"S"

20. "Hit them first, and then use karate."

19. The codifying of skill and knowledge begins the growth of a system, but also starts the cancer that will eventually ossify and kill it

18. Try to meet a great teacher and his immediate first-generation students. Observe closely what they have, which others are missing

17. Be aware of your adversary's goal; Realize that a person's motivations may be completely different from yours (e.g. Fear, survival, social status, desperation.)

16. Incentives matter in all things, from tiny to large

15. *This* is all there is

14. The use of force is effective for self-defense, ineffective for coercion, ridiculous and self-defeating as a threat

13. Hunt the ego, kill and burn it

12. Many "authorities" are Just Making Shit Up as they go along

11. Remedy for avoiding martial arts fantasy-land: practice with folks from the Jujitsu/Judo realm

10. The dojo is a classroom - keep calisthenics and warm ups minimal and essential. If you need a fitness workout, do that on your own time

9. Punching the air should be the training tool, not a fighting system

8. Only practice blocks & slips against someone who is actively trying to land his punches, at a realistic engagement distance

7. "Sparring" teaches very little of value

6. Injuries are not macho. Injuries and damage add up over time. Only train with people you trust. Corollary: there are lots of uncoordinated, nonathletic, or just plain nutty people in the martial arts. They should find someone like-minded to train with

5. Maybe 80% of techniques/applications as taught are pure fantasy, but hardly anyone wants to practice the boring, gritty 20%

4. If a 200 year old style seems awkward and ridiculous, try to meet an expert in it. Your mind might change

3. Many sad stories could have been prevented with self-defense within the social arena, far in advance of physical danger

2. There is danger in numbers. Be wary around rowdy or intoxicated groups

1. Kobudo is good for something, but it's not obvious. Kobudo and karate are related, but different. You have to think hard about the differences and the similarities