Category Archives: Budo

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 […]

One of the questions that I am often asked is what the difference is between training in Japan or Okinawa in comparison to training in the West. From my own personal experiences, I have found that when one spends time absorbing the Karate training environment as in Dojo, Sensei and Students in Japan or Okinawa over a long period. One will soon discover that there are quite a few disparities in comparison to the Karate training basis of most Dojo or Sensei over here in England or the West, even if many won’t like to accept or admit this. What I always find a little surprising is how many Karate Ka visit Japan or the islands to experience Karate training first-hand as a kind of pilgrimage. Then after witnessing their chosen Art at the source, they return home disregarding much of its fundamental basis and the many lessons that are inherent. And I am not talking about technical differences here… Or they do one thing in front of Sensei in Okinawa then another thing whilst in the West!?  A good […]

I accept that my postings on here are at times are a little sporadic, this is for several reasons. I certainly enjoy writing about Karate and the Martial Arts so it isn’t due to lack of enthusiasm or things to write about, basically I much prefer training than I do talking about it or teaching. Therefore, after work and family commitments being a practising Karate Ka will always take priority. My intention is still to continue to drop the odd post on here from time to time. However, of late I have found it easier to post regularly by way of social media or Facebook. There is no motive or agenda I just find it all very quick and easy. I do accept that at first, I was more than a little sceptical as generally I’m not the biggest fan of social media, but by setting things to private it stops any silliness and creates a place of interest for those Karate Ka who are genuine serious and sincere regardless of school or style. So, for anyone interested in seeing […]

A few days ago I received a telephone call from a long-time friend and student asking if I was ok and well, especially so with all that is going on around the World and here in England during these unprecedented times. This was deeply appreciated and nice as it was good to chat and exchange pleasantries as always, and thankfully himself and his family are well too. We spoke on many things including catching up soon when things return to normality again. Then he asked, “How are you coping with your Karate at the moment”?  My reply was “What do you mean”? he replied “Well with us being locked down and not being able to do our Karate as before”? To answer was easy. “My life has changed and I’ve had to adjust and make sacrifices like everyone else. But my Karate is just the same as before”! Of course, one may have to make a few adjustments at present, as in where they can practise their Karate, especially so being locked down if one doesn’t have adequate space at […]

Yagi Sensei once spoke the following words “If you live a good life and be a nice person, you will attract and become surrounded by nice people also”.  Whist his teacher, as in Miyagi Sensei one said words to this effect “Studying Karate/Ti without the guidance of a Sensei of deep understanding is like wandering in the dark without a lantern” These are those invaluable bits of advice that we can seek to understand and take on board or disregard to our detriment. Be it in life or in Karate circumstances situations and opportunities presented will either allow us to excel or they will end up holding us back. Like it or not, others will also have a major influence on our lives and our Karate too, so of course we must be wise enough to evaluate and differentiate. As being in the company of refined hardworking positive people who are knowledgeable is most certainly going to be motivational and the path to happiness and success. But on the contrary, negativity or surrounding ourselves with those who have a poor […]

Over the past few weeks I have been reminded what true Karate is, especially so with so much cheap talk or Kuchi Buchi out there these days too. My teacher Senaha Sensei has recently been in England, together with a few friends and fellow Karate Ka, as in James East, Steve and Nancy Lyons Sensei’s. All of which has been both a great training and socialising experience, together with enlightening. (The photo above is of Senaha Sensei working with Andy Whitehouse 4th Dan in my living room). I will speak more on Sensei’s visit shortly in another blog post. I am also about to go out to Okinawa for around five weeks or so which will allow me plenty time to post more regularly on training experiences etc whilst out there. For now though I’ve dropped in a few paragraphs from my book project that I’m working on. All is kind of a reminder that being a decent nice person, training regular, quietness and effectiveness are hall marks of being a true Budo Ka and Karate Ka and should be […]