Tatsu Martial Arts

Lets get them moving , its been cold its been boring time so challenge them in physical and in mindset, a life skill.

Cross-training in different martial arts expands your skill set by exposing you to various techniques, strategies, and philosophies. A boxer might develop better footwork from Muay Thai, while a BJJ practitioner could improve takedowns with .It reminds you that no single style is superior in all situations and that learning never stops.

Have you trained in multiple styles yourself ?

Mindset shapes our everyday lives,
Reframe failures as a step towards next time and hard work for success..life skills

This is not mines but always resonates with me 🙏🏻

⭐️“”I DON’T PAY FOR KARATE“”⭐️

From a Karate parent...

One of my friends asked "Why do you pay so much money and spend so much time running around for your son to do karate ?" Well I have a confession to make: I don't pay for Karate! I don’t pay for my son’s karate lessons. I don't pay for his mitts.... or suits or his competitions.

So, if I am not paying for karate, what am I paying for?

- I pay for those moments when my boy becomes so tired he feels like quitting but doesn't.
- I pay for the opportunity that my boy can have and will have to make life-long friendships.
- I pay for the chance that he may have amazing instructors that will teach him that karate is not just about movement but about life.
- I pay for my child to learn to be disciplined.
- I pay for my child to learn to take care of himself.
- I pay for my child to learn to work with others and to be a proud , supportive, kind and respectful dojo member.
- I pay for my child to learn to deal with disappointment, when he doesn't get that score he hoped for, or fell during a move he has practiced a thousand times, but he still gets up and is determined to do his BEST next time...
- I pay for my boy to learn to make and accomplish goals.
- I pay for my boy to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight.
- I pay so that my boy can be in the dojo instead of in front of a screen...

I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for karate; I pay for the opportunities that karate provides my child to develop attributes that will serve him well throughout his life and give him the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen for many, many years, I think it is a great investment!

Gentle morning yoga tomorrow at 10:30!

(Approx 2 minute 35 second read)

Kenwa Mabuni, one of Okinawa’s great karate masters, once said, “The karate that has spread to Tokyo is incomplete. Those who believe that karate consists only of kicks and punches, and think throws and joint locks are exclusive to judo or jujutsu, have been misinformed. We should have an open mind and strive to study the complete art.” (Paraphrased)

These words highlight a common misunderstanding in modern karate. Many practitioners believe that grappling techniques, such as throws and joint locks, belong solely to arts like judo or jujutsu. As Mabuni pointed out, this belief is incorrect and diminishes the full potential of karate as a self-defense system.

Okinawan karate was never just a striking art. Its roots lie in practicality, a comprehensive system. Much of this is preserved in the kata, where movements are designed to work at close range, transitioning seamlessly between striking and grappling.

However, as karate was introduced to Japan and adapted for sport and mass instruction, much of its grappling content was either de-emphasized or lost entirely. This evolution has led many karateka to turn to judo or jujitsu to supplement their knowledge of grappling.

There are interesting anecdotes of instructors trained on Okinawa who later sought out judo to learn how to apply locks and throws effectively. Given that Okinawa is widely regarded as the ‘birthplace of karate’, one might expect that such knowledge would be readily available.

This raises a key question: if Okinawan karate is meant to be a complete system, why was this knowledge missing?

It suggests two possibilities. Either their instructor didn’t know these techniques or the full system was not passed down to them. Such stories illustrate how even on Okinawa, the teaching of karate might have started to shift, with some elements becoming de-emphasized or reserved for a select few.

If an instructor feels the need to visit another martial art to learn throws or locks, it may indicate that they’ve only been taught the surface of their karate.

Many karate practitioners have been exposed to a streamlined or sport-focused version of the art.

While effective in certain contexts, this often results in a fragmented understanding, where essential grappling techniques are overlooked.

Both judo and jujitsu are designed for controlled environments where scoring points or winning a bout is the goal. Karate’s grappling, on the other hand, is geared toward self-defense, where it’s important to prioritize staying upright - we are not looking to engage in a ground fight.

While judo and jujitsu offer distinct methods of applying locks and throws, both arts can still contribute valuable benefits to self-defense - but each in their own way.

Karate already contains the tools needed for effective self-protection. The challenge lies in delving deeper into our own traditions to rediscover and integrate these techniques into our practice.

More than just a collection of strikes, it’s a complete art, designed for practical self-defense. As karateka, we owe it to ourselves and future generations to study it in its entirety.

This means looking beyond the surface and striving to uncover the depth and richness that it offers.

If your style or method of training doesn’t include throws, locks, or grappling, it might be prudent to consider why. Could it be that your teacher doesn’t emphasize these techniques, or perhaps they were never taught them themselves? It’s also possible that some aspects of the full system were withheld, either unintentionally or out of selective teaching practices.

Whatever the case, this presents an opportunity for exploration and understanding. By asking these questions and seeking out the deeper layers of karate, you may discover a richer understanding of your art - and of yourself.


Photo Credit: With thanks to Daniel Pyatt.


ryu

We got 1 more Christmas Karma Yoga session on Saturday December 28th at Tatsu Martial Arts 10:30 am

Come on out and work off the holiday treats with gentle movement and stretching 🧘‍♀️🧘‍♂️🧘

So far this December we have collected 38 restaurant $10 gift cards (McDonalds, Pizza Pizza and Tim Hortons) for Cooked With Love For Those That Need, an incredible group of humans helping out 273 (!!!) unhoused people right here in Quinte West.

Karma Yoga sessions are free BUT if you'd like to bring a $10 McDonalds Pizza Pizza or Tim's card we'd be Incredibly Thankful 🙏❤️🙏

We are back on the 6th of January in the mean time enjoy the holidays..and thank you !