The Basics never get old

February 2026 Total 360 Blog

The basics never get old.

They say don’t fear a man who knows 1000 different moves; fear the man who knows one move and has done it 1000 times.  The principle behind this concept is that the basics never get old. This is the February blog for 2026 Total 360 Karate.

All students should notice that in every class, we have the basics set up. The concept here is to get your body used to the basics that you don’t have to think about when you need to apply them. You can apply them from a horse stance, fighting stance, or front stance, and you react.  You know exactly where your hands are supposed to be.  

There’s a parable of a young student who wanted to join a dojo.  The Sensei knew the student lacked focused so he gave the young student a task to meet to join the dojo. The student was told to do 1000 upper blocks, 1000 punches, and other exercises. The student was shown how to do them.  The choice was in the student.  The young student went off to the side and spent the entire class completing the task, making two moves, never once complaining that it was boring or repetitive.  Building the mastery concepts into his head.  After he was done, sweat was pouring, the Sensei asked him what he learned.  The young student said the value of one move.

Every student in our dojo practices the basics.  Come join a black belt workout, and you will see the basics.  We build these basics to work for us when we need them. No thinking, just doing.   Sensei can tell you how the simple basics have protected him.  

Give focus to each basic, as if it were a new movement.  Teach your mind to be present. What is the body supposed to feel like? Where is the other hand supposed to be?  What muscles are being used?  How does it feel in your body?  Once you have acquired this level, build on the mechanics of the movements. What does a hip twist add, a torso twist?  

This is the difference between Eastern and Western martial arts.  Eastern Martial Arts will work for two hours on the basics, getting them ready for the actual workout.  In Western thinking or  ideology, after 15 minutes, we start losing people.  Imagine if you focused on every movement like everything depended on it.  The idea of working on a movement until you know every aspect of it.  This is the true nature of understanding basics.  

When Sensei says basics, get excited that you can practice in a setting with an extra pair of eyes watching for the small mistakes. As you move up in rank, continue to practice the basics on your own.  Today’s success depends on our knowledge of the basics from our past.  

Sensei Rodgers, 2nd degree Dan.