Month: September 2020

Around 25 years or so ago I read a book that has probably had more influence on my Karate than any other that I have read prior or since, and I’ve read hundreds. What may be surprising to many is that this book not only has no relationship to Karate, but I wasn’t really into what was being depicted either. The book was written by a bodybuilder, as in the six times Mr Olympia Dorian Yates. My curiosity in the book at the time was varied. Firstly, I was interested to learn how to get into the best physical condition possible to enhance my Karate, even though I had no desire to be or look like a body builder. Secondly, how did this normal guy from Birmingham in England go on to become the best in the world at what he did. The thing that struck home to me was Dorians mindset in comparison to most, he had a single minded determination that set him on the path to achieving his goals and success. Many people have natural skills and […]

The Kyudokan Dojo of Minoru Higa Sensei is situated in the Makishi District of Naha. It can be a little difficult to find at first even with directions, as just like many of the Dojo on Okinawa it is hidden away amongst the alley ways of family homes. What I always found of interest is that the Dojo’s of two of the most well known teachers on Okinawa of differing schools, as in Minoru Higa Sensei and Morio Higaonna Sensei. Are both within a two minute walk and street of each other, to the point that many Karate Ka would probably unknowingly pass one Dojo whilst visiting the other. In many ways this quiet unknowingness is a characteristic of the true Karate teaching ways of Okinawa. Even though many Goju Ryu exponents will see the Shorin Ryu Kyudokan way for its differences and in contrast to their own school. What they will then fail to see if ignorant, is that many of the advanced teachings of Chojun Miyagi were passed on down this lineage through his senior student, as in […]

Conversations with Senaha Sensei have recently been featured in the Ryu Kyu Shinbun (Okinawa Newspaper). I’m sharing parts of it here as it may be of historical interest, plus there are many fine words of advice spoken. Senaha Shigetoshi Sensei (79 Years Old) was a longtime student of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Master Meitoku Yagi Sensei (1912 – 2003) who was an intangible cultural heritage of Okinawa. “A mans word must be kept to the end” Ikigai means commitment or an oath. I learned this value from Meitoku Yagi Sensei when I was around 19 years old, whereby a verbal promise made by a man should be the same as a formal contract. You should always keep your word and keep your promise! After training Sensei would seat everyone in a circle in the Dojo and begin discussions. This taught you the rule to not be free flowing with your words, but to always be careful with your choice of words and what you say. Yagi Sensei taught me about “Tayakan Nanjisomi – The Secret of Nanjiru” This is about […]

A Sensei of Karate who has practiced, refined and taught their Karate for many years… What would they/you actually leave behind as their/your legacy!? 1. Students that trained with you during your initial early years of teaching.2. Students that trained with you during the later years.3. Students that were of varying levels of understanding and ability in different areas of Karate training.4. Students that were of varying ages and maturity.5. Students that trained with you regularly over many years.6. Students that trained with you irregularly over many years.7. Students that go on to teach your teachings to the letter exactly.8. Students that go on to develop and expand on your teaching methods.9. Students that pass your teachings on at a much lower level of understanding.10. Students that take your teachings off into a totally different direction to your ideas and beliefs all together.11. Students that only trained with you for a few months or years.12. Students that stayed loyal and trained with you for many many years. 13. Students that go on to have a large following of Students.14. Students […]

One of the signs of success for the long time Karate Ka is not only acquiring a deeper understanding of the Art but having a Karate that after many years practise is still constantly improving and moving forward. Karate isn’t like football, boxing or many other sports whereby after you reach a certain age like thirty five all goes downhill, or if it does, then the Karate Ka has clearly failed to take on board many of the major lessons inherent. Karate is a simple Art that should naturally become more defined and mature with age whilst showing continuous signs of improvement. A Karate that stagnates or ends up depleting overtime is one of the biggest signs of lack of understanding and regular practice in the long time exponent. Time served, courses attended, trophies or grades earned mean very little if one fails to improve over time. To quote the fine words of Benjamin Franklin “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement and success have no meaning”. This is so true of Karate. If you look at […]

Many Karate Ka speak of Kihon, Kata and Kumite being the three most equally important parts of Karate. Now even though this is a valid breakdown within the training realms of many, it should also be accepted that this is more of a modern phenomenon or approach to Karate training. As in truth there are many areas of Karate that we should be focusing on that don’t really fall into either of these three categories. Personally, I also feel that when Karate Ka speak of the Karate triangle as a basis for practice they would be much wiser breaking things down to the point of not only speaking on defining areas, but then studying to achieve a deeper understanding, then most importantly, practising until one has the physical ability to match ones wisdom. There are many terms that are thrown around lightly by Karate Ka, Chin Kuchi – Tenshin – Iri Kumi – Atefa to name just a few… However, if truth be known it is very scarce for even many of the supposed leading names or Sensei around to […]