Month: January 2021

The thing that I have always liked about the Martial Arts and Karate generally is how varied it can be to the individual. In that regardless of Art or System practiced the benefits inherent can vary from health, wellbeing, sport to self-protection, and of course following the Traditional Ways that we know as Budo. What must always be remembered is that just like in life, it is all down to your personal choice and preferences. Even the way that I see many practice Goju these days, really is not for me at all, but I also accept that my chosen way is not to the liking of others also. Wouldn’t life be pretty bland if we all liked the same things… This clip regardless of the silly heading shows how a Karate that maybe a million miles apart from that which I and many others practice. Has still had such a positive influence on this lady’s life. To the point that practicing a different Karate for different reasons, has not only changed the course of her life for the better, […]

One area of Karate that I feel many Karate Ka often fail to grasp, is making sense of what they are practicing. My father would often say to me “Glyn, use your common sense will you son! or go away and work it out for yourself”! Similarly, there are many Okinawan and Japanese Karate Sensei who are well known for making students learn things for themselves and not spoon feed them everything. What this does is not only propagate maturity, but it also brings about a natural feeling or instinct for what feels correct or not when it comes to Karate. Just in the same way that pain is telling you that there is a problem. Remember, discoveries made through one’s own mind and seen with your own eyes are always more valuable than through those of another. When I became a student of Brian Hinchlffe Sensei of the Ho Ei Juku I was already an accomplished Judo and Karate Ka of many years. However, the lessons that frustrated me the most weren’t those of physical hardship, I’d already had […]

Staying on topic with my recent blog post regarding Fighting Karate. The following sayings do then come to mind “Train Hard & Fight Easy”, — “It’s Not the Dog in the Fight, but the Fight in the Dog”, — “Face it, Fight it, Finish it”,—“Train and Fight as though your life Depends on it”. Fights are not nice; they are in fact potentially life changing brutal affairs. Of which no reasonably nice person wishes to either attract or frequent them, they are in fact a fools endeavor. As Karate Ka though we do really have to be fully aware of reality, especially so if we wish for our Karate to be effectively operational in such times of need. Trying to use a flashy Kumite sequence or apply a fancy put together Bunkai move in the street, could well see you being kicked around the floor before you’ve got to C in the alphabet. This type of training or in fight preparation isn’t for everyone, I get that I really do. Just as I know that there are many Karate Ka […]

I’ve always believed that most people who start Karate in the West do so with self-protection in mind. Not wishing to fight anyone of course, but learning how to fight or defend themselves for sure. Some may disagree and say that they started in the Martial Arts for fitness, socializing or health reasons, which is fair enough. However, are gyms and other more health conscious or sporting activities not more suited!? I did say start training in Karate! Because I do accept that once one has trained in the Arts for a number of years, then ones reasons for training can indeed become more varying. As without doubt the biggest challenges then to be faced are with oneself, achieving a calm balanced mind, pushing through the physical and mental hardships of training, goals set, self-motivation and even laziness all have to be regularly overcome. Plus after a time you kind of start to just train regular without thinking fighting if that makes sense… However, I still believe it is the kicking, punching and striking aspects of Karate that attract most, […]