Due to a lack of activity within the group and because I have the chance to have many other great projects to manage, I've decided to very soon put the group on pause for an indefinite period. I hope to be able to reactivate it in the near future and give it the time it deserves! If, however, you wish to continue to follow my personal activities around Karate and personal development, do not hesitate to consult my website! 👉 https://yushingeiko.com There you will find regular articles about Karate and a monthly live online Karate class in english. Thank you all for being there during these few months. Wish you the best, Cheers! OSS. Nicolas

This is the Trailer of an absolutely must see video by Empty Mind Films. It is called Warriors of Budo and in this episode they feature among others two of the greatest Shotokan organizations, the well-known JKA and the KWF of the famous Yahara Shihan. They also present Kyokushinkai Karate and the Wado Ryu with Ohtsuka Shihan. If you really like Shotokan and Budō, you should definitely consider buying this video! (I of course did!!!) OSS Nicolas

Oi Zuki is a great and beautiful technique. And it’s also one of the most misunderstood one, and even by Karate-ka themselves! “Karate is not effective, you cannot use Oi Zuki or such low stances in real fight!” Such statements can only be made by someone who has never truly practiced or even understood what traditional martial arts are and the beauty behind their legacy. Of course Oi Zuki is not intended to be used as is in a fight or self-defense situation. But Oi Zuki contains all the keys and principles that can make you master more advanced techniques and strategies designed for that. This is the beauty of the traditional Japanese spirit: taking something, studying it, practicing it, mastering it, refining it and transforming it into an art, a way of being. And Karate is no exception to the rule. In order to be able to master something, Japanese culture tends to simplify it as much as possible, to remove all uncertainty, everything that is unnecessary to understand its heart, its principles and its intrinsic beauty. So that you can practice it more easily, more freely, and touch, then master its fundamental principles. That’s why Karate may seem very academic to many, because for learning purposes it has been broken down, structured and ordered with the ultimate purpose of improving its teaching and understanding. You may not agree with this way of doing things, but if you look at the Japanese objectively, they are always able to achieve a world-class level in all areas, by observing, learning, rehearsing and polishing whatever they appropriate. When I was in Japan for my first trip, during the first three months, the Sensei basically only taught me Oi Zuki. Of course I was practicing other techniques, but they only cared about the way I was moving forward to punch. And during and after class, they only corrected me on this technique! At that time I didn’t fully understand this, but I was trusting them, so I was relentlessly repeating my Oi Zuki in front of the mirror every day after class.

Karate is not about the technique. Karate is more than building a sharp spirit and a strong body. Karate is a way to yourself, a way towards your true nature. It's a way to discover the mysteries of life, to build deeper connections with the nature and finally to return to the essence of being. In this often chaotic world, Karate is one of the most beautiful and powerful paths that leads to peace and harmony. Breathe, Dedicate yourself, Enjoy the moment, Let the journey unfold without resistance And build your own and unique version of a happy and fulfilled life. ✨🚀 OSS ! 🙏 Nicolas ❤️👊

A beautiful introductory video to traditional Shotokan Karate-do which begins by showing a calligraphy "Heaven - Earth - Humanity" created by the very famous JKA instructor Tanaka Masahiko Shihan. This reminds us that for all high-level Japanese instructors, even if they practiced tournaments when they were young, Karate is not and never will be a sport. In fact it's much more than that. For them, Karate is about growing, being a better human being who is able to live in peace and harmony with others and with the universe. This is why all the young JKA instructors still involved in competitions always show a kind and humble heart. Because for them Karate is not a game about winning and losing points in tournaments, and even though they train very hard for that and they try to do their very best, they don't care much about competitions results. And this is a reason why, even if a Karate-ka wins the JKA All Japan Tournament, it does not affect in any way his place in the Dojo and how he behaves towards his Sempai (Seniors) and how they behave towards him. Because true Karate is something else. So that's why I really love the spirit and the atmosphere that emerge from this video. I find it very motivating and inspiring for our own training and lifestyle. And on top of that, it shows rare images recorded during the instructors' usually closed-to-the-public daily training, and we can have a short glimpse of the kind of techniques they work on during those sessions. Nicolas