I made a mistake at my fourth-degree black belt test. Grandmaster (GM) Gascon called me up, “Bagnas, get up here.” I was sitting crisscross, so […]
Tag: Explore Kata
Should Kata End Where They Begin?
In the movie Karate Kid, the final section of the story takes place at the All Valley Karate Tournament. Daniel only participates in the sparring […]
Motobu Seminar 2005 Review
In the study of Okinawan Karate history, Choki Motobu stands out as a legendary figure. However, this golden age of Karate was nearly a hundred […]
The Right Ingredients
Adding the right ingredients to your cooking determines whether or not your meal is a success. The same is true for martial arts training. Do […]
The Hidden Value of Antiquated Techniques
Many people have heard the phrase, “Throw out what doesn’t work, keep what does.” I have seen many martial artists stop practicing or teaching certain […]
The Lost Teachings of Shaolin Kempo
It seems strange to say there are lost teachings for a relatively new style, such as Shaolin Kempo Karate. Many would claim otherwise, yet the […]
Peaks, Plateaus, and Valleys
When you experience a peak in training, your progress in the art is quite apparent. You often feel a sense of euphoria over the hard-earned […]
Forms for Thought
Form, set, kata, and pinan help you train in martial arts. The word form is the best word we have in the English language to […]
Forms in Practice
Practice your forms. Whether they are called kata, sayaw, set, or dance, you must use them in your training. The old masters developed forms as […]