(Approx 2 minute read) One of the most common mistakes people make when analyzing kata is treating each posture as a separate technique. . They stop the movement, freeze it, and ask, “What is this?” Then they move on to the next position and do the same thing. The result is a sequence that becomes…
Tag: Bunkai
Kata Only Fails When We Forget Why It Exists.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) As martial artists, we all have a style in which we feel comfortable. Karate, however, has been unbelievably dumbed down over the years. . Sadly, a number of individuals overlook karate’s true significance. They are not interested in its history, its influences, or where and why it was conceived….
When One Movement Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Some time ago, while teaching at a Kyokushin dojo, a nidan asked me about the meaning of a particular movement in Kanku. . It wasn’t a version of the kata I had practiced before, but that didn’t really matter. What interested me was the question itself, because it highlighted…
Performance Is Not Preparation – The Gap Between Training and Reality.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Let’s start with some reality. . There was another serious assault around the corner from where I live. And to those who say self-defense isn’t necessary? Maybe where ‘you’ live. However… . This is a comment I hear very often: “Do the martial arts work in the streets?” ….
The Ghost of Practice: When Visualization Helps – and When It Doesn’t.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) I wrote an article recently saying, as I’ve long believed, that the two-person drills came before kata. . Kata was the record, something to memorize, a mnemonic, something to preserve the lessons when you were training alone. But I also pointed out that practicing kata on your own isn’t…
Kata Makes Sense Only When You See the Other Person.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) The question of evidence has popped up again from a personal message: “How do we know the creators of kata built them on two-person drills?” . A fair question. . But before we get into it, let me make it clear, and I mean no disrespect, I don’t have…
The Black Belt: A License to Learn.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) Well done. You’ve got your black belt, you’ve reached one of your major goals. It feels great, doesn’t it? You can finally tell everyone you’re a black belt. For some it may have taken years, for others perhaps not so. . For a moment there’s euphoria, maybe a celebration…
Seeing the Whole Picture: Teaching Beyond the Basics.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Something different. . There are many great teachers of the martial arts out there, but how do you become a great teacher? I’m not saying I’m a great teacher, far from it. I’m just sharing what’s helped me teach more effectively over the years. . Most instructors fall into…
Not Pretty – Ugly, But Effective. Function Over Form.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Recently I was criticized on someone’s page for saying the pioneers of karate, the masters of the past, preferred “function over form”. He asked, “What proof does he have?” . If I’m wrong, I have no problem admitting it. But in this case, I really don’t think I am….
A Weapon Changes Everything – Your Life Matters More Than Your Wallet.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Real-world violence is nothing like what most people practice in the dojo. Throughout my life, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of facing real-world confrontations – both as a civilian and in my career. . It’s important to remember that most martial arts schools today teach some form of dueling,…
Karate Doesn’t Need More Choreography – It Needs Honesty.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) In a recent article I talked about learning from others, whether from people or other methods, it’s good to have an open-mind to everything, right? . Of course there are people who are deeply stuck in their ways and unfortunately, here is an example of just that. . A…
The Art You See Isn’t Always the Art You Need: Function Over Form.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) I was watching a video recently of bunkai performed at a tournament in Japan. . It was the usual two against one format. The individuals performing the applications were incredibly athletic, the choreography was really impressive, their techniques crisp, the timing and techniques impeccable. . It was really fun…