The Way of Least Resistance

Introduction In my article "Banishing self-doubt" I discussed the importance of positive thinking. Yet we all know how hard it can be to attain (and maintain!) such a state of mind. How many of us feel a quiet sense of achievement and contentment in our lives (martial and otherwise!)? Not enough, I suspect! On the other hand, how many feel only a growing sense of despondency whenever we look in the mirror (metaphorical or literal)? I don't really have to answer that, now do I? So in this article I want to deal more squarely with this: What is it that keeps negativity at the fore of most people's minds (and positive thinking at the rear)? Why do so many people think so poorly about themselves that it is actually at complete odds with reality? 1 Why do so many people seek reinforcement from motivational speeches, self-help books, sacred texts, counsellors, friends and family – even memes – but mostly to little or no avail ? And what can we do to imp...

[Continued from Part 1 . ] The double block and uraken sequence Personally, I think the naihanchi shodan of Zenpo Shimabukuro is at its most interesting when it gets to the "double chudan/gedan block" (as per the adjacent image) - just before the uraken (backfist) is usually executed. It is here that Shimabukuro's version is truly unique in that it combines features from very distinct lineages . Of course, that's one way of looking at Shimabukuro's kata. Another is to ponder whether this "combination" actually reflects a more "ancestral" or "fundamental/original" nature of the version, complete with "embryonic" or "stem cell" movements capable of morphing into many of the various lineages we see today! Actually, the "double chudan/gedan block with uraken" sequence in this kata has long been a bug-bear of mine: I have lost count of the number of discussions I've had (in person, by corres...

Introduction Hot on the heels of my articles about "stem cell" movements , I came across this version of naihanchi shodan kata recently, courtesy of a Facebook group to which I belong. Naihanchi (in particular, naihanchi shodan) is one of the most popular and widely known and practised karate kata on the planet, so I think it is one that is truly worth examining more closely. And in my opinion, the version below provides one of the best benchmarks for analysing the various differences and similarities. Naihanchi shodan by Zenpo Shimabukuro This is a performance by Zenpo Shimabukuro, head of the Shorin-ryu Seibukan karate organisation. He is the son of the founder, 10th Dan Zenryo Shimabukuro , the longest-seving student of Chotoku Kyan who, along with people like Choyu and Choki Motobu , Kentsu Yabu , Chomo Hanashiro , Gichin Funakoshi , Shinpan Shiroma , Choshin Chibana and Kenwa Mabuni , studied directly under the legendary grandmaster Anko Itosu , who was ...

Introduction I was going to title this essay "In defence of faith". But as you'll soon see, the mindset I am going to defend falls a bit short of "faith" in the strict sense of that word. Rather, I will be talking about the importance of "banishing self-doubt" . My reasons for this subtle, though important, distinction will become clear later on. Regardless of what we call it, I think this mindset is nothing short of critical to your "success" and general happiness – whether in martial arts (as depicted in the adjacent meme) or life in general . I hope to explain and evidence exactly how and why I think so in this essay. But first, let me first discuss "faith" more generally. Faith: is it the "antithesis of reason"? "Faith" cops a lot of bad press from modern skeptical thinkers. And, to a large extent, I can see why. Faith is, after all, "blind": it is the belief in something without (...