Interview with Kagawa Sensei
"Since finishing competition I now understand what is important in training in karate. I didn't understand these things whilst I was competing. For instance, in a competition you must be strong, but training to become strong and training in how to use your body is different."

Kata: The Algebra of Karate
"Traveling around various dojos, teaching and training, plus reading in magazines, such as SKM, I have often heard the argument that kata is a waste of time, meaningless and at very best, just a way to pass kyu and dan tests. The critics then usually continue with an attack on kata bunkai..."

Heian Shodan Bunkai
"Kata bunkai is a good way to get oneself and one’s students to think. With this in mind I have written a little article about the application of Heian Shodan. However, the reader must bear in mind that sometimes a gedan barai is simply a gedan barai."

Kokuktsu-Dachi: The 'Difficult' Stance
"Back stance, especially when we start learning karate, is often considered an awkward, cumbersome and impractical stance. Even after years of training many karateka regard kokutsu dachi as their slowest, weakest and most unstable stance." But does it have to be this way?

The Snapping Shoulder
"So what is the shoulder snap? Well in essence it’s very simple and there are three quick exercises that can help to teach your body how to maximize the shoulder’s potential. I think that this very simple idea is capable of improving both the power and penetration of one’s technique."

Kenshusei
"Mention the JKS or JKA instructor course to anyone who has trained seriously in Japan or outside Japan with one of the few graduates sent on international teaching assignments, and they will tell you stories of the unbelievable brutality endured by the trainee instructors and of the high standard of karate."

Kenshusei Reports
"During the two-year kenshusei programme, each kenshusei must write two reports. They are usually given the questions in the January of each year and are expected to hand them in at the beginning of March." I've decided to include some examples of these reports here on my site.