Notes from the Workshop
A Collection of Essays, Insights, and Personal Reflections on Okinawan Karate and Kobujutsu
009 — Paper Tigers: Distinguishing Substance from Shams
A black belt can represent years of discipline, effort, and training—or not. The difference lies in the journey. In authentic karate, there are no shortcuts. No titles, just training.
008 — Beneath the Belt: Karate and the Meaning of Rank
Belts and ranks are everywhere in modern karate—but where did they come from, and what do they really mean? In this article I explore the surprising origins of the ranking system, its benefits and pitfalls, and why true progress in karate is measured not by what’s around your waist—but by who you become.
007 — A Warrior in the Garden: True Pacifism, the Power of Choice, and the Monster Within
True pacifism is not weakness—it’s strength under control. In this essay, we explore what it really means to choose peace, drawing on martial wisdom, a powerful Japanese proverb, and Jordan Peterson’s provocative insight: "Be a monster—and learn to control it."
005 — The Circus Act of Kata: How Modern Karate Has Lost Its Soul
Kata was never meant for applause. Once a combative training method rich with strategy and intent, it’s now too often reduced to theatrical display. In this article, I explore how modern karate has lost touch with its soul—and what must be done to reclaim its purpose.
004 — Karate: What’s in a Name?
What’s in a name? In 1936, Okinawan masters gathered to rename their art “Karate”—a deliberate shift from “China Hand” to “Empty Hand.” This article explores the meaning, mispronunciation, and cultural weight behind the word many say, but few understand.
“No matter how you may excel in the art of Te, and in your scholastic endeavors, nothing is more important than your behavior and your humanity as observed in daily life.”
— Tei Junsoku (1663–1734)