeper comprehension of their art. . They should be able to apply what they’ve learned, adapt techniques under pressure,…
Movement, Not a Catalog of Techniques: Reconnecting Karate with Practical Applications.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Can you think of another pastime, hobby, sport, or functional defensive practice where there is so much ambiguity? . If I was teaching you advanced ‘blue-lights and siren’ driving skills (I used to), and I answered a question that was so plainly incorrect it would put your life and…