(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…
Tag: Tradition
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…
No Pads, No Limits – The Way We Trained.
(Approx 1 minute 40 second read) Those of us who have been around in the martial arts for a while remember a time when there was no equipment. We never wore gloves, helmets, or protective gear of any kind when we fought. We had no pads to hit – we hit each other. . We…
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…
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…
From Boat to Battlefield: Understanding the True Purpose of Karate.
(Approx 2 minute 15 second read) The other day, I received a comment on an article where I wrote about practices that lack any connection to real-world scenarios, where drills such as yakusoku, renzoku, or sanbon/gohon kumite, etc., are very unlikely, especially when attacking from six feet away using an Oi-zuki. . He stated that…
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…
Tradition, Technique, and Truth: When Karate Doesn’t Adapt to Real-Life Threats.
(Approx 2 minute read) When I started karate in the 1970s I was in awe of the Japanese instructors that were around at the time in the UK. . They exuded power, focus and precision that I could only dream of attaining. . But there came a time during the beginning of the 1980s that…