Author: Northern Karate Schools

As legendary powerlifter Vasily Alekseyev entered the sports hall at the 1972 Olympics for his gold medal attempt, all eyes were on the powerful Russian athlete. He approached the barbell, loaded with an immense weight at both ends, and took his grip. With a thunderous grunt, he pulled the bar explosively to his chest....

In the intricate world of budo, the significance of titles goes beyond mere labels; they embody the essence of leadership and the philosophies that guide martial arts practice. Recently, there have been discussions surrounding the precise meanings and appropriate applications of the titles kancho 館長 and kaicho 会長. While there is room for interpretation,...

The dojo often serves as a microcosm of Asian tradition—some aspects fully embraced, others not entirely understood, yet all passed down through generations. Often assumed acts like; lining up in rank order and prioritizing bows embodies an age-old Confucian tradition, symbolizing respect and hierarchy in relationships.” Filial piety (孝顺), a cornerstone of Confucian philosophy,...

The terms “heretic” and “outlier” both refer to individuals or ideas that deviate from the norm, but they carry different connotations and implications. A Heretic is someone who holds beliefs or opinions that are contrary to established doctrines and norms. Their actions and words might appear aggressive and controversial to followers of well established...

So consider this – Bodhidharma, the sixth century Indian priest who brought Buddhism, healing methods and unparalleled martial arts to China, spent nine years facing a cave wall in meditation. He stared at point so intently, that large whole was burnt into the rock. Yet furious with his inability to stay awake, he is...

Oyo and Bunkai are two terms used in the context of martial arts, specifically in Karate. While they both have distinct meanings and purposes, they are interconnected and essential for a complete understanding of the art. Oyo, in Karate, refers to the “reason for placement or intended application.” It can be seen as the...

There are differences and similarities between the words Bu 武 martial and Gun 軍 military. Not just the kanji stroke number, but the commitment to enduring violence. The martial artist trains for many different often personal reasons. Ranging from emotional self-improvement to challenge of combat sports. The member of the military has a more...

Northern Karate Schools started in 1972. Since that time, we have seen a dramatic shift in children beginning their martial arts training. ‘Back in the day’ classes were much longer, and the intervals of skill learning and repetitions lengthy, but well-received. Students of all ages often stayed after class and did additional practice on...