Columns
Personal stories from people embedded in the world of martial arts.
More and more young people in the Netherlands are struggling with mental problems such as stress, loneliness and depression. Warrior Code sees martial arts as a powerful tool to make young people more mentally resilient. By providing structure, discipline and respect, martial arts helps them express emotions in a healthy way. In safe, certified gyms, trainers guide young people in their personal growth. Martial arts is thus not part of the problem, but rather an important part of the solution.
The kickboxing landscape splintered. Where the sport's greats used to traditionally gather in December to fight out who was the strongest of the year, these greats fought on smaller stages. Whereas the hardcore kickboxing fan knew where to look for it, it was quite difficult for the general public to follow the sport.
As a practitioner of Kyokushinkai karate for nearly 30 years, I've seen how karate has changed through the decades. Or rather, how it's stayed the same in many ways, while the world around it has changed. In this column I'll do a brief dive into this phenomenon, unearthing a hint of the true spirit of martial arts that unites all practitioners across all martial arts styles.