This is the fourth in a series covering legal aspects of self-protection, or what is typically called “Self Defense Law.” We’ve covered the first two of five elements of a successful legal claim of “self-defense” from Andrew Branca’s book “The Law of Self Defense.” Those elements were Innocence and Imminence. Today we’ll take a break from that series to have…
This is the third in a series on the legal aspects of self-defense, tailored for the martial artist who is unarmed except for their hands, feet, and other natural weapons they possess. There will probably be seven posts in the series altogether. I am drawing primarily on the 3rd edition (2017) of Andrew Branca’s book titled The Law of Self…
This is the second post in the series on legal aspects of self-defense. We will cover the five elements of a physical encounter that must be demonstrated to the criminal justice system in order to make a successful claim of “self defense.” I am basing these on the highly informative book “The Law of Self Defense” by Andrew Branca, whose…
March 23 was our semi-annual exam for kyu ranks (non-black belt testing), and the awarding of new ranks was Thursday. I was proud of all those who tested; everyone did close to their “personal best” and in a couple cases even seemed to exceed it. I and the other sensei noted some systematic technical shortcomings, which indicates flaws in our…
Below is a list of some of the Japanese words and phrases we use in and around the dojo. This is meant to be a work in progress. My plan is to return to it from time to time to add to the notes found in the right-hand column as I get to it, and as I learn more. Also,…
Here at Shuto Karate Club, we strive for authenticity when it comes to all things Japanese. (A unkind way of saying this is that we larp as Japanese when we’re on the dojo floor.) So we are trying to learn and utilize Nihongo more (see what I did there?) during practice and in discussing karate. In the near future, I’ll…
Jesse Enkamp, the so-called “Karate Nerd” over in Sweden, has posted a video about “the three kinds of karate.” Enkamp gives a concise and accurate description of the evolution of karate’s purposes from its Okinawan roots to its first appearance as an Olympic sport next summer in Tokyo. The three types, corresponding roughly to late-18th and 19th centuries, early-mid 20th…
