(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) In an ideal world, a grading should reflect genuine progress in understanding and skill. A student advancing in rank should be able to demonstrate not just physical ability but a deeper comprehension of their art. . They should be able to apply what they’ve learned, adapt techniques under pressure,…
Tag: Style
Movement, Not a Catalog of Techniques: Reconnecting Karate with Practical Applications.
(Approx 2 minute 45 second read) Can you think of another pastime, hobby, sport, or functional defensive practice where there is so much ambiguity? . If I was teaching you advanced ‘blue-lights and siren’ driving skills (I used to), and I answered a question that was so plainly incorrect it would put your life and…
Karate should be simple. That’s what makes it so difficult.
Simplicity in karate doesn’t mean it’s easy – it means stripping away the unnecessary, refining movements until nothing is wasted, and ensuring every action has purpose. . But getting to that level takes years of self-discipline and understanding. Then, with that understanding, comes refined repetition. . The emphasis isn’t merely on countless repetitions, but on…
Lessons from the Past: Do Some Traditions Fail in Self-Defense?
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) Social media today is flooded with people showing off their ideas of bunkai applications. Every day, my feed is full of someone performing something or other. . Sometimes, these ideas are just cringeworthy, so I move on. It’s not worth losing time over. . Now, I get that for…
“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…
Meeting it Head-On: Shouldn’t Angles Define Kata and Your Responses?
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) I’m writing about angles again as I had so many comments and messages about this, I want to try and make my case a little clearer. . When you’re in the dojo and you begin to practice any step-kumite, drills, or sparring, you stand facing an opponent, right? ….
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…
More Than Just a Number: 10th Dan – A Life in Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) Achieving a 10th Dan in karate is an amazing accomplishment, symbolizing a lifetime of training, teaching, and contribution to the art that person practices. . So why is it sometimes controversial? . Maybe it is because of the subjectivity of the process. The teacher with a 10th Dan grade…
“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…