About: Glyn Jones

I read an article recently by Victor Lopez Sensei titled “Practice and Shut Up”. A great heading for sure and these are sentiments that I strongly share. What surprised me a little was that the article was not centered around people’s lack of training but on varying aspects of Japanese Budo and the depths of understanding that can be achieved through training in Karate regularly. Lopez Sensei had no need to say anything about the heading at all, it is a case of you will either be practicing regularly and consistently to achieve these levels of understanding, or you will not. If you wish to talk good Karate then do just that. However, there are few circumstances where by we personally gain anything by talking. With Karate it is quite simple, all you have to do is shut up, stop making excuses, and practice. Yes! Regular practice will see one make gains, discoveries and overcome challenges that you would not think were possible. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest […]

I’ve seen much Kata over the years, in most cases though something doesn’t seem quite right. Regardless of style or system practiced, how precise the Kata looks or even how many deadly application the Karate Ka may know. If there is no true feeling or depth of understanding then all is pretty much useless. Yes different Dojo will have their own ways of doing things, but often people will hide behind this just as they do having trained for many years, holding a high grade or making claim to lineage. Imitation and talking things up won’t get you anywhere regardless of who one is able to convince. A Sensei with a true understanding of Kata will be feeling it and living it, as there is so much going on that they will be thinking about through out each Kata that they practice. Tenshin to Chin Kuchi to Mobility to Stability to Power Generation, to Calmness to Speed to Decisiveness to Zanshin to Koshi, the list goes on and on….. I’ve met Taira Sensei a couple of times now and he […]

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 […]