The Invisible Sensei

What do drawings of WW2 aircraft, a dinner with a Friend, and childhood rivalries have to do with Martial Arts intellectual property, and the cult mentality? Even I'm not sure, and I recorded it. Let's take the ride, and see if I can sew this stuff together and end up making some sense! At the very least you can watch my ADHD take the wheel for almost 20 minutes! All that aside please take time to...

Shihan Yoko Okamoto, was interviewed some years ago on the Aikido Brasil YouTube page the link to which is below: https://youtu.be/urt2JYHArmc?si=txjdPB0gs3Fy-a_c I have never had the honour of training with this great Sensei, and in fact we have never interacted in any way shape or form. However I find myself revisiting this particular interview on a regular basis and it forms part of a motivatio...

This episode is based 100% based on an excellent discussion on Sensei LesBubka’s “Anxious Blackbelt” podcast, the link of which is below. Their discussion asked the question “How many Kata is to many Kata?” Les Bubka & Dr John Tichens https://open.spotify.com/episode/5i5UuC1SBhpqdPug4UX23p?si=e016abe26daf4dbc In this episode our host asks, the same question with a couple of extra (and hopefully re...

Happy New Year! 2025! Silverfox remedies, a reflection on the age old flaming foot gout technique, and why its ok to start again! Thanks for checking out this new episode, we hope you will take time to checkout our almost 300 other podcast episodes, which include interviews with some amazing practitioners of the arts! Please use the link provided to check out our other content, which include onlin...

For some having a Dojo and students is the literal and most worthy goal. So in this one we will talk about why closing my Dojo was both a difficult thing, and a much needed step into the next stage of training. The value of lessons learnt on the way with all those who came through the doors can't be put into words. And how its the start of a new chapter or the resumption of an old one. Have a list...

How do we live up to long dead masters? How do we seperate Myth from reality, how accurate can we be? Is it even worth trying? Maybe not all Sensei are in the Dojo, maybe the Ghosts we know are all we will ever need. Thanks for checking out this new episode, we hope you will take time to checkout our almost 300 other podcast episodes, which include interviews with some amazing practitioners of the...

How does studying an art from another culture impact upon my ability to live my own? Why do i do it? Should I do it at all? Am i a culture vulture? Or, is there something in it for all of us? Thanks for checking out this new episode, we hope you will take time to checkout our almost 300 other podcast episodes, which include interviews with some amazing practitioners of the arts! Please use the lin...

The unicorn, the loch ness monster, a politician who cares, are all mythical creatures. Our version of this is finding the perfect student an illusive creature at best. https://linktr.ee/Invisen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Their are many special moments in Martial Arts and almost none of them have anything to do with the colour of your belt or the attainment of trophies or certificates. https://linktr.ee/Invisen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often focus on the idea that we must pass on a legacy and int that vein try to find the student/s who will receive all the teachings we may have spent a lifetime accruing. But want if our "legacy" is not even close to what we thought it was? hanks for checking out our podcast, we hope you will take time to checkout our almost 300 other podcast episodes, which include interviews with some amazin...

Angry Nuns, death touch, Karate and so much more in this episode! Listen to it and your life will be better! Thanks for checking out our podcast, we hope you will take time to checkout our almost 300 other podcast episodes, which include interviews with some amazing practitioners of the arts! Please use the link provided to check out our other content, which include online training sessions, semin...

In part 3 of 3, Hanshi McCarthy gives his toughts on the intersection of academia and research, his experiences at Shaolin, competitive & combative Karate, those who created and help shape the tradition, some of his favourite books, Olympic Taekwondo, HEMA and so much more, a deeply insightful and reflective conversation with someone who refused to drink the “coolade” and has at times kicked over...

Cover Photo of McCarthy Hanshi used by kind permission of Mr. Chris Wilson. To watch: https://youtu.be/C1Uyey_tY7U Part 2 of 3: We continue our conversation with Hashi McCarthy as he gives his thoughts on Kata and the demystification of old and very long held meme’s that seem to exist in Dojo the world over. He speaks about his formative influences and reflects on those people, places and experien...

To watch this interview: https://youtu.be/H53ex2WW7jo?si=h4OHk9xey5i6850i Hanshi Patrick McCarthy? Where to begin? This is part 1 of an incredible journey that continues to this day. I had an incredible conversation over a period of hours, he pulls no punches and he is passionately frank in his personal observations. But then, who could say he hasn't earned the right to articulate it? Pre-Internet...

People sight Bruce Lee as there introduction to martial arts, not everyone but quite a few. I would have put myself in that category as well, but then I realised there was always a foundational memory that started it all. The one Sensei I would give anything for one more conversation with. My dear old Dad. Dedicated with love to Harry James Dawson RIP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

To learn more about our podcast: https://linktr.ee/Invisen Shai Hai Sensei has had the kind of Karate journey that would make an incredible movie.  From growing up in survival mode and making life and death choices at an age when most were busy being care free children. To finding Martial Arts and following that path to a completely different country and culture to pursue his love of Karate, then...

Shai Hai Sensei has had the kind of Karate journey that would make an incredible movie.  From growing up in survival mode and making life and death choices at an age when most were busy being care free children. To finding Martial Arts and following that path to a completely different country and culture to pursue his love of Karate, then travelling to Okinawa to seek permission to train with one...

To view this interview: https://youtu.be/A2nm3KUg4WQ Shai Hai Sensei has had the kind of Karate journey that would make an incredible movie.  From growing up in survival mode and making life and death choices at an age when most were busy being care free children. To finding Martial Arts and following that path to a completely different country and culture to pursue his love of Karate, then travel...

We are joined by Andy Rodriguez Sensei for a chat that covers an incredibly broad range of experience. Which includes, American Kenpo, Jodo, Aikido and Shorinryu Karate and this barely scratches the surface. He took the bold step of creating a literal home Dojo in which he teaches selected students while embracing his own ongoing studies. He is rare in the Martial Arts world in that when asked a q...

We are joined by Andy Rodriguez Sensei for a chat that covers an incredibly broad range of experience. Which includes, American Kenpo, Jodo, Aikido and Shorinryu Karate and this barely scratches the surface. He took the bold step of creating a literal home Dojo in which he teaches selected students while embracing his own ongoing studies. He is rare in the Martial Arts world in that when asked a q...

We are joined by Andy Rodriguez Sensei for a chat that covers an incredibly broad range of experience. Which includes, American Kenpo, Jodo, Aikido and Shorinryu Karate and this barely scratches the surface. He took the bold step of creating a literal home Dojo in which he teaches selected students while embracing his own ongoing studies. He is rare in the Martial Arts world in that when asked a q...

Its not just about pushing record, doing a podcast in a landscape as political as the Martial Arts world, can be a bruising and at times difficult experience. But it has also created an incredibly supportive community of Friends and a varied garden of experience that I am more than grateful to be nourished by. For details on our up an coming New Zealand Kizuna Seminar: https://linktr.ee/Kizuna2024...

I may look at martial Arts as a lifestyle and a way of learning more about myself, and not competition orientated, which is great for me, but does that serve my students? And what does such a view do for the longevity of a Dojo? If your interested in learning more about the Invisible Sensei please click this link: https://linktr.ee/Invisen And for more details on the October Kizuna Seminar with Ja...

Why its good every now and then and look back at the road we have walked to this point (warts and all) to better walk the one in front of us. For an invitation to and more details on the October NZ Kizuna Seminar please click below. https://linktr.ee/Kizuna2024 To see what else the INVISIBLE SENSEI is up to click on: https://linktr.ee/Invisen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Cover art from an original photo by Mr. Chris Wilson I was lucky enough to meet with Yagi Isao Kancho Kancho of Motoburyu, a master of many arts and weapons techniques many that pre-date what many think of as Karate. I never trained with him, I never learnt any of his art but meeting him was an honour that I will treasure. My deepest respects to his Family and Students on his recent passing. For m...