My approach
The thinking behind my karate
The purpose of the training matters. So do the assumptions we make about what it prepares someone to do.
Over the years, the questions I ask about karate have changed. I am less concerned with whether a movement can be demonstrated convincingly, and more concerned with the circumstances in which it might be useful.
These three pages explain the purpose of my training, where I begin when teaching, and the principles I look for when an initial response is no longer enough.
01What the training is forWhy self-protection involves judgement, avoidance and more than fighting.
02Where I beginUnderstanding the problem before looking for physical responses.
03Principles before techniquesWhy understanding and adaptability matter more than a fixed answer.
For a more personal account of how my understanding has developed, see What has changed.