I have been writing articles for several years now and a misconception about self-defense continuously runs through the comments I receive. . Let’s attempt to clarify things. . Self-defense is NOT about winning. You’re not in the dojo, on the mats, in a training hall, participating in a competition, rolling on the floor. . Self-defense…
Tag: Training
“Learn, unlearn, relearn: Growth is a journey, embrace change, step beyond your comfort zone, evolve your understanding.”
Remember that time you “just couldn’t make class”? . But here’s the thing: in the world of martial arts, excuses are the enemy of progress. And trust me, I’ve faced them all – work, family, illness, weather, the allure of my comfy couch. But let me tell you, walking through those dojo doors five decades…
“Training in karate ultimately means not having to fight anyone.”
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…
Failing is a moment, quitting is a choice. In karate and life, resilience is forged in setbacks, not in the absence of them.
Failing is a moment, quitting is a choice. In karate and life, resilience is forged in setbacks, not in the absence of them. Quitting is the only true defeat. . The dojo floor used to be your sanctuary, every strike, drill, and movement, was a meditation, a focus that pushed anxieties to the periphery. ….
Symbolic gesture or combative function?
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…
“Grades mean nothing; all that matters is to train hard.”
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…
“You must remember that physical training is just the gateway to mastery of the mind.”
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,…
“I’ve always tried to put everything in actual use. I try to find the secret within the kata and then express it within my techniques.”
“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…
“Instead of being afraid of the challenge and failure, be afraid of avoiding the challenge and doing nothing.”
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?
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…
How many kata is “enough”?
How many kata is “enough”? . Of course this is very subjective. What are your goals in training? What are your goals in teaching? How many are contained in your syllabus? Etc. etc. . If you want your students to quickly learn self-defense skills, then a smaller amount is obviously going to be more efficient,…
Practice each of the skills of karate repeatedly. Attentively devote yourself to the meaning of each individual technique.
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…