(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Nakasone Genwa (1895-1978), once said, “Karate has many stances; it also has none.” This seemingly paradoxical statement highlights a crucial concept in training: stances are not rigid, fixed positions, but rather dynamic movements that serve a specific purpose. . In everyday English, we use the word ‘stance’ to infer…
Month: May 2024
“Kata were never meant to ‘teach’ us anything but rather to culminate the lessons we should have already learned in two-person practice.”
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) Recently, a comment on one of my articles challenged the notion that kata originated from two-person drills, asserting that “there is no evidence” to support this claim. . This critic argued that kata were devised independently and later had practical applications extracted from them. However, this viewpoint overlooks critical…
“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle”
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) Many of us have experienced situations where we felt unsafe or powerless. Maybe it was childhood bullying, an uncomfortable encounter at work, or the sting of online bullying, or even the threat of physical violence. . In these moments, a common feeling emerges: the inability to control the situation….
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Why are people so afraid of learning something new or different? Even if you’ve been doing something one particular way for years, there might be a different or better way. Wouldn’t it be interesting and great to discover and learn that? Why are so many people adamant that the…
Kata is not merely a sequence of movements; it’s a timeless link to the wisdom of pioneering masters.
(Approx 2 minute 32 second read) Kata is often viewed as outdated, irrelevant, and, from many comments I receive, totally misunderstood. . It’s important to remember that kata were created in a time without social media, video, hardly any photography, and no books or artwork on the subject. . Most teachings occurred behind closed doors…
A knife wound can change your life in an instant. Traditional dojo training may not be enough.
(Approx 2 minute read) Defense against knife attacks is a sobering topic, very few instructors have substantial experience with this type of violence, making it a complex and challenging topic. . Most techniques taught in martial arts classes come from instructors who have never used them in real-life scenarios. . To adopt realistic methods of…
Karate’s Missing Link: The Legacy of Tegumi and Its Relevance to Self-Defense Today.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) In the early to mid-1950s, when karate started to spread globally, the emphasis was heavily skewed towards striking and blocking techniques. . Many of the early Western instructors, who had spent varying amounts of time learning from their Japanese and Okinawan teachers, had a wide range of experiences. Some…
“…..the ways of thrusting and blocking – that is to say, the techniques of attack and defense – have innumerable variations.”
(Approx 2 minutes 10 second read) One of the first things you learn as a beginner is a ‘block’. . Typically, it’s one of these: upper, middle inner, middle outer, or a down block. . You spend a significant amount of time practicing these blocks, focusing on the small details, making sure your pulling hand…
温故知新 On Ko Chi Shin — “Study the old, understand the new.”
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Within the structured world of the martial arts, a practitioner’s journey extends beyond expertise in techniques. It’s also about cultivating a personal expression – a unique blend of technical proficiency and individual interpretation. . This pursuit of one’s “martial voice” isn’t a rejection of established forms, but rather a…
“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
I still remember my first karate class, five decades ago. Feeling awkward and intimidated, I went through the motions, just like most people do. . It was meant to be an eight week course, but as I started putting in more effort, showing up consistently, and practicing outside of class, it became clear that karate…
“Gichin Funakoshi’s ideal, [..] was to advance from Jutsu to Do. It has become my mission to attain this goal.”
Karate is often suffixed by the terms ‘Jutsu’ or ‘Do’. Understanding these concepts is an important part of your training. . Many people comment on my articles that they don’t need self-defense skills, finding the character-building aspect more appealing. While each to their own, this separation limits their potential. . ‘Jutsu’, translating to ‘method’, refers…
From Complacency to Overconfidence: The Many Different Views of Traditional Karate.
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) It’s interesting that in my articles about self-protection or self-defense, several comments seem to indicate that many people just don’t prioritize self-defense. . Some commenters suggest that because they live in areas with little violence, they feel they don’t need the protection offered by realistic self-protection training. . Additionally,…