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How often do we feel like giving training a miss because we couldn't be bothered? Not many times, I hope. But the thought has passed my mind but I always seem to overcome negative feelings when it comes to martial arts. After missing out 2 months of training, beyond my control, I see how more important it […]
Knives come in all shapes and sizes and are more dangerous than they really look. Last week’s 60 minutes programme should have alerted you to these facts. Knives are readily available, easily concealed and you won't be able to tell who has one by their looks; that’s why it’s becoming increasingly difficult for authorities to […]
To Teach or Not to Teach – that is the question. I’ve recently caught up with Richard Norton, who is recovering from successful surgery on an old shoulder injury whilst in the USA. He told me I might have a chance in the next 'no rules' contest, with his arm in a sling. I told him he […]
Instructors know it more too well that everybody in the martial arts comes in all different shapes and sizes. Age, gender, height, weight, strength, fitness, attitude, mental and physical ability (have I missed any) all have a bearing on the ability to learn, level of performance and results. Instructors, including students must be made aware of these variables […]
Quite often we see the glamour and excitement of self defence routines usually at tournaments and exhibitions. They are usually unrealistic and cloud the student’s perspective on the reality of self defence. But that is OK if it is done purely for entertainment value and creativity. However, the opinion of the few Instructors, who are […]
What made Sherlock Holmes a famous detetive was his magnifying glass and his ability to see things, and clearer, than other people. Martial arts students tend to loathe the basics when shown to them because humans tend to get bored. But that is all a matter of perspective because, to an advanced student, a basic technique looks […]
Sciatica pain, as a result of my back injury, during the last 4 weeks in particular, has been the most excruciating experience of my life, to say the least. This painful experience has virtually immobilized me. Richard Norton calls it the tooth ache of the back. Now I can really appreciate the saying, ‘pain in the back’ (or […]
Recently I bumped into an old student. I didn’t immediately recognize him but after a few glances I realized he had been a student when he was about five years old. His face looked the same but he sure did grow up. I said ‘hello’ and he immediately said ‘Sensei’ and bowed to me. He […]
If you cared enough to keep up to date with what is going on in the fitness industry you will have noticed the never ending discovery and challenges of new exercises. To the fitness junkie these are pretty exciting because something new on the market, just as exciting as the arrival of a new fitness […]
Perfection can be defined as faultless or high degree of excellence. However, it is more of an ongoing pursuit than an end result. Perfection in the martial arts is what keeps us training because, to the martial artist, there is no end to the pursuit of excellence. As students, we do like praise from the […]
That is something my wife taught me many years ago when my children were growing up whilst doing the martial arts with me. She said, ‘what better way to keep everybody together in the family and share the same interest’. She also believes kids should not be readily afforded free choices when parents know they […]
How often do students switch off when the instructor shows a technique they have seen many times before? It’s because the student has a mental blue print of what is about to be shown and some of them have a tendency to switch off. The end result being no improvement or being worse off. When […]
