Sōke: Founder or Successor?
What happens when a position of succession becomes a title of status? Every so often I come across a martial
Martial Arts
According to Legend
How martial arts stories become martial arts history I remember this picture very clearly. Bodhidharma sitting in a cave, staring
When Choreography Becomes Application
When unrealistic attacks, compliant partners, and inherited explanations are mistaken for practical bunkai. Every day on social media, you can
I Was Never Taught That
At some point, an instructor has to stop waiting to be shown every answer. One phrase I hear quite often
Does Every Technique Have to Come From Somewhere Else?
Different cultures, familiar methods, and why the answers don’t always have to come from somewhere else. Whenever the practical application
Starting Again Without Starting Over
What does your grade mean when you step into someone else’s dojo? What happens to your grade when you join
Returning to Karate After Years Away
What remains, what changes, and the challenge of finding your place again. People leave karate for all kinds of reasons.
Starting Karate Later in Life
What progress, grading and good karate can look like when the journey begins later. A comment on a recent article
What Does the Grade Represent?
A grade should recognize development, not create the appearance of it. When I took my shodan, a long time ago
The Badge You Wear
A small symbol of identity, belonging, and the responsibility that can come with representing your dojo. There is nothing
