For most of my years studying and researching martial arts, I’ve kept detailed notes. Sometimes I took notes during training. Most often, I reflected quietly afterwards. Writing by hand helps me learn and remember. For the past four decades, I’ve kept a handwritten journal. Later, I typed everything up to store digitally. The video belowContinue reading “Martial Arts Journaling: Enhancing Learning Through Reflection”
Category Archives: Class Reflections
The Importance of Intent in Self-Defense Training
The intent behind my KORA classes—and, in truth, all my teaching—is simple and direct:to enable my students to disable their attackers as quickly as possible, ideally within two seconds. That might sound like a bold mission statement, especially when my students only train with me once a week. And yes, it is ambitious. But clarityContinue reading “The Importance of Intent in Self-Defense Training”
Continuous Improvement in Martial Arts Education: A Proven Method
In our school year, every class must give 100% to achieve genuine growth. There’s still time to move ahead and make progress. I divide the year into two terms: January to August, and September to December. After forty years of experimentation, I’ve found this structure to be the most effective. It allows my students toContinue reading “Continuous Improvement in Martial Arts Education: A Proven Method”
Mastering Doble Carrera: Enhancing Sword Movement
I taught something important in the sword class yesterday. It was a drill and a must-have movement. I initially dismissed this until looking at some of my 2005 Spanish short sword notes. Doble Carrera, or what we call Flamenco footwork, in our system. The ability to move is enhanced if you are already moving, evenContinue reading “Mastering Doble Carrera: Enhancing Sword Movement”
Transforming Martial Arts Teaching: My Mid-Year Journey
We are halfway through the coaching year, and things are going well. Firstly, in January, I changed the way I teach to give my students the intention training I have been working on for the last few years, plus, after reading The Art of Practice by Laido Dittmar, I changed the format and running orderContinue reading “Transforming Martial Arts Teaching: My Mid-Year Journey”
KORA Training 2025
Here is an update on classes at my place in 2025, with some changes. Training We have an exciting year ahead, I am changing the way I teach, after doing some research and we will be going back to how I taught previously, with a lot more emphasis on skill development. The class format willContinue reading “KORA Training 2025”
Why Start Training with Sword Before Stick?
Stick or sword training first? When I began my journey, I first studied Olympic fencing, and then focused mainly on the sabre, while also cross-training in boxing and some combatives. I had some basic instruction in what we would now call Irish stick and some English cane techniques. Neither was a complete system; in fact,Continue reading “Why Start Training with Sword Before Stick?”
Why Offensive Knife Techniques Are Not Demonstrated
Someone recently asked a good question about our YouTube videos concerning knife defence. In the videos, I demonstrate responses to common, untrained attacks. We have a highly effective martial art, but I have chosen not to showcase our offensive knife techniques as taught in our classes. In simple terms, our techniques are more effective thanContinue reading “Why Offensive Knife Techniques Are Not Demonstrated”
Become a KORA Teacher: Training & Opportunities
I have had some enquiries about becoming a teacher in KORA, so I thought I would update you here. Within KORA, we have three basic ranks: Beginner Students Depending on previous experience and skill set, moving to the next level typically takes about six months to two years. Technician This person is competent inContinue reading “Become a KORA Teacher: Training & Opportunities”
Unique MMA Training Methods at KORA
At KORA, we have a highly effective toolkit that can be applied to other MMA schools, however, we use it in a unique and specialized way that sets us apart from the rest. Today, I have been primarily focused on teaching this approach to our students.
Killick Off Road Arts 