About: Glyn Jones

A plaque hung upon the Dojo wall “Karate is a Lifelong Battle, You Verses Yourself, There is No One Else”.  The words were there for all who entered to take in and learn from. I always found this to be a sentiment that was both inspiring and kind of a reminder that I could neither rely on or blame anyone else for my shortcomings. Be it not turning up to the Dojo regularly, the same for putting little effort in and being lazy. I certainly couldn’t blame anyone else for my poor performances of technique or Kata, plus any flaws in character were my very own too. Yes, all the challenges and battles to be faced whilst studying Karate and in life itself were personal ones that lay firmly at my own feet, so if I wished to fully understand both this Art and myself then I really had to give it my all or nothing… Selfishness is not a good trait to have in life, with giving something back being a good way of understanding Budo a little deeper. […]

It is often debated what is of most importance to achieving success in the Art of Karate. Some speak of the emphasis on the 3 K’s, as in Kihon, Kata, or Kumite. The same with talk on whether one should concentrate more on Speed, Power, or Technique. Of which there are varying opinions and preferences on the above. Some even say that to truly understand Karate one must practise the 3 battle form or Kata named Sanchin every single day. In many respects even though all of these points of view are valid, the answer to the whole though I feel is much deeper. The Japanese say that you have three faces. The first face, you show to the world. The second face, you show to your close friends, and your family. The third face, you never show anyone. I have always believed that the answer to a person’s true understanding of Budo and Karate lies somewhere within the above saying. Similar in many ways to this Western saying; You may fool some people or others some of the time, […]

Any serious Karate Ka who has watched the original Karate Kid movies with Mr Miyagi and his student Daniel San will find some personal significance when it comes to their own Karate training experiences. The movies centre around the relationship formed between teacher and student, a bond based on loyalty honour and respect which brings about a connection that most true Karate exponents kind of secretly long for or find inspiration from. The older and much wiser Okinawan Karate teacher, as in Mr Miyagi, is one who we all kind of have a personal affinity with, yes that something special that is beyond value or any words. One of the most impressionable parts for myself is when Daniel San asks Mr Miyagi a question on his understanding and he simply says, “Father teach” and Daniel San replies, “You must have had some father”!?  “Oh Yes Daniel San”!  Mr Miyagi simply replies… The lesson here being in that his knowledge of Karate was passed on through this close relationship. The student being guided by a wise mentor of deep understanding who […]

To truly understand the essence of Karate or achieving success really is down to perseverance and hard work, but for many, even the most primitive benefits inherent in practising the art of Karate will always be beyond their grasp. If you take the time to look deep enough at the photograph above, you will see where the basis of true Karate really lies. Or “See what no one else chooses to see”, as Patch Adams once wisely said. Some may look and see this as visiting Japan or Okinawa for more in-depth training, others may see the tranquillity of meditating under a blossom tree, or maybe even training outdoors amongst nature. Some of you may just feel that I am promoting the Dojo of my Sensei, or for those of you who can read a little Kanji that I am pushing the Goju Ryu way of practising Karate. All are valid in a way, but to look at Karate like this is kind of missing the point, just like those who only see Karate as learning to fight or as […]

I received a message recently from a friend asking why I hadn’t put a blog post up for a while. My answer was a simple one, “I’ve spent my time training in Karate instead of talking about it”. The thing is time is one of the most valuable commodities that we have so we can either use our time wisely or we can just waste it. Now, of course I don’t think that writing on here is a waste of time, of course not because if I did then I wouldn’t be doing it. However, at times my time can be of more value spent elsewhere. So how do I spend the spare time that I have away from working and being with family and friends… In the Dojo training my own personal Karate? Or do I spend my time talking about Karate or maybe even teaching it? For me personally there is no choice to make, so if I have a little spare or free time after my own training I will then commit thus to teaching others, then […]