The black belt, often the coveted symbol of martial arts mastery, draws students with the promise of an ultimate destination. . Yet, reaching “shodan,” the first degree, reveals a profound truth: the path of martial arts is not a linear ascent to a summit, but a continuous, humbling journey of self-discovery and ever-deepening knowledge. . […]
Yoshio Kuba, 10th dan Goju-Ryu karate, once said, “Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone.” This profound statement challenges the popular perception of martial arts as solely about physical combat. Instead, it highlights a deeper principle: true control lies in not needing to use force. . Forget the street-brawler mentality. True strength
“Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone.” Read More »
Should you wear a white belt when you visit or join a new dojo? . Why? Because you would be expressing ”Shoshin” (初心) – The Beginner’s Mind. You’re not there to “prove” anything… You’re there to LEARN! This requires an attitude of humility and lack of preconceptions. . Wearing a white belt when at a
The martial arts world can be a tapestry woven with intricate traditions and practices. . One intriguing thread that runs through the practice of kata, specifically, the enigmatic movements often interpreted as “salutations.” . These seemingly ritualistic gestures have some practitioners attributing them to hidden meanings and even ancient Chinese symbolism. . However, perhaps a
Symbolic gesture or combative function? Read More »
In my younger days, high kicks were a speciality of mine. I was very flexible, often using different high kicks to success in the dojo and in competition. And if you had told me high kicks didn’t work for self-defense, I would have strongly disagreed with you. I know several karate-ka who worked on the
It’s the time of year for a “Rant”. . Imagine a shiny black-belt, dangling around someone’s waist like a “Master of Awesome” flag. Cool, right? Except, what if they got it for showing up to class a few times and making friends with the sensei’s dog? Kinda sad, don’t you think? . That’s the thing
“Grades mean nothing; all that matters is to train hard.” Read More »
Every day we are confronted with unexpected challenges. Either we accept these challenges and meet them head-on, or resist them, wishing they would just go away. Yet challenges are woven into the fabric of our lives. They are the tests we all have to face daily. . Stepping onto the tatami for the first time,
“You must remember that physical training is just the gateway to mastery of the mind.” Read More »
“Every day, there is a new discovery. Rather than merely hitting this way or hitting that way, i’m interested now in trying to evolve the foundations of my practice.” – Kenji Yamaki . You can learn all the technical skills you want, all the theories and concepts down to the core. But what’s the point
If someone thinks that a lesson is useless, then teaching them will be a waste of time. If the desire doesn’t come from the inside, the person will just go through the motions.….. they will never truly learn or understand. . What I have found over the years is that some people just want to
It is useless to explain to a person who is already holding a conclusion. Read More »
Someone made a comment on one of my articles that stated your not an instructor if you look to fail people for a black-belt test and break them down as individuals, that life is tough as it is. . While I understand this perspective, and it’s true that a positive and supportive learning environment is
Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting? . Karate was originally created to protect yourself from civilian attacks….. “villain or ruffian”. (Ankoh Itosu precept quote) . Of course, it depends what we mean by untrained. There are plenty of people who learn how to fight from getting into fights. . A lot
Just how bad (or good) are untrained people at fighting? Read More »
A comment on one of my articles stated that; ”kata and bunkai are useless”, accusing me of not understanding their non-self-defense design, including a “bullshido” label. . You know what? If you think the movements within kata are ineffective, then for you, that’s true. It just shows a complete lack of understanding. . “Why practice
