(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 The fight against outdated thinking?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 Rank structures stuck in the 1950s, politics prioritised over progress, and outdated training methods built for demonstrations instead of survival.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 And that fact alone tells us something important: ❗ The old system is outdated.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

Before anything else, I need to be transparent: For three years, I used the term “Evolved Wado-Ryū” to describe what I taught. At the time, I genuinely believed I was still inside the Wado structure — just modernising it, adapting it, and making it more realistic for today’s world. But as time went on, something became undeniable: I wasn’t teaching Wado-Ryū anymore. Not even close. And after extensive conversations with Wado karateka all over the world, from long-established

🥋🔥 Why I Created Jissenko Ryū Karate — And Why It Was the Right Decision By Sensei Liam Musiak, Founder of Voracious Karate December 2025 I have been asked the same question over and over: “Why create your own style? Why not stay Wado Ryu?” Today I’m answering that properly — honestly — and fully. After deep reflection, hundreds of hours of teaching, pressure-testing, criminology study, and reviewing everything I built since founding Voracious Karate in October 2022… The tr

One of the biggest and best days of my life. Today we signed the official founding document for Jissenkō Ryū Karate (実戦幸流空手) — The Real Combat School of Karate. Voracious Karate is our club and brand — and Jissenkō Ryū Karate is the style we practice and train within it. This style grew naturally from years of training, teaching, criminology study, real-world self-defence, kata creation, pressure testing, psychological conditioning, and legal understanding. The truth is simpl

Today marks one of the greatest milestones of my life — the official founding of Jissenkō Ryū Karate and the formal recognition of my rank within the style I built. Before today’s ceremony, my most senior students, the co-founder of Voracious Karate, and I had long, honest discussions about what rank truly reflects the skill, knowledge, responsibility, and thousands of hours of work that went into creating this martial art. And together — openly, transparently, and with compl

I write about real cases of violence for one reason only: to reduce the chance of them happening again. This article examines David Copeland, a British domestic terrorist responsible for a series of ideologically motivated attacks in London in 1999. The aim is not shock, notoriety, or fear — it is awareness, prevention, and responsibility. Understanding how these attacks unfolded, and the mindset behind them, is essential for public safety and real-world self-defence. Who Dav

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

In martial arts, the word Master carries weight. Because of that, it must be used carefully, honestly, and without ego. In our dojo and within our style, anyone who holds 5th Dan or above is officially recognised as a Karate Master. From that point onward, the individual operates at Master rank level, with increased responsibility, trust, and expectation placed upon their conduct and judgement. These ranks reflect responsibility and accountability, not superiority over others

Criteria for Achievement of 7th–10th Dan There is no physical grading or technical syllabus for 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th Dan. The 6th Dan syllabus already represents the maximum realistic demonstration of physical and mental mastery that can be formally examined. Beyond this point, further technical testing adds volume rather than meaning. For this reason, senior Dan ranks above 6th Dan are not tests of performance. They are ranks of recognition, responsibility, and trust. Prom

When people see gold used at senior levels in Jissenkō Ryū Karate, a common question follows: “Why gold?” “Why not another colour?” “Why not something completely different?” That is a fair question — and it deserves a clear answer. The purpose of colour in a belt system In any martial art, belt colour is not decoration. It exists to communicate information quickly and clearly. A good belt colour should: Be immediately recognisable Carry meaning without explanation Fit natural

In most traditional karate systems, 9th and 10th Dan are commonly associated with the master red belt. This has long been a recognised symbol for the highest ranks, and I fully respect the tradition behind it. However, when designing Jissenkō Ryū Karate, the primary reason for moving away from a full red belt at senior Dan level was a practical one: clarity within the system. The issue with red in our structure In Jissenkō Ryū Karate, red is already used early in the kyu grad

In most karate systems, there is a fairly common and widely recognised structure for senior Dan belts. Traditionally, the format usually looks like this: At 5th and 6th Dan, practitioners may wear either a standard black belt or a red–white panel belt. At 7th and 8th Dan, the option is usually a black belt or a red–black panel belt. At 9th and 10th Dan, practitioners either continue to wear a black belt or, more rarely, a full master red belt. This structure is well establish

Kyu Grades (Beginner to Advanced) White Belt White Belt (yellow stripe – ages 15 and under) White Belt (red stripe – ages 15 and under) Red Belt Red Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Yellow Belt Yellow Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Orange Belt Orange Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Green Belt Green Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Blue Belt Blue Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Purple Belt Purple Belt (white stripe – ages 15 and under) Br

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