Jesse Enkamp tires of hearing people put down bunkai because they don’t see the purpose of it anymore. His philosophy is “Bunkai should be easy.” He has designed a simple framework to learn by: The Core Premise: Karate was originally meant for self-defense; kata is a mnemonic template; the techniques of kata govern successful self-defense. [...]

He’s says he’s a sucker for quotes. Jesse Enkamp shares of his favorite “awesome” karate quotes with his readers. He likes quotes for the human connection across time, sharing thoughts and feelings we’ve all experienced. Here are a few: “To all those whose progress remains hampered by ego-related distractions, let humility – the spiritual cornerstone [...]

Without any overseeing body demanding accountability from karate instructors, karate schools, a highly personality-driven business, can attract the wrong kind of instructor, the kind who has an unhealthy addiction to power and control. Jesse Enkamp, a best-selling martial arts writer, has made some astute observations of the kind of instructors to avoid. He calls them [...]

Sensei Lori O’Connell,  Canada-based chief instructor in jiu-jitsu, gives good advice and tips in ground fighting. “On the street, the ground is a dangerous place to be. Size and strength advantages are harder to deal with,” says O’Connell. She goes on to explain the ground fighting is not about submission grappling. Defending yourself from the [...]

Chicago soul singer, Doug Shorts, a 62-year-old jazz artist shoots his first video “Don’t Sleep on my Love,” demonstrating karate moves. Having performed as an extra in TV and films he looks quite composed in front of the camera. The video background seems to be a dark, foggy nightclub. Near the end of the video, [...]

Karate was born in Okinawa, just below the mainland of Japan, and originally was made to be an education, not a just a combat sport. Most karate schools today are more interested in membership and increased revenue. The meaning of karate has almost been lost in Western culture. It wasn’t until the early 20th century [...]

This photo captures NBA player Dwight Howard fooling around during a recent clinic in South Korea by attempting a karate kick at a man sitting on another’s shoulder. Don’t think Howard will be starring in the next Karate Kid movie; that’s just journalist Dan Devine having some fun with the photo caption. However, Howard’s recent [...]

Jason Somerville, Poker Pro, discussed his early years in a recent interview about the time he used to teach karate to 100 tiny tots (ages 3-6). It ended when he found himself bedridden, at age 18, with Ulcerative colitis. It was then he decided to follow his heart and become a poker player. He grew [...]

This Ohio bred Hawaiin resident blogger responded to a list: “38 problems only people in Hawaii will understand” that went viral Monday catching chuckles and agreement from thousands. One of the items on the list was about pronunciation of certain words. The blogger could relate to it. “Despite my Ohio roots, my years living in [...]

Southern Comfort has been airing commercials on their “Whatever’s Comfortable” campaign that highlights a unique individual going about his life his own way with a glass of Southern Comfort in his hand. The latest ad brings back a unique individual from an earlier ad of a man in a hair salon enjoying a shampoo and [...]

“Kiss me once and keep me forever, Ralph Macchio/And in my dreams we’d lie here together / Ralph Macchio / Never let me go,” sings electric pop singer Annie. She brings listeners back to a time when Ralph Macchio was a teen idol after his movie “Karate Kid,” when movies projected fairy-tale endings of a [...]

Loris Afara grew up in Northern Israel a Christian in a 97 percent Muslim area. She lived in a village surrounded by Jewish kibbutzim supporting peaceful co-existance between religions. When she looked at other children she didn’t see a religion, she saw another human being. Bringing these beliefs into her karate training, Afara has won [...]

A new movie remake of Man From U.N.C.L.E. will soon be released featuring the sexy Elizabeth Debicki as a karate master bad girl. Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer have been cast as the two good guy agents. One of the male villains yet to be cast has a fondness for torture. Read the full article [...]

With very few karate masters in the world today, Lyoto Machida is quite accomplished. His methods never seem to change. He frustrates his opponant by darting away when the other prepares to strike. He isn’t a huge power striker; when he does knock out an opponant its more of a collision and not an exchange. [...]

At a workshop for karate masters in Switzerland, karate sensei Taki enjoys a satisfying four days of pure karate. From the courtesy bows and meditation, to the metaphysics of good technique, to the last salute and applause of the two master instructors, Taki reflects on all he has learned. The event was clean and natural [...]

Maan karate is the famous north Madras lingo used when surrounded by a bunch of goons. It signals friends one needs assistance escaping a situation. Director Thirukumar has made light of this situation in a new comedy film entitled “Maan Karate.” The new film starss Sivakarthikeyan and Hansika and tells the tale of an irresponsible [...]

Without courtesy there is no karate. When students and teachers bow to each other it is to show courtesy and respect. A bow from a student to a Sensei shows courtesy thanking him for the time he takes to train the student; a bow from a Sensei to a student shows courtesy thanking her for [...]

Traditional karate classes teach formal etiquette such as kneeling and bowing, exercises for training, and basic technique while moving. Most important is the teaching of kata; without Kata there is no Karate and no art. Kata is a series of movements based on principals of self-defense and executed in a specified series of stepping and [...]

Columnist Solomon Brenner discusses ways to teach your child perseverance, a life skill absolutely vital to success, and knowing when quitting, a rarity, is appropriate. Some children attending action karate classes experience doubts in their abilities or fear of physical pain. Brenner explains that when a child wants to quit a valuable skill like karate [...]

Every Thursday and Saturday night at the Redwood Road Recreation Center two brothers, Nairobi and Arnaud Nodjigoto, and their cousin Abraham Wali exchange work for Karate lessons by helping to transform the room into a dojo training space, cleaning up and laying down mats. The boys ride their bikes six miles to every practice through [...]