Live in the moment. It sounds simple enough, but we as human beings have an incredibly difficult time staying in the moment. . Why is that? . I believe we spend so much time replaying past memories, or planning too much for the future, that we miss out on the great moments that are unveiling […]
Live in the moment. Read More »
“Karate is a culture. If you have a culture, you can talk with any great power on an equal footing. I hope that Okinawa’s proud traditional culture will continue to exist……[…]…I’m really happy to be involved in karate for such a long time…….” – Toyama Zenshu 10th dan Goju Ryu (end quote) . .
“Karate is a culture.” Read More »
How important is your martial arts lineage? . Just because somebody comes from a certain lineage does not mean he or she is a good teacher, or has certain skills. Lineage charts maybe questionable as they encourage people to believe that an instructor is a good one just because of his lineage. . What about
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It is World Karate Day in Okinawa (Sunday October 25th). . This year, at the Shuri Dojo, we decided to do our part too, so we did 100 “Saifa” kata. . Here’s to next year. . .
100 Kata for a day. Read More »
MOST styles of Karate TODAY do not incorporate throws…. And I am not speaking of those dojo that use throws from Judo as self-defense (you know who you are). . However, traditional Okinawan styles that have preserved a broader base of traditional martial techniques and principles, do indeed have throws…..as well as take-down defense, sweeps,
MOST styles of Karate TODAY do not incorporate throws. Read More »
“The aim for personal development. Mental strength; that is a mind without fear is needed for that strength to be pursued.” – Hiroshi Akamine . Photo of Shorin Ryu Karate and Ryukyu Kobudo Master Hiroshi Akamine 9th dan with turtle shell ‘timbe’ (shield) and ‘rochin’ (short spear). . . Life just doesn’t hand you
“…a mind without fear..” Read More »
Okinawan Karate Pioneers. . Itosu Anko (糸州 安恒) is considered by many the father of modern karate. He was born in Ishimine, Shuri in 1831. He was a master of Karate that was active in the Ryukyu Kingdom period through the Meiji Period. Educated in the Chinese classics and calligraphy. Itosu began his ‘tode’ (karate)
“You should always train with intensity and spirit.” Read More »
“Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.” – Hohan Sōken (1889-1982) Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū . . They once began as humble students. Although they didn’t necessarily have “talent”, they have some limited martial arts training and then self-promote themselves to a Dan [black belt] rank. After which, they open a school proclaiming to
“Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.” Read More »
How effective is karate for self-defense? (BTW, It’s a rhetorical question) . In its pure form, karate can be incredibly effective… but in its modern incarnation most of the karate seen today is sports oriented. The majority of today’s young people have only seen karate as a sport, with its strict rules and fanciful acrobatic
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“How good you are, you cannot decide for yourself – karate makes it that way. What you put out is what you get.” – Seikichi Iha 10th dan Shorin Ryu . . Sometimes in life, we find ourselves at a dead end, or a crossroads, or on a path that seems to go nowhere. .
“How good you are, you cannot decide for yourself.” Read More »
“Karate is my ‘ikigai’, my purpose in life, practicing until the end. I have many foreign students, I want to help them develop further. I hope karate grows and grows, even after I’m gone.” . Kiyomasa Maeda 10th dan Shogen Ryu Karate-Do . . Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for
“Karate is my ‘ikigai’..” Read More »
“The secret principle of martial arts is not vanquishing the attacker, but resolving to avoid an encounter before its occurrence. To become an object of an attack is an indication that there was an opening in one’s guard, and the important thing is to be on guard at all times.” – Gichin Funakoshi ?? . .
“..the important thing is to be on guard at all times.” Read More »
