by Erik Plate, Sensei

After twenty-five years of studying under Hanshi Bruce Juchnik, I've learned that the most devastating techniques are the ones your opponent never sees coming. Today I want to share with you one of the deepest concepts in Kosho Shorei Ryu: the art of invisible movement, and wh...

In martial arts, there's a fundamental distinction that separates effective practitioners from those who remain trapped in rigid patterns. It's the difference between adapting to principles and adapting to techniques. This concept, deeply rooted in the teachings of James Mitose and refined through d...

Let me be honest with you. When I watch most martial artists perform kata today, I see beautiful choreography. I see athletic movement. I see people who have memorized sequences with precision and dedication. What I don't often see is understanding.

This troubles me because kata was never meant to ...

When most people ask about Kosho Shorei Ryu, they expect to hear about techniques, forms, or fighting methods. They want to know what makes it different from karate, kung fu, or jujitsu. But asking "what is Kosho?" is like asking "what is education?" The answer isn't found in the curriculum. It's fo...

Understanding the true depth of Kosho's foundational concept

In Kosho Ryu, we often hear about "the Octagon," but too many practitioners see it merely as a floor pattern or geometric shape to step around. This surface-level understanding misses the profound truth that has been preserved through gen...