(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…
Tag: Kata
Taking the Hit: Beyond the Bruises. Why Self-Defense Is More Than Toughness.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Taking the hit. . Someone commented on one of my articles, a Kyokushin practitioner, and said that the best you can do for self-defense is to practice taking the hit. . While I agree it’s important your training includes what it feels like to be hit, within reason and…
Functionality is Not an Addition – It Is Karate. Let’s Not Lose It.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Someone commented on a recent article of mine where I spoke about the realities of self-defense, where violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. I gave examples of being attacked at an ATM, in a car or bus, in a pub, at a table in a restaurant, and so on….
The Limits of Technique: Practical Karate for the Unpredictable.
(Approx 1 minute 55 second read) Violence is messy, fast, and unpredictable. Thinking you can stand toe-to-toe and trade blows with an attacker is a dangerous fantasy. . Far too many people are under the misleading impression that self-protection is all about facing an attacker toe-to-toe, putting your guard up, and “dukeing it out”! ….
The Real Message within Kata: Action Over Reaction.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) One of the first movements you learn when beginning the study of karate is a block. . You are taught to block from day one and to practice blocks at every class until they become a habit and ultimately become an almost unconscious reflex. . This philosophy and its…
Beyond the One Right Way: Avoiding Bad Habits in Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) I get quite a few comments and messages from people who insist that their technique is the answer to a punch, a grab, or any other kind of attack. . Their way is the right way – the only way – and they often go into lengthy explanations about…
Rethinking ‘Uke’ in Karate: Stop Blocking, Start Understanding.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Blocking – one of the most misunderstood actions in karate. . In Japanese terminology we use the word uke, but this little, seemingly simple term doesn’t mean “blocking” at all. Yet so many practitioners still use it that way, and much of their karate revolves around the idea of…
Beyond the Punch: Why True Self-Protection Starts in the Mind.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Karate – the ultimate in self-defense, right? . That’s what nearly every dojo and school claims. But how useful is it really when it comes to real-world situations? . Yes, karate teaches you how to fight. You’ll learn how to punch, kick, and even apply joint locks. But is…
Context Is Everything: Why Pic’n’Mix Doesn’t Always Meet the Goal.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) For those of us in the UK old enough to remember going into Woolworths with a little paper bag to make our own pic’n’mix of sweets (candy), karate today isn’t that far off, is it? Everybody picks out the bits they like and then somehow assumes the finished assortment…
When Belief Becomes Dogma: The Danger of Being Certain.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Conviction. It’s crazy when people are so confident, so absolutely certain, so entrenched in their own ideas, that they just can’t see outside the box. Their way is the only way – end of discussion. . As well as the martial arts – with a little boxing thrown in…
Step Off the Center Line and Gain the Advantage.
(Approx 1 Minute 50 second read) I was asked a great question: “Do all kata start with a move to the left? Are there any kata that start to the right?” . Many beginners start off by learning maybe ‘Fukyugata’, ‘Gekisai’, the ‘Pinan’ kata, which all share one commonality – the first movement goes left….
When Confidence Becomes a Barrier: Learning to Question Yourself.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) I’m sure many of you are aware of the Dunning–Kruger effect – I’ve written about it before. It’s the tendency for people with limited knowledge or skill to overestimate their ability. . But without the ability to recognize your shortcomings, how can you hope to improve? . Here lies…