As I reflect on zanshin and mushin—our central training focus for 2026—an interesting question keeps returning to me: Why do we infuse Japanese philosophies into our martial arts practice? Throughout history, humanity has produced powerful empires and formidable warriors. Africa has known great kingdoms and battle-hardened traditions. Europe has produced legendary fighters and disciplined armies….
A Year of Quiet Progress: Reflections on 2025 at Zen Budo
As the year draws to a close, I find myself less interested in listing milestones and more drawn to acknowledging people, moments, and lessons. 2025 was not a loud year. It was not perfect either. But it was deeply formative. We trained through tired days, busy schedules, personal struggles, injuries, doubts, and moments when motivation…
Why 30 Minutes of Kobudo Can Feel Harder Than 30 Minutes of Karate
As I use the yuletide break to deepen my understanding of the bo, I’ve come to a quiet but striking discovery: a 30-minute kobudo session can drain the body more thoroughly than a 30-minute karate session. It doesn’t leave you gasping for breath or visibly exhausted. Instead, it leaves you strangely emptied — with muscular…
Zen & Karate: Returning to the Heart of the Martial Way
In last week’s blog post, we reflected on the influence of sport on modern karate and how, in some cases, it has shifted focus away from the deeper purpose of training. Today, we go further — into a subject that sits at the very core of my practice, teaching, and philosophy: the relationship between Zen…
What We Lose When We Train Only for Competition
While observing a new student who recently joined our dojo from another school during a kihon session, I noticed one of the subtle markers that reveal a student’s orientation: deep stances belong to kihon and kata, while shorter stances belong to kumite. This student consistently used shorter stances, a clear sign of a strong kumite…
Kobudo Takes Root: A Transformational Weekend with Bamgboye Sensei
It’s official — with our first Port Harcourt Kobudo Class successfully concluded, Kobudo is here to stay. Delivered in true mastery, Bamgboye Sensei brought depth, precision, and an unmatched ability to impart knowledge. He is a true repository of martial wisdom; every interaction with him leaves you wanting more. Day one of his visit was…
2nd Candix Inter-Secondary School Karate Competition (Rivers State)
32 students from 13 secondary schools stormed the tatami last weekend for a thrilling showdown at the 2nd Edition of the Candix Inter-Secondary School Karate Championship. They battled not just for individual glory, but for the coveted crown of Best Karate Secondary School in Rivers State. Cash prizes and trophies were up for grabs for…
The Subtle Divide: Yoko Geri Keage, Yoko Geri Kekomi, and the Impact of Sports Karate on Traditional Technique
Karate is a living art—rooted in centuries of practice yet constantly evolving through the demands of modern training. Today, I want to explore an often-overlooked topic that lies at the heart of Shotokan technique: the difference between Yoko Geri Keage and Yoko Geri Kekomi, and how sports karate has quietly altered the way many karatekas…
Port Harcourt Welcomes Its First Okinawan Kobudo Course
It’s been a long time coming—but it’s finally here. Port Harcourt is set to host its first-ever Okinawan Kobudo Course, an exciting milestone for the martial arts community in the Garden City. For practitioners and lovers of karate, this course presents a rare opportunity to deepen their understanding of traditional Okinawan weapon arts and enrich…
We’re an Entertainment-Loving Nation, Not a Sports-Loving One
A few weekends ago, Port Harcourt stood still — not for a football match, not for a marathon, but for the Bole Festival. Traffic stretched for nearly seven kilometers. Cars honked, crowds laughed, street vendors thrived. It was chaos and celebration rolled into one. Thousands gathered to celebrate a PH Special – roasted plantain and…