In holding to the kaizen or continuous improvement tradition, our school adapts techniques established in feudal and Edo periods to modern circumstances. It’s reasonable to think that traditional, ancient martial arts wouldn’t be very effective in the modern world—and that may be true if they don’t evolve. While most schools work to identify the best…
Some of the benefits seem more obvious—like fighting skills, but martial arts offer us a wide variety of expected and unexpected outcomes. Let’s look at some fundamental skills that grow through the study of martial arts. Physical skills Cardiovascular health. Training increases cardio capacity the same way interval training does, by increasing and decreasing your…
As an instructor, I hear I know all the time, and most people say this without really understanding what it is they’re saying or why. I usually hear it from kids, but it also happens sometimes with adults; either way, it’s usually a response meant to appease me or another instructor when a correction is…
The beginning or the end? Before World War II, colored belts were not a normal aspect of any traditional dojo. Martial arts students started with a white belt—not because of what it signified, but because it was made of the same material as the white uniforms. Many instructors and lead teachers even had white belts…
I was first introduced on a high level to goal setting in my early teens when I was encouraged to start powerlifting to overcome some health issues. My brother was the primary motivator, and on day one, goals were set. I had daily goals, monthly goals, and overall goals for every lift, every set, every…