Zen Budo Karate

Some of the key themes for a female self-defence program.

https://youtu.be/LaWJifLGA3o?si=uZkCx7M3bOFi3vWn

Train hard, train smart.

Teaching our Girls to Fight Back Self-defence begins with situational awareness. Thanks to Col Jeff Cooper (Rtd) for giving us a color code system that helps us visualize the process.White: ...

Self-defence begins with situational awareness. Thanks to Col Jeff Cooper (Rtd) for giving us a color code system that helps us visualize the process.

White: (Oblivious of your surroundings) Stop texting or browsing with your phone when in public.

Yellow; (Heightened state of awareness) This should be our default mode the minute we step outside our homes. Why is it so dark over there, how many exits are in the room, why is he covering his face with a face cap, etc

Amber: (Readiness to engage) The threat just got real. He's walking towards me aggressively with his hands concealed?

Red: (Engage) It's showtime. No time for second thoughts. All my training comes to life the minute he walks into my space. I strike decisively and run for help.

Black: (Frozen) blank mind & weak knees. Never be in this state.

Sign up for our Female Self-Defense program. Together we can put an end to gender-based violence.

We welcome new members as we resume our dojo activities this Saturday, 06 January.

Another new beginning with an opportunity to be the best versions of ourselves.

Wishing us all the best of 2024.

Ground-based self-defense techniques are an essential tool for any women's self-defense program.

It was quite befitting, concluding the 2nd edition of our women’s self-defence program on the day set aside by the international community to fight gender-based violence against women.

The program, tagged Girls Empowerment Initiative is in partnership with the Rotary Club Port-Harcourt GRA II. It’s aimed at busting myths and societal stereotypes while giving young women the chance to fight back.

A 12-hour program spread over six weeks, it’s comprised of lectures on situational awareness, breathing techniques, strength training, CPR and effective but easy-to-remember techniques targeted against different assaults aimed towards the female gender.

The program doesn’t end at the demo. Participants form the self-defence club within the school & are encouraged to practice these techniques repeatedly under the guidance of their physical education teacher who was also a part of the program.

The program was launched last year with our first self-defence club at Holy Rosary College, Port Harcourt. This year’s edition witnessed an expansion with the addition of FGGC Abuloma to the fold.

Our mission is to ensure that self-defence clubs are set up in all-female schools across the state. Wildfires usually start with a single strike of the match stick. For us, it’s one small step for us and a giant stride for the female gender.

I have received a couple of awards but this one engulfed me in a swirl of emotions.

Many thanks to the President of Rotary Club International GRA II, RTN Jane Ochien & her team for this recognition.

Congrats to the Zen Budo Team

Two attacks in under a week is a clear sign of the dark nature of our Port Harcourt streets.

Last Tuesday, one of our students used his sidekick to ward off an aggressor while on Friday, one of our Zen Budo Karate instructors was faced with a much grimmer task as he had to contend with two knife-armed attackers.

The time of the day within which these attacks occurred is also an indication that lightning can strike from a clear sky. The first attack happened by 2pm while the latter occurred at about 7pm.

This is a grim reminder that even as we apply caution in our movement, we must approach our training with utmost seriousness. We were quite fortunate that despite a few injuries, Sensei Mark considered it important to show up and share his experience at yesterday's session.

His experience helped to reinforce one of the key lessons we share repeatedly at the dojo.

YOU FIGHT AS YOU TRAIN.

Sensei Mark wasn't able to remember what techniques he employed. He remembers the first assailant grabbing his shirt, pointing a knife at him and demanding his phone while the second attacker stood at his back, also with a knife urging him to cooperate.

The only action he recalls was him knocking off the hand of the first attacker after which the rest was purely muscle memory.

The effectiveness of your muscle memory is directly connected to the intensity with which you train. You can't train half-heartedly in the dojo and expect to be battle-ready on the streets.

This is the reason we frown at students who approach training lackadaisically. Our karate training is meant primarily to protect us on the streets. For that to happen we need to deliberately push ourselves outside our comfort zone.

We round up with the following points;

1. During training, we must make it a habit to deliver each technique with full power.

2. Push-ups, stances, kata and other conditioning exercises must be performed intentionally.

3. On the streets, it's the strength of our technique and not the colour of our belt that matters. The knowledge of the art should be our primary goal and not the belt.

4. There's no Montessori method to teach karate. Like my sensei used to say "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

5. Sweat in the dojo to remain safe on the streets.

In the end, Sensei Mark escaped with a few surface wounds on his feet but misplaced his flip-flop sandals in the process.

Keep training & stay safe.

The Sad Rise of Ritual Murders

The increased rate of gender-based crimes and missing person reports coming out from Port Harcourt and other states around the country is a cause for concern, especially for me as a self-defence trainer.

These new forms of violence have crossed traditional lines where predators stalk their victims, and catch them unawares with the intent to mug, r**e or in extreme cases kidnap. With such traditional crimes, our usual self-defence classes, which teach situational awareness, and basic techniques on how to break free and flee from the danger zone proved to be quite effective. But with the demented rise of ritual killings for money-making purposes, such self-defence techniques are ineffective.

We all know that reason walks out once the heart moves in. Situational awareness can play no role when emotions come in between the victim and predator. In such situations, the victim is caught unawares, drugged and in a hapless state that self-defence techniques are of no value.

So how can self-defence trainers intervene?

While we certainly can’t stop young girls from falling in love, we can raise the bar on situational awareness with a mixed bag of common sense and morals.

1. Don’t date a guy whose source of income you can’t verify. Flagging a fellow student who lives in a 3-bedroom apartment, and driving around in flashy cars with state-of-the-art tech as a potential risk should be a no-brainer.

2. Curb your appetite. If you can’t afford it, forget it. There’ll be enough time to catch up with tech if you focus on your studies.

3. Learn to move in pairs. A few of those solo overnight visits have led to regrets in the grave.

The list is inexhaustible and I hope fellow self-defence experts throw in a few more tips.

Recently at a self-defence seminar hosted by Rotary Port Harcourt GRA II, I explained to the teenage girls present that the country is becoming increasingly violent for them. The tide isn’t in their favour hence the need to take self-defence lessons seriously. A young life, cut short so callously, and parents left to live with such unimaginable pain shouldn't be considered normal.

We are our first level of self-protection. It is our responsibility, a right and not a privilege. A responsibility that we must take seriously or face the grave consequences of regret.

Kick-off of the 2023 Edition of the Girl Child Empowerment Initiative.

A 6-day self-defence program powered by the Rotary International, GRA PH II in partnership with Zen Budo Karate Ventures Limited.

Students are selected from different schools, trained on situational awareness and given basic self-defence skills against molestation, r**e and possible strangulation.

The program is aimed at establishing self-defence clubs across female secondary schools within PH Metropolis.

No one deserves to be a victim, no one deserves to move around with low self-esteem.

Guess who dropped by at the Zen Budo Dojo?

It was nice to have my budo brother Sensei Bobby Rak join us for our Tuesday evening training session.

Exposing students to the different karate perspectives of different instructors enriches their learning experience.

It brought back fond memories of the good old ASKA training days.

About last weekend at the Zen Budo Dojo.

It was our second grading test for the year & Dan certificate presentation by Shihan Charles Mezie-Okoye, Chief Instructor, Allstars Shotokan Karate Association.

Congratulations to all participants & awardees as we continue along our journey of self-discovery.

At Zen Budo Karate, we use karate and meditation techniques to get our students to understand their true potential.

https://youtu.be/WPALuHAjZH0

We consider this essential, particularly in today's world where self-confidence can quickly be eroded by social media comparisons.

We build self-confidence by overcoming perceived physical limits while proper meditation practice develops mental clarity and purpose.

When equipped with these tools, we begin to understand the joy of walking the lonely path.

https://youtu.be/WPALuHAjZH0

The Zen Budo Karate Way At Zen Budo Karate, we use karate and meditation techniques to get our students to understand their true potential. We consider these essential tools for any...

As karate instructors, we welcome any opportunity to share our point of view with parents.

Karate training is unique and what might seem like progress to the instructor, might appear insignificant to a parent.

In this week's blog post :- https://www.zenbudokarateng.com/blogs/blog-posts/the-karate-journey-and-the-demon-of-comparison, we try to share with you the instructors point of view and why our individual qualities matter.

As always, we look forward to your feedback in the comment section.

Zen Budo Karate On a mission to Promote Peace and Character Building through the teaching of Traditional Karate and M

Post grading shot with Grading Panel Chairman & Chief Instructor, All Stars Shotokan Karate Association (ASKA), Shihan Charles Mezie-Okoye.

Beaten & stretched but grateful for a successful yondan grading.

Zen Meditation and Tranquillity

A recent experience I had reminded me of how easily we surrender control over our emotional state to others.

In this week's blog post:- https://www.zenbudokarateng.com/blogs/blog-posts/zen-meditiation-and-tranquillity, we examine how we can have complete control over our emotional state through the practice of Zen Meditation and Mindfulness.


As always, we look forward to your feedback in the comment section below.

Zen Budo Karate On a mission to Promote Peace and Character Building through the teaching of Traditional Karate and M

Karate Training & Mental Tenacity

If we have anything to go by, then the early pronouncements made by the President Tinubu-Led administration are an indication of the rocky times Nigerians are to expect in the next few months.

In this week's blog post :- https://www.zenbudokarateng.com/blogs/blog-posts/karate-training-and-mental-tenacity, we explore how our karate training provides us with the mental tenacity to endure the challenges that lie ahead.

As always, we look forward to your feedback in the comment section below.

Zen Budo Karate On a mission to Promote Peace and Character Building through the teaching of Traditional Karate and M

Highlights from the 2nd Strata Base National Open Senior Karate Championship.