Shuhari Martial Arts Rengokai

07/28/2025

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Begin your journey with New England Shuhari and discover the art of authentic Okinawan Shorin Ryu karate. We are committed to providing quality instruction and fostering personal growth. Join our community as we strive for excellence together. We're glad you're here to explore the path of martial ar...

03/23/2025

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03/14/2025

(Approx 1 minute 55 second read)

Some of the comments I receive on my articles are truly remarkable (I'm being polite here). They certainly inspire me to write, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain.
Recently, a few people argued that fine motor skills work under high stress - some comparing the skills of martial artists to jet fighter pilots and U.S. Marines! Their logic being that if highly trained professionals can execute precise movements under extreme pressure, so can the average martial arts practitioner.
Really?
Let’s put this into perspective. A hobbyist who trains twice a week, for maybe a couple of hours at best, is now being compared to individuals who undergo years of rigorous, specialized training - often under real-world combat conditions. That’s quite the leap.
Let me ask you a question: be honest now, how many students in your dojo could, without question, protect themselves and others in a real-world violent encounter?
Most adults in the dojo have full-time jobs and families. They can’t dedicate their lives to training. Many dojos today are filled with children - who, no matter how well-trained, do not have the experience, physicality, or decision-making ability of a fighter pilot, a Marine, or any other professional who is required to face massive amounts of pressure on a daily basis in their career. This is where common sense needs to prevail, for goodness sake.
Even professionals struggle with fine motor skills under stress. Look at law enforcement - officers are often trained in arm locks and control techniques, yet when dealing with a resisting suspect, these fine motor-dependent techniques frequently fail. Why? Because adrenaline surges, dexterity deteriorates, and an uncooperative opponent doesn’t present their arm like they would in training.
That’s why officers rely more on gross motor skills - simple, high-percentage techniques like takedowns, head control, and body weight manipulation.
How do I know this? Experience in that environment.
If trained professionals experience this, how can anyone reasonably expect a part-time martial artist to perform intricate, precise techniques in a life-or-death struggle?
The reality is that in high-stress situations, people revert to gross motor movements. It’s not a theory; it’s been observed time and time again in real-world encounters. Yet, unqualified voices online keep pushing unrealistic ideas - often without any firsthand experience. Worse, those who don’t know any better read these comments and start believing they, too, can develop superhuman skills.
Those of us who have real-world experience understand what works and what doesn’t. We aren’t just playing tag in a dojo, and we certainly aren’t living in a movie where split-second, precision-based techniques always land perfectly.
Martial arts should prepare people for reality, not fantasy. And if you think otherwise - get a grip. (See what I did there?)
Written by Adam Carter

02/14/2025

(Approx 1 minute 50 second read)

In the dojo, we all follow strict rules - often guided by a ‘creed’ or ‘Dojo Kun’ (training hall precepts). Every bow, every gesture, and every word carries meaning.
We call this ‘Reishiki’ (礼式) - the practice of manners, etiquette, and respect. It shapes how we interact with our teachers, our training partners, and even the art itself.
But Reishiki isn’t just for the dojo. It should belong everywhere - at home, at work, and even online.
In reality, Reishiki, is about how we carry ourselves and treat others. It's about consideration, humility, and simple courtesies that foster mutual respect.
And in a world where everyone is online, all the time, everyday, it has never been more relevant.
A simple “hello” before asking a question, an introduction goes a long way, or a “thank you” after receiving help - these small gestures reflect just simply good manners. They show that we value the other person’s time and presence, even through a screen.
Just as we bow before sparring, drills, or when we perform kata, acknowledging others roles in our learning, we can show the same respect online by engaging with kindness and clarity.
In my own online interactions, I try to apply the same principles I teach in the dojo. Before I post or send a message, I ask myself: Is this respectful? Is it clear? Would I say it this way face-to-face? It's a habit I diligently follow, just like bowing before stepping on the mat - for me it’s a simple act that sets the right tone.
This Page, for example, is a space where I share my passion for martial arts. I welcome thoughtful comments, different viewpoints, and the spirit of learning. Just as in the dojo, Reishiki should guide how we interact here too - with good etiquette, patience, and mutual respect. You’re here because you are interested in the martial arts right?
The truth is, the principle of Reishiki extends far beyond the dojo floor. It’s in how we listen to others, ask for help, how we disagree without hostility, and how we show gratitude for shared experiences.
Whether we are shaking hands, bowing, or simply replying to a message online, Reishiki reminds us that every interaction is an opportunity to demonstrate good character.
The spirit of the dojo should be in every part of our lives, not just when we walk through the door. Manners, humility, and respect should be practiced just like anything else. After all, it’s not just how we fight that defines us, but how we conduct ourselves every day. As the saying goes, 'Manners maketh the man (or woman)’.
Written by Adam Carter

02/07/2025

(Approx 1 minute 45 second read)

Recently, I wrote an article about how a single movement in karate can serve multiple purposes - beyond the common terminology labels we give them. I used a simple example: the movement many call ‘jodan uke’. I shared a picture of two of my students demonstrating it as a neck crank and strike, with the movement shown broken down in an adjacent image.
Simple, practical, and nothing groundbreaking - just a reminder that karate techniques are more than what we’re often told.
An Okinawan ‘master’ saw the article. He didn’t comment, didn’t reach out. Instead, he shared it on his page, and ridiculed it.
Now, this isn’t about hurt feelings, it’s not about me. I’ve been around long enough to know how this goes. But it does bring up a problem in the martial arts world - this idea that questioning or looking deeper into movements somehow disrespects tradition.
Personally, I think this is one of the things that is wrong with karate today. Many people follow, just like sheep, never question, never look beyond the surface, never look beyond what you are being told because a ‘master’ told you so.
While tradition is important, blindly following it, I’m not so sure. Which tradition is it? Whose tradition is it? Are they right about it?
Much of what is practiced today, even by the so-called ‘master', is school karate. How do we know this? History tells us - it’s written in black and white. Itosu, Funakoshi, and many others wrote about karate’s change from a pragmatic art to something more structured for education, for fitness, and for group practice.
But going back to my interpretation. Isn’t that exactly what the old founding masters did? They explored, adapted, and made their karate work.
If you only see movements as a ‘one trick pony’ - what they’re called instead of what they do - then karate stops being a functional martial art and turns into a museum exhibit.
I don’t know about you, but that’s not what I signed up for. I never expect everyone to agree with me - in fact, I welcome others' ideas because it makes us all better. But dismissing something outright without even engaging?
If you keep doing what you've been doing then you'll keep getting what you've been getting. Personally, I don’t care what you do, but don’t criticize others for daring to look beneath the surface - perhaps as a ‘master’, you should be looking too.
Karate should never be just a cage. It should come with a key.
Written by Adam Carter

01/31/2025

01/27/2025