Karate Archives

November 24, 2020February 17, 2021

Best Karate in West Seattle

The Best Karate in West Seattle. Each year at the West Seattle Karate Academy we meet with well over 100 people in the West Seattle / White Center area about their desire to start karate training.

Our website is clear about the value of karate training. And the benefits associated with martial arts, as well as our rates, and times.

Sometimes the question arises, “Who are some of the other martial arts clubs you might recommend?”

Not to shy away from the question here are some other schools and clubs in West Seattle. These schools / instructors have great qualities.

This is not a list assembled by googling. I know these people and have been on the floor with them.

Best Karate in West Seattle, Well Kung-Fu

When it comes to Wushu and Tai Chi Sifu Resita DeJesus is the go-to person. Her studio is at 5423 California Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98136.

I have known Sifu DeJesus for some twenty years. She is affable, pleasant, and has high expectations for her students. I have been on the floor teaching with her at seminars and have had her instruct at some of my seminars. Sifu DeJesus is quick to laugh and wields a mean bullwhip too. Her accolades and skills run deep.

Tae Kwon Do – Again Not Karate

The West Seattle Tae Kwon Do Club is run by Master Darren Smith. Master Smith teaches at the Highpoint Community Center on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I know it violates the theme of Best Karate in West Seattle, but I think it has become clear it is about the people, not necessarily the art.

Take note: His classes are for adults only, 18+ and beginners are always welcome.

You will find Master Smith pleasant, thoughtful, and dedicated to his students. One of the attributes I like about Master Smith is he is always seeking, learning. You can reach him at westseattletkd@gmail.com

High Point Community Center in West Seattle at 6920 34th Ave SW, 98126.

Karate (Shotokan)

A member of the Pacific Northwest Karate Association Sensei Skip Matthews teaches at the Hiawatha Community Center. The address is 2700 California Ave SW. Seattle. Next to West Seattle High School.

Sensei Mathews and I met about a decade ago and he is a good guy. His classes on are Mondays and Wednesdays in a 2-hour block Beginners first-hour, Advanced the second hour.

Shotokan Karate is what he teaches. Shotokan could be considered the classic Japanese karate. Sensei Mathews is earnest, and pleasant. Ranks are earned with hard work and effort. You will get good training here under his guidance You can email him at: lsmathes2@comcast.net.

Also, the Hiawatha is the oldest community center west of the Mississippi, what a cool place to train.

Best Karate in West Seattle – Not in West Seattle and It’s Judo

The Seattle Dojo. The oldest Judo dojo in the United States the Seattle Dojo is the place to train in classic Japanese Judo.

I trained there and recommend the instructors as smart, and focused on their students. Tournaments are an important part of advancing in rank but are not required. Not in West Seattle, but they warrant a shoutout. The building was purpose built as a Judo dojo. The floor is spring-loaded and the walls are bathed in tradition and experience.

The facility is basic, no-frills because they train. It is common for Judo-ka from Japan who are visiting on business or for school to train at the Seattle Dojo.

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.

October 31, 2020December 25, 2020

Should I Attend a Martial Arts Seminar?

The best reasons to attend a martial arts seminar. The reasons are four-fold, COVID has taught us, there is no replacement for being on the floor. Zoom classes are a nice bandage or as a banker might say a bridge loan, something to get us over a hard time.

There is no substitution for being on the floor and crossing hands with another. We gain the perspective of another person. We get to meet and work with others we likely would have never met, even in today’s connected world. The renewed motivation and often a confidence build are the result of spending time and effort at a martial arts seminar.

Flow, Anxiety, and Boredom

Martial arts seminars are challenging. Awhile back I was on the floor working with another martial artist and I had to pause. Holding my hand up I uttered, “Give me a second, I have to work this out.” It was a new way of moving to me. A valid way of moving yet different, I had to get it. A few repetitions and observations from my partner and I had it. Then he did the same thing, “Let me see if I got it.” It was challenging, not uncomfortable, just challenging. and if it wasn’t challenging, I would have dismissed the seminar, “As not that valuable.”

Listening is an interactive skill. We are used to having material substantiate our viewpoint. We like to be correct. But just like many things in life, there can be more than one solution to a situation. The experience of listening, attacking the work, and being listened to, these are invaluable. This combination of experience comes from live interaction, hands-on, and in no other way.

The seminar needs to challenge you, but you have to have just enough skill to do it. That keeps you in the flow state.

Too much difficulty without sufficient ability and you have an environment of anxiety.

Too much skill without enough of a challenge leads to boredom.

Further, you get many proof points you can see. “Are others struggling with this?” or the conversation during the pause in the action. The notes, the observations from other perspectives available in real-time in a, “Feel it,” moment. The seminar becomes multidimensional in leu of a flat linear experience. Yes, you should attend a Martial Arts seminar.

Expert Knowledge

Seminars are events of concentrated experience. You get to study deeply and you get to say, “I like that,” or “No thank you.”

I walked up to a participant at a seminar who was sitting at the end of the bleachers. I want to check with him that all was in order and he was doing well. After a brief conversation, I discovered he was fine. The session offered was not fitting with his system. He did Pencak Silat, an Indonesian form, and what the instructor at the moment was offering was not fitting into his methods.

Choices made

He excused himself from the present section and the next session was back out on the floor. Brilliant. This guy had a clarity of vision, he knew himself and knew what he wanted. He was not discounting the expert, he simply said, it’s a mismatch. It is the expert’s responsibility to bring the goods for a fine event, it is on your shoulders to engage the expert knowledge in a manner that is useful to you.

Yes, and No are both valid.

Networking

Along with having access to others and their martial arts, you get to meet other people. Some may not even be martial artists; they could be there for a multitude of reasons. During a break, I walked over to the gentleman who was filming the seminar. I discovered he had worked on the films, Lawrence of Arabia and The Shining. Immediately I began to pick his brain.

The result was a wonderful conversation. I learned about the film industry as well as personalities. He ended the conversation with a calm request. When I spoke, “To please stay away from the windows, they cause problems with the lighting.” Call that one more lesson.

An outlier of a moment?

An outlier of a moment? Possibly, but the gems, the skills, the experiences that you get to avail yourself of are all on the floor for you to simply snatch-up if you choose.

Solutions to difficulties and challenges are also at these seminars. Arriving in town a day early to teach at an event, I was invited to a private school Physical Education class, it was karate.

All students were addressed as, Mr. and Mrs. After class I asked “I see you are doing this, what is the reason behind this.” It wasn’t what I assumed. It was school policy to use formal titles when communicating. The instructor adapted the school policy for continuity. Interesting. I put that lesson away.

Later when I taught at a private school I leaned into the lesson. I learned about that school’s culture integrating their communication policy into the karate class. And I didn’t enjoy the casual first name basis used by the educators and students, but that was the culture.

Connections

The connections made on the floor of a seminar cannot be overlooked or undersold. The ability to pick-up the phone and say to a new acquaintance, “What did you do in this situation?” or be that person with the answer. We all can grow as a result of good connections and new friends. If you are not taking advantage of this moment, you are failing to pick-up diamonds left on the training hall floor. You will be amazed at the number of diamonds left on the floor for you to pick-up and walk away with when you attend a Martial Arts seminar.

Refreshed Enthusiasm

We are creatures of habit; we don’t like it when our world gets disrupted. COVID as serious as it is, we hate the upside-down rattle of the tin can it has created. It was not of our choosing. This can result in anxiety, and much more.

Yet, if we look for a change, we can often get that change on our terms; we like that. This form of change has little anxiety and a truckload of enthusiasm. If you ask a fresh participant from a recent seminar you will hear words of passion, passion renewed. It is that simple.

You chose it. You experienced it on your terms. Because you had a good time you retained more information and new ideas stick. The other great experience is to have your ideas you always knew where correct validated.

Get to a seminar, experience the flow, avail yourself of expert knowledge, get to know people, and get refreshed in your art.

Resources For More Karate Information

Here is an article that you may find helpful also: Karate Tips – 8 Simple Tips To A Better Experience

Need More on the Flow State? Here is an 8 minute video called: How To Protect Your Focus And Reach ‘Flow State’ from the Art of Improvement

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

October 27, 2020December 25, 2020

Karate Blocks, Let’s Make Them Work

Karate blocks, let’s make them work. We have all caught a punch in training. I don’t mean reaching out with chopsticks and catching a fly from the air, I mean guiding a punch straight into our chest.

Not only does it hurt our arm or chest but it hurts our ego. “I thought was better than that.” Runs through our mind and then a quick, “Let’s do that again.”

Often the same results.

We try to fix it by being faster, by anticipating or shifting our body. We are trying to do everything in our power to honor the block as it was taught.

A Lesson On A Pacific Ocean Beach

One late summer many years ago I was at a karate club summer camp. It was late afternoon and my teacher tapped me on the shoulder, “Let’s go to the beach and do kata in the sunset.” “Heck yes!” was my reaction. We crossed the dunes and walked onto the hard pack sand left by the receding tide of the Pacific Ocean.

“Let’s do the first kata.” As my teacher pointed to my place beside him on the sand. We did the form; it was a magical moment and place.

He stepped back and pointed to a new smooth patch of sand, “Now you do your most advanced form, I’ll watch.” I did as he asked. The moment retained its magic.

See The Facts

Afterward, he called to where he was standing. “Look at that pattern in the sand,” pointing to the first kata I did. Then casting his hand over to the second form I had done “That kata has the same stances in it, right?” The word, “Absolutely,” fired from my mouth. “Why are they different?” came in response as my teacher pointed to the sand.

He was right, the tracks left in the sand where different. I pondered for a minute. “Look, I’ll help you.” He stepped forward to the kata left in the sand. “You learned that kata when you were a white belt, that one over there as a black belt.”

The Bomb

Then he dropped the bomb, “Why are you still doing that first kata like you are still a white belt?” “All your kata should reflect a higher ability, not held in the past.”

The chest block is a fantastic tool to prove the larger subject. Transferring our knowledge downward into our already trained habits is our goal.

The story I told about training kata in the early evening on a beach looking out over the Pacific Ocean was a great lesson. I wasn’t progressing as I should. Here are a couple of pictures to help illustrate what I am talking about.

Let’s Make Karate Blocks Work

Many kata begin like this picture. Arms crossed, held closely, and then a powerful exhalation while stepping forward into the form. If you do Sanchin kata this position may be familiar. The move elsewhere in other karate systems.

It feels good, It feels powerful, and it is LARPing LARP is an acronym for Live Action Role Play. It is pretending. The arms are close to the body away from the threat. The arms and the hands are moving inward away from the threat. You run away from a predator and it chases you. The movement is not based in reality.

Both arms can be stopped with one of the attacker’s weapons, a hand, or a shield of some form. See the red X.

You can see from the side view the space ceded to the attacker. The green line illustrates the distance from the fingertips to the crossed arms held close to the body. This space should be yours and not the attackers.

The chest lock as taught when you were a beginner served you well, it fails you now.

This is a position or a similar position often taught at the beginning levels of martial arts. Here is how to do a chest block. It serves a purpose and once that purpose is served move on. Alan Watts is quoted, “…if you get the message, hang up the phone.”

When we started our karate journey we learned blocks and strikes. As we grew in time and understanding we were told, “There is no block in karate.” The block is a violent defense. Of course, there are exceptions and they are situational, but that is for you to determine.

Sure, Nothing New Here You Say

Sure, nothing new here you say…

I suspect you’ve done what I have done. Explained that the blocks are not blocks but an attack design to gain the advantage. And then I’ve turned around and said, “OK let’s practice our blocks.”

The Japanese word for a block is “Uke” and it can translate to receive in English. But in karate blocks should be seen as an attack the majority of the time. Jack Dempsey (World Heavyweight Boxing Champion from 1919 to 1926) called it Aggressive Defense in his book.

I choose to think of the block as an attacking weapon. Not new as we know. Here is a brilliantly explained demonstration by German bladed weapon expert Roland Warzecha.

This is a 30-minute video warrant your time.

A Foundation For A New View

Simply put he gives you a foundation for a new view.

Look at how aggressive defense is demonstrated in his video. Consider adapting your movements as he has suggested. Of course, he is using a bladed weapon and that changes distance, timing, and strike, but focus on the shield work. Sit with this link and see you’re dealing with is an Attacking Weapon. These terms are from Roland, they are not original to me, and I use his words now when working with advanced students.

The Way To View The Karate Block

Again, some exceptions, but the majority of the time you should say, “Attacking Weapon,” and “Exploiting Weapon.” instead of block and attack.

As stated earlier in this series, by my old karate instructor on the beach, “Why are you doing your kata the way you did it when you were a white belt?”

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for Roland Warzecha’s Martial Arts and Life Podcast Interview.

His interview is available on November 4th, 2020. You can subscribe here: iTunes

A few links to other podcasts and blogs you will likely enjoy.

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

September 7, 2020December 31, 2020

Karate Tips – 8 Simple Tips To A Better Experience

5 Minute Read – More When You Follow The Links

Here are 8 simple karate tips to a better experience that take place between the ears. These 8 items will make your karate experience better, more productive, and set you on a path of consistently spiraling upward in karate skills and abilities.

1. Learn To Listen

Martial Arts is about self-actualization, physical safety, and the common good. Listening is an important skill. Listening is not only a thoughtful act but listening allows you to avoid the land mines of life.

Listening allows you to heed the warnings that the more experienced have. The probability you are taking to heart the idea of developing listening skills is unlikely. But you should consider it.

Here is a link for you to see just how important this life skill truly is.

2. Don’t Blame

Martial Arts is also about personal responsibility. Bringing order to yourself and then you are valuable to others. Placing blame is a non-productive path. Take responsibility – even when you believe it is not your fault. (because if you are involved in what is happening you likely have some level of culpability.)

As for day-to-day on the martial arts path, embrace the grind, it is a grind at times, but the rewards are deep and profound.

The bottom line, it’s on you and the path is not easy.

3. Don’t Waste Time, Don’t Be Rash

If your art is not working for you, change. I tried three arts before I settled on one, well two. Many seasoned readers are nodding knowingly, with this caveat; don’t bail too soon, stick with it, don’t be a style hunter.

You will know if it is time to leave if you have landed in three schools in the last eighteen months, not through eternal factors, e.g. moving, then you likely are not putting in the effort.

Don’t waste your time and don’t waste other’s time.

4. Expectations

Your expectations of what the martial arts are will change. Like how your tastes change from childhood to now. SpongeBob SquarePants may still be funny, but it isn’t high art like it was when you were a little tike.

Allow for the change, allow for growth, and welcome it. Nothing stays the same forever, and if it did wouldn’t the world and your martial arts be boring?

5. Learning Never Stops

The greatest gift Martial Arts will give you is you can never stop learning. Learning and physical activity, two elements for long life.

It is that simple. Be consistent.

6. If It Were Easy

It’s an old saying, “If it were easy everybody would do it.” The second older saying is, “If it is worth having it is worth working for.” Martial Arts are not easy, but the rewards are great.

Listen to Denzel Washington as he tells you that ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. And ask any advance Martial Artist about hardship and they will likely acknowledge it, but hold no resentment.

7. It’s Group Training But It Is A Solo Endeavor

You are responsible for yourself when it comes to martial arts. It is a group atmosphere and it is great to have comradery, however it’s on you. The choices you make, the training you choose to do, or not do. The way you carry yourself all are factors. And those acts, those choices are seen by those ahead of you in the ranks.

Those upper ranks are assessing you. It sounds harsh, but they are eyeballing you to see if you are worth the hand-up, the effort, if you are ready and willing.

The simple formula is to be responsible to yourself and the plan, both internal and external will open for you.

8. The Martial Arts Will Change Your Life

It may appear as a casual choice, to take up martial arts, but your life will change from that day forward.

If you take up fencing, your friends will expand and you will learn about the international subculture of the épée, the largest and heaviest of the three swords used in the sport.

You will become picky about the density of the weave of your Judo Gi. And many profound changes will occur. To speak to those changes is presumptuous as we are all unique with our own needs and desires. Know that change is coming, and the longer you train the deeper that river runs.

Kris Wilder

– Let’s Connect!

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Do you want more? Here are some courses both free and upper-level courses

The Brutally Simple / Simply Brutal courses + more at Kris Wilder Courses, More than just information. Wisdom. https://kriswildercourses.teachable.com