Hikite: More Than a Movement
Looking beyond the movement we practice. One of the most familiar movements in karate is the withdrawing hand. We see
Applied Methods
The Point Where Training Pushes Back
When training pushes back, what we believe gets tested. Years ago, when I still lived in the UK, I had
How Do We Use Kata Effectively?
If the original meaning is uncertain, what makes an application useful? When I talk about using kata effectively, I don’t
The Problem Inspires the Technique
Why familiar mechanics can mean different things in different contexts The commonality of technique across the martial arts is that
The Question Behind the Kata
What kata may tell us even when their exact origins are uncertain I have sixteen kata in my standard curriculum.
When the Mind Will Not Let Go
We spend years training for physical problems we may rarely face, yet the mind is something we have to deal
The Body Already Knows How to Move
Training should refine natural movement, not replace it with something artificial. There are some things nobody really teaches us. Lose
You Don’t Have to See Everything
What kakie can teach us about feeling pressure, recognizing openings and responding without relying on sight alone. A few years
What Should a Black Belt Represent?
If the purpose of karate has changed over the years, has the meaning of its most recognized grade changed with
Why the Dojo Still Matters
Why information alone cannot replace correction, training partners, and time on the dojo floor. Recently, I received a message from
