(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Someone recently said to me that I force my opinions on others. That I believe in practicality above all else. That I think I am right all the time. . Let me be clear, I don’t force anything on anyone. I share what I’ve learned through decades of training,…
Tag: Zanshin
The Karate They Didn’t Teach You – Lessons from the Masters.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Why is it so hard to see beyond what we were first taught? . Most people will say they have an open mind and are always interested in gaining additional knowledge. . But from my experience, if it’s not a direct extension of what they already know, it’s almost…
When the Mats Are Empty. And No One’s Watching. Quiet Discipline.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Every time I walk into the dojo I pause and respectfully bow my head. I remove my shoes before I step onto the mats and just soak in the atmosphere, even when I’m alone. I don’t have to. No one’s watching. . It would be easy to just walk…
Sparring Isn’t Fighting. It’s Learning: Train Smart – Not Just Hard.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) I write a lot about self-defense. Really? Yes, because it’s my priority now. . However, back in the day I loved to compete. It was great fun, and because at the time that’s all most people were interested in, fighting and sparring, it had to be done. . Sparring…
Remember Why You Started: Karate That Protects – Not Modern Performance.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) When I started karate back in 1974 I wanted to learn to protect myself, I wanted self-defense. Someone said in a comment recently that “most people who do karate have very little interest in self-defense.” I disagree. . In my experience, most people begin karate because they want to…
Nukite: From Misunderstood Strike to Practical Application.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) In my recent article I wrote about using Japanese terms to describe techniques, which in certain situations can be limiting. One such example I gave was nukite. . A couple of the comments stated you wouldn’t use that technique in a real fight. Of course they are right, when…
Understanding Karate’s True Purpose: Real Violence, Real Purpose and Why Kata Matters.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Kata was born in a time of real violence, not sport or rules. To think its creators couldn’t defend themselves is absurd. Context matters, and ignorance is not bliss. . I recently received a comment that read: “No fighter ever trains kata to learn how to fight. Only old…
No Meaning? The Pinan Kata – A Complete Fighting System, Not Children’s Play.
(Approx 2 minute 55 second read) The comments section on my articles reveals quite a bit about people’s knowledge, sometimes the lack of it, their dogma, and sometimes, just a way to put across an opinion. . It’s all good, but when a comment is wide of the mark it gives me impetus to write…
Thinking Like the Creators: Kata as Living Time Capsules – Perspective in Practice.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Do kata have a theme, or are they just a collection of techniques? . Many people see only the techniques, but what we should be doing is learning how to uncover what each kata is trying to teach. The goal is to discover the individual theme and message in…
Why We Need to Define Self-Defense. Tradition vs. Reality.
(Approx 3 minute read) Why we need to define self-defense. . In my experience, reading the messages I receive, many people seem to have the wrong idea of what it is, and what it isn’t. . Let’s be clear about what we mean. . Self-defense is not sparring or any kind of step-kumite. It’s close-quarter…
Am I Getting Angry at an Empty Boat? Zen, Karate, and Self-Defense.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Many martial artists think self-defense begins with a punch, and for many practitioners, it’s the only way they see it. . Maybe because I’m getting on in years now, I think more of my failings and my fallibility. Back in the day I loved to fight, boxing as a…
Building on Fundamentals: Why Withholding Techniques Until Black Belt Fails Students.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) A comment on one of my recent articles said that they don’t train throws in karate until students reach black belt. Really? Why? . I’ve never understood this mentality as a teacher. I’ve been teaching a long time, both in martial arts and outside of it. If I only…