In a special episode of Business Pulse AI, I had the pleasure of hosting Nick Van Maele. We discussed the intersection of AI and Karate. This conversation was particularly exciting for me, as it combined three of my greatest passions: technology, AI, and Karate. Karate has been part of my life for years, influencing how I think, write, and train. It was fascinating to explore how AI is transforming this incredible martial art.

Nick, an experienced project manager with a background in IT and finance, has a unique blend of skills. He is not a developer. However, he stays current with IT evolution. He tested the waters of AI by creating a mobile app for Karate moves.

The Inspiration Behind the Karate App

Nick shared his journey of developing an AI-assisted mobile app designed to help Karate students learn moves more effectively. His initial inspiration came from noticing that young Karate students often struggle. They have difficulty learning moves from a list of names they don’t understand.

He saw an opportunity to create a mobile app. This app would allow students to click on a move and see a video or picture. It would enable them to learn and progress faster at home.

AI-Assisted Development: Pros and Cons

Nick shared that AI helped him in various stages of the app’s development. It assisted in selecting the programming language, installing development tools, and generating boilerplate code. AI significantly accelerated the development process, reducing what could have been a year-long project to just 60 hours of work.

He also shared that without IT knowledge, app development is challenging. Without IT knowledge, app development is challenging. He also emphasizes the importance of expertise in martial arts is crucial for app accuracy.

One of the biggest limitations Nick faced was that AI often required correction and oversight. Nick emphasized, “AI is a lot of A and not a lot of I.”

The Future of AI in Karate Training

Nick envisions the app evolving to provide real-time feedback, using AI to analyze a student’s movements and offer corrections. He also mentioned the potential for the app to manage club memberships. It could allow different clubs to upload their own videos and moves.

Connecting with the Values of Karate

As a long-time practitioner of Karate, I found this conversation particularly resonant. My book training and consulting approach for AI adoption leverage the values of Karate. This structured approach is similar to the best systems. I believe that discipline, focus, and continuous improvement are taught by Karate. These are valuable assets in navigating the complex world of AI.

Watch the Highlights and the Full Webcast

For a deeper dive into these insights, you can watch video highlights of the discussion

You can also watch the entire webcast by clicking on the link below

https://riverside.fm/shared/exported-clip/c8e3007ef1628f4273fa

Thank You, Nick!

I want to express my deepest gratitude to Nick Van Maele for his time and participation in this webcast. His insights into the intersection of AI and Karate have been truly inspiring.

Engaging with You

As part of this journey, I also want to engage with you, my readers, by sharing portions of the book. Your feedback, comments, and suggestions will be invaluable in shaping the final product. I believe in the power of co-creation and would love to incorporate any specific concepts or ideas you have. Of course, I will give full credit to any contributions that make it into the book.

Join the Conversation

If you have any suggestions, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. If you would like to discuss specific concepts, reach out thru personal messaging. I’m always happy to have a conversation and explore new ideas. Together, we can create something truly special. For collaboration or project discussions, you can schedule a conversation in my calendar below. You can also connect with me via email at mdconsulting@davidmerzel.com. I look ahead to further discussions!