Mas Oyama World Tour
History . KarateIn 1968, Mas Oyama was welcomed by US branch managers Shigeru Oyama, Tadashi Nakamura, and Frank Walters at JFK Airport in New York. Mas Oyama was beginning a world tour and he went on to visit Puerto Rico, England, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Jordan, among others. Tadashi Nakamura went on to break with mas Oyama
Musubi Dachi Stance
Karate . Technique . Training notesFormally known as Musubi Dachi, this stance is analogous to a soldier standing at attention. This is the stance you assume before bowing and at beginning/end most Katas or formal routines. For my students I refer to is as the Start Position, once in this position, you are signalling you have completed and are ready
Mas Oyama’s Home
History . KaratePictured below is Mas Oyama around 1955 practicing at his home in Mejiro, Toshima City, Tokyo, Japan. Here Mas Oyama appears to be executing the first move of the Pinan Shodan Kata executing a Chudan Soto Uke (middle outside block) with his left arm and an Jodan Age Uke (upper block/side arm strike sometimes referred
Guns Save Lives
Law Enforcement . News . Self-Defense . WeaponsWhile owning and carrying a gun is a personal choice, there can be no argument that Guns Save Lives. They are the only tool available that levels the playing field in a physical confrontation. Yes you read that right. In some physical confrontations your skill or size doesn’t matter, physical confrontation are very dynamic and
Pushup Challenge Day 60
Competition . Events & Holidays . FitnessToday is day 60 of the 66,795 pushup Challenge. For all of you that have joined the Challenge we have now performed 1,830 pushups this year! Only 64,965 pushups to go!! To everyone that is doing the Challenge with me, I would ask you to post a comment and let me know how you are
Everyone Thinks You Failed
Awareness . State of MindIn life there are many definitions of Success and Failure, though most of these align along the lines of fame and fortune. People like to judge their success against others that they meet or read about. Comparisons are not a bad thing however when used to define our worth they can have very negative effects.
Why We Fall Down
A Zen Thing . QuotesOne of my favorite quotes is from one of the many Batman Movies. “Why so we fall down, Master Wayne?” “So we can get back up”This simple exchange says it all. In life when we fall we don’t simply lie there and quit, we get up, we try again. If we let things keep us
Control Yourself, Control Others
Law Enforcement . Self-Defense . State of Mind . Training notesControl is required to successfully handle most of life’s difficult tasks. In the Martial Arts we train to maintain control of ourselves in confrontations, especially physical ones. There are many careers that require the same level of control of self, Police Officer, Astronaut, Surgeon, Soldier, Fireman are among these careers. Control lets your brain stay
Appropriate Force vs Brutality
History . Law Enforcement . Self-DefenseOver the last few years to a decade there has been an active movement to rebrand and vilify the Law Enforcement Officers, the Police. Let’s be honest the Police have never been widely accepted. In the 1960’s they were branded Pigs. In the 1970’s corruption tarnished their image. In the 1980’s that all started to
