What Is the Art in Martial Art?
Why the word “art” does not mean beauty, performance, or freedom from function. Someone recently told me that karate could […]
Kata
When the Instructor’s Limits Become the Method
When self-defense is shaped by the instructor’s limits, the student may inherit the boundary of someone else’s knowledge. Every instructor
If It Doesn’t Serve the Purpose
When karate is taught as self-protection, every part of the training should serve that purpose. Kata, kihon, and two-person drills
When a Demonstration Proves the Wrong Thing
When structure is mistaken for application. I have seen this kind of demonstration many times in karate. A student extends
When Simplicity Holds the Lesson
Why Naihanchi remains one of karate’s most important studies for close-range practical application. I’m sure many of you have a
When the Label Says Self-Defense
When the Label Says Self-Defense Social media algorithms are a strange phenomenon. Lately, mine seem to be filled with video
Empty Hands, Armed Assumptions
What the phrase “empty hand” can make us forget about real violence, and the assumptions we bring into the dojo.