Originally Posted on August 13, 2014 by Karri So there is this idea that somehow if you go to Japan, you will be bestowed with secret knowledge and somehow be transformed into a martial arts master of mythic proportions. The same I guess can be said about going to the Shaolin temple or Wudan mountain.… Continue reading Training in Japan.
Category: Uncategorized
Watch what it is you’re watching.
Posted on October 17, 2013 by Karri When I was serving in the Finnish Military, there was an entire lecture devoted to a rather peculiar topic for cadets in basic training—pornography. As you can imagine, an organization with a few thousand teenage boys in it might have to deal with it sooner or later. The… Continue reading Watch what it is you’re watching.
Something to prove.
Originally Posted on June 29, 2013 by Karri There is something especially difficult about turning down a challenge to prove yourself as a martial artist. Whether it’s because you want to put to bed any doubts about your skill, or someone is just talking crap about your system/dojo, the compulsion to go toe to toe… Continue reading Something to prove.
The Problem of Pain.
Originally Posted on March 14, 2013 by Karri Martial artists often deal with pain. It’s part of the human experience, but we learn to think of it differently than others. Probably just from repeated exposure. For most of us there are two very different things going on at the same time. First is the nerve… Continue reading The Problem of Pain.
Shokunin Kishitsu
Originally Posted on July 13, 2012 by Karri Japanese culture is certainly different from ours. There are a lot of things which I see as being difficult to understand much less appreciate, and there are a few that we could stand to learn ourselves. Specifically, I am talking about the “craftsman spirit” or shokunin kishitsu.… Continue reading Shokunin Kishitsu
The Problem of Privilege.
Originally Posted on March 23, 2012 by Karri There is no getting around it, our lives have gotten easy. There have been plenty of other times in history where people have had it good. The wealthy and powerful from Rome and Egypt to aristocrats in Europe and ruling classes the world over shared a secret… Continue reading The Problem of Privilege.
Sending Signals.
Originally Posted on June 20, 2011 by Karri So, I recently had the passenger side taillight go out on my car. You don’t realize how much of a difference a light bulb can make in your life. But, just try merging into the right-hand lane without signalling, or making a turn when someone is tailgating… Continue reading Sending Signals.
Ninjas and Cowboys
Originally Posted on May 26, 2011 by Karri I read a blog post recently asking how someone can become a ninja. The best way I can explain this is by sharing a little bit of understanding my instructor gave me. Ninjas are to Japan what cowboys are to Americans. We love cowboys, and as kids… Continue reading Ninjas and Cowboys
I am. Right now.
Originally Posted on February 28, 2011 by Karri There is a tendency in the human mind to want things to be permanent. We think in terms of some time-frozen reality where the people we know will always be the same, our job will always be the same and in the same vein, we will always… Continue reading I am. Right now.
Realize it or not, you are always training.
Originally Posted on February 4, 2011 by Karri The human body, and the human spirit are systems in continuous flux. Meaning, we are never the same person from one second to the next. The beauty and symmetry in this is that doing something, anything, prepares you for more of the same. So if you want… Continue reading Realize it or not, you are always training.