Thoughts by Sensei Sandro Sandten Does martial arts train character? Many of us started martial arts because we were looking for more than just movement or self-defence. We wanted to develop a posture—an attitude—to understand ourselves better and to find a path that connects physical training with personal development. There is a lot of talk […]
Sensei Sandro Sandten about Peer Tutoring in Martial Arts. In Karate, you often get the feeling that you have to work everything out for yourself. But many eventually discover that learning in the Dojo becomes much easier when you have someone by your side. Someone who understands where you are, and helps you stick with […]
Missing Link is the Method. Gendai Koryu Karate is the Style. After nearly 15 years of Missing Link Martial Arts, we have decided that the Karate we practice deserves its own name. For a long time, we had good reasons to stay away from specific lineages, style names, or large official organisations. We wanted the […]
Why Missing Link teachers are guides, not gatekeepers It’s a familiar figure in any dojo, in any art. The competitor who is untouchable in point-sparring but freezes when the context changes. The kata specialist whose form is a breathtaking display of athletic perfection, yet who possesses only a superficial understanding of its application. The historian […]
Sensei Heero Miketta about Empowering the Student… and the Teacher Traditional karate, and many well-known martial arts, are built on checklists. Kihon, Kata, Kumite: three sacred pillars, three tick-boxes. Master the external performance, copy your teacher’s version, receive your grade. But where did these boxes come from? Kihon drills and kata sequences have grown more […]
Sensei Tony Bolton, Manchester, addresses a particularly difficult issue In recent years, UK police statistics have highlighted a concerning trend: as children transition from primary to secondary school, their risk of becoming either victims or perpetrators of antisocial behavior and criminal activities increases dramatically. While social media and rapid news circulation may amplify these concerns […]
Self-defense in the context of martial arts—now there’s a topic that has been discussed endlessly, yet still leaves room for fresh perspectives. What new insights could possibly be added to this well-trodden subject? Let’s start by acknowledging that many martial arts don’t actually focus on self-defense at all. Instead, they emphasize combat and fighting, which […]
In today's martial arts landscape, where many schools focus primarily on competitive sports or strict traditional forms, Missing Link Martial Arts takes a distinctly different approach. Our community's philosophy goes beyond the mere physical aspects of martial arts training to create something truly unique. Beyond Techniques and Syllabus While many martial arts styles define themselves […]
The concept of Missing Link has a long history. On the one hand, in terms of traditional martial arts that all of our founder circle and master circle members have studied for many decades. On the other hand, in the way way our own community developed. In the 90s, we started the Hatsuun Jindo Akademie […]
The topic isn't exactly new, and we have had a long KarateTalk about it some years ago, but it is a discussion that pops up again and again. What does all the traditional martial arts stuff even mean in our modern world? Shouldn't we drop the whole philosophy and "deep background" of martial arts - […]