Not every patch is a symbol of trust. Over the years, I’ve seen many martial arts groups rise and fall. Names change, alliances shift, and new banners are flown – but the questions stay the same. What does it mean to be loyal? What should an association stand for? And when that loyalty isn’t returned, […]
Loyalty Is Not a One-Way Street Read More »
I’ve been looking at Anko Itosu’s 1908 letter again. It’s one of those documents people often cite. But if you look past the standard translations, I’m not sure the letter says what people think it says. Itosu was in a difficult position. He wanted karate in the school system, which meant he had to make
Was Itosu Preserving Karate – Or Changing It? Read More »
At some point in training, you begin to look back a little more. Not in a nostalgic way, but simply to make sense of things. You start to notice patterns, not just in what you do, but in how you think and how you react. People often say your body can stand almost anything, it’s
Many karate practitioners are taught to think in terms of techniques. Movements are labeled, categorized, and assigned a specific purpose. One technique blocks. Another strikes. Another performs a different function entirely. Over time this can create the impression that karate is a large collection of separate techniques, each designed to solve a specific problem. When
Movement, Not Technique Read More »
Self-defense and fighting are often spoken about as if they are the same thing. They are not. There is overlap between the two, but they are fundamentally different in both purpose and outcome. This distinction is often misunderstood, particularly because many people are taught physical or fighting skills first when they attend a “self-defense” class.
Winning Is Not the Goal in Self-Defense Read More »
One of the first things you learn as a beginner is a ‘block’, right? Typically, it’s one of these: upper, middle inner, middle outer, or a down block. You spend a significant amount of time practicing these blocks, focusing on the small details, making sure your pulling hand (hikite) is positioned perfectly, all performed with
Why Karate “Blocks” Don’t Work the Way We Think Read More »
Choki Motobu once remarked that a single kata represented the style of the time. In my opinion, he wasn’t talking about stances and techniques, but something deeper. Motobu was known for his very practical view of fighting. He famously emphasized the importance of Naihanchi, once stating that “Naihanchi is the foundation of karate.” His focus
What ‘Style’ Originally Meant in Early Karate Read More »
Communication can sometimes be surprisingly ambiguous, especially online. A single word, used casually in one place, can carry very different meanings somewhere else. The term “Osu” is a familiar sound in karate circles. In many instances it’s meant to convey perseverance, respect, or commitment to training. In some Japanese karate styles it holds a strong
The Problem with “Osu” in Karate Read More »
The Ryukyu Kingdom, the historical heart of modern-day Okinawa, fostered a unique culture distinct from mainland Japan. This distinctiveness extends to language, with Okinawan dialects collectively known as Uchinaaguchi. Many karate practitioners, myself included, appreciate using the Japanese terminology that’s part of our practice. While most practitioners utilize it primarily for principles, techniques, drills, and
Karate has always evolved. Kata have changed. Methods of teaching have changed. Even within a single generation, subtle differences appear. That was happening long before Westerners ever set foot in an Okinawan dojo. What we can know tends to come from personal experience rather than historical reconstruction. Much of karate back then was not taught as a
Walking Your Own Path in Karate Read More »
A little while back, a nidan instructor contacted us after his instructor passed away and asked if we could grade him to sandan. From the outset, I had reservations. Even though I knew his instructor, I didn’t know this person. He had never joined us for a session, and I had never seen him train.
Rank Is Earned, Not Requested Read More »
We often learn more from searching for an answer and not finding it than from simply being given the answer itself. It’s not hard to learn more if you are open to it. What is hard is to unlearn something when you discover you may have been doing it wrong all along. I remember over
Even Monkeys Fall From Trees – Learning From Mistakes in the Martial Arts Read More »
