Posts

First know yourself, then know others
If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change
Oct 2, 2024 3 min read
First know yourself, then know others
Karate stands on the side of justice
But why? And who gets to decide what “justice” is?
Sep 30, 2024 3 min read
Karate stands on the side of justice
There is no first strike in karate
Can we really never strike first in karate?
Sep 27, 2024 5 min read
There is no first strike in karate
Do not forget that karate-do begins and ends with rei
What is “rei”, why is it important, and does it really only exist at the beginning and end of karate-do?
Sep 25, 2024 4 min read
Do not forget that karate-do begins and ends with rei
Kata and the Alphabet
What if the ‘bad guy’ doesn’t do what the kata says he’s gonna do?
May 6, 2024 2 min read
Kata and the Alphabet
Control: Distance vs. Speed
Is ‘control’ a function of distance, speed, or both? Should it be?
Mar 3, 2024 6 min read
Control: Distance vs. Speed
Karate is like gambling
It won’t make you invincible, but it helps even the odds, and knowing the rules never hurts.
Feb 17, 2024 3 min read
Karate is like gambling
Can I keep my belt?
When students with ’experience’ join from other schools, you’ll often get this question. Here’s what I think.
Jan 5, 2024 5 min read
Can I keep my belt?
Kata as 'or' not 'and'
Kata is sometimes seen as a series of events (this happens and then that happens), but I prefer to think of it as a series of possibilities (this happens, or maybe that happens).
Nov 10, 2023 4 min read
Kata as 'or' not 'and'
Kata and the Ship of Theseus
A discussion of incremental change and the identity of kata over time. When is change “enough” for a new kata to be born?
Sep 14, 2021 7 min read
Kata and the Ship of Theseus