The Shinken Dojo 真 剣 道 場

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 […]

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 […]