(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) There is so much hatred in the martial arts world on social media that I sometimes find myself wondering whether it’s all worth it. . I’ve stepped back from closed minded groups and associations, simply focusing on my own path, staying in touch only with the people who genuinely…
Category: Buddhism
Focus on Your Own Path: The Only Authority You Need Is Over Yourself.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Why do people obsess over things? . People obsess for many reasons, and some are more prone to it than others. . You might try to make sense of a situation but can’t quite understand or accept it, so you keep replaying it. Others want reassurance that they were…
Not Every Argument Is Worth Your Time – Experience Teaches You That.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Something a little different today. . People talk a lot about confirmation bias, Dunning–Kruger, and all the psychological reasons why some can’t see past their own viewpoint. You don’t need the labels. You see the behavior every day, people so stuck in their own little world that anything outside…
Before the Day Begins: Just Me, the Mats, and the Makiwara.
(Approx 2 minute 5 second read) I was up at 5:30 this morning and popped into my home dojo. . Dark outside, nothing stirring, it was so quiet, just how I like it. . The door to the dojo swung open with its familiar creak, I must oil those hinges, and I felt this wave…
The Spirit of Karate Begins with How You Do the Simplest Things.
(Approx 2 minute read) Is doing your best always enough? . In my view – yes. There’s nothing more you can do than your best. That doesn’t mean you can’t improve. It means that right now, with what you know and understand, you’re giving everything you’ve got. Your “best” is a flexible, honest commitment to…
Karate: A Journey Through Many Paths.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone said to me recently that I keep writing about the same thing, and that this page “used to be great”. It was meant as criticism, and I’ll admit, it stung a bit. But maybe it’s true that I keep coming back to the same subject. Perhaps that’s because…
Old Masters, New Lessons: The Endless Path, Not a Finish Line.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) We call them the old masters, but what did that title truly mean? In an era before standardized ranks, how was genuine mastery actually measured? . Mastery in the martial arts is a touchy subject. There are self-proclaimed “masters” that we tend to sneer at. Some styles call instructors…
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…
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…
Karate Can Show the Way, but Only You Can Walk the Path.
(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…
礼儀怠るなかれ (Reigi okotaru nakare): Never neglect courtesy and etiquette.
Personally I believe being polite is the way to go. . I receive many personal messages on social-media and email with just a couple of words. As an example: “where are you?”, “who taught you?”, “how can I learn karate?”, “what is your style?”, “what black-belt do you have?”, “what makes you such an expert…
The Most Underrated Skill in Martial Arts: Stop Talking. Start Listening.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) In the martial arts, one of the greatest skills we can develop has nothing to do with speed, strength, or technique. It’s the ability to truly listen. . Too often, conversations between martial artists – whether about training methods, kata interpretation, or self-defense – turn into battles of conviction….