Hidden Karate makes life better. Martial arts teach punching and kicking of course. Martial arts also teach things like spirit, stick-to-itiveness, work ethic, discipline, and more intangibles.

The Work Ethic

Work ethic is valued high by society, others, and self. Let us reverse this order, it is self, others, and society. I will always argue a moment, work, or exploration begins with self.

Keep working hard, that is not the answer. An executive drove me crazy with the worst management line ever said. You will be as angry as I was when you hear it. “Work smarter not harder.”

Getting mad is a poor means of motivation. When we are translating emotions, angry equals failure. A madman may mean angry, but I would say it is mad. Insane like the Mad Hatter of the Victorian age who was working with Mercury. These hat makers went crazy, mad because of the poison.

Taking The Moment

It’s a good thing to take a moment. Creating a specific time with a quality to it for studying how you might work better. Then if you choose, you can hang up and think after receiving the message. This is helpful in finding the hidden karate making life better.

Do more than expected

That is on you. End of the story. If you do more than expected, extra effort is required. When you undertake this you are on the correct path. Think about it this way. You go to a car dealership and they put in more effort. The car dealership has a well-equipped showroom and delicious food. Doors are getting opened. “We can do that, no extra charge,” “Let me wash it.” Now the question, “Do you provide yourself with the same service? Do you do more than is expected for yourself?”

Punctuality the first proof of human behavior

I distinguish between people who are on time and people who are acclimated to being late. When you are late you are telling me how to live, what you value, and how to hold others. I am not satisfied with this behavior you are unreliable. It is the way I often measure the world. While preparing this podcast, I made a discovery; I have no friends who are habitually late. Without any thought I have let them drift away, no longer being part of my world.

Have a positive attitude

That is a standard comment, we have all heard it. Let’s look at that comment in the terms of the school. Martial arts instructor should be looking for people who are self-confident and motivated people. Or more importantly look for people who spend the effort regardless of ability.

The people who are seeking hidden karate that makes life better. And remember the instructor sets the tone, dower or upbeat these are the two choices.

And the final tip of the day, never let the other person write the contract in a negotiation.

A few other topics you may find worth your time

Crippling Karate BluesZach Zinn-Addicts & MALarry Tatum & Kenpo

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington.

The crippling karate blues. We all get them at one time or another. The key is not to stop training. Many do stop training when the crippling karate blues strike. This is a means and method of not avoid the moment but meeting it. You step forward shake the hand of this nasty moment and double down.

Big Pressure is not the Answer

The secret is not just applying pressure but to apply pressure in a focused and clear manner.

A story on how I chose to go after the situation in a year-long expedition. The expedition resulted in precisely what I wanted, a better stance. Also, a weird moment in Florida behind the dumpster at the local bar. (Others will think it is weird, you’ll get it.)

The choice is always yours, how you chose to meet that moment we all get. And we all do get it, you can’t dodge the karate blues.

The Process and the Focus

The bottom line: This process, the focus you will get from this podcast will make the difference. It will give you the architecture in how you hold your karate for the rest of your training.

A lot of references you may not get so a few links are attached to bring you up to speed, or down to my level. Measure it as you will.

The Band Montrose

That Wild and Crazy Guy

A good laugh

Here are a few other links you will find interesting

* New World Karate* Goran Powell – Karate / Zen* Mike O’Dell – A Sincere Man* Mark Loucks – The Karate Adventurer

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Karate Instruction an Exquisite View. The long road of karate instruction can be a grind. The questions arise of what are we doing, “I’m not reaching my students.” That phrase of frustration has emanated from every martial arts instructors’ forehead. And then turns into a pig’s trough of, “What, Why and How,” as the evening closes.

Ideas to reshape a self-talk session

The change in communication requires addressing. The brain of your students is different than yours. The environment they have been raised within is different. I’m not a doctor, but I have done a lot of research on the brain-body connection and neuroplasticity is a real thing. The modern brain are different. Not in structure, but in function emphases.

Education and communication, knows no boundaries. Good communication works like creamy peanut butter. Creamy peanut butter spreading on a piece of bread on a warm summer day. The work put into the act teaching makes the final act so easy it appears effortless.

Am I creating value for the students with my karate instruction?

The value for the students. If you are paying attention and have a desire to aid your students you will always be creating value. It is incumbent on you students to be seekers, but you need to be putting it out there for them. As the kids used to say, “Are you picking up what I’m putting down?”

The Big Lie

The big lie of, “You can be anything you want to be,” is ridiculous. And that lie needs to be stopped. Not crushed, adjusted. A quick spin into the world and value of the individual training. A correlation is drawn you may not have considered. Karate is like swimming in many ways, some of them not obvious. The high benefit of the experience. It makes for great karate instruction and an Exquisite View.

We’re All In this Together

Explaining to a kid their tool I taught them is a serious tool and the context of the use of the tool. Also, don’t do that as you will get your Father in trouble.

A few more ideas you may find of interest.

* Larry Tatum & Kenpo* Iain Abernethy – Road Less Traveled* Roland Warzecha – Medieval Sword* Goran Powell – Karate / Zen

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession with Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Fixing the Karate Community loss.  The intention was to do a different podcast but an inquiry from Anne (thanks Anne) about the loss of martial arts schools. It is needs addressing and so here it is. The two elements of addressing the loss of community and achievement. Student diaspora, physically and mentally resulting in nothing. No handles to gain a grasp on the situation we are living in. Nothing tangible and the loss of fellowship as well.

There are many answers. Many of the answers are unsatisfactory. The “Drink plenty of water.” The default position of advice gets addressed and how it is of little meaning. It solves no problem. These are throw-away lines, fillers, for a weak list of poorly assembled tripe. 

The podcast offers few recommendations but addresses the two items that are the most difficult of which to get a grasp. The loss of community and the loss of achievement.  

Community and the Loss

The loss of community is hard and when the loss is final it can be difficult, but it has an end. The loss of your martial arts community in these circumstances is like a child teasing a cat with a string. The cat never quite gets the string and the child laughs.

Achievement and The Loss

Human beings have a unique element about them. This element is the need to achievement. Here is the hard truth, not everybody cultivates the achievement gene, some people don’t give a rat’s ass about doing, achieving, or getting better. Those people not caring about themselves or their world, they are not involved in martial arts.

Martial artists are a self-selecting, self-referencing group of achievers. And now you are stripped of your support, your community of like-minded people and have moving timelines, dates, and lockdowns. Think of that cat chasing the string.

You are not going to get specifics here such as, “Stay hydrated,” but you are going to get an overview and a few examples of how you may want to approach the dual issues of fixing the karate community loss and achievement.

A few more links in which you maybe interested

* Iain Abernethy – Road Less Traveled* New World Karate* Goran Powell – Karate / Zen

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Martial Arts & Life Clip Show. When I was a kid, I loved the year-end clip show. The clip show was an episode of at T.V. made up of selections from the year that are highlighted. Sometimes the show can be done as a year-end award show or to forward the past years’ narrative. Being used to bring the audience up to speed with the story. Sometimes the clip show can be excerpts that have stand-alone value. And that is exactly what the Martial Arts & Life Clip Show is about.

The Members of the Show

We open with Matt Jardine – from England Matt is now living in a very warm place far away from England for a while. Matt talks about the understanding of the process to make things your own. Taking an idea and integrate it into your world.

Shantay Legans – The basketball head coach for Eastern Washington University[2] Coach Shantay Legans was named Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2020 as his team completed the season 23-8. Finishing first in the Big Sky Conference. Coach tells us about the power of the truth of coaching.

Marc “Animal” MacYoung – The difference between property crime and violent crime. Why violent criminals are not too bright, the difference between robberies and muggings.

Goran Powell – The coming and going of the meditation retreat. The reality of the world always awaiting you no matter the brain wavelength you are floating in. The fact is it must be addressed, yet the foundation found in stillness still holding in place.

Iain Abernethy – What is more important? Speed, form, or power? And the cheating of a movement. Fun quick and concise, Iain has thought about this and you get the benefit.

Les Bubka – The importance of posture in mental health. This is a place where Les and Jordan Peterson agree and when you get a man who grew up in Communist Poland agreeing with a man from the plains of Alberta Canada – you are on to something.

Tori Eldridge – A Ninjistus practitioner, author, dancer, actress, and now a glowing grandmother. Tori walks us through balance, being small, and using deception.

Sensei Ando – Tardiness and mind-reading. How either can hurt a student by being incorrect in the assumed instruction. It is the arrogance of the instructor

Rory Miller – Clear thinking. The moment of realizing everybody in their place and time and the “I used to think that way too.” And the quality person.

Andrea Harkins – Positivity in life and the martial arts world. The overarching negativity is present and it is always your choice to engage or let it go.

Bret Yamamoto – 21 Feet is the basis for an inside joke. Yet the 21 feet is also a serious tool for Law Enforcement to use for both real, perceived, and legal reasons.

Jason Brick – Being thrust into roles and the aging and maturity that occur at different rates. And the idea that if you can’t find the book you want to write it.

They aren’t a Martial Arts & Life Clip Show but here are more posts you may find of interest.

* It’s All On You Coach* Lee Taylor-Grit and Direction* Garden Warrior* Sensei Ando – Fight For A Happy Life*

George Rohrer, Master Certified Executive Coach, We talk about killing dragons and the ascendant path. A weird article is Florida. It just is Florida. The three questions. And 50 degrees Fahrenheit is considered shockingly cold in Florida. Burt Reynolds at the height of powers, Smokey and The Bandit!

The executive environment. How electrical engineering makes for a good coach, but let’s add some more creativity. The range that comes from these elements of experience. How to get people to conform and see the world the way they see the world. It is a deep vehicle for avoiding pain. We all yearn to be seen, and not being seen is a terrible place to be. The brilliant and constructive path is what it looks like if you are a leader or an artist.

The trite and overused phrase that makes me want to puke. Listen to how George reframes the qualities of servant leadership. It is actually about the intention, needs, and objectives. And the new phrase, Outward Mindset.

A discussion about the mental state of our world, our country, and our neighbors regarding the emotional toll of COVID. Blame, shame, and justification are poor elements of leadership.

Find some dragons and kill ‘em!

St. George

The idea of radical responsibility is the conversation that is being held at all levels. It’s not OK to blame others, to let things go, to not take responsibility. And the social media comments of weakness.

The Flow-Bee! Sure it’s off topic. But it is The Flow Bee.

The self-selection of responsibility and the, “I’m ready, come do my work for me.” orientation.

Mindset, Attitude, and Belief

The three elements of Mindset, Attitude, and Belief. Here’s the idea of governance by data or assumptions. They are two different versions of belief and one scared. Stop justifying one’s self and find value creation in other ways. In a roundabout way it is all about how to kill dragons.

A few other interviews you might enjoy

Dokkodo ExcerptJeffrey K. Mann InterviewLarry Tatum & Kenpo

Let’s Connect!

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession with Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Lee Taylor-Grit & Direction. The first memory of karate was a bunch of people in white clothes walking into the church across the lane. Lee’s uncle, a martial artist in his own right, was a large and consistent part of Lee’s development. Labrador Retrievers are the best. Lee says so, I agree and you may as well. What’s the bigger discipline or commitment (are they the same thing?) of yesteryear? Lee says, “Maybe, ultimately it is about choices,” not the organic make-up of the student. Then again…

Inspiring kids

The High IQ versus Grit question gets its time in the spotlight. Dealing with loss. The meeting of the loss is important. The grind and the results when you combine the grind with the loss. The direction likely remains the same but the liny has taken some swerves. What brings a smile to your face? Normal life can get in the way of your gratitude and that should not happen.

A Car Crash. The Place for Grit & Determination

The story of the car crash. This is the wild story of Lee’s broken neck as a result of a car crash with this son. The helicopter flight to the hospital and the weeks on his back. The story of how one of the smallest acts was significant. He broke his neck people! C2 is the placement for the hangman’s noose. This would be the place to insert grit & direction.

Getting back on the floor was a slow process, but he did show up to class as soon as possible – and in a neck brace. The question gets tossed to Lee, “What have you let go of since the accident?” He also talks about how with such an injury your world shrinks. It is interesting. Then Lee and Kris chat about how to use our children in our efforts.

Online Courses Have A Place

The world today is a different martial arts world with online courses and little hands-on training. Lee sees the trend continuing but not killing hands-on training. He predicts it is like fashion and will come back into favor. One reason is you can’t get pain from a video, you only get that great teacher, pain, one-on-one. You know that dash of Lee Taylor-Grit & Direction. Of course you can have your own flavor as they are spreadable ideas.

Lee has two books you may want to give a look too

A few links for other podcasts and blogs you may enjoy

New World Karate2 Kinds of Martial ArtsDark & Light

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession with Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Mark Loucks – The Karate Adventurer. Do you know that actor that you like, the one that always delivers and never disappoints? That is Mark Loucks that guy that always delivers, just not in the spotlight. A story of a Canadian getting punched by a Japanese guy and a translation from a Bi-lingual American. The dog “Penny.”

The Karate Adventurer Began at College

Gonzaga University training with Teruo Chinen and some Vietnam veterans. The difference between the home dojo, the dedicated dojo, and the health club dojo. What would you want to go back and tweet in your marital arts education? The walking past an idea that may have added to, added depth to his becoming Mark Loucks – The Karate Adventurer. Mark is going to hate that name when it sticks.

It’s an old saying, “The master appears when the student is ready.” It is true in Mark’s experience. It is the way he sees his martial arts experience.

Sports karate gets thrown to the side. It served its purpose Contact with Taria Sensei (Taira Masaji, 平良 正次) changes the flavor of Mark’s karate. Spacing, timing, quickness are good lessons but there are more. The morality and ethics of karate are important.

Leg kicks are brutal and good arms are important too. Feel the iron rod wrapped in cotton. The teachers from the different phases of life all taught something. And that is what a karate adventurer. What was it they taught that stuck with and you carry on into the future? Principals of lessons learned. Such as self-responsibilities the intention and set self in a direction.

Hey, let’s teach the daughters Sumo and get after the neighborhood kids.

Teachers of Mark Loucks – Karate Adventurer

Masaji Taira

Masaji Taira (Taira Masaji, 平良 正次) Hanshi is the 9th dan Chairman of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai.

A leading teacher of Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate Do, in the manner of the Jundokan dojo in Okinawa and of his teacher Ei’ichi Miyazato. He heads the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai. He is best known as a researcher and practitioner of the bunkai of the Goju Ryu kata.

Teruo Chinen (知念 輝夫, Chinen Teruo, June 8, 1941 – September 9, 2015) was a prominent Japanese master of Gōjū-ryūKarate.[1] He founded the Jundokan International karate organization and held the title of Shihan.[1][2] Chinen held the rank of 7th dan

Eiichi Miyazato (宮里 栄一, Miyazato Eiichi, July 5, 1922 – December 11, 1999) was a leading Okinawan master of Goju-ryu karate.[1] He was a senior student of Chōjun Miyagi,[2] founder of the Goju-ryu style.

Jamie Clubb & Eclectic Fighting. Raised in a circus with animal trainers finds it hard to name his fist pet. Too many animals qualify! Then of course the working animals. There is a distinction. When pushed he names a poodle called Mr. Biggles. Humans have a much different relationship with animals than in the past. Jamie’s description of the Animal/Human relationship is extended to the Human/Human violence dance. We’ll let you be the judge.

The Romans, Greeks & The Renaissance

The Romans, The Greeks, and violence as entertainment. Real violence with people losing their lives. Then a quick jump forward to the European Renaissance and the age of dueling. Then the world we live in with little threat of violence gets a going over. Is there evil in the world? Jamie has a take on those questions so listen as he makes his distinctions and backs them up with his experience.

Archie Moore

Jack Johnson, yes you should know that name a heck of a fighter in high heat, small gloves, and double-digit round – deep double digits. Archie Moore gets brought up. Moore was an American professional boxer. Moore has the longest-reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion record.

3 Types of Martial Arts

3 types of martial arts are identified by Jamie Clubb & eclectic fighting styles are discussed; The Traditionalist, The Modernist, and The Post-Modernist. it is hard to claim purity as they all have elements of eclectic fighting

Now the good and the bad for each. Jamie dissects each of the three groups. He makes it clear what is good with each and the less than favorable side of each movement.

Critical thinking pops up its head once again. Jamie explains the value and how one may use it, with examples of course.

Charm is not Comforting

Did you know charm is scary? Bet you haven’t thought of charm as a scary thing yet we walk past it if we don’t observe it for what it is. This leads to talking about Ted Bundy and Edmund Kemper. These two famous, intelligent, charming, and serial murders, get defined as charming.

We talk fables and parables, Pinocchio, from Italy. The Fossegrim, from Scandinavia, and the ancient Greek tale of Pandora. These tales are timeless because they matter.

A person, especially a martial artist, should not be beholden to an ideology. (it’s that Eclectic Fighting thing again). Being beholden to an ideology keeps you in control. That simple statement should give you a moment of pause. An even better, an audit. What ideology have you have given yourself up?

Because we need more fables, The Shaolin Monk whose master made him slap a bowl. Slap a bowl a lot, gets a treatment from the guest. And here is a line for you to take to the training floor, “Drill down instead of building up.” Jamie Clubb & Eclectic Fighting, yeah he has opinions.

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Here are some links to further information in podcasts and blogs you may find interesting.

* Sensei Ando – Fight For A Happy Life* Ninja’s Blade* Garden Warrior* Les Bubka is More* Goran Powell – Karate / Zen

Here is the

Rory Miller & Violence Dynamics. Franchise – A word Rory is not fond of but it may be the way to get the information out to the folks. The post-training methods and how the program got condensed. This efficiency brought the course down from the original 9 days to 4 days.

Numbers Aren’t Violence Dynamics

It is not about teaching by the numbers. Listen as Rory shows the difference and distinction. This, of course, is a small snapshot of what happens in the Violence Dynamics setting. The Violence Dynamics courses are about the student continuing to gain. When your students grow, you as a teacher win.

How Google does a search that is meaningful to you, “Are you asking….?” By combining all sorts of information to get your SERP, or what are you asking. People that don’t have experience with violence don’t know the correct questions to ask. Are we saying Google is smarter than a person, well no, but sort of…

Good teachers are like comedians. Good teachers can read a room and comedians must read the room or they will die on stage. Not like the real world of Violence Dynamics, but the commonality is undeniable.

Ownership of the knowledge. How to create the circuity to have the moment of received wisdom. X’s and O’ are not the be-all and end-all of learning. The goal is only the beginning. The energy lag that can happens in a seminar. Or the the tingle where the deal gets gone for. (Is that a phrase? It is now.)

Time To Change Your Mind?

Thinking like your parents. Understanding the mind of your parents while keeping your sense of self. Dropping the label on the parents is a childless selfish position. Getting your needs met.

What do you want in your violence dynamics training? Your desires are not what you likely checked in the box on the admittance form. Working in a jail is not conducive to riding the bus. You a likely to get recognized by one of your guests from the jail when you ride the bus. Working on a seminar floor. How the crowded floor is seen. The hint here, big rooms are harder to work in.  Narrow goals, simplified, goals verse the specific. A wide range of skill levels and the empty cup effect of success.

Yesteryear

The greatest professors we both had and how their impacts still hold fresh for us to this day.   An impactful presentation combined with challenges will be lasting. These two professors prove how important teaching can be.

Rory Miller

Here is a fun video form Rory Miller – 7 REQUIRED elements of self defense with Rory Miller

Here are a few other pieces of material you may enjoy

* Rory Miller – Clarity* The 3 Keys.* Mind Clutter* Self-Defense: Guide for Surviving Dangerous Times* Martial arts insights way beyond punching and kicking back…

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