20/06/2025
QOW288 - “Nowadays, with sports karate, the emphasis is on strength and speed. The young can utilize those aspects, they can build their muscles and strength. However, as one gets older, the art gets deeper and one needs to start studying techniques." - Zenshu Toyama, sensei
Toyama sensei is pointing out something every long-term martial artist eventually learns—your training shifts as you age. When you’re young, it’s natural to rely on physical power, speed, and reflexes. These can carry you through sparring and tournaments. But over time, that advantage changes. What remains—and what becomes more important—is technical understanding.
So ask yourself: are you just training to hit faster and harder, or are you also studying why a technique works? Are you paying attention to balance, timing, angle, and energy? Those deeper layers are what allow martial artists to remain effective long after their peak physical years.
Take the example of a simple wrist lock. When you’re younger, you might force it with strength. But as your training matures, you realize that applying it with precise angles and timing—using your whole body efficiently—achieves better results with less effort.
Have you started to notice moments in training where you can use subtle technique instead of muscle? What would happen if you focused more on refining your movement and less on powering through?
The longer you train, the more you’ll see that Karate is not just a physical activity—it’s a lifelong study. Physical ability may start the journey, but technical insight is what sustains it. Your goal shouldn’t just be to get faster or stronger—it should be to get smarter on the mat.
#空手道 #剛柔会
