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
Kata
What Are We Actually Testing?
When testing becomes more about endurance than understanding, it may be worth asking what the student is actually learning.
High Kicks, Modern Karate and a Different Problem
Why a technique that works so well in modern karate may not always be the best choice for self-protection. In
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
Karate’s Many Hand Techniques
Karate has names for countless hand formations, but usefulness depends on whether the body can adapt when precision and control
Before Anyone Else Is There
A few quiet minutes in the dojo before the familiar rhythm of training begins. I was up at 5:30 this
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
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
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
