Headingley Karate

Demonstrating Zanshin

In a recent post I advocated the value of demonstrating zanshin. Its something I stress to students frequently. That may seem odd, because our style of karate is not inherently demonstrative. Our stances aren’t demonstratively large. Our kicks are not demonstratively high. Nothing we do is intended to be demonstrative Everything we do is for its effect, not because it looks good or looks powerful. And yet, I stress the importance of demonstrating zanshin.

I learnt about zanshin in my first dojo. We were taught to maintain focus after the end of any partner technique. To focus attention on the vanquished assailant, but at the same time to use hearing and peripheral vision to monitor the rest of the environment. Doing so makes it much harder for you to be caught off guard. This is zanshin.

But of course, for self-defence we don’t just want to embody zanshin after we’ve been attacked. We should embody it in our daily life so that, as much as possible, we are always prepared. Having that innate awareness is great. That others can see it in you is an extra benefit. Potential assailants will see that you are switched on and will most likely pass you over for easier prey. Its entirely possible they won’t even be consciously aware that they’re doing that, but that doesn’t mean they’re not doing it. It even works if they’re quite drunk, I can attest to this (from personal experience) with certainty.

And this is why I talk about demonstrating zanshin. Not so that you exaggerate it, but just so that you do it so well that it cannot help but be noticed by others. If you can do this, just as a matter of course, then your zanshin will ensure you are ready for action. Crucially, it will also act as a deterrent in and of itself.

Karate isn’t just for Christmas. Its not even just for New Year’s resolutions. You can pop down to Headingley Karate for a free trial lesson at any time of year.

25 Years of Headingley Karate

This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Headingley Karate. It was in January 2001 that I taught my first class here in Headingley.

Some things have changed since then. We have a range of students with different levels of experience. I’m ably assisted in teaching by my long term students and colleagues, Carl and Martin. I’d like to think my knowledge and skill as a teacher has grown – best let others judge that. The best indicator though I think - a number of students have fed back over the years that the lessons they learned here have helped them successfully avoid or resolve violent situations.

Some things haven’t changed. Our emphasis now is the same as it was then – teaching practical self-defence based on the principles of classical Okinawan Shorin Ryu. We’ve been based at the same venue all that time, Headingley Parish Hall on St. Michael’s Road. The price has changed, but not by much, going from £4 (if I remember rightly) to £6 per 2 hour session. I think you’ll struggle to find a more affordable adult class. And speaking of adult classes, that is all we do. Not masses of kids lined up learning karate-do, just small groups of adults learning a useful life skill.

Here's looking forwards to the next 25 years!

25 Years of Headingley Karate For 25 years we have been teaching Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate in Headingley, Leeds. That's 25 years of taking the ritual out of Karate and putting the reali...

Working on bunkai this week. Can you see the technique?

This week at Headingley Karate we worked on tegumi and on kihon. And on bringing the two together to produce conditioned responses that can be spontaneously drawn upon, as dictated by circumstances.

And that, once again, is Jenga!

That stance is coming along...

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Are you ready? This is going to blow you away…

Don’t be the one wearing headphones!

OK, now we’re past the clickbait, let’s dig in. I’ve written before about the importance of zanshin – awareness. About the need to use all of your available senses. And certainly not to deprive yourself of any of them. But everywhere I go at the moment so many people are wearing headphones, whether it be relatively subtle airpods or great big over-ear affairs. I’ve been in situations where I’m the only person present NOT wearing them. I find that particularly poignant given that I’ve been doing some dogsitting recently. I’ve been walking the dog in the park, or in the woods, or down by the canal. I’ll pass people on their own in secluded places, engrossed in their own world, unable to hear what’s going on around them.

Obviously you’re at greater risk of assault if you can’t hear a potential assailant approach, but it goes beyond that. The headphones are like a flashing advert on top of your head, alerting anyone interested to the fact that you’re not paying attention.

You’ve heard the saying that you don’t need to be able to outrun a lion, just the person standing next to you. The lion will go for the easier prey. In the same way, the scum that are looking for a victim will likely target the easiest prey. If you’ve deprived yourself of your ability to hear, but I haven’t, which of us do you think that will be?

Why the clickbait? Well probably the easiest thing you can do to improve your chances in self-defence it is to demonstrate zanshin. Not depriving yourself of one of your senses will immediately and dramatically improve your zanshin. Being switched on to what’s going on around you will a) reduce your risk of assault and b) improve your chance of successfully dealing with it if it does happen. Its that simple, that straightforward. So really, why wouldn’t you make that simple change?

The 'scissors' about to close.