Tradition

The importance of focus in your training.

The importance of focus in your training. . The word gets tossed around so much in the martial arts that it’s almost become a cliché, but focus is one of the most important tools you can apply to your training routine. . Focus and attention to detail during training is key to improving and making

The importance of focus in your training. Read More »

Knowledge speaks. Wisdom listens.

The martial arts are closely intertwined with traditions that take long lives and healthy living seriously. Old masters not only exist, many are known for outshining the young. . The karate masters of the past were at the forefront of martial arts wisdom and knowledge. Why? Because they had memories of what had and hadn’t

Knowledge speaks. Wisdom listens. Read More »

There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula.

There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula. . Social media is a powerful communications medium, with widespread influence. Online communication has brought information to people and audiences that previously could not be reached. . Previous generations looked up to genuine experts, who had spent decades perfecting their art. Now, anyone

There are NO shortcuts. Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula. Read More »

Your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations.

When you analyze kata, breakdown the movements within, your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations. The kata were created for this reason. . Some of the applications put forward as interpretations of kata movement vary from the wonderful to the ridiculous, and unfortunately it is often hopelessly inadequate. .

Your bunkai needs to be effective, it must be applicable to real situations. Read More »

To not fight is the greatest victory in a street fight.

For those of you who ‘laugh in the face of adversity’, and your response to all things is to fight….. You know who you are! . I want to stress the importance of attempting to solve a problem without a physical altercation. Really you should be trying your best to deescalate a situation before it

To not fight is the greatest victory in a street fight. Read More »

Symbolic gesture or combative function?

When people don’t understand things, they often find it easier to create their own explanations. We see this all the time, in every part of society. . To psychologists, this behavior is known as ‘rationalization’. If something doesn’t make sense, then make it make sense. Karate is no exception. And salutations in kata is an

Symbolic gesture or combative function? Read More »

The eight laws of learning are……..

It is extremely difficult, if not almost impossible, to proficient at the martial arts while training only once per week. Students who train only once a week have to relearn a great deal of information from each training session. . If you repeat too rarely, you will have forgotten most of the information you have

The eight laws of learning are…….. Read More »

“The satisfaction of one answer merely leads to asking another question.”

“The satisfaction of one answer merely leads to asking another question.” – Alberto Manguel . Questions are more important than answers because questions seek to understand, to clarify and frame and evaluate. While answers, at their best, are temporary responses whose relative quality can decay over time, needing to be reformed and remade and reevaluated

“The satisfaction of one answer merely leads to asking another question.” Read More »