Legend* tells us that Kensei 剣聖 or sword saint (honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship) Tsukahara Bokuden (1489-1571) was crossing Lake Biwa in a small boat (maruko-bune 丸子船) crowded with fellow passengers. Bokuden a swordsman of incredible renown, always kept to himself. Yet his reputation of being a founder...
The concept is simple: if you are using a dojo, equipment, or use any adjacent areas, (yes washrooms) it is your duty and responsibility to ensure that you leave that space clean. It helps people to learn the importance of cleanliness – an important life skill that millions haven’t mastered around the world! Karate...
We are now learning and practicing martial arts outdoors. Fresh air is a wonderful detoxifier. As long as we take small cautions, outdoor training is healthy and fun. Taken from Muscle and Fitness magazine. Sunburn What it is? A sunburn is damage to the skin caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most sunburns...
Perception, the ability to become aware through the senses is limited by a person’s ability to understand what they see or hear. It’s not only what you read but how you read it that matters. Order of writing. Frequently, Japanese is written in a format called tategaki (縦書き), which is inspired by the traditional...
Most Japanese to English dictionaries list Yakusoku as – Noun. やくそく 約束: a promise, an arrangement. A simple word that has extensive and profound meaning in methodologies of Budo and Bujutsu. A physical, practical term as well as a social contract. In karate, yakusoku kumite are prearranged exchange drills between the defender Tori (the taker or...
True Humility Is Not Thinking Less of Yourself. It’s Thinking of Yourself Less. C.S. Lewis Although humility and ego might initially appear contradictory, like good and evil, they are in fact dualistic elements to be balanced through martial arts growth. If self-effacement aligns with respect, restraint, kindness, patience, diligence, honesty, decency, charity, and temperance,...
Seated quietly, you pause and think about the time you should have done something but didn’t or remember a situation where the outcome fell short of expectation. At the other end of the spectrum, you stop and contemplate the steps that led to success. Assessing your shortcomings or appreciating your achievements are acts of...
Beyond aesthetic or sentimental value, makimono (brushed scrolls) feature timeless guidance for personal and martial growth. Other martial advice, transmitted in the form of letters and doju-kun, appeared at the turn of 20th century. In his book Karatedo Taikan (published in Showa 13, 1938), Nakasone Genwa includes Itosu Ankoh’s 1908 precepts, (originally written in...
January 1, 2020 marked the beginning of a brand-new decade that many looked at with optimism and as a chance of improving our all around condition. But very quickly the year took a contradictory turn. Although we maintained effort and positive attitude, there were challenges at every turn. We felt things were simply out...
Living through arduous times, makes us wonder. What we should do and what we can live with (or without). It seems that our emotional balance is simply ‘off kilter’. There’s a well-known story about a sitar player who was discouraged with his meditation practice, music and felt deeply stressed in his everyday life. He...