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The Meaning Of Life

Steve Rowe

“So…. what’s the meaning of life Sensei?”  We had all just sat down for a short break in between classes. “What do you think it is?”  The question had really been rhetorical and the questioner hadn’t really expected an answer – or the question to be answered with a question. “He’d be happy with a nymphomaniac that owned a pub!”  chimed in a helpful friend and fellow student…. “With a friend!”  helped another…. “So you think happiness is the meaning of life?” “Yeah!” they all chorused…  “As long as you’re happy, that’s the main thing…” “But surely, the nature of … Continue reading The Meaning Of Life

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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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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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Injury Prevention

Steve Rowe

“Find a space and work on your grading kata.” Working independently was a good way of making us work harder and on what we needed most.  It also gave sensei a good method of getting around to each of us and giving individual feedback and advice on what techniques we needed concentrate. “Oh Jeeez!”   Crash!  Rosie hit the floor like a sack of spuds.  We all looked around wondering what had happened as we were working on our own it was the last thing we expected. “My knee’s just gone.” Rosie was lying on the floor clutching her knee.  Sensei … Continue reading Injury Prevention

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Why Karateka Can’t Make A Stance

Steve Rowe

“Junzuki hidari gamae…..  ich!” The smell of freshly starched karategi’s filled the Dojo, mixed with the incense from the joss sticks that Sensei had burned that morning at the Kamiza (shrine) during his shinto ritual, it made a heady odour that added to the flavour of our Sunday morning training. Sunlight flashed on the highly polished wooden floor, sensei’s Japanese pronunciation powered from his seiki tanden as he counted and gave commands and drove his ki to add to the mixture and invigorate the students. “Mawatte…(turn)…  ich!”  Everyone turned and kiai’d together.  There is something inherently tribal about moving and … Continue reading Why Karateka Can’t Make A Stance

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Powerful Grading Speech

Steve Rowe

I looked down the line of students ahead of me waiting to go out and perform their grading, theirkarategi trousers were quivering as a result of shaky legs… Out on the floor I could hear the call of the Sensei, “ich, ni, san, shi, go, rokku, shichi, hatch, kyu, ju!” “EEEEYYYYAAAH!” the responding kiai came from the students already out there strutting their stuff under the watchful eye of Sensei and other club instructors officiating.  I could just glimpse Sensei’s impassive face occasionally between some of the students nervously awaiting their turn to grade. Why do we put ourselves under … Continue reading Powerful Grading Speech