For those who have been training for some time, you know there are quite a few other expenses that one needs to consider the total cost of martial arts. I hope to take a more holistic approach to budgeting for the martial arts, and in so doing help those with Continue Reading
Yoshi Ota
The Meaning Behind the Bow
If you have been exposed to any kind of martial arts, the bow is one of the most iconic gestures you will see in some form or another. It may seem like an odd ritual or some mystical exchange to those who don’t train in martial arts in the West, Continue Reading
How to Deal with Chronic Pain/Illness in Your Training
When I was 19 years old, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This is a condition where your large intestine is inflamed and can result in a sensation of burning and stabbing pain in your gut, blood in your stool, fatigue in everyday life and activities, and that’s with medication. Continue Reading
Imposter Syndrome Part 2: Duty as an Instructor, and Leading by Example
This article is less of a “part 2” than an addendum to David’s incredible Imposter Syndrome article, however I feel this is an important perspective to discuss. The nagging thought of “am I good enough?” David talked about not only impacts students, but instructors as well. As students, we looked Continue Reading
Training and motivation in martial arts
There are times when you can find yourself in a rut, so to speak, in terms of getting yourself to the dojang to train. Motivation can be hard to find when you have work deadlines to meet, family obligations to fulfill, and the weather outside is horrid. It can be Continue Reading
Why It’s Important to Pronounce Terms Correctly
After training for some time, you may feel more confident in speaking the commands of whatever style you train. However, as someone who is fluent in Japanese, reciting commands does not necessarily mean being coherent in everyday speech. I have heard and been to dojos where, while the commands were Continue Reading
Sharpening the Mind in Order to Sharpen the Body – Why Education is Important to Martial Arts
Often times in popular media and entertainment, the physical aspects of martial arts are highlighted to the detriment of all else. The focus is always on what kind of fancy flips and spin kicks they can perform as they look flashy and impressive. What they don’t often show is how Continue Reading
How to Improve Your Kihap
Many people have a general idea on how to yell, and with some training and direction they can make a decent kihap (kiai). However, there are those who have trouble doing kihaps, whether in class or during competition. They may be self-conscious in how they sound, or have difficulty in Continue Reading
Martial Arts Competition and Why It’s Important
Going through the ranks, I never felt that I was competitive or particularly looked forward to tournaments for the medals. Initially I tolerated them as a way to socialize with others from around the region, but beyond that I did not have any aspirations of winning 1st place or becoming Continue Reading
Clean Home, Clear Mind: Good Organization Leads to Good Training
In the WTSDA, we have what are called the “14 Attitudes”, fourteen sayings that are used to help focus the student in their training. The fourteenth attitude states, ”Cleanliness is required after training. Keep yourself and your surroundings clean” (Shin, p.57). Many of the other 14 attitudes deal either with Continue Reading