(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) The guy from the other day who suggested I “stop with the crap and go do some real training” got me thinking – not about what he said, but about how common this attitude is. . So many people who comment on my articles practice modern disciplines and openly…
Category: Bunkai
Kata Isn’t Necessary – But That’s Not the Point.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Here we go again. Every time I write about the benefits of kata – really trying to help people understand what it is and how it works – I get a troll in the comments. This time, he proudly declared the virtues of his “street-real” jiu-jitsu and MMA training….
Through the Dojo Door: Stepping Into Change.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Change. Even the word makes some karateka open their mouths in horror, as if you’ve insulted their family or spat on their dojo floor. . People resist change because they believe they will lose something of value, or fear they will not be able to adapt to new ways….
Back to Basics: It’s Not What You Think. Forget the Technique, Understand the Concept (Found in Kata).
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) Ever looked at a kata and thought, “There’s a theme here”? Well you’re probably right. . But to see it, you need to look beyond the block, punch, and kick. You have to go deeper than the surface-level mechanics most people focus on when working through bunkai. . Let’s…
Naihanchi Is Not Everything. But it’s a Great Place to Start.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Naihanchi – one of my favourite kata. . Filled with close-range fighting and grappling techniques. It’s probable that Itosu believed Naihanchi to be so effective that, even if it was the only kata a student ever learnt, they would still become an able fighter. . The phrase “Everything is…
Kata as a Textbook: Understanding Its Misunderstood Language.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Kata means many things to many people. For some, it’s just a bunch of basics – something to help practice those basics, or maybe something more. Once again, only recently someone said to me, “Kata is useless.” . You can choose to see kata as something you do for…
Beyond the Syllabus: Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences in the Martial Arts.
(Approx 3 minute read) Someone recently commented on one of my articles, saying they don’t bother planning lessons – they just go with the flow. That got me thinking. . I’m all for being adaptable in the moment. But it made me reflect on how we, as instructors, prepare – or don’t – for the…
Teaching Self-Defense: It’s Time to Be Honest – One Size Doesn’t Fit All.
(Approx 2minute 15 second read) First, I want to thank those of you who follow my page and read my articles. If you do. you should know I prefer the practical and effective over rigid, performance-focused modern karate. . I often write about the stark differences between real self-defense and the misleading claims made by…
Balance in Combat – Mastering Your Center of Gravity.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) If you end up having to fight, apart from anything else, having good balance can make or break the outcome. . Balance is one of those things you don’t think about – until you lose it. Suddenly, it’s all that matters. In any martial art, controlling your center of…
Exploring Kata: More Than Techniques. From Motion to Meaning.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Something someone brought up recently about kata. They were asking, “If we don’t really understand the applications, the why behind the moves, are we just wasting our time?” . There’s no single, perfect answer to what any move in a kata is supposed to be. Even if the old…
Karate and Kobudo: Two Paths, One Tradition – Complementary, Not Opposing.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on my recent article, suggesting that styles also reflect the “weapons reality” that an opponent might use. . He stated that “Okinawan Karate focused on empty hand fighting against weapons such as Bo, Jo, Nunchaku, Sai and Tonfa. This ‘weapons reality’ led to direct, close quarter, power…
The Ferret’s Way: Tenacity, Effort, and the Spirit of ‘Ganbaru’.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I don’t know about you, but I always try my best in everything I do. Occasionally, I get annoyed with myself, thinking I could have done better. Maybe I’m just wired that way. Of course, I don’t always succeed, but next time, I try that bit harder. . An…