Author’s Note This article represents my personal understanding and interpretation of traditional karate as taught by Hidetaka Nishiyama Sensei and followed by Avi Rokah Sensei. While I have endeavoured to accurately represent their teachings and […]

INTRODUCTION Maai practiced in the dojo is not only for kumite—it is a way of life. In this final part, we explore how the rhythm you develop on the tatami appears everywhere: in pauses, in […]

INTRODUCTION Maai cannot be understood through words alone. It must be developed through repetition and feeling. Here we explore slow-fast training, breath reaction, and the balance Sensei Rokah describes as “mind like ice, spirit like […]

INTRODUCTION Japanese swordsmen knew: control distance, control timing. In this part, we examine how kenjutsu masters like Yagyū taught maai through the concept of muhyōshi—No-Beat—and why moving in your opponent’s rhythm is the most common […]

INTRODUCTION Beyond distance lies meaning. The kanji for maai — gate and moon — reveals something deeper: space as potential, silence as presence. In this part, we explore the philosophy behind maai and the state […]

INTRODUCTION Maai — the space between you and your opponent — is more than distance. It’s a matter of rhythm, timing, breath, and mind working together. Over five parts, we explore maai from philosophy to […]