(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 […]
No Meaning? The Pinan Kata – A Complete Fighting System, Not Children’s Play. Read More »
(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
Thinking Like the Creators: Kata as Living Time Capsules – Perspective in Practice. Read More »
(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
Why We Need to Define Self-Defense. Tradition vs. Reality. Read More »
(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
Am I Getting Angry at an Empty Boat? Zen, Karate, and Self-Defense. Read More »
(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
Building on Fundamentals: Why Withholding Techniques Until Black Belt Fails Students. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) On a recent article about not losing functionality in karate, as I do with all my articles I try to find an image that matches. This one happened to show two karateka grappling. . A comment I received stated that “that’s judo or jujitsu”, even going on to say
Wait – You Think Judo and Jujitsu Are the Only Arts with Grappling? Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) I’m sure everyone has heard this sentence before: “The most advanced things you can do are the basics, consistently.” . The more we practice, the less conscious thought goes into our movements. They become automatic, almost like retraining the flinch response, but for karate. . You can learn all
The Discipline of Repetition: The Basics Are Not Basic. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) People often say that karate builds character. I don’t think so. Your character is shaped over many years and through many different experiences in life – not just by what you do in the dojo. . The Japanese term shūyō (修養) refers to the steady refinement of mind and
Karate Can Show the Way, but Only You Can Walk the Path. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on a recent article of mine where I spoke about the realities of self-defense, where violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. I gave examples of being attacked at an ATM, in a car or bus, in a pub, at a table in a restaurant, and so on.
Functionality is Not an Addition – It Is Karate. Let’s Not Lose It. Read More »
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. Thinking you can stand toe-to-toe and trade blows with an attacker is a dangerous fantasy. . Far too many people are under the misleading impression that self-protection is all about facing an attacker toe-to-toe, putting your guard up, and “dukeing it out”! .
The Limits of Technique: Practical Karate for the Unpredictable. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) One of the first movements you learn when beginning the study of karate is a block. . You are taught to block from day one and to practice blocks at every class until they become a habit and ultimately become an almost unconscious reflex. . This philosophy and its
The Real Message within Kata: Action Over Reaction. Read More »
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) I get quite a few comments and messages from people who insist that their technique is the answer to a punch, a grab, or any other kind of attack. . Their way is the right way – the only way – and they often go into lengthy explanations about
Beyond the One Right Way: Avoiding Bad Habits in Karate. Read More »
