Posts by Andy Dickinson
How to optimise your online work out.
I have a program on my elliptical stepper call “i fit.” It has trainers from all over the world running or walking with me, motivating me as best they can. It is great to train in locations that have spectacular scenery. Last week I ran in Lumpinee park in Bangkok, power walked in Cairns and…
Read MoreTraining with Sensei.
I am often asked, why should I train with you on the online academy or in person with you in a private lesson. Good questions. The thing is, I put together the entire Northstar Ju jitsu syllabus. It is based on my years of fighting. For those of you that have done one of my…
Read MoreWhere will your martial arts training go?
Where will your martial arts training go? If you keep training, doing gradings, competitions is there a point that you wonder what it is all for? May be you don’t get that far, the body gives in before the mind says; okay what’s next. This simple question; what’s next? Is where the wheels fall off.…
Read More2024
There is a freshness in the air. I walked outside this morning, and it hit me like a tsunami. The holiday season is well and truly over. Should I try and extend it to Valentine Day, or how about Easter. I can then make it to my birthday. Wait, here’s an idea, why don’t I…
Read MoreBreakfalling. To receive.
To receive. Even when the mats are washed down every day, there is a distinct smell that fills the air, once the hard mats have been softened It is the smell of courage and determination. A mixture of sweat and blood. One minute lapse in concentration and injury would be instant. This ukemi training is…
Read MoreThis may well be the most important blog post that I have written.
I must say first up that I am not a doctor and do not give you any advise on what you should do. One thing that I have learned is we are all totally unique and none I repeat none of us are the same. So what is good for one person may be different…
Read MoreDrawing your sword?
How do we use the timeless wisdom of the samurai warrior in our everyday life and how can their violent ways be of use to us hundreds of years after they lived? As martial artists, we can easily become detached from the lessons of the samurai if we do not practise them and integrate them…
Read MoreLiving a disciplined life
This is one of the chapters from my new book: A warrior must live a disciplined life. Unless you live a disciplined life, it’s too easy to get involved with stuff. People use their car horn as a weapon because you’re not moving as fast as they want you to. When we had the hair-trigger…
Read MoreWhere the police a little rough?
There is no doubt that the police were a little rough on the 95-year-old in the nursing home. From what I can make out is this innocent woman with dementia was shuffling towards the police in her walking frame carrying a large knife. As a survivor of being in a real situation and being attacked…
Read MoreTo kill or not to kill.
It is interesting to watch the USA media as the law agencies arrest a 24 your old ex marine for choking and killing a homeless man on the New York subway. He has been charged with second degree manslaughter. The marine claims it was self defence but just how far should we go? I was…
Read MoreThe covid hang over.
Are you still hanging onto the past? I certainly would not hold it against you if you were? Covid, the big unknown just smashed the world from the very beginning. The good new is that the zombie apocalypse never happened, not yet at least. Cities from around the world are now all learning to live…
Read MoreThe Perfect Student.
Steve is a perfect student. He works hard and dreams of getting ahead and providing for his family. He is a hard worker that is committed and disciplined. He will stick it out and work hard to achieve his goals. He is happy to work through on line learning modules of the academy with my…
Read MoreTraining online.
There is no doubt that training online has its advantages. You can do courses, any courses that would have required you travel thousands of miles to attend in person. You can still do that if you want, or you can join the program as an online participant drastically reducing the cost and having the luxury…
Read MoreWinter Camp 2023.
Winter Camp. 21st May 2023. Winter Camp is open to all levels of Northstar Jujitsu practitioners and focuses on the core techniques of Jujitsu. Participants will be able to participate in Sparring from beginner to advanced levels. The camp will also delve into the history of Northstar Jujitsu and provide further details of the practise…
Read MoreThe importance of repetition and training every day.
The importance of repetition and training every day. Well, the year has officially begun. With Australia day over and schools going back this week, it is all forward into the year. I’m not sure how much training you did over the break, but regardless, if you are still keen it is time to recycle and…
Read MoreIs online the end of excellence?
Is online the end of excellence as we know it. There is no doubt that the buy before you see mode of making a purchase has its risks. As it cuts out the entire pre-sale checks and the seller can sell you whatever they see fit. I know that Liz and I have made some…
Read MoreStaying safe and defending yourself at home
When it comes to staying safe and defending yourself at home, martial arts can be a great way to prepare for any situation. The key is to understand the risks and use the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired to stay safe. So, should you confront a home invader? For me, the answer is a resounding…
Read MoreTime for Black Belts to step up
The black belt does not exist as a symbol of excellence. The concept of a black belt is something that was invented by Judo Founder Jigoro Kano when he took the concept from the traditional martial arts that predominately wore a white belt to hold their pants up, to a colour system that gave certain…
Read MoreChoosing to train alone.
Learning is a very personal thing, and we all have our preferred ways of learning. Some prefer a visual approach, and some prefer reading. The key is working out what suits you. In these times it pays to see if you can use an online platform to continue your education. Or whether you just prefer…
Read MoreAre martial arts good for children?
There is no doubt that we have a huge responsibility in making sure we teach the children to the best of our ability. I have always been a stickler in ensuring that even the youngest children learn effective personal protection skills. So many martial arts for children programs are game heavy and just because the…
Read MoreCaptain of your own ship
By choosing to train online, you get an element of flexibility to be able to create your own martial arts experience that you do not get if you attend a physical studio. All the belt information is set and for many there is a grading if you want to progress to the next belt. You…
Read MoreMartial Arts near me.
For quite some time I have wondered how I am going to write a blog post on martial arts near me. When I get the google analytics each month for the Northstar website, by far “martial arts near me” is hands down the most used search term in looking for martial arts schools. I have…
Read MoreAre you a Mc Dojo.
Just for a minute, let go of everything that you believe about martial arts tuition. Just take your blinkers off and ask yourself. Who wrote the rule book on how martial arts should be presented? It takes courage to step outside of the norm in anything you do. But it is we few pioneers that…
Read MoreBut you can’t learn Ju Jitsu on the internet.
Learning just about anything online has been around for years. Now is the time to act. Why should martial arts be so different? Since Taebo swept the world with Taebo educational DVD’s, and now the myriad of yoga, meditation and Pilates studios now teaching online. This is nothing new for me. I first offered an…
Read MoreStart the year with a push.
Live a disciplined life. We all love our habits but the problem is, are they good for us? We as adults all understand the negative effects of eating too much sugar, smoking and drinking too much. But what about the habit of procrastination or laziness. The habit of time wasting, just watching year after year…
Read MoreCan we change out mindsets to include online training?
Each one of us only has so much we can allocate to thinking about a subject at any one time. We prefer to make the decision, then lock it in and choosing to not have to think about it again until you really have to. We then for good or bad, (I am not sure…
Read MoreJu Jitsu Lessons Online
Ju Jitsu Lessons Online. The idea of learning such a detailed skill such as Ju Jitsu on line may be a completely new concept for you. Especially as a beginner. What you may be thinking is; “doesn’t Ju Jitsu rely on throwing and other moves that require a partner?” Well the answer is yes and…
Read MoreLearn Martial Arts Online.
For the last 40 years I have spent my time learning, seeking, developing and refining my interpretation of martial arts. The term “martial arts” was first used as a western concept in recent history. I first began to notice martial arts in the early 70’s, watching Bruce Lee movies. Once I started watching the ground…
Read MoreQualities of a modern martial arts school.
To make your dojo look and feel special, the following qualities will help. These are unique to Northstar Ju Jitsu. Every dojo is different. Zanshin is an intense awareness. It includes awareness that you exist, you exist in a space around you, that you can control, awareness of the other, and their space, all at…
Read MoreMMA in Korea
Kyeok Too Ki. I visited this school in 1993. A country which has seen its fair share of conflict. Mortal enemies of the Japanese up until they finally left the Korean shores only then to be pitted up against their own kind , families separated by the forward progression of the Red peril of Communism.…
Read MoreIf you can’t you must
I kind of get your thinking. It may be that you are telling yourself that competitions are just not your thing. You have been a part of a dojo for a while and you are only interested in the self-defence and fitness. You may not like the confrontation of sparring, so you have avoided it.…
Read MoreJu Jitsu v’s Judo
Both of these martial arts systems are great forms of martial arts and yes, they are related. Ju Jitsu originated in Japan. The traditional martial arts of Ju Jitsu evolved in japan along 2 main lines. That which was designed and used on the battle fields, the empty hand techniques were a supplement to the…
Read MoreMartial Arts near me.
As parents we definitely want what is the best for our children. As adults we race from pillar to post, juggling work, family, friends and we want to stay fit and healthy. The time that we have allocated for ourselves tends to be the last priority. I try to have my time each morning from…
Read MoreThe good samaritan and the milk crate.
The Good Samaritan. In Sydney last week, we all had a bird’s eye view of a man blatantly wielding a long knife as he stalked people on the street. The scene unfolded in what could have easily been a scene from a movie shoot. The attacker appeared onto the street after he killed a woman…
Read MoreJu Jitsu Mums.
The modern-day mum has a lot to take on. The days of the stay at home mum is an out dated model as more and more mothers are continuing to contribute to and remain in the work force as best as they can. Supported by their partners and a healthy dose of sheer will, mums…
Read MoreWhat are the qualities of a traditional Martial Arts Dojo?
The qualities of a traditional martial arts studio are those that bring with it, the soul of the martial art’s eastern origin, reflecting the history of peace and non-violence,connecting the old tradition with new and creating a space with full zanshin. The qualities of a traditional marital arts dojo include a space that creates a…
Read MoreWhy is Northstar Ju Jitsu referred to the art of peace
Why is Northstar Ju Jitsu referred to the art of peace when the techniques you learn are designed to hurt some one? My perception of martial arts prior to joining Northstar Ju Jitsu had been that it contained a lot of aggression and violence. This was very different from my character and therefore I had…
Read MoreIs my child learning enough?
Is my child learning enough? From time to time we get enquiries from recently joined members that are concerned that their child is not getting their technique corrected as much as they think is necessary. In order to address those concerns, I have written the following blog post. We have a system that I like…
Read MoreWhat’s missing from modern Ju Jitsu.
What’s missing from modern Ju Jitsu? Off the bat, I use the Ju Jitsu spelling for modern Ju Jitsu because it is easier for people to read and say. The correct translation from the Japanese calligraphy is in fact “Ju Jutsu”. It is not Jiu Jitsu or any other interpretation that people use. Modern Ju…
Read MoreMartial Arts for kids
The after school activity that will empower, install confidence and teach tolerance. Let’s face it, the most that a child really knows about martial arts for kids is from watching Kung Fu Panda or the latest version of Karate Kid. Even parents just have a vague understanding of martial arts for kids and especially what…
Read MoreMMA competition report.
I am not normally drawn to martial arts competitions, but Tom my son and a couple of the other kids trainers were keen to compete. They chose a submission grappling MMA competition and I knew immediately that their spirit would be tested as the day would be long, hot and niggling injuries would test their…
Read MoreGetting a Black Belt
Before I commenced my current dojo; Northstar, I was employed full time and also ran a dojo called Fight Club, and you probably guessed right as it seemed to attract only fit men between the ages of 17 and 25. It was a fighting dojo and reflected the stage that I was at with my…
Read MoreThe best style for self defence. Judo, Boxing or MMA?
The best style for self defence Over the weekend, I kind of over dosed on fighting sports. I watched the incredible destructive power of the current world champion heavy weight boxers. Apparently, the heavy weight competition is the best that it has been in years. The ruthless knock outs that I watched by these destructive…
Read MoreBecoming a spiritual warrior
Becoming a spiritual warrior Take me to Meditation pure and simple. We as humans, reflect our inner world onto our outer world. How we run our lives is in direct association with what we think. The world will never change whilst we as individuals continue to think, act and desire what’s in it for me.…
Read MoreMartial Arts and Ego
Martial arts and ego Right from the get go, it must be said that we all have an ego. It is part of what makes us who we are. The ego is only one facet of the mind but it rules the roost when out of control. An ego is out of control when there…
Read MoreMartial Arts and Fighting.
Martial arts and fighting I remember starting martial Arts because I believed it was the answer to my fear of fighting and being bullied. It did not matter that I was 17, 183cm and 90kg, I was still very insecure. Learning martial arts did give me so much confidence, in fact probably too much. Back…
Read MoreMartial Arts in Sydney
Martial arts in Sydney I was in the US a couple of weeks ago and I was invited to attend one of the premier American Martial Arts competitions, The Battle of Atlanta. This was an honour as it was the 50th anniversary of the event, so it was attended by American Martial Arts so called…
Read MoreBuilding character
Training all year round.
Read MoreLock in contracts
For the serious student.
Read MoreNorthstar Tournament
Reasons why
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