Category Archives: Budo

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, […]

Kakie is one of those areas of Karate that is seldom fully understood, practiced well or used to its true training potential. Relaxation – Technical Correctness – Feeling – Deep Understanding – Controlling – Kumite – Covering – Chin Kuchi – Flowing – Opportunity. All of these instantly come to mind when thinking of Kakie. There are various methods of Kakie taught regularly on Okinawa with each having its own emphasis. There’s certainly more to it than just being over relaxed and sloppy, or even trying to just muscle power things in like a bull. As a golden rule if your shoulders feel like they are dropping off after 5 or even 10 minutes practice, then you’re probably not connecting everything as one should. Strangely, some of my most wonderful experiences in Karate have been centered around Kakie. From my initial introduction to this practice under Brian Hinchliffe Sensei who never failed to amaze and frustrate me with the ease and fluidity that he’d control others. Then there was the time that I witnessed Senaha Sensei controlling and throwing around […]

Further to my recent post on Karate modesty and humility I received rather a number of e mails. The responses interestingly enough were varied going from one extreme to the other. Even though I do wonder why this is, I must point out that I only write on here to give genuine Karate Ka food for thought. Over the years I have received many wise words and much good advice along the way whilst studying Karate, so my sharing of a few of these experiences may be both of interest to other serious Karate Ka, plus it gives a little something back. The thing that must be understood though is that Karate is a personal journey and the challenges to be faced are our very own. Two bits of advice that I have received along the way that fit well here are. Firstly, by my Father who always used to say to me “Shut up and train”! Or if in everyday life he would say, “Stop talking about it and do it”!  Secondly, from Rick Jackson of the Shotokan Way […]

Much has been written about the similarities and may I say differences between Traditional Karate and Competition Karate, at times they can even overlap. Most of the time though it is all down to just a few basic factors. Depth of understanding and one’s approach to their Karate training, and most importantly of all, mindset. I like the way that in this clip Meitestsu Yagi Sensei tries to make a clear honest distinction between the two. Thus by showing how even members of his own Dojo and family can at times train in Kata with a totally different purpose and differing emphasis in mind. Personally, at times I feel that Karate Ka can hide behind the practices of either way. Doing a Karate that is poorly understood and rough technically isn’t an excuse for saying it’s Traditional Karate, no more than thinking ones form based technically skilled Karate is highly effective with deep roots and meaning. There is a big difference between practicing both Karate and Kata for Budo or Shiai, hopefully you can see and know the difference…

Anyone who has trained seriously in Karate for a number of years, or even decades, will naturally make observations. Personally, I feel that generally there is a difference between Okinawan and Western Karate Ka if physical and technical differences are put to one side. I would say that most Okinawan Karate Ka tend to be more modest and humbler, there by talking their Karate training down, this in comparison to many long standing Westerners who often tend to talk their Karate up. To expand on this a little further I will re live just a few of the many situations whereby I have experienced Karate humility on Okinawa. The original Dojo wooden plaque or Kanban stood at the entrance of Senaha Sensei’s Dojo in Tomigusuku for around 30 years (As in the photo above alongside a young Senaha Sensei). This being replaced just over 20 years or so ago when Sensei moved away from the Meibukan and formed the Ryusyokai. It wasn’t removed out of sight though, but to the entrance Genkan as Sensei is more than proud of his […]

Whilst in Okinawa last year I managed to visit a few other Dojo whereby I would be respectful courteous and quietly observe with interest. Those that may wonder why I did not turn up with my gi to train are not familiar with being an inner student of a Sensei on Okinawa and the protocols it contains. Plus, I was training once if not twice a day anyway, so my body and brain was already being fried for sure. Regardless, I still met some wonderful Karate Ka and learned much from observing too. One of the Dojo that I visited was the Meibukan of the late Meitoku Yagi Sensei that is located in the Kume district. Training is now headed by his two sons. As in Meitatsu and Meitetsu, with each heading their own group of students by teaching on alternate evenings. What was noticeable is how each has a favoured direction for the Karate that was taught to them by their father, but still both remaining within the parameters of traditional Okinawa Goju Ryu. Attached is a clip of […]

I’ve seen much written on social media of late regarding the inheritor of the Goju Ryu Karate system of Chojun Miyagi Sensei. There have been friendly discussions, posting of supposed proof to support ones favour, disagreements, and even debates to the point of people falling out. In many cases though people look at things from how they wish to see them, from the setting of their own personal experiences, or they are a little biased to the point of being blinkered. Which is fair enough I suppose. However, if you look at the grey rainy sky for long enough it will change into being blue sunny and more to our liking. But is the sunshine of today the true sky of yesterday… The thing with Karate is that you can have the best Sensei and lineage in the world, but if you’re not training regular and taking the 300 years or so of development and understanding on board, then it’s all pretty much useless to you anyway, the same if you’re of poor character. Personally I try not to get […]

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 […]