Martial artists often debate the question, “Which is the best martial art?” Of course, the question needs to be fleshed out a bit: best for what? Usually this means, which is the best for self-defense? I don’t really know the answer to this, or even whether there IS an answer, because so much depends on who the teacher is, their…
I want to say a few words about the nature of karate training for the dedicated student. If you’ve taken my classes, you know how unlikely it is that I will say “a few words” about anything karate-related… And yet, here we are :-] . I’ll use a list format to keep it brief. Note that what I say here…
Tai Saba ki Tai sabaki – this Japanese term is used often in the martial arts. It’s usually translated as “body shifting” by English-speaking karate sensei, and that translation is good enough, considering how we use the phrase in teaching. Basically, it describes getting out of the way of an attack and/or positioning yourself advantageously for…
The kanji above reads in Japanese as “en-bu-sen,” or as it’s normally pronounced as a complete word, “embusen.” (It’s just easier to pronounce “em” in the word than “en.”) Japanese karate players recognize this word as referring to the path or pattern that your steps take when you’re performing a kata. If someone was watching you do your kata from…
As was my impression at the time, the videos confirm that the our members did a great job at the demonstration. Here are some of them: Some .mov files: 2019 GOTA Josh breaks board 2019 GOTA Josh self-defense
We ran our first Summer Camp at the Sellersville location last week, during the first full week of summer. This was Shuto Karate’s first camp since 2015, which was two dojo locations ago, back at “Candyland” (actually a candy distribution warehouse) in Hatfield. Surprising probably no one, I would rate our first Sellersville camp to have been a big success.…
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…
We currently have 3 class days per week. One of my goals is to increase that to 4 during 2019. We’re not quite at the point where that would be justified, but we will get there. Here is my “Top 10” list for regular karate class attendance, somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Not in any particular order. You will progress more quickly. When…