Author: Steve Rowe

Martial artist, philosopher, author, writer,
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It’s Not What You Do

Steve Rowe

It’s Not What You Do Oh no!  Sensei was singing…. He’s good at Martial Arts, but singing….  Forget it!  Why do people always want to do what they’re no good at?  The students were wincing as he sang outrageously out of tune… “It’s not what you do it’s the way that you do it, it’s not what you do it’s the way that you do it….  It’s not what you do it’s the way that you do it…. And that’s how you get things done….. You can try hard… don’t mean a thing…. Take it easy… then your chimes will … Continue reading It’s Not What You Do

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Positive Visualisation In Kata

Steve Rowe

Positive Visualisation In Kata “Sit down.” We all sat down against the wall and looked expectantly at Sensei. Frank…”  Frank leapt to his feet and stood in the centre of the hall facing the students in a ready stance. “Kushanku.” Frank moved to attention stance, bowed to a 45 degree angle moved his feet apart and placed his left hand over his right, ring finger to ring finger before making a circle with his arms in front of him.  He then proceeded to move through the Kata making each movement as powerful as possible breathing out heavily with the application … Continue reading Positive Visualisation In Kata

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3 Essentials To Enlightenment

Steve Rowe

3 Essentials To Enlightenment If you want to be enlightened, And that doesn’t mean in the hippie sense, But to unburden yourself from too much suffering, There are 3 essentials that will help. The first is knowledge, To become the one that knows, Some people get this through experience and study, And some just never do. Knowledge gives a broad perspective, It helps you follow the right path, Books, learning and listening give knowledge, Intelligent use of them makes you grow. Study, meditation and experience, Are three keys to learning, The way of the true warrior, Is the pen, stillness … Continue reading 3 Essentials To Enlightenment

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You’ll Have To Kill Me…

Steve Rowe

You’ll Have To Kill Me… The only way you’ll stop me is to kill me. I don’t give up. If I gave up I might just as well be dead. Because life will have no value for me. This makes me pick my battles carefully, I won’t pick a fight just because I’m angry, Or disappointed, or any other shallow reason, Every challenge is one that I am prepared to dedicate my life to. There is only win or die, Nothing in between, Every thought, movement and technique has this dedication, Not desperate, but resolute and determined. Starting on the … Continue reading You’ll Have To Kill Me…

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Responsibility Of An Instructor

Steve Rowe

Responsibility Of An Instructor When you’ve been in this game a few years and you’ve seen a few thousand people come and go you tend to be able to categorise people and their actions.  Having said that, after 40 years I am still surprised by people that the Martial Arts “alchemy” has worked with – those that suddenly “awake” and turn from being a waste of Dojo space into spirited, courteous and conscientious Martial Artists. As a Coach we have to lay challenges out for the student in a trail of bite size chunks and see whether they are prepared … Continue reading Responsibility Of An Instructor

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I Don’t Do Nice

Steve Rowe

I Don’t Do Nice “Cover up guys and sit down….” Despite the efficient warm down, everyone ‘squelched’ as they sat. When you’ve had a really hard work out and everyone is drenched in sweat, every bit of clothing, underwear and skin is soaked.  Even using covering track gear and towels, you can see the steam rising from everyone’s head and shoulders. When they get up, they leave wet bum prints – almost like ‘rear end personal fingerprints’ on the floor. We’d had a ‘classic’ session, starting with standing basics, working on the skills of making a proper fist, use of … Continue reading I Don’t Do Nice

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MMA Or Karate?

Steve Rowe

MMA Or Karate? John was bristling….  He’d been watching all the latest ‘no holds barred’ tournaments, shaved his head and left the obligatory UFC lines of hair, shaved his goatee into the ‘Chuck Liddell’ style droop moustache and had the ‘buy your cola here’ in Chinese tattooed on his arms and Maori designs on his shoulders He’d also hit the weights – but in the wrong way, he’d been bench pressing and ‘pushing’ big time, this had lifted his rib cage and separated the internal connection between upper and lower body, the shoulder development had also broken the arm to … Continue reading MMA Or Karate?

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How To Hammer And Screw Your Opponent

Steve Rowe

How To Hammer And Screw Your Opponent “Sensei ni rei!”  Everyone bowed with sensei. “Otagani rei!”  Everyone bowed again. “Kiritsu!”  We all stood up. “Sonoba zuki!” We prepared to deliver a basic punch from a natural standing position. Sensei looked thoughtful for a moment and then said “Yamee”..  we all stood down. “This evening, ladies and gentleman, I will teach you how to hammer and screw your opponent.”  Sensei had that mischievous look in his eye and knew the effect that his play on words would have.  Everyone suddenly looked far more interested… “I’ve been ‘hammered’ a few times” said … Continue reading How To Hammer And Screw Your Opponent

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The Beast That Lurks Within

Steve Rowe

The Beast That Lurks Within What darkness lurks within the depths of man…….. Rip away the social face, Tear off the generations of social conditioning, And what do you find? The slavering beast that lurks within………. See the momentary glint in the eye as a pretty girl walks by, The violent lurch within the breast as the car cuts in front, The first tendency toward total immorality as a fistful of money is offered…… See the mob violence take over with little incitement….. Crazed soldiers committing rape and genocide in the name of their culture, Jealousy and hate in the … Continue reading The Beast That Lurks Within

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Diversity and Compassion…

Steve Rowe

Diversity and Compassion… I was brought up in the streets of South London, Worked in the Fire Brigade and security teams, Also on road laying gangs, And then in the Martial Arts. Always with groups of men, We ridiculed everyone, including ourselves, If we didn’t like someone, We hit them. Do you want a slap? Give him a dig, Don’t like him, Knock him out. That was our reaction to everything, Like children spitting their dummies, Losing intelligence and getting angry, Then just wanting to hurt someone. It was natural to insult everyone, Different colour, different size, Different gender or … Continue reading Diversity and Compassion…