Doug

Work on the Karate techniques that you need to improve

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I know this sounds really simple when I say work on the Karate techniques that you need to improve but I know that I often fall into the trap of only working on what I am good at and giving only the minimum time and effort to improve what I am not good at. Since I started learning Karate back in 2004, I realized that there were some techniques that I excelled at and other techniques that I am really bad at. For example, I quickly learned that my left hand jab is one of my cleanest and most effective techniques when sparring but using a side thrust kick or a roundhouse kick always gets me hit. Needless to say, over nine years later, my left hand jab has gotten even better but my kicks are still, maybe, a level above 5th Kyu. I tried to do the kicks but …

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Karate is about the heart, not the moves

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It’s taken me more than a few years to realize that the best Karate masters move so well, not because they have learn the moves themselves but instead because their Karate comes from their heart. For example, if you take a gymnast or a dancer, you can easily show them the moves to even the most complex Shotokan katas and they will do them well because of their athleticism and grace. They will have balance and flexibility, their moves will be strong and fluid but something very important will be missing. When you watch a true Karate master you will see and feel something extra that you just cannot duplicate by only doing the movements. The master has intention, their entire body and mind is in the moment and they know that each and every move they do will be effective. They see the attacker in their mind and they …

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What learning Karate has taught me

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If you ask many Karate students what Karate has taught them you will hear many different answers. Some of those answers are, I can defend myself, I can out spar anyone in my dojo, I have won many trophies at tournaments, I can kick above my head and many other things related to what we learn in class on the dojo floor. I am not saying that those are bad things, instead those are all great accomplishments and things to strive for while training but what are some of the things that we outside of the dojo. Karate can be much more than kicks and punches and winning at tournaments. Below are some of the main things that my Karate training has given me that reaches far outside the dojo. The Karate family…. I am extremely lucky that both my and son train Karate with me. This is something that …

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