Following our last episode about how many kata do you really need, Jonathan and Michael take things in a different direction and hold a March Madness style kata tournament to decide, not our favorite kata, but that one kata we would keep if we could only train one kata. This week, we take our top eight kata in a bracket style face off to see who goes to the semifinals.

Stay tuned until the end of the challenge we pose to each other.

What would your brackets look like??

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, and Jonathan Seavey.

Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu.  Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/

Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

In our first episode of 2025, Jonathan and Michael give an update on recent activities and then give their ideas in response to a recent podcast episode by Tuari Dawson of the Invisible Sensei Podcast about how many kata do you really need.

You can listen to that episode here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5337EwWle34cmkymzuVUKu?si=9cdc8432602942f7

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, and Jonathan Seavey.

Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu.  Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/

Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

In a follow up discussion to our first discussion about testing (Episode 012) Michael and Jonathan answer a listener question about testing requirements and the differences between testing in the West versus testing in Japan. Beware: there are some "emphatic" sentiments expressed....

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. 

Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

In the midst of the Paris Olympics, Michael and Jonathan discuss the impact of combat sports becoming Olympic events.

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. 

Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

After a short hiatus, Michael and Jonathan are back! This week we discuss when students have difficulty visualizing and working through applications or have difficulty doing techniques because they don't have an understanding of the techniques in the kata.

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. 

Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

*** SPOILER WARNING***

This week Michael and Jonathan give a deep dive into the FX/Hulu show Shogun. If you haven't yet seen it, give this episode a pass until you can watch the show.

Calligraphy by Mizai_sho as seen in the show:

https://www.instagram.com/mizai_sho?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. 

Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

This week Michael and Jonathan dive into "Amazon Prime Karate".

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. 

Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner.

Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

Michael and Jonathan start off but giving a short spoiler free preview of the first two episodes of "Shogun" and then dive into a question Jonathan was asked....if you could combine two martial arts, what would they be.

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner. Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

In response to a question from a listener, this week we talk about how we structure and run class in a "traditional" karate dojo.

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner. Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/

In response to a question from a listener, this week we talk about a topic that we haven't touched on before, the role of firearms in self defense. Remember, our opinions are ours alone. Do your research, consider your own personal situation, and make up your own mind.

Way of the Fist:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayofthefist.2018/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wayofthefist.2018

Email: [email protected]

Way of the Fist is brought to you by co-host Michael Hagen, chief instructor at Apex Karate Performance. Michael trains in Shima-Ha Shorin Ryu and Yamanni Chinen Ryu bojutsu. Find Michael at: https://www.instagram.com/michaelhagenkarate/ and https://www.instagram.com/apexkarateperformance/

Co-host Jonathan Seavey is the owner and chief instructor of the Kokorozashi Dojo, in Virginia, USA. Jonathan is a Okinawa Goju Ryu and Matayoshi kobudo practitioner. Find Jonathan at: https://www.instagram.com/jseavey67/