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Welcome to
THE OPEN HAND NOTEBOOK.

Adam Carter Hanshi image
 
Adam Carter 8th dan Hanshi

Hello & Welcome to my personal Blog.


Dedicated to Everything
Martial Arts

My name is Adam Carter, and I appreciate you taking the time to visit. I am passionate about the martial arts, particularly the classical karate of Okinawa. My goal is to help practitioners - regardless of style or experience - gain a deeper understanding of their karate.

I publish content here as often as I can while also teaching at the Shuri Dojo, located in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Our dojo was originally founded in the UK in 1986, and we continue to teach traditional Okinawan karate with a strong emphasis on self-protection, the practical applications of kata, and the discipline and etiquette that form the foundation of true martial arts training.

As part of a lineage that traces back to Okinawa, we are dedicated to preserving classical karate and its cultural traditions, ensuring that this invaluable heritage is passed on to the next generation.

If there’s anything I can help with, feel free to reach out.

I hope you enjoy your visit to my blog. Please leave a comment about any of the posts.

Thanks again for visiting.

Adam

"Ichariba chode" (行逢りば兄弟). An Okinawan expression ….. “Though we meet but once, even by chance, we are friends for life.”

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RECENT POSTS

Labels, Myths, and the Loss of Function: The Death of Practicality? image
Labels, Myths, and the Loss of Function: The Death of Practicality?

AUG 06 2025


Kata Without Labels: Rethinking What You See – Discovering the Function Within the Movement. image
Kata Without Labels: Rethinking What You See – Discovering the Function Within the Movement.

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Respect Isn’t Silence. Martial Arts Without Question Is Just Obedience. image
Respect Isn’t Silence. Martial Arts Without Question Is Just Obedience.

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Karate at Close Range: The Subtle Work of Kakie. image
Karate at Close Range: The Subtle Work of Kakie.

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Tradition Isn’t the Problem – Repetition Without Reason Is. image
Tradition Isn’t the Problem – Repetition Without Reason Is.

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Why Are We Still Doing Step-Kumite? Prearranged and Pointless? image
Why Are We Still Doing Step-Kumite? Prearranged and Pointless?

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Before the Noise: Moments Alone – Finding Stillness in the Dojo. image
Before the Noise: Moments Alone – Finding Stillness in the Dojo.

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A Defining Moment – The Meeting That Redirected Karate. image
A Defining Moment – The Meeting That Redirected Karate.

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