(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Recently, I wrote an article about how a single movement in karate can serve multiple purposes – beyond the common terminology labels we give them. I used a simple example: the movement many call ‘jodan uke’. I shared a picture of two of my students demonstrating it as a…
Tag: Lineage
Breaking the Mold: Lessons Hiding in Plain Sight.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Ever notice how we’re really good at ignoring stuff that doesn’t fit what we already think? . This happens in karate a lot. We get an idea in our heads about, let’s say an upper block, and that’s it. That’s how we see it, period. . Of course it…
Confidence: Skill Means Nothing Without It.
(Approx 2 minute read) Confidence is one of those things that can make or break you in the martial arts. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you hesitate, even for a split second, it can throw everything off. I’ve seen it happen – in others, and in myself. . Back…
The Training That Forged Us: Built by the Past. The Lessons That Shaped Us.
(Approx 1 minute 35 second read) My recent article* about the old days – when fighting was tough, and injuries were just part of training – got a lot of responses. Not surprising really many of us experienced something similar. . To be honest, most of the comments were reflective. Those of us who lived…
Getting Off the Attack Line: Enbusen and the Reality of Angles in Kata.
(Approx 2 minute 50 second read) If you were unfortunate enough to be attacked outside the dojo, doesn’t common sense tell you that getting out of the way would be a good idea? . Kata is full of principles covering a wide range of scenarios, and one of the most important lessons is – getting…
Karate Before the Labels: No Names, Just Karate. Don’t Wait – Take Control.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) Someone recently told me that if you don’t wait for an attack, or at least attack or defend at the same time (sen no sen), then you have effectively become the attacker. He argued that we can never truly know the exact method of attack, so we should effectively…
“Kata is handed down from older generations, and if you think of it as a part of culture….”
Teaching is the act of sharing the knowledge we have been given by others – as Tomiyama Sensei reminds us – with the hope that someday, in some way, it again will be passed on and shared. . The journey from one generation to the next is not just about preserving movements, techniques, or tradition…
Karate in Context: Guided by History, Defined by Purpose.
(Approx 3 minute read) There are so many different opinions about what karate is, where it came from, and what it was actually used for. Who’s right? . We have a few snippets from history – newspaper articles, a few books written at the time – but even these have their limitations. Everything written was…
The Bigger Picture: Principles and Concepts in Motion – The True Gift of Kata.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) When you look into kata and their applications, breaking things down, you usually look at individual techniques, sometimes obsessing over what’s going on in a specific movement. . You probably consider the terminology of a technique too, using it to try and work out how a series of moves…
“If you know the Way broadly, you will see it in everything.”
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) “If you know the Way broadly, you will see it in everything.” – Miyamoto Musashi . Someone commented on one of my articles saying that practical karate people are just looking for moves in MMA to match what they do. . Actually, no. That’s the wrong way around. You…
The Next Step: Finding Opportunity Beyond Closed Doors – It Could Lead to a New Path.
(Approx 1 minute 30 second read) We’ve all been there. Sometimes, you just need to close a door – not because you’re too proud, incapable, or arrogant, but because it simply doesn’t take you where you need to go. . The feeling that not every door that opens is worth walking through. Sure, some might…
Beyond the Dojo: Dedication in Practice, One Notebook at a Time.
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) I often get asked this question: “How can I improve my karate?” The answer is really very simple: practice. . Yes, of course, you need a good teacher. And if you’re lucky enough to find one, make sure you go the extra mile to learn from them. . If…