I’ve spoken about this subject many times, and I’ll keep speaking about it, because it remains one of the most serious issues in martial arts today — easily one of the top three challenges facing Karate in the modern world. It’s the issue of how our ranking system treats outliers. Before anything else, I want to be fair. The ranking rules themselves are not “bad.” In fact, the majority of the time — genuinely around 99% — they work exactly as intended. They help prevent belt

The boxing world recently gave us one of the clearest, cleanest examples of why the traditional karate ranking system — based on age, years trained, and waiting periods — is fundamentally flawed. That example is simple: Moses Itauma (20) vs Dillian Whyte (37). Before the fight, traditionalists would have made every excuse imaginable: “Whyte has trained longer.” “He’s more experienced.” “He’s older, so he must be higher ranked.” “He deserves seniority because of his years in t

Founder of Voracious Karate • Founder of Jissenkō Ryū Karate One of the biggest problems in traditional martial arts is the idea that rank must be earned by time instead of ability. At Voracious Karate, we do things differently — not out of rebellion, but out of realism, fairness, and respect for the student’s actual skill. Here is why. ———————— 🟪 1. Time Served Does NOT Equal Skill or Growth In many systems, a student cannot grade simply because: “You haven’t been a yellow

Before I begin, let me make something absolutely clear: I am NOT  saying I am as good as Bruce Lee. I am NOT  comparing skill levels. I am comparing the path  — the timing, the mindset, the philosophy, and the decisions that shape a martial artist. With that out of the way, here’s something I’ve realised over the past year: In many ways, my early journey mirrors Bruce Lee’s more than anyone else in martial arts today. And here’s why. ⸻ 🔥 1. We both started young — and didn’t

Every time I talk about merit-based progression, outliers, realistic training and leaving outdated systems behind… some people say: “But that’s not how traditional Karate does it.” Exactly. That’s the problem. And Bruce Lee said it decades before I was even born . Recently I came across a summary of Bruce Lee’s views on the Dan ranking system. It confirmed everything I’ve been saying for years — and everything Jissenkō Ryū is built on. Here are the key points Bruce believed:

People often ask me who inspires my martial arts philosophy. Who pushed me to think differently. Who gave me the courage to build my own system instead of staying trapped in tradition. The answer is simple: Bruce Lee. Not because he was perfect. Not because he was unbeatable. But because, in so many ways, I see myself in him. The way he thought. The way he questioned tradition. The way he refused to accept “because that’s how it’s always been done.” The way he innovated at an

(And no — before anyone twists it, I’m not saying I’m Bruce Lee. Maybe one day, who knows. But the mindset? The principles? The fight against outdated thinking? That part, I understand.) People worship Bruce Lee today… …but they forget how absolutely ripped apart  he was by traditionalists when he was alive. And what’s crazy is this: The same arguments thrown at him are the same arguments thrown at anyone  who tries to evolve martial arts today — including me with Jissenkō Ry

By Sensei Liam Musiak Founder of Voracious Karate & Jissenkō Ryū Karate Traditional dan systems have one major flaw that everyone quietly accepts: They reward time served, not real improvement. That creates bottlenecks, politics, and artificial waiting lines that have nothing to do with skill, maturity, ability, or effort. And honestly? That system is one of the main reasons talented people leave traditional martial arts altogether. In Jissenkō Ryū Karate, that does not happe

Karate is at a crossroads. Not because the art is weak — but because the systems around it have failed to evolve. Rank structures stuck in the 1950s, politics prioritised over progress, and outdated training methods built for demonstrations instead of survival. And this is exactly why I founded Jissenkō Ryū Karate — not to disrespect tradition, but to save the art from becoming irrelevant in the modern self-defence world. To understand it clearly, here’s the analogy I always

Traditionalists often say: “We must preserve the art exactly as the founder intended.” But here is the truth nobody wants to admit: If the founders of Karate were born today — in our modern world — they would NOT create the same system they created 80–120 years ago. And that fact alone tells us something important: ❗ The old system is outdated. Not in spirit — but in method. ⸻ 🔥 Why the founders would evolve their systems today The karate pioneers worked with the tools and k

Why I Choose Neutral or Branded Uniforms Depending on the Event By Sensei Liam Musiak In martial arts, uniforms are not just clothing. They communicate intent, respect, and awareness of context. Because of that, I believe what you wear at seminars matters, especially when teaching outside your own dojo. Over time, I’ve developed a simple, consistent approach to seminar uniform etiquette. It isn’t about ego, branding, or hiding who you are — it’s about understanding the enviro

Why I Separate My Club Brand From My Guest Teaching When I teach seminars outside my own dojo, I follow a respectful and professional uniform policy. It’s based on the idea that a martial artist should honour the environment they are entering while still representing their system with integrity. To make this clear, I separate: Jissenkō Ryū Karate — the system and style I teach Voracious Karate — the brand and identity of my own organisation Because these are not the same thin

Voracious Karate isn’t just a martial arts club. It is an international award-winning, innovation-driven, reality-based self-defence system created for the modern world — not for tradition, tournaments, or outdated methods. Every class, every drill, every syllabus, every code… was designed to solve real-world problems, not to impress judges. ———————— 1️⃣ Led by a Sensei With Real Experience and Real Innovation Voracious Karate is founded and led by Sensei Liam Musiak, who bri

Contradiction, Gatekeeping, and the Fear of Innovation** For decades, traditional martial arts have been built on ideas of discipline, humility, respect, and constant self-improvement. These values are meaningful. They are part of the beauty of the arts. But within some traditional circles, there is another side — one that few talk about openly. A side where contradiction, ego, and gatekeeping overshadow the very values the arts claim to represent. This article is not an atta

One thing I will always stand by is this: Self-defence demands a body that can move. Not a perfect body. Not a fast body. Not a “fighter’s” body. But a body that is as capable as it personally can be. This has nothing to do with vanity, gym culture, or looking a certain way. It is about survival. 🥋 Yes — some people have medical conditions or limitations And that is absolutely fine. Not everyone has the same starting point, ability level, or physical capability. But here is

One of the newest and most important additions to all Dan grading syllabuses is the Public Transport Combat Scenario Drill — a full-contact, full-pressure assessment that takes place inside a hired bus. I want to explain clearly why this module exists, what it represents, and why it is now a mandatory part of becoming a Dan grade under me. This isn’t added for drama. This isn’t added for difficulty. And it certainly isn’t added for show. It has been added for one reason: Beca

In many karate systems, students are taught to “look in the direction you’re about to move” before turning or stepping in kata. The idea is simple: turn your head first, then let the body follow. It looks sharp, disciplined, and consistent—great for grading and performance. But in my interpretation of kata, I take a different approach. I don’t “look first.” I teach continuous awareness , where focus never breaks and every movement remains grounded in realism rather than chore

(What separates a genuine martial arts school from a commercial club) ⸻ 1️⃣ Gradings are earned — never bought or scheduled Students don’t grade just because they’ve attended or paid. They’re invited to test only when their sensei knows they’re ready in skill, understanding, and character. There’s no calendar — only readiness. ⸻ 2️⃣ Every belt means something Each promotion represents real knowledge, control, fitness, and growth. The instructor protects the integrity of the b

(How to recognise when a martial arts school has lost its standards, honesty, and purpose) ⸻ 1️⃣ Belt promotions based on payments or attendance — not knowledge or contribution If students automatically grade every few months just because they’ve paid fees or attended enough classes, standards have collapsed. Real progression should be based on understanding, technical skill, and effort — not on calendars or direct debits. ⸻ 2️⃣ Scheduled gradings to keep people happy instead

At Voracious Karate, no student has ever failed a grading — and none ever will. That isn’t about ego or leniency. It’s about...