Marco Lala began his martial arts journey at the age of 13 in Kenpo, moving to Kyokushin under Sensei Hioki, later with Shigeru Oyama, and going on to obtaining black belts in Judo & BJJ, becoming a full-contact champion and ultimately creating his own system TettsuBushi Jitsu, incorporating all rages of fighting. Made famous by a series of popular and dynamic instructional books and videos beginning in the 90s, made available again now.  A martial artist, entreprepreneur, and modern philosopher. Just an awesome man and it was an honour and privilege to spend time with him. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Osu!

My guest Natan Levy is signed to the UFC, fighting out of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, by way of Israel. He has a background in Uechi-ryu Karate and switched to MMA with a Pro MMA Record of 6 wins with no losses, as well as cross training in Kyokushin Karate.   Natan has a fantastic story, having traveled to Okinawa, Japan, to train in Karate as a teen, studied Kyokushin under Shihan Artur Hovhannisyan, traveling to Las Vegas to pursue dream of fighting in the UFC, and fulfilling.  A fantastic conversation with a humble martial artist who is making a great name for himself. A real honour. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. OSU!

Shihan Tom Callahan was one of my first guest on The Martial Way Podcast, and today he joins me again to talk about The Mindset of a Martial Artist. Many people don't understand the mindset of a martial artist...the internal way you think about yourself and how it influences every aspect of your daily life . Most look at it as a way to fight. However, most people will never get into a fight . So, why do we train? Plus Kyokushin-KAN, Ikken, seminars and so much more! OSU!

Sensei Iain Abernethy, 7th Dan, is a world-renowned teacher of Kata Application (Bunkai). This was an amazing conversation! Of interest to all "styles", including Kyokushin. We talk on all aspects of Karate and Bunkai, from history, technique, philosophy, to the evolution of Karate! You won't want to miss this one! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! To find out more or contact Sensei Iain: Website: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/practicalkatabunkai Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iainabernethy Twitter: https://twitter.com/iainabernethy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iainabernethy/ The Iain Abernethy App!: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/shop/product/330/     OSU!

It's been almost one year since I spoke to these two gentlemen 1:1 and since that time they have built the largest online Kyokushin Dojo in the world! We catch up on the last year, highlights, philosophies, tips, shoutouts, Hanshi Arneil and so so much more! I hope you enjoy this amazing episode as much as I did! 🤜  Checkout KRT Tips & Tricks Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW15...​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KRT-Tips-Tri...​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krt.tt2020/ OSU!

Shihan Janine Davies, 6th Dan, is the IFK Chief Referee , an international Chief Judge in Kata and also former Europe Champion in Kata. (Please note, I refer to her in the podcast as former "World" Champion in Kata. I apologize for the error.) Shihan Janine is respected worldwide for not only being a high-level Karate-ka, but as an incredible instructor at seminars. With amazing understanding and grasp of the intricacies of Kata. She discusses the highs and lows of her karate career, and leaves us with some amazing tips to apply to own learning. Shihan Janine was just a fantastic guest and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!   OSU!

At the age of twenty-one, Nicholas Pettas completed the brutal 1,000-day Uchi-deshi program of Sosai Mas Oyama, which made him the second ever foreign graduate, and second non-Japanese, to ever finish the program (the first being Judd Reid, my first guest on this podcast), and he was the last uchi-deshi of Sosai Oyama, who died soon after his graduation. After graduating the programme, he competed in several tournaments and achieved many significant titles and honours such as the European Karate Heavyweight Champion in 1995, placing 5th and 3rd place in the World Championships, respectively in 1995 and 1997, and would go on to win the K-1 Japan Grand Prix Championship in 2001, in front of 70,000 people. He is the author of Blue Eyed Samurai: 1000 days in the young lions dormitory, which chronicles his time as an Uchi-deshi, he currently is a Japanese media personality, staring in several TV shows and movies, an entrepreneur, and became a Reebok Crossfit Ambassador and Trainer, playing a major role in its introduction to Japan. He is also in the process of creating a free audio version of his book! This is amazing conversation about his time as an Uchi-deshi and later careers. Emotional at times, and so insightful. I really hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.  OSU! The Tokyo Show: https://www.youtube.com/user/nicholaspettas/   .

Senpai Kimm Carriere started her Karate career at the age of seven and began competing when she was nine. She competed in her first international tournament in the 2014 Diamond Cup in Belgium. She has become a fixture at Canadian full-contact/knockdown competitions and went on to compete at many international tournaments, representing Shinkyokushinkai Canada. She is the Canadian lightweight champ for the past eight years and has had several podium finishes at international tournaments. Some of the highlights of her tournaments in recent years include: Diamond Cup (3x) British Open (3x) Dageki World Karate Championships (3x) Shinkyokushin World Cup (2017) 11th and 12th World Karate Championship (2015, 2019) 1st International Full Contact Karate Championships Carpathia Cup International Fujiwara Cup The 1st Americas Full-contact Karate Championship (selection tournament for WFKO World Championship Japan) On top of all of this, she is a psychologist and a student who is finishing up her PhD. This is an amazing conversation with an amazing martial artist and person. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Osu!   Senpai Kimm Carriere's Dojo, West Island Karate / Karaté de L'Île www.westislandkarate.com, under Shihan John Kalaidopoulos

Shihan Koen Spitaels is an international legend, one of the leading Kyokushin / Shinkyokushin Karateka in the World and well known tournament fighter. One of the pioneers in Europe who is striving to make different organizations work together. The founder & and chief instructor Niji Yama Dojo. It was an honour to speak to Shihan Koen, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Osu! https://youtu.be/5Gy9VeIrdpg Niji Yama Dojo: https://www.nijiyama.be/Shihan Koen FB: https://www.facebook.com/koen.spitaelsShihan Koen IG: https://www.instagram.com/koenspitaels/

Sensei Kiley Baker has been training in Martial Arts since 1995 and teaching since 1998. She obtained her San Dan (Third Dan) in 2013 and also her black singlet in Titans Kickboxing. Sensei Kiley has been teaching and competing in Martial Arts, including Kyokushin for many years. She is a five-time Victorian Kyokushin Full Contact Champion and a two time World Ring Karate Australia (WRKA) Champion. During her fighting career Sensei Kiley has competed and won in many tournaments in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Sensei Kiley has also travelled to Thailand on several occasions to attend training camps in Muay Thai Kickboxing. Sensei Kiley is also the author of Mother Lover Woman Warrior, a book to help women discover and regain their power, and show them how to take back control of their destiny. As she says, to “embrace perfect imperfection, and discover a better way to be you”. It was an honour to talk to Sensei Kiley Baker, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! OSU! Book: https://motherloverwomanwarrior.comEltham Martial Arts Academy: https://elthammartialarts.comEMAA on FB: https://www.facebook.com/elthammartialartsSensei Kiley FB: https://www.facebook.com/kiley.baker.71

Shihan Hugo Perez is the first official member of So-Kyokushin for North America and the Director of the Perez Karate Center in Quebec, Canada Throughout his career, Shihan Perez participated in many seminars held by renowned masters and instructors and has also participated in numerous national, international tournaments and world championships, including the World Championship held in Osaka, Japan in 2001. Shihan Perez has become one of the most recognized and respected referees, and is central referee at All Japan and the World Championship. Between 1999 and 2004 , he was the supervisor of a team of bodyguards during special events held in the City of Montreal. In addition, he has personally been a bodyguard for celebrities such as: Robert de Niro, Sofia Loren, Jackie Chan, Gérard Depardieu, Vincent Perez, Luc Besson and Martin Scorsese. Shihan Perez opened his first dojo in 2011 in Mercier, Quebec and the dojo has been expanding ever since. It was an honour to speak to Shihan Perez and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Osu! You can find Shihan Perez through the following social channels: FB: https://www.facebook.com/karateperez/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/karateperez/ YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDhwWTBaAQ4Kgm1-wBsnaw Website: http://karateperez.com/ckp/

Sensei Emma Markwell is a British AND World Champion in Kyokushin Karate, and podium holder of many International Kyokushin Karate Tournaments. She is a member of the International Federation Karate (IFK) and British Karate Kyokushinkai (BKK). It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Sensei Emma. We covered her background in Kyokushin, training, her personal coaching and much more. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I hope you do as well. Osu! You can reach Sensei Markwell via: FB: https://www.facebook.com/emma.markwell Markwell Fitness: https://www.lookwellfeelwell.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markwellfitness/

Sensei Steve Fogarasi 4th Dan is the President of IFK Canada and Country Representative. He is also the Owner and Chief Instructor of Contact Kicks Martial Arts, his full-time dojo. He is also the instructor to myself, of which I am very proud. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Osu!

Sensei Wesley of Holland has competed and placed on the podium of many many tournaments across Europe, Russia and Japan, and after years of training and fighting he opened his own school, 'Dojo Hokori Meiyo'. Most recently he began a collaboration with Sensei Darren Stringer, KRT Tips & Tricks, where they uniquely pair-up digitally, offering training tips based on the years of tournament and teaching experience. Sensei Wesley Jansen on FB: https://www.facebook.com/wesley.jansen.980 'Dojo Hokori Meiyo' on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dojohokorimeiyo Sensei Wesley Jansen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesjeee90/ Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/KRT-Tips-Tricks-105182707800402 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-martial-way-podcast/id1299884621

Kyokushin Karate Sensei Darren Stringer is known as an “all rounder”, equally as comfortable in knockdown full-contact as he is in Kata. His accolades and tournament wins are many to mention here, with world titles in Kata and Knockdown Karate. We discuss his beginnings, training, experience and philosophy on Karate. A really great conversation and it was an honour to spend time with Sensei Darren. Osu! Sensei Darren Stringer on FB: https://www.facebook.com/darren.stringer.96 KRT Tips & Tricks: https://www.facebook.com/KRT-Tips-Tricks-105182707800402 iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-martial-way-podcast/id1299884621

Shihan Cameron Quinn, author of “The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama,” Uchi Deshi under Sosai Mas Oyama, as well as translator and friend of Sosai. Shihan Quinn was an incredible guest with a wealth of history and knowledge. This was the perfect way to start the New Year. Please enjoy the video and/or audio podcast.     Audio Podcast:

Shihan Tom Callahan, is the U.S. Country Representative (Chairman) and International Secretary of Kyokushin-kan Karate. Originally based in California but relocated to Boulder, Colorado, Shihan Tom Callahan has been involved in the martial arts since 1972 starting with Uechi-ryu Karate in Boston.  After a break from training due to career focus, he returned to training in mid 90’s in Kyokushin Karate, studying under Shihan Patrick Fard in IKO-1. Shihan Callahan switched to Kyokushin-Kan in 2008, under Kancho Hatsuo Royama - Kyokushin-Kan International, in Saitama, Japan. Shihan Callahan continues to supplement his training in Krav Maga, with Sensei Roy Elghanayan, as well as training with Shihan Nori Bunasawa in Jukkendo. It was such an honour to speak to Shihan Callahan, so humble, devoid of ego, and still excited about his training and the pursuit of Budo, which is amazing of someone with his experience and level. Audio Podcast:

Karate Culture (Aaron Garcia and Michael Nguyen). Two guys on a mission to bring karate back to relevancy. They're black belts in Shorin-Ryu but like to represent Okinawan Karate as a whole, and really making a name for themselves by bringing realistic application back into karate. Kata. Throws. Submissions. Strikes. Ground Combatives. Hard Body Conditioning. No egos, no competitions, just pure applications. They're here to bring karate back to reality. They were in town recently for their first Canadian seminar, hosted by Prodigy Martial Arts, in Mississauga, ON., under Sensei Ryan Shields. Big thanks to Ryan for allowing me to catch the very end of the seminar and arrange this conversation! Osu! Audio Podcast:

Sensei Terry Birkett from the UK is the Chief Instructor at Ronin Dojo, much sought after teacher, founder of Back Street Karate, which focuses on realism in karate, and the list goes on. We discuss his roots in Kyokushin, years working as a doorman where he tested his skills, his goal to make karate "dangerous" again, and much more! *  Unfortunately there was some video freezing during the conversation, however the audio is intact. Look for a follow-up soon! Audio Podcast:

For those who are not familiar with Judd, he grew up in Australia training under Shihan Eddie Emin, is the first, and one of only two, foreigners to have completed 1000 days live-in student training (Uchi Deshi) under Kyokushin Karate founder Masutatsu ‘Mas’ Oyama in Japan, from 1990 to 1993, won the Australian heavyweight title in 2002, won the WKO World Championship in Thailand 2010, and became last ever student of Sosai Oyama’s to finish the 100 man kumite, in 2011. This was chronicled in a great documentary, 100 Man Fight, shot by his best friend and corner man, Anton Cavka. Tragically, Anton passed away before the completion of the book, and Judd dedicated it to his memory. Shihan Judd Reid’s chronicled his time as an Uchi Deshi in his book, The Young Lions – 1,000 Days of Training Under a Karate Legend and the 100-Man Kumite.   Audio Podcast: