Classical Mess Master or Fist Fighting Freestyler?

Bruce Lee was a pioneer of his time, but not the first to realise that there is more to learning martial arts than the system that teaches you.

In the latest Biography Bruce Lee: A Life Matthew Polly writes that Bruce was capable of learning and executing a form in mere minutes, and to do so with a very high standard.

He is famous for having practiced Wing Chun, showing himself to be diligent in practicing movements over and over again, and was a stickler for perfection during movie shoots.

HistoryBenjamin Eayrs10 September 2019Freestyler, Fighting, Bruce Lee, Classical Mess, Jeet Kun Do Comment

War on Okinawa

On a not to unusual windy and cloudy day in Okinawa I was ready to get picked up, I had my Gimbal, my pen and notepad and my Drone.

Just after 11 am Evan Muxen and his new boss William McEvoy were at the door and soon we were heading off.

Boy was I excited.

Evan had been in touch with me before I arrived in Okinawa with an offer I wouldn't ever refuse - a tour of some of the most famous military history sites in Okinawa.

HistoryBenjamin Eayrs22 January 2019Karate, Urasoe, Gusuku, War, Battle of Okinawa, Hacksaw Ridge, Kakazu Ridge, Chuzan Comments

It's All In The Mix

Ask a number of Okinawan Sensei what defines their art and you might hear the phrase Chanpuru, followed by a glint in their eye and a smile.

Anyone who has travelled to Okinawa will have at some point tasted the local delights, Goya, Taco Rice, Awamori, various raw meats, Goat soup and the all time favourite, Chanpuru.

Chanpuru is a rice dish with various elements including Spam, Tofu, Goya, fried meat or just vegetables.

It's just a mix, which is what the word means.

HistoryBenjamin Eayrs31 July 2018Karate, Chanpuru, Bali, Indonesia, MixComment

Who put the 'Bu' in Karate-Dō? Part 2 of 2

In last week’s article I explored some of the history of the development of Karate and of Budo culture in Japan.

In part 2 I hope to get to the point in why I began writing such a body of text by exploring the matter of what we understand as "traditional" karate practice, where it fits into the changes made in Okinawa, and what we perceive as being Japanese.

But firstly, a little clearing up to do.

Karate, HistoryBenjamin Eayrs6 February 2018Budo, Karate, Karatedo, Okinawa, history, traditional, japan, japanese Comment

Who put the 'Bu' in Karate-Dō? Part 1 of 2

The Bu in question is the term for Warrior, as in Budō - Way of the Warrior. If you have trained in a Japanese style of Karate, even some Okinawan styles you will have heard this term at some point.

It is often associated with a sense of learning “traditional” Karate. I use these quotation marks for reasons that I will go into.

But first, let us take a step back in time….

Karate, HistoryBenjamin Eayrs30 January 2018Budo, Karate, Karatedo, Okinawa, history, traditional, japan, japaneseComment