Resources and in-depth articles for martial artists
Have you ever wondered why we wear belts in karate. What do those belts signify? Is there a pecking order to the different colors? Are karate ranks universally accepted? What is the origin of the belt and rank system that many martial arts and karate school use, including our school, Full Potential Martial Arts in […]
Karate Belt Ranks — History and Present Read More »
It is an unfortunate fact that many martial artists suffer from knee pain. In this article, we will discuss a common source of knee pain common to practitioners of karate and other martial arts. We explain conditions that create and exacerbate such pain, how to identify those conditions, and how to remedy them. Knee Pain
Knee Pain in Martial Arts: Causes and Remedies Read More »
For self-defense, awareness, escape and de-escalation strategies take precedent over fighting. When we are aware, we can identify problems before they turn into a situation requiring employment of physical skills. Still, as we train our practical karate, it is useful and fun to practice physical self-defense skills in different environments. We present some fun exercises
Self-Defense Combat Inside a Car, Bus, Train or Airplane Read More »
Developing the ability to hit hard, reliably, and in a variety of situations, is a key practical karate skill. Being able to generate good power and hit hard is very useful in self-defense as well as in combative sports. Simply said, the only way to learn to hit hard is to practice it. Therefore, impact
Practical Karate: Learning to Hit Hard Read More »
Newcomers to karate are sometimes intimidated by the unique etiquette of martial arts. They may not be familiar with the customs of karate training: When do you bow? How do you line up? When may you ask questions during training? What do you do if you are late? As is common in any cultural groups,
The Bubishi is an ancient manual of karate combat as used for civil self-defense. Chojun Miyaji, the founder of Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate, famously referred to the Bubishi as “the ‘Bible’ of Karate-do.” The Bubishi covers not only fighting strategy, tactics, and techniques but also history, etiquette, anatomy, healing and medicine. While the Bubishi should not
The Bubishi — Helping us Gain a Deeper Understanding of Karate Read More »
A criticism some practitioners of combative sports such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Muay Thai and Western boxing lob against “traditional” martial arts relates to forms. Forms are a core of martial arts practice in many Asian martial arts, including Karate, Kung-Fu, Tai Chi, Kuntau, Silat and Eskrima. In those martial arts, forms (called kata
Kata Practice — Waste of Time? Read More »
In several martial arts, including Karate, Kung-Fu and Taekwondo, it is very common to see practitioners performing techniques with one hand while pulling back / drawing back the other hand. This pullback, called hikite (or hiki-te) in Japanese, is evident in blocks, strikes and locks. Many have noted that, while the pullback/hikite is prevalent in
The Pullback (Hikite) in Martial Arts Read More »
Earlier today, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organizing Committee recommended including karate in the Olympics. The proposal now goes to the International Olympic Committee for final approval. The topic of including karate in Olympic Games has come up in the past. But how will inclusion in the Olympics affect the martial arts of karate?
Karate in the Olympics — Good or Bad? Read More »
In the wake of shooting events which received a lot of publicity, several people asked me about the best way to act should in an active shooter situation. In one event, two American service members, vacationing in Europe, subdued a heavily armed suspected terrorist onboard a Paris bound train and averted a catastrophe. In another
Active Shooter: What to do when Someone is Shooting at YOU Read More »
