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
Bunkai
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.
Why Is Karate Taught This Way?
How the development of Karate-Do changed the way kata is taught Because this is how Traditional Karate-Do developed. If someone
What Does Pinan Really Mean?
Why these so-called beginners’ kata may deserve a much deeper look The Pinan/Heian kata, Shodan through Godan, are among the
Karate Kata and the Weapons Question
Being able to use a weapon within a karate kata does not mean the kata was originally designed for one.
What Knowledge Do We Need to Understand Karate?
When experience outside karate helps us recognize what may already have been there. A highly ranked karate instructor recently
What Are We Really Practicing in Kata?
The value of kata may depend less on how well we perform the sequence and more on what we understand
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 “It Worked” Still Isn’t Good Enough
A broken arm may be better than a fractured skull, but that does not make it a sound method to
