The Martial Way Podcast

In this episode of The Martial Way, I sit down with Sensei Gene Burke; martial artist, author, and leadership mentor .... for a powerful conversation about discipline, resilience, and the deep connection between mind and body. With over 30 years in operations leadership and two decades in the martial arts, Gene is the author of three books exploring martial arts, leadership, and the inner journey...

Eira Culverwell – Finding Belonging Through Budo In this episode of The Martial Way , I sit down with lifelong martial artist Eira Culverwell — a 4th dan black belt in Kyokushin Karate who made the bold transition into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where she now competes as a brown belt. But Eira’s story goes far beyond style. For over 14 years, she’s traveled throughout Japan, not just to train, but to co...

Sensei Rick Hotton is a lifelong martial artist and teacher, and the founder of Sunday Morning Keiko , a movement dedicated to rediscovering the depth, simplicity, and internal intelligence of martial arts. In this episode of The Martial Way , we explore Rick’s journey from the karate scene of the 1970s to his current philosophy rooted in mindfulness, body intelligence, and humility. We dive into...

Shihan Judd Reid is a world-renowned martial artistwith a remarkable journey. As a teenager, he became an Uchi-deshi —a live-in student—under Sosai Mas Oyama , the founder of Kyokushin Karate . Judd’s extraordinary achievements include completing the legendary 100-Man Fight , winning the WKO World Championship in 2010, and earning the title of Australian Heavyweight Champion in 2002. He is also th...

Marco Lala began his martial arts journey at the age of 13 in Kenpo, moving to Kyokushin under Sensei Hioki, later with Shigeru Oyama, and going on to obtaining black belts in Judo & BJJ, becoming a full-contact champion and ultimately creating his own system TettsuBushi Jitsu, incorporating all rages of fighting. Made famous by a series of popular and dynamic instructional books and videos be...

My guest Natan Levy is signed to the UFC, fighting out of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, by way of Israel. He has a background in Uechi-ryu Karate and switched to MMA with a Pro MMA Record of 6 wins with no losses, as well as cross training in Kyokushin Karate.   Natan has a fantastic story, having traveled to Okinawa, Japan, to train in Karate as a teen, studied Kyokushin under Shihan Artur Hov...

Shihan Tom Callahan was one of my first guest on The Martial Way Podcast, and today he joins me again to talk about The Mindset of a Martial Artist. Many people don't understand the mindset of a martial artist...the internal way you think about yourself and how it influences every aspect of your daily life . Most look at it as a way to fight. However, most people will never get into a fight . So,...

Sensei Iain Abernethy, 7th Dan, is a world-renowned teacher of Kata Application (Bunkai). This was an amazing conversation! Of interest to all "styles", including Kyokushin. We talk on all aspects of Karate and Bunkai, from history, technique, philosophy, to the evolution of Karate! You won't want to miss this one! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! To find out more or contact Sensei Iain: Webs...

It's been almost one year since I spoke to these two gentlemen 1:1 and since that time they have built the largest online Kyokushin Dojo in the world! We catch up on the last year, highlights, philosophies, tips, shoutouts, Hanshi Arneil and so so much more! I hope you enjoy this amazing episode as much as I did! 🤜  Checkout KRT Tips & Tricks Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW15...

Shihan Janine Davies, 6th Dan, is the IFK Chief Referee , an international Chief Judge in Kata and also former Europe Champion in Kata. (Please note, I refer to her in the podcast as former "World" Champion in Kata. I apologize for the error.) Shihan Janine is respected worldwide for not only being a high-level Karate-ka, but as an incredible instructor at seminars. With amazing understanding and...

At the age of twenty-one, Nicholas Pettas completed the brutal 1,000-day Uchi-deshi program of Sosai Mas Oyama, which made him the second ever foreign graduate, and second non-Japanese, to ever finish the program (the first being Judd Reid, my first guest on this podcast), and he was the last uchi-deshi of Sosai Oyama, who died soon after his graduation. After graduating the programme, he competed...

Senpai Kimm Carriere started her Karate career at the age of seven and began competing when she was nine. She competed in her first international tournament in the 2014 Diamond Cup in Belgium. She has become a fixture at Canadian full-contact/knockdown competitions and went on to compete at many international tournaments, representing Shinkyokushinkai Canada. She is the Canadian lightweight champ...

Shihan Koen Spitaels is an international legend, one of the leading Kyokushin / Shinkyokushin Karateka in the World and well known tournament fighter. One of the pioneers in Europe who is striving to make different organizations work together. The founder & and chief instructor Niji Yama Dojo. It was an honour to speak to Shihan Koen, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Osu! https://youtu.be...

Sensei Kiley Baker has been training in Martial Arts since 1995 and teaching since 1998. She obtained her San Dan (Third Dan) in 2013 and also her black singlet in Titans Kickboxing. Sensei Kiley has been teaching and competing in Martial Arts, including Kyokushin for many years. She is a five-time Victorian Kyokushin Full Contact Champion and a two time World Ring Karate Australia (WRKA) Champion...

Shihan Hugo Perez is the first official member of So-Kyokushin for North America and the Director of the Perez Karate Center in Quebec, Canada Throughout his career, Shihan Perez participated in many seminars held by renowned masters and instructors and has also participated in numerous national, international tournaments and world championships, including the World Championship held in Osaka, Jap...

Sensei Emma Markwell is a British AND World Champion in Kyokushin Karate, and podium holder of many International Kyokushin Karate Tournaments. She is a member of the International Federation Karate (IFK) and British Karate Kyokushinkai (BKK). It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Sensei Emma. We covered her background in Kyokushin, training, her personal coaching and much more. I really enjoyed...

Sensei Steve Fogarasi 4th Dan is the President of IFK Canada and Country Representative. He is also the Owner and Chief Instructor of Contact Kicks Martial Arts, his full-time dojo. He is also the instructor to myself, of which I am very proud. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Osu!

Sensei Wesley of Holland has competed and placed on the podium of many many tournaments across Europe, Russia and Japan, and after years of training and fighting he opened his own school, 'Dojo Hokori Meiyo'. Most recently he began a collaboration with Sensei Darren Stringer, KRT Tips & Tricks, where they uniquely pair-up digitally, offering training tips based on the years of tournament and teach...

Kyokushin Karate Sensei Darren Stringer is known as an “all rounder”, equally as comfortable in knockdown full-contact as he is in Kata. His accolades and tournament wins are many to mention here, with world titles in Kata and Knockdown Karate. We discuss his beginnings, training, experience and philosophy on Karate. A really great conversation and it was an honour to spend time with Sensei Darren...

Shihan Cameron Quinn, author of “The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama,” Uchi Deshi under Sosai Mas Oyama, as well as translator and friend of Sosai. Shihan Quinn was an incredible guest with a wealth of history and knowledge. This was the perfect way to start the New Year. Please enjoy the video and/or audio podcast.     Audio Podcast:

Shihan Tom Callahan, is the U.S. Country Representative (Chairman) and International Secretary of Kyokushin-kan Karate. Originally based in California but relocated to Boulder, Colorado, Shihan Tom Callahan has been involved in the martial arts since 1972 starting with Uechi-ryu Karate in Boston.  After a break from training due to career focus, he returned to training in mid 90’s in Kyokushin Kar...

Karate Culture (Aaron Garcia and Michael Nguyen). Two guys on a mission to bring karate back to relevancy. They're black belts in Shorin-Ryu but like to represent Okinawan Karate as a whole, and really making a name for themselves by bringing realistic application back into karate. Kata. Throws. Submissions. Strikes. Ground Combatives. Hard Body Conditioning. No egos, no competitions, just pure ap...

Sensei Terry Birkett from the UK is the Chief Instructor at Ronin Dojo, much sought after teacher, founder of Back Street Karate, which focuses on realism in karate, and the list goes on. We discuss his roots in Kyokushin, years working as a doorman where he tested his skills, his goal to make karate "dangerous" again, and much more! *  Unfortunately there was some video freezing during the conver...

For those who are not familiar with Judd, he grew up in Australia training under Shihan Eddie Emin, is the first, and one of only two, foreigners to have completed 1000 days live-in student training (Uchi Deshi) under Kyokushin Karate founder Masutatsu ‘Mas’ Oyama in Japan, from 1990 to 1993, won the Australian heavyweight title in 2002, won the WKO World Championship in Thailand 2010, and became...