Blog
The Role of Fascia in Power Generation
Fascia plays a crucial role in power generation by contributing to muscle efficiency, coordination, and force transmission during movement.
Knife Mitigation workshops.
Knife crime and assault with edged weapons are on the rise. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that there is little that you can do. Indeed, defence against a knife is risky as you don't have to be skilled to do severe damage, maim or kill. However, training in a few simple skills can significantly improve our chances of survival.
Self-defence is not fighting…
Self-defence is not fighting. It is not two people stepping towards each other to exchange blows; it is a person or persons moving into your personal space. Up until that time, there is no physical need to defend yourself. Removing yourself, if possible, and verbal de-escalation are the best options at this point.
Don’t Quit!
When Les asked me if I wanted to contribute to this worthy project, I was honoured; I also thought “What a great idea, should be simple enough”... but as we all know, just because something is simple doesn’t mean that it is going to be easy!
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…
DON CAME awarded title of KYOSHI…
It was an honour to receive the title of Kyoshi from ISOK’s Senior Technical Committee in September 2016. A certificate signed by Vince Morris Hanshi and Chuck Merriman Hanshi…