(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) For most people, kata is a solo performance, mostly there to pass a grade. For a practitioner with limited experience, this is an important stage of practice. If you can’t perform the movements efficiently without an opponent, you’ll have no chance of making them work against an aggressive one….
Category: Self-Defense
Choosing the Wrong Battle: Knowing When to Walk Away.
(Approx 2minute 30 second read) Choosing your battles wisely isn’t just a saying – it’s a skill, one that can mean the difference between escalation and resolution, between staying safe and putting yourself or others in harm’s way. . When I joined the ambulance service and began my training, one part of the curriculum was…
Kata: The thread that connects it all.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) There are plenty of reasons why kata has become somewhat disconnected from real combat. From philosophical and political decisions made by Funakoshi and others following WWII to common training methods, distorted views of how fighting works, and the spread of information lacking depth. . I get so many…
‘Banpen Fugyō’: Ten Thousand Changes, No Surprise – Life often surprises us. The key is to remain unshaken and not stirred.
(Approx 2 minute read) Think about the last time you had to deal with a problem but couldn’t come up with a single possible solution. Sometimes making any decision, even if it’s not the best, is better than freezing and making no decision. Indecision is bad. . A student in our dojo was practicing a…
Teaching Self-Defense? Make It Real. Not a Performance.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) If there’s one recurring theme in the comments on my articles, it’s the difference between techniques for self-defense, sport, ‘bunkai’, or some form of ‘kumite’ in the dojo. . Over the years, I’ve addressed misconceptions about self-defense that often lead people to confuse what works in a controlled environment…
Finding Clarity in the Red Mist: Self-Control. Remaining Calm in the Chaos.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) A key element in any self-defense situation is self-control. It’s not just about staying calm – it’s about staying in charge of yourself. . You can’t allow someone else to manipulate you by pushing your emotional buttons. I’ve been in situations where people have tried to provoke me, using…
Karate Unboxed: One Approach Can’t Suit Everyone.
(Approx 2 minute read) Should we differentiate the various forms of karate or even consider renaming them? For instance, Sport-karate, Children’s-karate, Practical-karate, or 3K karate? . The failure to differentiate between contexts is widespread, and for me, it’s essential, especially when discussing what it is that you practice or teach. Criticizing sport-karate for not working…
Winning Is Just the Beginning: Karate – Beyond the Trophies and the Medals.
Before determining the best approach to training, it’s essential to ask: What am I trying to achieve? . Effectiveness depends entirely on its intended purpose. In the world of karate, this question becomes even more crucial, as the goals of sport and self-defense often get clouded. . Back in the 1970s and 1980s, I was…
The Calm Before the Storm: Recognizing the Signs To Stay One Step Ahead. Spot the Cues, Avoid the Danger.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In a recent article, I shared an example from my time as an EMT, where I encountered a patient under the influence. I noticed he was about to ‘kick off’, based on his aggressive language, posturing, and movements. . Someone commented, asking how you train for awareness – how…
Control the Threat: Recognize It, React to It, and Resolve It.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) If you’re like most people, you probably hope you will never find yourself in a self-defense situation. . The very best defense starts with avoidance of the threat altogether. The sooner you sense it coming, the sooner you can step off the tracks and avoid the freight train altogether….
When Confidence Becomes Complacency: Locked Minds, Limited Skills.
(Approx 2 minute 10 second read) If someone thinks that a lesson has no value, or is not relevant to them, then teaching them will be a waste of time. That person will simply go through the motions. . What I’ve found over the years is that some people just want to keep doing the…
More Than a Sprint: Running Away vs. Escape Skills. They’re Not the Same.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on one of my articles: “Forget about learning self-defense techniques, which you are likely to forget anyway. Just run away.” . Terrible advice. . Learning to escape is paramount in self-protection, but reducing it to just “running away” oversimplifies a much more complex and nuanced skillset. ….