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Karate Hyperbole!
“Traditional” Karate is the very definition of Hyperbole! Every move is exaggerated for effect, stretched out almost to the point of collapse to make it appear bigger, stronger, better - it is a show! But bigger isn’t always better; it is actually within the frame, within the pathway, that we find the true technique!
Karate - the self-defence conundrum!
Look at almost any promotional material on social media for martial arts (irrespective of style) and you will see claims alluding to its effectiveness as a system for self-defence/personal protection.
Karate as self-defence is less a game of chess and more a game of noughts and crosses…
Karate as self-defence is less a game of chess and more a game of noughts and crosses…
The IKEA principle - “Flat Packed Karate”!
The IKEA principle - or “Flat Packed Karate”!
The first thing we do when we buy our piece of flat packed furniture is make sure that all the bits are there…
Translating the ancient text, aka “It’s all Latin to me!”
As martial artists we take on the role of the translator but instead of language we are translating the meaning of movement - and like language, the meaning can sometimes be ambiguous…
Blocks in Karate - are they there or not?
Blocks in Karate - are they there or not?
We often read or hear statements like “there are no blocks in karate” - I’ve even said it myself! But the definition of to block something is to stop it, or impede it’s progress in some way…
It’s less about intensity than intent…
When we practice karate, we can all too easily fixate on the intensity; how hard we are training; the importance of getting a “good workout”!
Kata is a mime…
Watching a typical kata performance, when it is done well, is very much like watching a really good mime artist at work. ”What on earth are you talking about, kata is nothing like a mime, absolute nonsense!” I hear you cry…