How to Best Prepare for Your Kata Competition
Participating in karate competitions offers numerous benefits, yet the accompanying pressure and nervousness can be overwhelming. In this article, we offer a comprehensive and practical guide to help you effectively prepare for your kata competition, helping you not...
What Is the Best Age to Start Karate?
Karate has the potential to transform anyone's life and it welcomes people of all ages. However, a multitude of age-related questions often arise for those considering embarking on a karate journey. What is the best age to start karate? Is 14 too late to start karate?...
Beyond Shodan: What Await You After Your First Black Belt
It is a well-known fact that many shodan practitioners quit because they believe they have accomplished their goal of attaining the coveted black belt in karate, assuming there is nothing more to achieve. In this article, we discuss the many potentials beyond shodan...
Ten Benefits of Kata Practice
While some people find joy in practicing kata, others may not share the same enthusiasm. In this article, we explore ten valuable benefits of kata practice, in the hope of inspiring those who may have had reservations about it to invest more time and effort in this...
Why Are There So Many Impractical Stances in Karate?
Why do we have so many stances in karate? Why do we learn so many impractical-looking stances that we never use in combat situations? This type of questions has been bothering me for a while and, in this post, I will share with you my understanding. I could be wrong,...
How to Lose Your Karate Belly
Some people train hard and regularly but still have a large gut, which is very unhealthy. It is very difficult to get rid of belly fat, and that's why we have the current obesity epidemic. However, it is not impossible. In this article, we will cover eight...
How to Learn a New Kata in Five Steps
There are many different ways to learn a new kata. In this article, I will share with you how I approach a new kata in five steps and hope that you will find some practical tips that can be useful in your personal practice. Step 1: Learn the Kata Pattern The first...
What Is Kime and How to Achieve It?
Mastering kime and being able to deliver crisp and clean techniques with exceptional power are difficult to achieve and require many years of dedicated practice. However, understanding and applying the right principles of power generation and transfer can help...
How Often Should You Train Karate to Progress Faster?
How often should you train karate to accelerate your progress? In my opinion, the answer is pretty simple, if you want to progress fast in karate, you should train daily. However, this does not mean you must turn up at your dojo and train seven days a week. Instead, a...
What Is Mushin and How to Achieve It?
Mushin is an important concept in martial arts that originated from Zen Buddhism. This in-depth post covers the meaning of mushin, how the mind of a martial artist progresses through their training to achieve mushin, and what one can do to get there. What Is Mushin?...
Practical Tips for Effective Self Defense on the Streets
In 2018, 29-year-old Brazilian BJJ black belt, Guma Epfane Vasconcelos, was tragically killed in a road rage incident in São Domingos do Maranhão while trying to subdue a man with a gun. We don't know what happened in the lead up to the encounter but video footage...
How to Find More Time for Your Karate Training
Finding time for karate training can be a challenge for many people in today's fast-paced world, but with some thoughts, planning, and prioritization, it is possible to carve out dedicated time for your practice. This post covers some strategies to help you find more...