Am I Getting Angry at an Empty Boat?
Anger, assumptions, and knowing when to respond. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I find myself thinking more about
Martial Arts
The Ground Beneath Your Feet
What we wear, where we stand, and the realities of practical karate. When looking at the origins of karate on
Beyond What We Were Taught
On the influence of our teachers and the paths we follow. When I first started karate, I practiced what I
Are We Still Afraid to Ask?
Why Karate Needs More Questions, Not Fewer Every so often, particularly on social media, I come across an explanation about
What Are We Preserving?
Tradition, memory, and the passing of karate from one generation to the next. I’ve been practicing traditional karate for a
When the Label Becomes the Lesson
A throw, a stance, and what we think we’re seeing. When we first begin learning karate, almost everything we’re taught
The Words on the Wall
What does a dojo creed mean if we don’t live by it? Most traditional karate dojos have some form of
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
Before It Becomes a Fight
Why self-protection begins long before physical contact. There was another shooting near me recently. One person was killed and another
