How to learn a Kata

Learning a Kata is a nuanced process that involves more than just mastering patterns and ...

How to practice Nami-gaeshi

Nami-gaeshi translates into "wave return", a more understandable description is "returning wave". The name of ...

Three levels of bunkai

Bunkai means "to break down", and thus describes the whole process that lies in breaking ...

Ten Precepts of Karate

In October 1908, Anko Itosu (1831-1915) wrote a letter, "Ten Precepts of Karate," to draw ...

Pinan or Heian

What should we call the five basic Kata from Itosu? Pinan or Heian? Itosu Ankō, ...

Evaluating the quality of Kata, part 2

Kata is a series of movements consisting of offensive and defensive combat techniques, which are ...

Evaluating the quality of Kata, part 1

By learning Kata, you get the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the ancient ...

Take a breath

Many people make a big deal out of breathing, however, breathing is one of the ...

Practice Kihon

Kihon means basic technique; here we practice the basic techniques repeatedly. In addition to the ...

The word Kime

I have been digging into the use of the word "Kime". Most Karate people know ...