I participated in a Shotokan workshop a few weekends ago hosted by The Martial Arts Club at UC Merced and instructed by Maivian Le. It was humbling, insightful, and ultimately, fun! Makes me want to train in a dojo again (which I will once I’m finished saving up).
“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”
“I fear not the man who has practice 10,000 kicks once, but fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
When I train, I usually take my time learning about each movement. Every strike has a purpose, and once you understand what that purpose is, continue to practice it over, and over again.
More importantly, I’ve learned to move and strike with your core. I take this in a literal sense, as well as a philosophical sense.
Power comes from the core. When you drive your strikes from the center, you generate more energy, and more power. This is similar to your spirit. When you drive your actions from the heart, it has meaning, and a personal purpose from you; making your purpose in life something tangable. Building character is one in the same.
Train both the mind and the body, and always strive to improve.
Maivian Le performing Bassai Dai
Practicing stances. In Shotokan, the back leg is slightly bent in a forward stance!
Bassai Dai – Arm Lock
I’m looking forward to the next one 😉 Until then, train hard, friends!
Prototype K22 
I love that line: ““It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” Great inspiration to keep moving forward no matter what.
Most definitely! I believe that is the difference between a hobby and passion. Keep pressing forward and improving! 🙂
AMEN SISTA! 😀
Awesome! I got to see Nishiyama at a workshop when I was a kid. One of my favorite memories. 😀
Wow, what an honor!!
Very inspiring post 🙂
Nice post, the idea of using your core to generate power is evident not only in martial arts such as boxing, karate for striking, but also with martial arts for throwing like judo and juijitsu. Also is you watch golfers swing a club (I find golf boring lol) you will see that they use their core to generate the power.
When you have saved up what style are you think of starting?
Absolutely!
I’m going to commit to Shotokan Karate…I can’t wait to train under a dojo again! I’ve sat in on a couple of classes, and participated in one. Its definitely the type of dojo I’ve been looking for (traditional). Ahh, just the thought of it gets me so pumped! 🙂
Cool so your going to be a karateka!!! I had a friend who did shotokan karate, you’ll be learning long distance power and you’ll be working on speed.
So excited! Hahaha I cannot wait. Hopefully I’m able to get a new job by then…next year holds many new experiences 🙂
ahhh how much would i love to get back to stuff like this! it’s been ages. 🙂
Hey Cloud!
What’s stopping you?! :p And what have you trained in before? 🙂
Glad you are enjoying shotokan again, as a JKA 4th Dan, if I can be of any help please message me, I will help where I can. The most important move in Bassai Dai for me is the first, if it’s not done with the right feeling the rest of the kata is irrelevant, Bassai Dai means to storm a fortress, therefore I feel that first move must be done with power & intensity to break through the gates for the rest of the fight, most students don’t understand that.
Oss! Thank you for the input. I plan on training early next year in Shotokan, so not quite yet. This workshop was for my University club of which I’m an Alumni of. 🙂 I’ll be sure to contact you when the time comes!
Nice pics Kristin! Very inspiring!