The Shinken Dojo 真 剣 道 場

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 […]

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 […]