Kata is not an alternative or substitute for two-man training.

“If you can prove that the techniques that you are teaching are realistic and valid, then your Bunkai will stand up to scrutiny, in other words if it don’t work then don’t teach it.” ~ John Johnson 8th dan – Adaptive Karate . . 形. Kata is not an ‘alternative’ or ‘substitute’ for two-man training;…

OKINAWAN KARATE. THE ORIGINAL MMA. . We are all human. Therefore, every style is limited to the same movements. The only difference is in the method of training. Karate originated on the island of Okinawa, a melting pot of combative knowledge. Combined with their native form of wrestling (Tegumi), Okinawan karate began as an effective…

Nothing ever grows in the comfort zone.

“Everyone knows that karate is a martial art. But few people know what art really means. Art is not something you hang on the wall, art is something you do, and it always involves a learning process. The problem is, some people hate learning. I know why! Because to learn something new means admitting that…

Trust the quality of what you know, not the quantity.

“Some falsely believe that mastery and progress come by knowing as many kata as possible. In the older days, one knew only about two or three at the most. Even to use one kata properly and efficiently is not an easy task. One must remember that it is quality over quantity when practicing any kata.”…

“Ichi-go ichi-e”

Ichi-go ichi-e – ( 一期一会) “Ichi-go ichi-e” – literally “one time, one meeting”, is a Japanese term that is originally associated with the Japanese tea ceremony. It describes a cultural concept of treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. The term has been translated as “for this time only,” and “once in a lifetime.” The…

Karate is not only physical techniques but a philosophy of life.

“Karate is not only physical techniques but a philosophy of life. Age is not important for someone who really wants to train in karate. Karate is a life journey, not a destination. It’s only when we look at it as a destination that we will stop training.” ?? ~ Minoru Higa 10th dan Shorin Ryu…

Education should never be “just enough.”

  “Karate training is a moral training, as well as a physical one for self-defense. It isn’t only concerned with developing fighting machines. Traditional karate, taught in the correct way, will cultivate people able to defend themselves, but just as importantly, it will cultivate within them a sense of responsibility, a sense of justice, and…

Okinawa is the birthplace of karate.

“Some people say that karate is moving zen. The mind is the most powerful weapon I have. I was in karate from 9 years old. I spent my life learning the techniques, now I am 72 (76 in Aug 2020). I am the highest master in all of Okinawa. Karate helped me to be a…

Trust the process.

I’m going to ask you to trust me on this. ? What I’ve realized over the years in working with countless people, is that there is nothing as vital to a relationship, with your sensei, students, friend or family, as fragile as trust. Psychologists tell us that the first emotional bond we all develop is…

You will not be punished for your anger…

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” ~ Buddha Poison isn’t always something you eat or drink – it can be an emotion. And hate is one of them, eating you up inside and causing destruction. . Hatred is a feeling that we all have felt and…

The only limit is you.

“The limit is not in the sky. The limit is the mind.” Those with limited mindsets will work within their limits and stay within the comfort zones that allow them to feel contentment with a sense of conformity. But pushing our minds beyond their own limits can give us an indescribable sense of joy by…

Names of the different parts of a karate gi

Keikogi (稽古着), or dogi (道着), is a uniform for training in Japanese martial arts and their derivatives. (Keiko means practice, gi means dress or clothes.) The prototype for the modern keikogi emerged in the late 19th century.  The keikogi was developed by judo founder Kano Jigoro. Japanese martial arts historian Dave Lowry speculates Kano derived…