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3 Most Important Points In Martial Arts Training

Steve Rowe

If you had to name the 3 most important things to remember in the Martial Arts that would the biggest difference to your training what would they be? When teaching beginners what are the 3 most fundamental things to stress and continue to stress so the student doesn’t ever forget? Number One:  Stand straight – good postural alignment is essential!  The body must be pulled up to it’s full height, the classics say that the head should feel ‘as if suspended from above’, for every inch the skull moves off the top of the spine it doubles in weight, as the head … Continue reading 3 Most Important Points In Martial Arts Training

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Grading At Shi Kon

Steve Rowe

I am often asked why we grade differently to many others in the Shi Kon Training System.  I have trained in the Martial Arts for over 40 years to very high standard by top International Masters and have graded thousands of people all over the World, hundreds through to Black Belt – and a Shi Kon grade is recognised Internationally to be of a good standard.  I don’t set the bar too high or low, it is exactly right and in keeping with any good club. First of all, the standards are very clear and the same for everyone. There … Continue reading Grading At Shi Kon

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The 13 Dynamics Of Tai Chi

Steve Rowe

Often called the ’13 Techniques’ or the ’13 Postures’ this list can really confuse Tai Chi practitioners and therefore they often get sidelined or bypassed, but when understood, they lie at the heart of Tai Chi practice.  To understand that they are ‘fighting’ dynamics that are held in the mind that are trained with the potential to be used instantly, reflexively and spontaneously in response to the opponent’s actions at any time  and although some are linked to certain techniques they are not the techniques, they are fighting strategies of ‘aliveness’ and are therefore dynamic because they are used to … Continue reading The 13 Dynamics Of Tai Chi

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I Only Wanted To Be Kwai Chang Caine…

Steve Rowe

Why I only ever wanted to be Kwai Chang Caine. I was a typical South London council house boy doing Karate until that first Sunday afternoon in 1973 at 3pm when I watched the first episode of Kung Fu that turned my life upside down. Here was a Martial Artist and Buddhist priest that had nothing and yet had everything. How can that be? Listening to the wisdom dispensed from the Buddha I realised that suffering came from ownership, if you owned nothing you had everything. Happiness was simply an internal habit and unhappiness came from wanting to possess, keep … Continue reading I Only Wanted To Be Kwai Chang Caine…

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A Past Life….

Steve Rowe

I paused in the clear night air to savour the moments before death, I was lucky to know the time of the completion of this incarnation so I was properly prepared, the icy fingers of fate clawed inside my abdomen making me draw in the crisp air and centre myself. When my family had been slaughtered and I had been the only one to escape my fate had been sealed, I had trained day and night with Sensei to be able to complete my Karma the right way, tonight there was no win or lose…… only completion. Revenge powered my … Continue reading A Past Life….

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The Path To Success

Steve Rowe

Taken from the notes of Chris Gunn as a reminder as to what was covered on the Seminar on the 19th May 2013.  I post this on the blog because it’s an excellent reminder to any of my students and anyone in the Martial Arts that there is a straight forward linear path to success with no vague concepts if you’re prepared to put in the work required. It was very kind of Chris to allow these notes to be published. Steve had ended up entitling the Seminar ‘The Path To Success’ to help us determine the right path to … Continue reading The Path To Success

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What Is Reiki?

Steve Rowe

I’ve been asked quite a bit about Reiki Healing lately and as its world can be full of money making freaks and quite dangerous people I thought I’d talk briefly about it and how it works and what the dangers can be. Let me begin with the science.  Humans are tribal people and touch, empathy and affection from others is important to us.  When we’re hurt, the first thing we do is to put our hand to the wounded site and maybe rub or massage it.  When a child is hurt, we also do the same and ‘rub it better’, … Continue reading What Is Reiki?

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How To Deal With Bullying At School

Steve Rowe

This a guide from the UK Government on how to deal with bullying at school. Source: https://www.gov.uk/bullying-at-school/the-law 1. THE LAW Some forms of bullying are illegal and should be reported to the police. These include: violence or assault theft repeated harassment or intimidation, eg name calling, threats and abusive phone calls, emails or text messages hate crimes Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. SCHOOLS AND THE LAW By law, all state (not private) schools must have a behaviour policy in place that includes measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.This policy is decided by the school. … Continue reading How To Deal With Bullying At School

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Milk Of Amnesia

Steve Rowe

Tonight we are going to drink the elixir of Nirvana…… Milk of amnesia! Sensei always had a way with words. Sometimes he totally bastardised the English language and yet always found a way of using it to help us gain an insight toward a deeper philosophical point. His humour was also unique. Someone had to get the ball rolling. “Sensei, are talking about a drink to bring about a blissful state?” “No.” “But does not Nirvana mean enlightenment, or a state of bliss?” “Nirvana means to put the fires out.” “So we are to drink an elixir to put the … Continue reading Milk Of Amnesia

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Steve Arneil – Kyokushinkai Legend

Steve Rowe

This interview was conducted in the year 2000… I have known of Steve Arniel since the 1960’s and personally for some years.  I have attended the Kyokushinkai tournaments since the beginning, many of them as a V.I.P guest and had the honour of awarding Steve the “man of the year” award for “Traditional Karate” magazine at one of those tournaments. Steve is one of the most senior, if not the most senior Karateka in Great Britain.  He holds the prestigious grade of 8th Dan and the respected title of Hanshi.  He has held the respect and loyalty of those close … Continue reading Steve Arneil – Kyokushinkai Legend