Sanchin (三戦) is the most important kata in several karate styles. Naihanchi (ナイハンチ) or in Okinawan dialect Naifanchi (ナイファンチ) also is a kata and deemed the most important in several other karate styles. Shōtōkan (松涛館) shall belong to the latter (although not in my experience), but renamed the kata to Tekki (鉄騎). Sanchin (三戦) and […]

While Martin Armstrong is right when he states that Karl Marx had no clue about how an economy functions, he’s at least as much wrong when he puts Karl Marx in opposition to Adam Smith. There’s a reason for Karl Marx having strange ideas about economics despite his friendship with Friedrich Engels. Karl Marx did […]

Many people think they’d know a lot about knights, though this is useless knowledge. But what people really know is only the fantasy of some movie directors and script authors. So there’s a lot to put clear. Story plots often have somebody climb up the social ladder. In a medieval setting, a poor peasant proves […]

The Shàolín (少林) Monks, who had learnt the staff techniques of Yáng Yándé (楊 延德), never got tired of such exercises and wanted more of them. So in the next generation and in the meanwhile thirteenth century Abbot Chue Yuan together with the masters Li Sou and Pai Yu Feng developed the Five Animals Style […]

Several people, mainly Americans, in the late 20th and early 21st century made up their own karate styles. They had been successful with that, so why shouldn’t I, too, do the same? Steven Franz complains about people doing so, but admits to have done so, too. He still teaches a completely changed system of self-defense. […]

Several karateka (空手家) somehow thought that they would have to publish a set of precepts. Even Jesse Enkamp made such a set of precepts. But different from him, Motobu Chōki (本部 朝基) is a real authority with respect to karatedō (空手道) despite him having at least as many haters as fanboys among karateka (空手家). Motobu […]

In an article by Jesse Enkamp, he describes three types of approach, which an attacker in real life could use. Jesse Enkamp obviously has this idea from some pseudo-scientific publication. Who would in real life hide behind a bush for half a day until a possible victim comes along? So at least the “surprise” method […]

Although karatedō and Okinawa Kobudō are said to be brother and sister, the history of the latter is much less mysterious than the history of the former. All styles of Okinawa Kobudō, including gendai-goshin-kobu-jutsu, are derived from the style taught by Maezato Shinken (前里 信賢), who called himself Taira Shinken (平 信賢). He was born […]

You can learn the strangest things if you do some research with respect to the martial arts! Urban legends usually are believed to be myths, which emerge, are transmitted, and are believed in cities, while rural areas mysteriously shall be spared. I always wondered about this because people from urban areas usually also are believed […]

Do you know how pickpockets work? The task of the astrological force of Mars isn’t to kick asses, but to protect. So knowing what rowdies and bullies are doing by far isn’t enough! Persons with a strong natal Mars will know various hazards and how to protect yourself against them. So knowing how pickpockets work […]