Today I have something special to share with you.
I sat down with Nakamura Sensei and Sensei Sydney — and the result is a conversation full of heart, knowledge and everything that makes our karate community so special.
In this video, they share what the IOGKF European Gasshuku 2026 means to them, what you can expect from the course, and why this is an event you really don’t want to miss.
EG26 brings us together in the Netherlands this summer — 27 to 31 July 2026. Whether you’re a seasoned gasshuku regular or joining us for the first time, this is your invitation to train, connect and grow alongside karateka from across Europe and beyond.

EGKA Southampton Gasshuku and other ‘stuff’

A weekend at a karate gashuku in Southampton brought intense training, high-pressure grading sessions, and moments that pushed everyone right to their limits. While some participants faced a particularly tough grading and rose to the challenge with strong performances, the training overall demanded focus, resilience, and grit from start to finish. Amid the physical and mental intensity, the weekend wasn’t without its unexpected challenges, including an upset stomach on Saturday night, but that didn’t take away from the experience. From demanding sessions to the determination shown during grading, it was a memorable weekend of hard work, progress, and pushing through discomfort to come out stronger on the other side.

Click below to listen !

Croydon to Nykobing Falster, a karate weekend, a community, and the moment I realised how far I’d come.

I packed a karate suit, boarded a late-night flight, and proceeded to have the most chaotic travel experience since the last time I slept in Copenhagen Airport. On the bright side, the karate was brilliant, the cheese was great, and she was home before midnight. Barely.

Lifer: A Life Shaped by the Martial Arts

Most hobbies, you try them for a bit, decide they’re not for you, and move on. Pottery. Golf. Yoga. Normal people do that. I started martial arts as a kid, and I’m still here. No one’s more surprised than me. I should accept at some stage, I guess, I’m a lifer.

The Arousal Curve (not as smutty as it might sound 🙂 )

This podcast explores the science of growth, performance and discomfort. Using principles like the Yerkes-Dodson Law, we unpack why too little pressure leads to stagnation, too much leads to burnout, and the real progress happens in between. Through psychology, neuroscience and lived experience, we explore how to intentionally step beyond your comfort zone and build sustainable high performance.

Kumite Gasshuku 2026

Training smart

There is a point in here somewhere!

Bald Truths

Mind Over Martial: The Psychology of the Dojo

Back in the Fight: Cancer Recovery & Fitness Revival

Quiet wisdom or loud mistakes…when is it OK to give corrections at gasshukus?

London Gasshuku 2025 in review! 🙂 What an awesome weekend!

From Beaches to Battle Drills: ‘It’s just a stick, definitely not used for weapons training’.

Clear Scans, Crappy Feels: The Rollercoaster of Cancer Wins and Woes

The Interview Files: Hired, Fired and Totally Absurd

‘Hold my IV drip.’ Spoiler alert: I made it through chemotherapy, tackled immunotherapy, and am now here to tell the tale.

Introducing my podcast titled, Battle Ready, November 2024 🙂