(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) I recently had a persistent commenter on my Facebook page, a person who, every time I posted an article about self-defense, would jump in to say that in his 40 years of training, he has never had to use self-defense. He claimed that he trains purely for fun and…
Tag: Mind
A Thousand Blocks, Still No Understanding: Why Repetition alone Isn’t Enough.
(Approx 2 minute read) Recently, I wrote an article about “Keiko Saki, Rikai Wa Ato” (稽古先，理解 後) – “Practice First, Understanding Later” – a concept in traditional karate. . One comment stood out, saying, “Thru [sic] the technique…the doctrine shall be revealed.” . The person explained that his belief that principles will reveal themselves, comes…
Burnout: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Your Way Back.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Even for those who are passionate about the martial arts, especially for those who teach, training can reach a point where it becomes overwhelming. Many times we show up to class simply out of habit, when truthfully our minds or hearts are elsewhere. . While the martial arts requires…
“Keiko Saki, Rikai Wa Ato” (稽古先，理解 後) – Practice First, Understanding Later.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) I’m sure you have heard the term, ‘renshū’ (練習) – practice through repetition. It’s about ingraining a skill by doing it over and over again until it becomes second nature. . In many Western dojos, when a new technique, drill, or application is introduced, students will often carefully mimic…
The Lost Art of Politeness: More Than a Bow. The Deeper Meaning of Reishiki.
(Approx 1 minute 50 second read) In the dojo, we all follow strict rules – often guided by a ‘creed’ or ‘Dojo Kun’ (training hall precepts). Every bow, every gesture, and every word carries meaning. . We call this ‘Reishiki’ (礼式) – the practice of manners, etiquette, and respect. It shapes how we interact with…
“Self-Praise and Over-Confidence is a Sickness That Corrupts Training.”
(Approx 1 minute 45 second read) Confidence is something every martial artist needs. Without it, even the most skilled person can freeze when it matters most. I’ve written about this recently – the impact of how a lack of confidence can ruin any skill you may have. . However, just as too little confidence is…
Thinking for Yourself: Breaking Free from the Illusion in Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 40 second read) “What the herd hates most is the one who thinks differently; it is not so much the opinion itself, but the audacity of wanting to think for themselves, something that they do not know how to do.” – Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) . Karate, and the martial arts in general,…
The Art of Slowing Down: Where Technique Meets Application.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Muscle memory is built by repetition, and doing something wrong during that repetition ingrains it into your mind. It’s much more beneficial to do it right the first time, than training bad information out later on. . In the martial arts, faster is usually considered better. Performing a faster…
When Tradition Becomes a Cage Without the Key.
(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…
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…
“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…