“At first one might start it as a hobby, but if you perceive it as a ‘hobby’, it won’t develop any further. I ask this all the time. What do you do in the morning when you wake up? You wake up, you brush your teeth, whatever it might be, it’s mostly run the same […]
KARATE ISN’T A HOBBY, IT’S A WAY OF LIFE……. ( A BETTER WAY OF LIFE). Read More »
What’s in a name? There are those who argue against too many dojo, associations, world or international. That anyone outside of Okinawa or Japan should be remonstrated for naming their dojo or association by an asian name. Are we to believe that “one size fits all”? . It isn’t a style or the name of
All women were created equal. Then some learn karate. . Observe, study, become, ……. “and one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” ~ Mark Anthony . . “I had to
All women were created equal. Then some learn karate. Read More »
空手は生涯の研究です- Karate wa shōgai no kenkyūdesu (Karate is a lifelong study) – Mabuni Kenwa (1889-1952) . . Relatively speaking, there is still relatively few who choose to dedicate their lives to studying martial arts and self-defense. In terms of sports, many choose more mainstream past times such as football, basketball, baseball, or soccer (in the
自分を鍛える. (Jibun o kitaeru) “To temper oneself. To never give up. This spirit can be reached only if one goes through hard training with all one’s might.” (End quote) – Uema Yasuhiro 9th dan Shorin Ryu . If you train, and train hard, you will achieve so much, and that is a fact. If you
“To temper oneself. To never give up.” Read More »
“We received from our ancestors, the old masters of karate, the Kata, which they have created with their blood and their hearts, putting their whole souls into them.” (End quote) – Mabuni Kenei . . Do you revere your sensei or teacher, as is often quoted by the older generation of Karate masters? . Reverence
Do you revere your sensei or teacher? Read More »
“If you have good manners, you can survive anywhere. Trouble comes to those who don’t have courtesy.” – Masahiro Nakamoto 10th dan Okinawa Dentou Kobudo . . In society a general definition of courtesy would be polite behavior that is well accepted in the society. This value holds great importance in the correct development
“Trouble comes to those who don’t have courtesy.” Read More »
空手を続ける想い (Karate o tsudzukeru omoi) – To keep practicing karate means……. “Passing down the karate our great masters created to the next generation, and promoting it to the world: that’s our responsibility. . As Master Uechi Kanei said; ‘conditioning the body is important in karate’. Some people think karate is in the mind, but
“I can’t do anything but karate.” Read More »
So, modern martial arts effectiveness is intentionally reduced? Is it fair to say that modern martial arts are intentionally made less effective, in order to appeal to a broader range of people? . In 1868 Japan moved from a feudalistic government to a democratic one that resulted in a few changes to the martial arts.
So, modern martial arts effectiveness is intentionally reduced? Read More »
Why is unrealistic “Bunkai” being taught? . The answer is simple: Because the vast majority of karate is taught by instructors who don’t know what realistic bunkai is. And that’s because their instructors were never taught it. And their instructors’ instructors were never taught it. . The original creators of each kata had their own
Why is unrealistic “Bunkai” being taught? Read More »
“A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself.” – Bruce Lee . Strictly speaking, education and instruction are mutually exclusive. You instruct soldiers. You teach students. An instructor lays down rules to be obeyed; a teacher strews ideas to
Are you an instructor, a teacher, both, or something else? Read More »
When is the time to retire from the martial arts? . I’m finally old enough to examine it with some objectivity. The issue, of course, is when one should retire in karate or other forms of budo. No serious martial artist “retires” in the sense that the person ceases to train, study and explore life
When is the time to retire from the martial arts? Read More »
