In the dojo recently we talked about “momentum” in a strike, punch or similar technique. Momentum can simply be defined as; “mass in motion.” All objects have mass; so if an object is moving, then it has momentum. . Our discussion was based upon moving our hands in an opposite direction to our target (moving…
Tag: Self-Protection
“If someone asks what Karate is, the answer is Kata.”
“If someone asks what Karate is, the answer is Kata. Karate is the act of inheriting a Kata from the master. It is the act of guarding the Kata inherited from the master. It is to nurture someone and make someone grow.” – Yamashiro Yoshitomo Okinawa Kenpo . What is the true meaning of the…
What works best…. is what works best.
Human beings are emotional creatures. In the battle between emotions, common sense and logic, emotions win, always . I prefer to look at my karate from a logical and common sense perspective, with a view to developing functional combative skill. . Logical thinking is a process of exploring different solutions to a given problem. ….
Techniques that are effective for kumite and sparring in the dojo, are not necessarily sensible choices for self-protection.
The grappling of karate is not comparable to the highly skilled grappling exhibited by MMA or Judo practitioners. It is, by design, very crude by comparison. But karate’s grappling methods did exist long before the rise of MMA. . There are those that believe only Judo or BJJ can provide grappling and throws, and the…
“Kata have been around for centuries.”
“Kata have been around for centuries. I can certify their effectiveness without having to transform anything. They must be seriously studied.” (End quote) – Masaji Taira 9th dan Goju-Ryu . Teachers undoubtedly have the ability to change the lives of their students. Most of us can remember a particular teacher that helped shape who we…
“One should be able to move in any direction with ease.”
“One should be able to move in any direction with ease. When attacked the natural reaction is to go back. You should practice hard to overcome this.” – Hironori Otsuka 10th Dan Wado-Ryu (1892 – 1982) . In actual combat the objective is to escape, or if necessary, to control, or to hit and not…
“Ultimately, training in karate means not having to fight anyone”.
“Ultimately, training in karate means not having to fight anyone”. (End quote) – Yoshio Kuba 10th dan Goju Ryu . DON’T FIGHT….. TAKE CONTROL….. Eliminate in your opponent the desire to keep fighting. To always want to ‘defeat’ someone; to always want to fight first; if these are your only skills, then there is…
The main goal of self-protection is NOT fighting.
“Winning is the reason why you compete and why sports exist, more than anything else. Is karate such a thing? Has karate been built on the principals of competition and winning? Or is karate based on forging a better person?” – Kenyu Chinen 9th dan Oshukai Shorin Ryu . Self-protection, which we usually refer…
Kata, IS the heart of karate.
“We must be careful not to overlook the fact that kata, and the body positions that comprises them, are just templates of sort; it is their application in combat which needs to be mastered.” – Motobu Choki (1870-1944) . The term “bunkai” (分解), meaning ‘disassembly’, does not refer to a technique of any kind. It…
Are traditional martial arts dying?
Are traditional martial arts dying? . Most martial arts were created at a specific period in time in ancient history to protect its practitioners from a civilian, non-consensual attack. Times have changed to a point where some martial arts training is no longer practical for today’s world. There are many martial artists who are unaware…
It’s not how much you know that counts, but how much you can recall under stress.
It’s not how much you know that counts, but how much you can recall under stress. . Most effective self-protection practitioners, have a ‘main toolkit’ which gives them something they can use in most situations, plus a larger collection of more specialized techniques that they may use if the right circumstances present themselves. . It…
Are there “cults” in the martial arts?
Are there “cults” in the martial arts? . I regularly have interactions with people who refer to their style or school as the strongest or the best, a genuine fighting style. They insist their style or school is authentic, and that it follows a lineage back to the creator of that style. It led me…