Context Changes Everything
Before deciding whether a method works, we first need to understand what it is supposed to achieve. We are often
Self-Protection
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 Happens When the Other Person Stops Helping?
What resistance reveals about the difference between learning a method and being able to use it. If we say that
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
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
Training With Others
A perspective on cross-training, experience and knowing when to look elsewhere. Experience. How do we gain it? Time spent with
I’ll Just Use My Weight
Size and strength matter, but neither can guarantee how long you’ll have to keep going. In a sport like heavyweight
Karate. What Is It?
The same name now covers very different ways of training, with very different purposes. It’s funny isn’t it how two
What Should a Black Belt Represent?
If the purpose of karate has changed over the years, has the meaning of its most recognized grade changed with
The Warning We Quietly Give Ourselves
What training quietly removes before the attack has even begun. As senior practitioners, we have a responsibility to pass karate
