Self-Perfection vs. Self-Protection
From Martial Arts to Martial Sport In many dojos, karate has shifted from a martial art focused on self-defense to a discipline centered on personal growth. Students are often encouraged …
Read more
Author: Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Chatan Yara Lineage
This article presents my research-based reconstruction of how the Yara lineage developed from the early 1300s onward. It examines the historical relationship between the Indigenous Yara line and the later …
Read more
Chotoku Kyan
Okinawan karate master Chōtoku Kyan preserved pre-modern martial traditions after the Ryūkyū Kingdom’s fall, maintaining a mentorship-based approach while engaging selectively with early modernization efforts. Okinawa at the End of …
Read more
Kings of Ryukyu
Sanzan Period: Three Kingdoms of Ryukyu Hokuzan (北山, Northern Mountain) The northern part of Ryukyu. Existed roughly 1314–1416. Rulers: Haniji (怕尼芝): ca. 1322–1395 Min (珉): ca. 1396–1400 (some sources say …
Read more
There is No First Strike in Karate
There is No First Strike in Karate. 一、空手に先手なし Hitotsu, karate ni sente nashi. Understanding the Principle The phrase “Karate ni sente nashi” translates to “There is no first strike …
Read more
Monuments of Shōshin Nagamine and Kōsaku Matsumora
Visiting the monuments of Shōshin Nagamine and Kōsaku Matsumora on a hot day Tomari Sansaku Michi (Tomari Walking Path) On our way to visit the monuments of Shōshin Nagamine and …
Read more
Channan’s Cave
Before diving into the story of Channan’s Cave, it is important to note that this tale belongs more to folklore than to documented history. To fully understand the context, readers …
Read more
Get Healthier
Whether You Are a Martial Artist or Not, the Healthy Way is the Right Way. In today’s world, where convenience often trumps wellness, it is easy to overlook the fundamentals …
Read more