Mitori geiko "watch in training"
by: Shihan Graeme
...We can “watch in training” at anytime, but the concept is very powerful when considering illness, injury or other incapacity to participate in regular classes....
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Art of Leadership
by: Shihan Graeme
...Knowledge is power. An effective leader is one who has very good knowledge of the people and environment within which he or she is operating...
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Blades of Light
by: Shihan Graeme
...A poem by Sensei Graeme, written as a consequence of his experiences while practicing Kata...
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Sai Ki Hou
by: Shihan Graeme
The Sai Ki Hou exercise described here uses Taoist (reverse breathing) technique. Ki, (Chi in Chinese) surrounds us in all living things, and fills the air we breathe. At an advanced level, the martial artist consciously gathers and expends Ki in the execution of techniques. Abundant levels of Ki are required by the martial artist to perform at maximum potential, and to maintain good health.
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Winning
by: Shihan Graeme
The general concept of winning infers somebody must lose. Somebody pays for our victory with their loss. Sometimes the cost of victory is so great that in hindsight, it really was a loss. The concept of a pyrrhic victory should be well considered. Where’s the victory if in winning you destroy yourself, or somebody else.
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Criteria for a Sensei
by: Shihan Graeme
...In the dojo environment "sensei" also implies "leadership", and so the criteria for a karate sensei will be very similar to the criteria required for anybody in a leadership position...
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Do Chu
by: Shihan Graeme
Ever since I was young I had a different paradigm, a different way of thinking. Instead of setting objectives, I determined what sort of life I wanted, and worked tirelessly at improvement. I said this is the direction I want to go, let’s see where it leads.
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Kata - The Heart of Karatedo
by: Shihan Graeme
The practice of kata is probably the most identifiable aspect of karate training. It is the basis of ongoing study of the martial arts, and a measure of one’s progress. For this reason kata is an integral part of grading examinations. Kata is also a major part of competition in sports karate.
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Layers of Kata
by: Shihan Graeme
As in all martial arts, katas are made up of imaginary, flowing combats against imaginary opponents. They consist of technical movements of ascending levels of difficulty or complexity which is designed to be trained to achieved competency or mastery. After extensive and dedicated training over many years, one is able to transcend technique to the point where the kata and the various applications philosophies, concepts and principles become integrated and an indivisible part of the person. The applications of the technical aspects are called "waza", and the spiritual content is referred to as "do".
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Kata the next step
by: Shihan Graeme
Each person’s experience with martial arts differs, as they bring differing degrees of commitment or purpose, and train and study, more or less. Their reasons for studying the martial arts and their expectations are all different. I feel however that fundamentally, the journey through the martial arts is potentially the same for everybody, because it is the same thing we are all studying, and the same experiences are there to be discovered.
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Kensei-Hou - The Art Of Feinting
by: Shihan Graeme
One of the principles of fighting is to conserve energy. Does the delivery of a "fake" technique violate that principle? Well it does if it is useless. Also, does the principle of feinting “assume” that your opponent actually has enough sense to “react” to the "fake" technique? Some fighters adopt an "ironman" approach to fighting (you hit me, I hit you harder). Do they care if your technique is fake or not? With this mentality, they will ignore your feint and simply blast away at you. In fact, their reaction to the feint is likely to just swing at you and so you have given up the chance to hit them by faking while they are uncluttered by such ideals as faking a shot and just try to hit you? This would mean that your feint was not a feint at all…...
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