I decided recently to go beyond my blog and set-up a website. After a lot of thought and planning I set out to find the best Domain Name for my new site. I tried all the obvious ones, Karate.com, Shotokan.com, Karate Training.com, KarateKa.com, KarateDo.com etc. etc... There all gone! Most of them are just owned, no site, parked somewhere and being offered for sale. One was priced at $6000, another at $4500, no bids, no offers, just like their sites, nothing. So I thought about it and fou... Read Full Story

Awhile back, after what seemed like a very hard workout, I was thinking back to when I first started training. My first training was in Tae Kwon Do at the local YMCA. A friend was training there and got me interested. This was either late 1970 or early 1971, I was 14 at the time, involved in Olympic Weightlifting and in pretty good shape. The workouts weren't to tough, but somewhat difficult at first, very different from what I was used to. There were a lot of breaks and while oth... Read Full Story

I love watching the top MMA fighters compete. There skills and sheer determination to win, is so impressive. I like different fighters for different reasons, the only ones I don't care for are the one skill fighters, knockout punch, but nothing else or great grappler, but no stand-up. Those guys usually get weeded out when they compete with the top fighters, so it's all good My favorites are.B. J. Penn: Most remarkable of all, unbelieveable skillsJon Fitch: Favorite of all, alw... Read Full Story

Finding less and less time to workout each day, me too. Heres an exercise program I've been trying out for about two months now. Good results and time to do it. Give it a try. The exercise program will consist of only bodyweight exercises done for about 2-3 minutes, 6-8 times per day, throughout each day. Now obviously if you work a normal office job, you are going to have to not be shy about doing a few exercises in your office and having your cube-mates watch you. This is not only a ... Read Full Story

"The true value of the martial arts is not in 100 victories but in the perfection of the character of the students." -- Gichin Funakoshi"He who hesitates, often meditates, in the horizontal position" Ed Parker"Before I learned the art, a punch was just a punch. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch. Now that I understand the art, a punch is just a punch" Bruce Lee"Mercy is for the weak" Reese Kobra Kai"Myagi don't like fig... Read Full Story

Oh, and some women. I wonder where the myth of the 80 yr old Karate Master soundly defeating 5 young warriors started. Martial Arts seems to be the only physical art where this myth survives. As we age we may develop wisdom and experience, but we lose physical attributes. Reaction time slows, strength declines, lose of flexability and the ability to recover slows. I can't think of any other sport or physical art that makes the claims I have heard in Martial Arts. This is especially true i... Read Full Story

While driving home Saturday morning I spotted a small paper sign that said, "KARATE TOURNAMENT", mixed in with all the yard sale signs hanging on every street sign in my neighborhood. I anxiously followed these little red signs which led me to the local high school gymnasium. The first thing I noticed upon entering was all the Black Belts, none over the age of 15, some that looked about 10 yrs. old. Well they had Kata competition going on one side of the gym and sparring on the oth... Read Full Story

Tired of searching for karate clip art? Looking for images you can use in your newsletters, fliers, and certificates?Now you can get an entire collection of karate, kung fu, judo, jiu jitsu, and tae kwon do clip art for less than the cost of a cheap gi! click here for more info Read Full Story

Fighting when it comes to self-defense isn't sparring। Many post I read on forums talk about squaring off and what stance to use, if you allow the conflict to progress to this point you've lost most of your advantage। Now I know there are some real rough boys here who this advice won't apply to. How many of you witnessed how easily a half trained BJJ purple belt trashes a highly trained Karate black belt. The Gracies walk into a school and want to spar the instructor, he agrees,... Read Full Story

When taught and trained properly, Shotokan Karate is the ultimate Self Defense Art. Timing, focus, power are all developed. When backing down is not an option, a blow must be delivered to the proper target with sufficient power at the proper moment. These are the three principals of Shotokan Karate. It may take a lifetime to develop these Shotokan Karate attributes, but the journey is the best part. Find an instructor who can teach you these things,pay attention, train hard and stay wit... Read Full Story