“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) . ….
Month: October 2020
“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”
“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” ~ Chinese Proverb . Great teachers are important. They can give you amazing insights and help point you in the right direction. But the real question is: What will you do with all of that great instruction? It’s not enough to just take a karate…
How important is your martial arts lineage?
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…
The PAIN you feel today, will be the STRENGTH you feel tomorrow.
Losing interest in your martial arts training will happen to everyone at some point. There are various reasons why this can happen. However, changing your perspective a little can be all it takes to rekindle your love of your art and keep you training. . The novelty of the training wears off, or an…
100 Kata for a day.
It is World Karate Day in Okinawa (Sunday October 25th). To celebrate, every year James Pankiewicz, the “Kancho” of the Asato Dojo, Naha, Okinawa, organizes “100 Kata for a day”. . This year, at the Shuri Dojo, we decided to do our part too, so we did 100 “Saifa” kata. . Here’s to next year. ? ???…
“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”
We all make mistakes, and we do so with regularity. Some errors are small, some not so. No one enjoys being wrong. It’s an unpleasant emotional experience for all of us. The question is how do we respond when it turns out we WERE wrong? . Some of us admit we were wrong and say…
Why do you keep saying “OSU!”?
Do you “Osu!” in your dojo? We do not “Osu!” in our dojo. So why do YOU keep using the term “OSU!”? . There is debate among karate-ka and karate scholars about the history of the term “Osu” and its correct usage. One thing that is known for certain, is that the term did not…
MOST styles of Karate TODAY do not incorporate throws.
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,…
“…a mind without fear..”
“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…
“You should always train with intensity and spirit.”
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)…
“Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training.”
“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…
How effective is karate for self-defense?
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…