You’ve probably heard your Sensei repeat a lot of the same lessons, but let’s be honest, some of them still slip through the cracks, don’t they? Karate isn’t just about throwing punches or nailing that perfect kick; it’s about the tiny details that turn a good student into an exceptional one. Yet, there are quirks…
Imagine stepping into a martial arts dojo and hearing the slap of feet on a mat. Now, picture that energy funnelled onto a chessboard instead of a sparring ring. Surprising, right? But when you think about it, martial arts and chess share a quirky connection: both are battles of strategy, patience, and calculated risks. Every…
Karate may be all about tradition, but the roundhouse kick? That’s a bit of a plot twist, let’s dive into Roundhouse Kicks The Real Story. This flashy move, known as mawashi geri in Japanese, wasn’t always part of karate’s playbook. It borrowed some flair from other martial arts, including the French art of Savate. Yup,…
Choosing between Kyokushin vs Shotokan Karate is more than a question of style—it’s about deciding how you want to train and grow as a martial artist. Kyokushin, founded by Masutatsu Oyama, is built on the principles of full-contact sparring, resilience, and rigorous physical conditioning. On the other hand, Shotokan, created by Gichin Funakoshi, emphasises form,…
Karate’s precision and discipline are undeniable, but its focus often leans heavily on foundational techniques, set forms, and controlled sparring. Unlike other martial arts, where dynamic kicking combinations dominate training, karate tends to prioritise single, powerful strikes over fluid multi-kick sequences. This structured approach can leave practitioners wondering why karate training often misses out on…
Karate made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, drawing major attention from fans worldwide. However, its surprising exclusion from Paris 2024 disappointed not only athletes but also a global community of supporters. While some argue its Olympic spotlight was long overdue, others debate whether it fits the requirements of a permanent sport. With 130+ countries…
Karate isn’t just about power or speed—it’s about precision. The philosophy of angles in karate is defined at how techniques are executed, and the 45-degree angle plays a special role. This angle is the foundation of many offensive and defensive moves, helping practitioners create leverage, avoid attacks, and deliver strikes with maximum impact. Understanding how…
Footwork is the foundation of every great martial artist. It’s not just learning how to master your moves ; it’s about moving smart. Whether you’re dodging an opponent’s attack or setting up a powerful strike, precise footwork creates the balance, speed, and control you need to dominate. Without it, even the strongest punches or…
What if understanding the power of slow training could make you faster, sharper, and more precise? In karate, slow training isn’t a step backward—it’s a tool to refine skills deeply. By focusing on every movement with intent, you build muscle memory, improve coordination, and identify flaws you’d miss at full speed. This method doesn’t just…
As a Martial Artist, learning the science behind sparring and how we can improve is what will truly empower a martial artist. I am not talking about kumite (competition sparring ) but more in a self defence concept. It does not matter if you are standing, grappling, big, small, strong or weak. By obtaining and…
What is the power of sparring. If you have ever researched this topic there is always a comparison about sport sparring and combat sparring in general. While sport karate for example is great to teach you speed, agility, distance management and timing. I think if this the only way you know how to spar, this…