strength

Power Generation Methods

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Karate is not a single, homogeneous practice, but rather is made up of a wide variety of styles, all of which are eclectic blends of native Okinawan arts, Japanese arts, Chinese arts, Indochinese arts, and more. While the human body only functions in so many ways, there are actually quite a number of approaches to doing most things, including generating […]

Makiwara Exercises for Skills and Variety

This entry was posted in basics blocking bunkai chi-ishi combinations concepts fighting footwork hikite history hojo undo makiwara misconceptions punching stances strength supplemental and tagged concepts drills exercises footwork hikite hojo undo kuruma makiwara striking tai sabaki tenshin training uke-waza on by

The makiwara, or machiwara in Uchinaguchi (lit. “Okinawa mouth,” the native language of Okinawa), is a popularly referenced, albeit often misunderstood, traditional karate training tool. It has fallen out of favor with many karateka, either because they feel it is antiquated and less-useful than modern equipment, or simply because it is uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes boring to work with. As […]

Interview with Chris Denwood

This entry was posted in budo bunkai combat concepts discipline fighting history hojo undo interview lifestyle makiwara mma naihanchi philosophy research role model sanchin seminars sharing shuri-te sport strength styles suidi supplemental teaching tradition traditional martial arts training tuidi vince morris weights and tagged bunkai chris denwood hojo undo interview kata makiwara naihanchi on by

Chris Denwood is a karateka, fitness expert, researcher, and the author of “Respecting the Old, Creating the New,” and “Naihanchi (Tekki): The Seed of Shuri Karate Vol. 1.” The latter is easily the most comprehensive book on Naihanchi Shodan fundamentals that I have ever read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who practices Naihanchi kata that can be traced back […]

Unarmed Combative Training as a “Prep”

This entry was posted in articles behavior combat fighting fitness goals health perception philosophy preparedness pressure testing skills sparring sport strength supplemental training and tagged disaster preparedness self defense skills on by

Author’s Note: This article was originally written for a disaster preparedness newsletter from the Arizona chapter of Zombie Squad–a non-profit focused on educating people about disaster preparedness–and I recently re-discovered it in my archives. Upon realizing that I had never publicly shared it, I decided to share it, here. Unlike most of my articles, which are geared toward martial artists, […]

Essential Karate Equipment

This entry was posted in chi-ishi hojo undo kote kitae makiwara power strength supplemental tai tanren tetsutaba traditional martial arts training weights and tagged equipment hojo undo training on by

These days, karate is often practiced without the aid of any training equipment, but that has not always been the case. Hojo undo (supplementary training) has long been a vital component of martial arts training not just on Okinawa, but also China and India. While it is certainly possible to develop a great deal of knowledge and skill without using […]

The Purpose of Kata

This entry was posted in basics bunkai combinations concepts criticism discipline fitness health history intensity kaizen lifestyle mental perception skills sport stances strength styles system techniques tma tradition traditional martial arts training visualization and tagged forms intent kata purpose visualization on by

The practice and purpose of kata is something that is often debated, and can be a serious point of contention between martial artists. Many people believe that kata are outdated and useless, and should no longer be practiced. Others believe that kata are exercises for fitness, balance, and coordination, but nothing more. There are also those who believe that kata […]