Articles
This page offers links to documents covering topics of significant importance and key concepts within Shotokan karate.
The articles include historical, philosophical and scientific discussions that students who are serious about understanding Shotokan karate might wish to read.
The primary reason for including such articles on this site is to guide students through aspects of the art that are best understood by reading rather than being 'lectured to' in the dojo. Some articles will be understood by all, others might not be fully comprehended until the individual reaches intermediate or advanced grade.
I have arranged the following articles in an order of interest that a person new to karate might wish to access such information:
In presenting these articles I have borrowed from numerous authors. This is not to say that I fully agree or endorse all that they write. However I do feel that each article is written from the perspective of experienced karateka and I agree with the general points they are making. Hopefully these articles will get you thinking about the why and how of training in karate-do; so that you can discuss the issues raised with other karateka.
I will add new articles and features of interest whenever I find them.
- What Is Karate?
- What Is Shotokan?
- Why People Take Up Karate
- Is Karate Really For Everybody?
- The Fighting Tradition Of Japan
- Master Funakoshi's Karate
- By Way Of Introduction (The JKA Goes West)
- Karate Training
- Karate Ranks
- The Shotokan Tiger
- Kiai - More Than Just A Noise
- Success In the Martial Arts
- Continuous Improvement In Karate
- Karate The Bigger Picture
- The Soul Of Karate-Do
- Engineered Punching
- The Order Of Things (An Insight Into Training At The JKA)
- Back To Basics
- Karate Is Not A Science
- Considering Kime
- Kime The Myth Of Focus
- Ushiro Geri - A Practice Guide
- Shuto Uke / Uchi - Making Them Work
- Kumite Tactics
- Power Generation
- Rear Leg - To Bend Or Not To Bend
- Making Pressure Into The Floor - A Myth Exposed
- Unweighted Vectors - Forces In A Strike



