The Shinken Dojo 真 剣 道 場

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 […]

It is often said that there is a fine line between failure and success, especially so in business. As far as achieving worthwhile goals go I’m not quite so sure, especially so when it comes to aiming for the benefits inherent in studying the Martial Arts. Without question two of the best attributes that one can have in life are positivity and patience, as anything of worth will not only take time to achieve, it will also take hard work and an unwavering determination or mindset. The mind required for studying true Budo for sure. What is most noticeable within the Martial Arts of today though compared to years gone by is students lack of patience at times, or there is to much thought on passing gradings instead of setting standards that are centred around ones own personal development and achieving things of worth. So often we see Karate Ka who have achieved either a Black Belt, a high Dan grade, or even having trained for many years. However, either their physical ability or Karate basis lacks understanding, to the […]

Over the years I have received much personal guidance from Tamaki Hidenobu Sensei 9th Dan, be this training under his watchful eye in the Dojo or during private conversations. Anyone who has had the privilege of spending time around him, will most certainly testify to both the uncompromising effectiveness of his Karate techniques, together with the exemplary basis from which his Karate stands. Not only has he been a loyal student to his teacher on Okinawa spanning some 45 years or so, as the Dojo Sempai he continues to lead from the front and by example through training hard alongside all other students. A lesson in itself that many Karate Ka would do well to learn from… Where by many senior Karate practitioners of this standing have sought fame or a large following of students, or maybe even talk more or better Karate than they do train. Tamaki Sensei has shunned all of this for a life time of studying the art quietly and privately under the guidance of his Sensei, whilst always allowing his personal Karate to do all […]

Yesterday evening just prior to sharing some training together, I was having a discussion with a friend who is also a fellow Karate Ka of many years. We were talking on Karate when he spoke about a kata from his chosen style that he hadn’t really done for a while but had been practising the evening before. Of which he then proceeded to both demonstrate and ask if I knew the kata in question, of which I said that I didn’t, even though I’d seen it performed quite a few times before. My reply though went a little deeper… “What I do know though from what you have just mentioned is that this is one of the significant differences in how they deeply understanding Karate in Japan or Okinawa in comparison to most Dojo’s in the West or around the World”! What happens in most clubs or Dojo’s outside of Okinawa is that for the norm or generally, training sessions are structured or set out on segments of the style or system. For example, many start off by working on […]

Regardless of what Martial Art one studies, when thoughts and consideration is put towards ground work as an area of practise, then there are a few things that need to be seriously considered. Firstly, this whole concept comes from the basis that probably all serious confrontations and fighting arts (Martial Arts), was and is to down the opponent, as in put them to the ground or knock them out so that they are then deemed out of action. Whereas an opponent or attacker who is on their feet, unless seriously backing off is always kind of still in the fight and dangerous. Secondly, during real life confrontations going to the ground really is the last thing that you want to be doing, and yes! the last place that you want to be too, as this puts you not only at your most vulnerable but also in danger to the point of things going off the scale. Self-protection or fighting for survival is bad enough when you are on your feet but to intentionally start rolling around the floor is ludicrous. […]

Over the past decade or so there has been a shift or desire by many Karate Ka to spend a lot of their Karate practise time on the ground, to the point that they are actually taking their Karate more and more to the ground. I do wonder and ask why this is for so many reasons? In truth I already know the many answers that will be given so I don’t really need to ask, as in most cases answers given will be along the lines of these I put forward below. Oh and by the way these are not my answers!! 1, if a Karate exponent with acquired ground work skills takes you to the ground and you don’t practise ground work, then you will be given a lesson in real fighting and what Karate is all about, a lesson that you will never forget. Many Karate Ka were previously poorly prepared for this eventuality. So a Karate Ka with say 50 / 50 stand up to ground skills is more proficient than one that is say 90 […]