Martial arts have been revered for centuries as disciplines

that foster self-mastery, respect, and authentic skill. However, in recent

years, as martial arts have surged in popularity, something essential has been

lost in the growth process. Judo, taekwondo, karate, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ),

and kickboxing—all once rooted in intense tradition and rigorous standards—are

now facing what some martial artists call “the price of success.”

As more people flock to these arts, lured by their potential for fitness, self-defense,

and social standing, there has been a noticeable drop in quality, often marked

by “fake” black belts, commercialization, and schools compromising their

standards to cater to a wider, less-disciplined audience. In contrast, combat

sports like Boxing, Muay Thai, and Wrestling appear to have weathered this

trend more resiliently. Let’s explore why traditional martial arts have

struggled to maintain their integrity amid soaring popularity, and what it

means for the future of martial arts as a whole.

Support Karate For Mental Health CIC

https://kfmhcic.creator-spring.com/

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health CIC Programme by donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

https://buymeacoffee.com/kfmhcic

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

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Are the comforts of living making your Karate weaker?

Support the show and grab the Shirt

https://lesshop.ammhub.com/clothing/anxious-black-belt-black-t-shirt

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

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If you’re unhappy with karate, perhaps it’s time to step away and see where that leads you. I did, and I found my way back to karate with a deeper understanding and appreciation for it.

Shirt

https://lesshop.ammhub.com/clothing/anxious-black-belt-black-t-shirt

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking to my friend Daljit Virdee Sensei from Budo Collective.

Daljit fell in love with Karate as a child and trained under Shihan Gurmit Singh in West London for 11 years.

After moving to Bedford he continued training under Sam Nelstrop Sensei for 4 years and since 2018 continues under Shihan Ben Craft, Kyoshi, and Shihan Fernando Mahamud.

Opening Virdee Goju Karate was the fulfilment of a long-held dream. Daljit loves sharing his knowledge with others as well as continuing to learn and develop his own skills.

https://www.budocollective.com/

https://www.virdeegojukarate.co.uk/

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Upon request, I have a short story about how I got into teaching the elderly.

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In the karate community, the image of the sensei as a knight in shining armor is a powerful metaphor. It conjures up ideals of honor, discipline, and diligence—qualities that many of us aspire to embody in our practice and in our lives. Senseis are viewed as guardians and mentors, guiding students through the complexities of both martial arts and personal growth. But when we examine the culture surrounding this image more closely, we find that it’s not always as noble as it appears.

The Dark Side of Karate book:https://lesshop.ammhub.com/books/the-dark-side-of-karate-signed-copies

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I started training in martial arts in 2017, training in Aikido with Airenjuku at SOAS University. I trained there for 2.5 years (achieving 3rd Kyu) before I caught the Karate bug when I began training with the renowned Prof Stephen Chan at SOAS Jindokai club.

Although the training in both clubs was of a high, traditional standard, I made the decision to develop my skills in practical self-defence. Having trained for a while with Urban Krav Maga Instructor Stewart McGill (of Martial Arts Illustrated Hall of Fame), I had a vague idea of practical self-defence, but also missed the discipline of traditional martial arts.

https://www.totalshotokankarate.uk/

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It took us some time to overcome obstacles to record this episode, but it was worth it. Sensei Don Came and I discuss the syllabus, finding one's unique voice, and improving one's teaching.

Please check out Don's website for all the courses, videos and seminars:

https://www.doncame.com/

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is another sound bite from our KFMH seminar with Peter Jones Sensei.

Sensei Peter is a health professional martial artist and author, during our seminar, Peter gave very interesting talk about injury prevention.

Check out Peter's book on Amazon and use the links below to get in touch.

Ninja Nurse Book: https://amzn.to/3zPKcuQ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kajuenryu

Website: https://www.kajuenryu.com/

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During our Karate For Mental Health event, I talked to instructors who have kindly donated their time and picked their brains.

The second sound bite is with Brian Bates Sensei from Zanshin Applied Karate.

https://www.zanshinkarateacademy.com/

Don't forget to grab your Karate Journal to document your journey:

Amazon Karate Journal Link: https://amzn.to/3l9spmt

If you found value in this episode or enjoyed it, please consider sharing it with your friends on social media. And if it didn't resonate with you, feel free to pass it along to your enemies – perhaps they'll find it enlightening!

Support the show at no extra cost to you by shopping on Amazon through my affiliate link, where I receive a small commission on your purchases. It's a win-win! Find the link below.

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3qqfuhy

You can also support the Karate For Mental Health Programme by purchasing our merchandise or donating via Buy Me a Coffee:

www.buymeacoffee.com/KFMH

And check out our shop for exclusive merchandise, including the Anxious Black Belt Mug:

Les Bubka's Shop: https://lesshop.ammhub.com/accessories/anxious-black-belt-mug

About Les Bubka: Author, Karate coach, entrepreneur, and creator of the #Hikite4ever T-shirt. Les promotes inclusive Karate with a focus on the mental health aspects of training. Teaching nationally and internationally. Let's connect: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices