One of the most common questions I get is why the 4th, 5th and 6th Dan grading syllabuses in Jissenkō Ryū Karate look very similar on paper. Some people expect huge technical jumps or entirely different content at each level. That expectation comes from misunderstanding what Dan grades are meant to represent. From 4th Dan onwards, the syllabus is no longer about learning new techniques. It is about raising the standard of everything you already know. Small Differences on Pape

One thing people notice immediately when they look at our syllabus at Voracious Karate, and within the style of Jissenkō Ryū Karate, is that there is a lot to it. That observation is fair. The syllabus is large, detailed, and demanding. But the reason it is big is often misunderstood. The main and overriding focus of our syllabus is self-defence. Real self-defence. Not point scoring, not choreography, and not training that only works inside a dojo with rules and predictabilit

Kata plays an important role in Karate — and at Voracious Karate and within the style of Jissenkō Ryū Karate, we value it highly. Let me be clear from the start: Good kata form is encouraged. Sharp, clean, well-structured kata is a positive thing. But it is not a pass-or-fail requirement. This distinction is deliberate, principled, and rooted in our purpose: real-world self-defence. ———————— Why We Still Encourage High-Quality Kata Form When kata looks good, it usually means:

Recently, I spoke with a 12-year-old lad I know through a friend. He’s creative, patient, and incredibly skilled with his hands — building detailed models of trains, buses, ships, planes, houses, and more. He shares this work online, proudly and openly, as many young people do. Instead of encouragement, he’s been met with cyberbullying. People have left nasty comments on his videos and sent abusive private messages — swearing, mocking his work, and trying to tear him down. I

This might sound obvious — but surprisingly, it still isn’t treated as standard everywhere. Over the years, I’ve seen far too many martial arts classes run without a basic first aid kit present. Not forgotten. Not misplaced. Simply not there at all. And that is something that needs to change. Martial arts is physical. That’s the reality. Even in the safest, best-run classes, things happen: a nosebleed a split knuckle a twisted ankle a head clash a slip, fall, or accidental im

When people ask about defending against a firearm, the first thing that must be said—before techniques, before drills, before theory—is this: Luck is a huge factor. That isn’t fear-mongering. That’s reality. Someone with a gun can shoot you without warning, from distance, with a clear line of sight, and then calmly walk over and take your belongings. No words. No confrontation. No “moment” to defend yourself. There is no self-defence against that other than avoidance and awar

Within our style, Jissenkō Ryū Karate, the title Sōke is not used. In traditional Japanese martial arts, Sōke is commonly understood to refer to the head of a lineage or family system, often associated with hereditary succession or absolute lineage authority. While this structure exists in some arts, it does not align with how our style is designed to function. Avoiding lineage worship Within our style, Jissenkō Ryū Karate, we have made a deliberate decision to avoid lineage

In karate, Dan grades (black belt levels) indicate technical rank, while traditional Japanese shi titles—such as Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi—are used to denote master-level instructor titles. These titles are often referred to as Shōgō titles. There is no single universal standard governing how shi titles are applied across karate. Their use can vary depending on the style, organisation, governing body, and country. Some systems overlap titles across multiple Dan grades, while

When someone grabs you with both hands on the shirt or jacket, there are countless techniques that can be done: throws, joint locks, complex combinations, flashy counters. But my focus has never been on what looks impressive. My focus is on what works in the real world—under stress, against resistance, and in situations where the goal is to survive, escape, and avoid unnecessary damage or legal trouble. The first thing most people misunderstand is this: Once both of their han

One of the most common things I hear when I stress the importance of fitness in self-defence is this: “I’d just run.” Good. Running is often the smartest option. But here’s the part people conveniently ignore. You don’t magically become fast, explosive, coordinated, and stress-resistant just because you decide to run. And real life doesn’t pause to let you warm up. Running Only Works If You’re Fit Enough Yes — running away is a perfectly valid self-defence strategy if it work

I’m often vocal about where I believe traditional karate struggles in the modern world — particularly around realism, pressure testing, and self-defence in 2026 Britain. That criticism is intentional and, I believe, necessary. But criticism should never mean blindness. Styles such as Shotokan Karate , Wado-ryu Karate , and other traditional systems have survived for generations for a reason. They do several things exceptionally well — and it would be dishonest to pretend othe

Boxing often gets dismissed in self defence discussions because it’s a sport. I think that’s a mistake. From a purely physical standpoint, boxing is one of the most effective tools a person can have for self defence. It is simple, direct, fast, and brutally efficient. There is no unnecessary movement, no complicated sequences, and no reliance on compliance. A clean, well-timed one–two can end a confrontation instantly. That matters in real life, where speed and decisiveness c

This is a question I’ve been asked more than once — sometimes genuinely, sometimes as criticism: “Are you too brutally honest about your views on the martial arts world?” My honest answer is: yes — I probably am. And I’m aware of it. But there is a reason for that honesty, and it isn’t ego, anger, or a desire to offend people. Yes, I Can Be Brutally Honest — By Choice I don’t soften my opinions to make them easier to hear. I don’t wrap criticism in tradition, hierarchy, or po

I often hear that traditional martial arts “teach patience”. I don’t agree — and this is why. It’s my belief that patience isn’t something you can teach or learn in the way people claim. Patience is a choice. You either choose to act patiently, or you don’t. No amount of enforced waiting creates that trait for you. Traditional systems try to manufacture patience in three main ways — and all three fail, especially when tied to grading. 1. Time-based promotion (forced waiting)

One of the biggest problems in karate — and traditional martial arts as a whole — is lineage worship. Not respect. Not history. Worship. You hear it constantly: “This is how it’s always been done.” “This is how the founder intended it.” “You can’t change it — it’s traditional.” These phrases are treated like holy scripture. They are rarely questioned, rarely tested, and almost never challenged honestly. And that blind obedience is exactly why karate has largely failed to move

I developed the S.P.A.R.T.A.N Code as a modern self-defence framework inspired by Spartan realism — not mythology, not romance, and not historical reenactment. The Spartans didn’t survive because they had endless techniques. They survived because they understood preparation, structure, discipline, and mindset. That is what this code is built on — principles that hold up under pressure, not tradition for tradition’s sake. This is not about fighting like a Spartan. It’s about t

When people talk about the Spartans, they usually focus on battlefield heroics, shields locked together, and dramatic last stands. That’s not what interests me. What matters isn’t just who they were — it’s how they prepared, how they fought, and why it worked. If you strip away the mythology, the Spartans offer some brutally relevant lessons for modern self-defence. Not techniques to copy blindly — but principles grounded in reality. How the Spartans Actually Fought Spartans

Questioning Is Not Disrespect — It Is Responsibility The idea that questioning a martial art is “disrespect to the sensei, master, or founder” is one of the most dishonest beliefs in modern martial arts culture. It exists not to protect students, but to shield instructors and systems from scrutiny and exposure. Martial arts were never meant to be protected from questioning. They were meant to be tested, broken, and refined through pressure, failure, and reality. When question

This is a question people avoid asking honestly, but it’s one that matters if karate is going to have a future. Karate isn’t dead. Far from it. But traditional karate is shrinking, losing relevance, and struggling with credibility, especially among younger adults. Meanwhile, boxing, MMA, BJJ, Muay Thai, and wrestling continue to grow. That contrast alone should make people stop and think — because karate should be thriving. So why isn’t it? The uncomfortable truth is that kar

One of the most important things we teach at our club — and one of the reasons head movement is built directly into our syllabuses — is a simple truth: You cannot block everything. Blocks are valuable. They have a place. We train them properly, pressure-test them, and expect students to understand when and how to use them. But relying on blocks alone is not realistic self-defence, and it never has been. That’s why head movement is a core part of our karate. Blocks Are Tools —