Transcending Kata with Three Levels of Bunkai According to Inoue Yoshimi
I recently came across some fascinating comments by Inoue Yoshimi Sensei on the importance of bunkai in the study of kata and karate. In this post, I would like to share and discuss his insightful remarks. For those unfamiliar with Inoue Yoshimi Sensei (1946–2015), he...
Can Karate Be Self Taught? And 13 Tips for Successful Solo Training
Is it possible to learn karate by yourself? This is a common question, and one I also asked myself many years ago when I didn’t have the opportunity to train with an instructor. While I didn’t have the time or enough desire to learn on my own back then, I’ve recently...
How to Best Prepare for Your Black Belt Grading?
As a martial artist, you don’t train to earn black belts, but achieving one is a significant milestone and an acknowledgment of your dedication, hard work, and perseverance. The road to getting there is not easy, and if you're training in a quality dojo, grading for...
Setting and Nailing New Year’s Resolutions the Martial Artist’s Way
One of the most valuable things I've learned from my karate training is that success isn’t just about talent or luck, it's about mindset and consistent effort. It's estimated that only one in 100 students ever earns a black belt and this has little to do with innate...
Chojun Miyagi On Karate’s Philosophy, Styles, and Training Method
On January 28, 1936, Chojun Miyagi Sensei, the founder of Goju-Ryu Karate, delivered a lecture on karate at the lecture hall located on the 4th floor of Meiji Shoten in Sakaisuji, Osaka. The lecture, titled "Ryukyu Kenpo Karatedo Enkaku Gaiyo" (translated as...
Why Are Some Kata Techniques Performed Slowly?
Why are some kata techniques performed slowly? This question came up during one of our dojo sessions, and my friend and I had a lengthy discussion afterward. Below are some of the possible reasons we came up with. These are just our thoughts and theories, and we could...
Why Do So Many Students Quit Karate?
At a seminar I attended recently, I asked about a student who hadn’t been showing up lately, only to learn that she had quit. This led to a conversation about the high dropout rate in karate. While I’m not sure if there’s any concrete statistical backing, it’s...
What Do the Directions and Turns in Kata Really Mean?
There are several prevalent myths regarding the meaning of turns and changes in direction in kata. For example, some believe that the embusen (pattern) of the Naihanchi kata is a straight line, suggesting that the kata was designed to simulate a fight on a boat or on...
Is Karate All About If You Can Fight or Not?
Is karate all about whether you can fight or not? And if you can't put up a decent fight after years of training, does that mean you've yet to reach karate's full depth? Or does the true essence of karate lie in kata? Is it about character building instead? Or...
Three Steps to Kata Mastery According to Master Kenei Mabuni
In this post, I’d like to share three key steps to kata mastery, as outlined by karate master Kenei Mabuni in an interview with Jose Fraguas, one of the world’s foremost authorities on martial arts, who has authored over 30 books on the subject. But first, for those...
How to Maximize Calorie Burn in a Karate Class?
Karate and other martial arts offer numerous health and fitness benefits, but they are not known as the most efficient way to lose weight. You may wonder why, especially when you've heard claims about the high number of calories burned during martial arts training....
How to Develop a Martial Arts Physique Like Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee's physique remains one of the most iconic representations of peak physical fitness and martial arts excellence. Known for his remarkable strength, agility, and speed, Lee's body was not only aesthetically impressive but also functionally optimized for...