What Motivates the Motivator?

I recently had a conversation about how people sometimes look to their Sensei like they are another type of human. One that is impenetrable, one that does not seem to have problems or ever lose enthusiasm and motivation.

The truth, however, is Sensei are human; we do have ups and downs, good times and bad like everyone. So, then what is the difference and what makes a Sensei keep getting up in front of the class week after week and inspiring others to push themselves and achieve their goals?

In my opinion and personal experience, it is a true love of the art and the way. Karate is not something we do; it’s something we are. It is part of us; it’s the glue that holds us together when we are dealing with problems. It is the place we go for solitude, to think, to regroup, to recharge. It’s where we find our own motivation as we go through our journey of learning and improving.

I think this is what makes it seem like Sensei are invincible because whenever we are in the dojo, we are feeling great whether we have had a great day, or the worst day. Karate lifts us and inspires us and that energy is passed on to each and every person that walks in the dojo.

Karate and Aggressive Behaviour

Over the years, I have had many parents ask me whether karate is going to make their child aggressive. Some tend to think that if their child is learning how to fight then they will want to fight all the time. It is true that karate teaches the principles and applications of self-defence; however, it depends on the instructor as to whether the students display aggressive behaviour.

Usually when kids begin karate, they are enthusiastic and want to use their new skills which is quite normal. My solution to this is to explain to them before and after their first few classes where and when their new skills can and cannot be used, as well as the consequences of using them in the wrong environment.

Over time, the formatted and disciplined karate class environment gives the kids their outlet for aggression but in a controlled way. They learn to use their skills in the dojo and not at school or home or any other inappropriate place. In the long term, they learn to become calm, and they lose the need to want to be aggressive.

“Karate Doesn’t Work in the Street!”

If I had a dollar for every time I had heard this comment over the years, then I’d be very happy.

The reality is the comment is right, but its also wrong. Context is the key here, and what aspect of karate are we talking about?

If we are talking about bouncing around point style trying to score a point and waiting for a referee to halt the engagement, then yes, the statement rings true because that aspect of karate is not effective tactics for a street self-defence situation.

On the other hand, if we are talking about trained responses and applications of kata that have been tried and tested over hundreds of years for defeating a would-be attacker who means us harm, then the statement “Karate doesn’t work in the street” is wrong.

So, context is key. When you hear someone giving karate a tough time about not working in the street, ask them what they mean by that and in what context? What type of karate do they practice? The questions may baffle them.

Why Is NOT Training at Home Stunting Your Progress?

If you are not training at home, you are going backward. I know this is a big statement; however, I know that it’s true. In my experience, most people who train will train once or twice a week. The extra keen students maybe three to four times a week.

For those doing one to two classes a week, home training is essential. The complexity of karate is very underrated, and the average martial arts enthusiast probably doesn’t quite understand the depths to which karate technique and training can go and must go in order to progress.

The simple fact that one can train for a decade and still be refining the simplest of techniques as a straight punch indicates that if one desires to become very skilled, they need to invest in hours and hours of training a week.

Home training can help by keeping ideas learned in class fresh in the mind. It can help with retention of new technique and refinements because repetition is the mother of skill.

That is basically what it comes down to. Home training means more repetition, and more repetition means stronger and better skills. There is a caveat here though; you must complete correct repetitions, hence why dojo training under a qualified instructor cannot be replaced.

So, whether it’s at home or in the dojo, up your repetitions to improve your karate.

Stressed?—Try Karate

Stress is a major cause of health problems in today’s society. People are so busy all the time, under constant pressure from work and home life responsibilities. Many turn to food or alcohol or other things that aren’t so good for them to get some stress relief. Others find things like yoga or meditation, but these aren’t for everyone.

Karate can be a great way to reduce stress and here’s why:

• Physical exertion, great for blood flow

• Deep breathing—Karate training forces you to breathe more deeply which has a calming effect and releases serotonin

• Requires focus—This gets you out of your head; you don’t have time to stay focused on things that are stressing you out.

Next time you’re feeling stressed out, get to your local dojo FAST! It could save your life.

Train MMA or Karate? Or Any Other Martial Art for That Matter

This has been an ongoing debate since the beginning of the UFC. It’s also been an ongoing debate since the dawn of martial arts, which one is better?

My answer “It depends on what you’re looking for.” We live in an age where we have so much access to content online, choice of martial arts schools close to where we live so no wonder people are confused about what to do and which is better.

Some advice would be thinking about your specific training goals and be aware that they may change over time and that’s ok.

For example, when you want to become a career fighter, you must look at what competitions are out there, where you could make a good living (and be warned top prize fighting money is reserved for the very elite) and what styles interest you. In this arena, you have but not limited to MMA, Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, WKF circuit (mainly European competitors can earn a living) and many more.

Another example is someone may be looking for specifically street self-defence training. Many martial arts have elements of self-defence, but not all are applicable for the street unless they are trained that way.

You might be wanting to do a martial art with your family as an extracurricular activity and to keep fit and spend time together. Learning how to kill or damage people on the street in self-defence may not be part of what you are hoping to achieve.

So back to the original point here. Be specific about what you want to achieve and research karate schools near you. Once you have narrowed down what you are looking for, then go meet some instructors, visit some dojos and see if you gel with the instructor and the class. Try them out, but not one class, and commit to some training and really see if its for you.

Everyone is different, so enjoy the journey and find what is best for you.

Is Karate the Best Martial Art for Me?

Today, there are so many different martial arts available for people to try and usually close to where they live as well. So, finding the right one for you can be tricky; however, the answer to this question depends on what it is you are wanting to achieve from martial arts training.

Here are some points to consider.

You are looking for something to keep fit other than the conventional fitness activities

One of the best reasons to begin karate to improve your fitness is that practicing karate is engaging and motivating. You not only see results in your body and health but also in your skill levels and confidence. Fitness almost becomes a bi-product of the training. A standard karate class will give you as much of a workout as running, rowing, weight training, yoga and the like.

You will engage muscles that you don’t use during everyday life. You will strengthen your core and posterior chain, an area known for causing injury if not properly strengthened. Often, people go to the gym alone which can make it difficult to stay motivated over a long period of time.

In a karate class, you have an instructor and fellow students to motivate you and keep you on track. All in all karate is a great way to keep fit and learn life skills at the same time.

You want a safe martial art for your kids

All martial arts are generally designed for self-defence which by definition involves learning skills to injure other people.

However, this does not mean practicing it should lead to injuries. Many martial arts are practiced in a way that leaves one exposed to the possibility of being injured. For example, Jui Jitsu, whilst a great martial art, involves another person imposing their will on vulnerable parts of your body like ankle, elbow and knee joints as well as the throat though choking maneuverers designed to restrict breathing.

When done by a professional with experience, the risk is lowered. On the other hand, when rolling with another beginner who doesn’t know their strength or is able to feel pressure on your joint as they try to submit you, the risk of injury is great.

Most karate schools especially Goju Ryu are practiced with protection of the body in mind. Not only do we train to protect from attacks from others we train in a manner that is designed to improve the strength and flexibility of the body itself. Training is conducted with control and steps are put in place to minimise the risks of injury.

You want an effective martial art for self-defence

The movements of karate kata have many aspects of self-defence in them such as evasion, blocking, escaping, throwing, locking, striking, kicking, sweeping, choking and more. I often say that karate is the original mixed martial art because it involves so much. The issue is that it has been popularised via sport karate which is not at all like self-defence. Most likely this is where the notion that it doesn’t work in the street comes from.

So, context is key when it comes to deciding if what you are practicing will be beneficial in the street.

I hope these points help you in deciding whether karate is for you. My advice is to visit some different martial arts that you think you might be interested in. Talk to the students and the instructors about what they are learning and teaching and this will give you a better indication. If you can try a few classes (not just one) then this is a good thing as well.

Keep in mind that free trial classes are not designed to give you a full look into that particular martial art. In fact in my dojo, I don’t even offer them for a number of reasons. I only offer minimum 5 lesson trials. This is mainly because you need that amount of classes at a minimum to even start to get comfortable in the class let alone start getting good at anything.

Happy Training!

Sensei Sam