(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) For most people, kata is a solo performance, mostly there to pass a grade. For a practitioner with limited experience, this is an important stage of practice. If you can’t perform the movements efficiently without an opponent, you’ll have no chance of making them work against an aggressive one….
Tag: Teaching
‘Ishiki’ – Awareness.
“‘Ishiki’ (意識) is very important. ‘Awareness – Take more attention and focus’. Without ‘Ishiki’: you wouldn’t realize what is happening here and there. By doing it you see and realize things happening. During everyday training with more attention and focus you will see and realize how your stance, form and technique are. Do not ignore…
Embracing Different Perspectives: Why Listening is Key to Understanding.
(Approx 2 minute read) Close-mindedness isn’t always as obvious as we think. It doesn’t just show up as stubbornness or refusal to change. Sometimes, it hides behind the belief that you already know enough – enough about your martial arts, enough about the world, enough about yourselves, enough about others. . Ask anyone if they’re…
Kata: The thread that connects it all.
(Approx 2 minute 25 second read) There are plenty of reasons why kata has become somewhat disconnected from real combat. From philosophical and political decisions made by Funakoshi and others following WWII to common training methods, distorted views of how fighting works, and the spread of information lacking depth. . I get so many…
‘Banpen Fugyō’: Ten Thousand Changes, No Surprise – Life often surprises us. The key is to remain unshaken and not stirred.
(Approx 2 minute read) Think about the last time you had to deal with a problem but couldn’t come up with a single possible solution. Sometimes making any decision, even if it’s not the best, is better than freezing and making no decision. Indecision is bad. . A student in our dojo was practicing a…
You need great passion because everything you do with great pleasure, you do well.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) Apart from my interests and passion for karate, I have another wild passion: Formula 1. . My interest started when I was in my early teens, and it has not wavered since. I follow not just the races but also the technical information, the teams, the drivers, and the…
Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be ready to throw away what you know.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) Recently, I read an article about certain aspects of Buddhism, and one of the key points made was that in the heart of the Buddha’s teachings lies a profound caution: . “To seek truth is not to entangle oneself in concepts or to cling to views. Words, descriptions, and…
Letting Go: Breaking Free from the Opinions of Others.
(Approx 2 minute 20 second read) We all want to be liked. Whether it’s for our many talents, sharp intelligence, warm personalities, or – okay, maybe not for our amazing dance moves – it’s natural to seek validation from others. . But when we start depending on what people think of us to feel happy,…
Teaching Self-Defense? Make It Real. Not a Performance.
(Approx 2 minute 30 second read) If there’s one recurring theme in the comments on my articles, it’s the difference between techniques for self-defense, sport, ‘bunkai’, or some form of ‘kumite’ in the dojo. . Over the years, I’ve addressed misconceptions about self-defense that often lead people to confuse what works in a controlled environment…
Finding Clarity in the Red Mist: Self-Control. Remaining Calm in the Chaos.
(Approx 2 minute 35 second read) A key element in any self-defense situation is self-control. It’s not just about staying calm – it’s about staying in charge of yourself. . You can’t allow someone else to manipulate you by pushing your emotional buttons. I’ve been in situations where people have tried to provoke me, using…
Karate Unboxed: One Approach Can’t Suit Everyone.
(Approx 2 minute read) Should we differentiate the various forms of karate or even consider renaming them? For instance, Sport-karate, Children’s-karate, Practical-karate, or 3K karate? . The failure to differentiate between contexts is widespread, and for me, it’s essential, especially when discussing what it is that you practice or teach. Criticizing sport-karate for not working…
Standing Apart: Amid the Many, One Stands Firm.
There will always be people who pass unwarranted judgments on others. As we journey through life, we come to realize that not everyone will be on our side. . Some people seem determined to bring others down, often without understanding the damage their words can cause. You can’t hide from negative people, no matter how…