Rising Tide Karate

This is an excellent post from Polly Sensei. Take your time

A WOMAN DOES NOT PRACTICE KARATE SO THAT SHE CAN LEARN TO FIGHT LIKE A MAN. SHE DOES SO IN ORDER TO BE FREE TO BE A WOMAN.

Karate was never meant to erase femininity. It was never created to turn women into copies of men. True karate is a path of self-discovery, self-respect, and personal freedom. Through disciplined training, a woman develops confidence, courage, and inner strength while remaining true to who she is.

Every kata teaches balance. Every stance teaches stability. Every challenge faced in training teaches resilience. The purpose of karate is not domination, but empowerment. It is not about proving superiority over others; it is about discovering the strength that already exists within.

A woman who trains in karate learns to stand tall in difficult moments, to remain calm under pressure, and to face life's challenges with dignity. She learns that real power is not found in aggression, but in self-control. Real confidence is not loud; it is quiet, steady, and unshakable.

The greatest victory in martial arts is not defeating an opponent. It is overcoming fear, doubt, and limitation. When a woman practices karate, she gains more than physical skill. She gains independence of mind, strength of character, and the freedom to walk through the world with confidence.

Karate teaches that courage and grace can exist together. Strength and kindness can exist together. Determination and compassion can exist together. A true martial artist understands that these qualities are not opposites—they are partners.

The dojo becomes more than a place to train. It becomes a place where discipline shapes character, where perseverance builds confidence, and where every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth. Through years of practice, a woman discovers that her greatest weapon is not her fist or her kick, but her spirit.

Be strong without becoming harsh.
Be kind without becoming weak.
Be confident without becoming arrogant.
Be powerful without losing your humanity.

For in the end, karate is not about fighting like a man.
It is about living freely, standing proudly, and becoming the strongest version of yourself as a woman.

Us too. This is our camp 💪

When karate began spreading rapidly throughout Japan after World War II, many practitioners embraced tournaments and competition as a way to test skill and popularize the art. However, one of karate's most respected masters, Shigeru Egami, believed this trend was taking karate in the wrong direction. A senior student of Gichin Funakoshi, Egami dedicated his life to preserving what he saw as the true spirit of karate.
Egami believed karate was not meant to be a sport focused on winning medals, trophies, or defeating opponents under a set of rules. Instead, he taught that karate was a path of lifelong self-improvement, character development, and personal growth. In his view, competition encouraged practitioners to focus on victory rather than mastering themselves. He worried that the desire to win could lead karate away from its deeper purpose and transform it into something fundamentally different from the art taught by Funakoshi.
As karate organizations increasingly adopted tournaments, Egami became one of the leading voices opposing competitive karate. Through his leadership in Shotokai, he promoted a non-competitive approach that emphasized natural movement, efficiency, timing, and spiritual development. Training was not about proving superiority over others but about refining oneself through continuous practice.
His views were controversial and sparked debate within the karate community. While many practitioners supported competition as a valuable testing ground, Egami remained convinced that karate's highest purpose could not be measured by medals or championships. He believed that true karate was found in the pursuit of perfection, knowing that perfection itself could never be fully reached.
Today, decades after his passing, Shigeru Egami's philosophy continues to influence traditional karate practitioners around the world. His teachings remain a powerful reminder that karate can be more than a sport—it can be a lifelong journey of self-discovery, discipline, and personal transformation. His question still challenges martial artists today: Is karate primarily about defeating others, or about becoming a better version of yourself?

Yep!

This is how the Japanese Men’s team left the dressing room after their win at the World Cup in 2022 👏🏾

In 2018, they did the same thing and left a thank you note for the hosts in 3 languages.

On top of this... photo's emerged of large groups of Japanese fans staying behind after the game to clean all of the stands.

This isn't just a clean dressing room, it's a clear demonstration of values.

It's a statement about respect, gratitude and attention to detail.

The small things are the biggest indicator of the big things - your values.

Huge respect for the Japanese national team and their wonderful culture, values and people.