Opinionated Bastards

Kitchen chat about how you now seem to fall over a high grade on every street corner these days. Being old and confused there will be some topic drift......but that's what makes in interesting.Comes with the usual language warnings.

It may be bunkai but is it "practical"?3 old guys moaning (and occasionally swearing) about karate related stuff.

Three old guys from the kitchen discuss the nostalgia for what karate was "back in the day" and how that compares to what it is now.Warning: Possibly offensive language and swearing

The Bastards talk to Vince Morris about the release of his new and expanded edition of "The Rules of Combat" and about the state of practical karate. May contain offensive language, and opinions.

After a while of hiding away the bastards return with their musings on what makes a good Uke.

The Bastards discuss the notion of updating kata to bring it in line with your "bunkai" or to avoid the "bad habits" it encourages.

The bastards discuss the question "can anyone be a black belt?" and what does it mean. As usual, there may be some offensive (to some) language.

The bastards visit the idea that building character is the same as building "good" character.

Is bunkai really the answer? It very much depends on what the question is, where you are starting from and where you are going to.

The bastards (for some reason) discuss the relevance of lineage in your day to day training and if and how it adds any validity to your training.

The bastards discuss a common flaw the general approach many partner training drills.

A short discussion on the culture of letting bullshit (of all kinds) ride in the name of respect.

A quick chat on the need (or not) to cross train other arts to complete your skills.

Part 3 of the changes discussion, the first two look at what we've dropped from our classical training, both culturally and training methodology. This one isn't really "baggage" related but we must have replaced stuff we've dropped, this is our attempt to tell you what it is.

Follow up from the cultural baggage chat, this time discussing "traditional" training practices that we have dropped from our training and why.

The Bastards muse on the cultural baggage attached to Western karate, what they've kept, what they've dropped and the places in between.

The Bastards and special guest Andy Allen discuss some of their favourite instructors and seminar experiences... ...and almost no negativity (almost :-) )

The Bastards and special guest Andy Allen discuss some of their favourite instructors and seminar experiences... ...and almost no negativity (almost :-) )

Does conventional Kihon really fit with the applied method?

What is bunkai (really?) and where do you go from there?

The benefits and downfalls of training exclusively in a Karate Gi

If you are involved in applied karate you'll know who Vince Morris is (and if you don't know who Vince is, you are not really involved in applied karate)

What is a sensei? How long do you need a sensei? Can you live without a sensei?

This is the first episode of EBD, it is basically a conversation on the differences between self defence and martial arts, particularly with the emphasis on Women's self protection. It is here as a test bed for a larger project but may still pique your interest if this is your thing. Enjoy.