Spartacus Maximus

Personal physical conflict is a nasty, chaotic affair and it is clear that karate was originally meant for dealing with attackers up close. This is apparent across all styles, but especially obvious in the older Okinawan schools. The majority of techniques have an optimal effectiveness point within arms reach, well inside what is considered one’s personal space. Personally heard many say that basically Okinawan karate has only short and medium range techniques. Hence the concept of sticking to the attacker and being close enough to feel/sense the next move and exploit openings to counter or escape.

It all depends on the context, but there are instances where obtaining or requiring permission can be abused and misinterpreted. One cannot reasonably expect students to follow or accept their teacher’s ways when said ways are foreign. For instance a non-Chinese student will probably not follow all the Chinese martial arts customs/traditions of his Chinese teacher. “Permission” might not be the most accurate description, but it seems like this concept is leftover from a bygone time when learning the martial arts was like a private apprenticeship. The idea is that, a teacher would “give permission” to a student by explicitly acknowledging that the student has reached the skill level required to teach independently(such as running a branch school). It is never something that is requested. It is more like an explicit/formal approval and recognition that the student can represent the system/style and lineage and that the student may pass it on. For a loyal dedicated student like MA guy, it is a great honour to be told this. Respect, gratitude and appreciation tell him to thank his teacher by following tradition. The teacher-student relationship is what makes all the difference.

Some of the older Okinawan sensei who teach in a more traditional way would adapt their teachings to individual students, based on what they(the sensei’s) believed were the student’s strengths/weaknesses. In a way, a personalized curriculum. This way of doing things goes back to a time when things were done in secret or semi-secret and students of one sensei were few and scarcely even cross paths. This extreme is not common nowadays, but private and semi-private teaching is close. Personally had two Okinawan sensei who taught the same thing to everyone, but in different order, especially the older kata. After learning Naihanchi 1-3, one might learn Pinan 4 before Pinan 1 for instance. Some learned Chinto before either of the Passai(Koryu, Itosu, Matsumura versions). it makes logical sense to teach/learn the kata that have specific numbers(shodan, nidan, sandan etc.), but for all the older kata there doesn’t seem to be any ‘correct’ order.

This not pivoting correctly issue could be one of the reasons some karate people end up with hip/knee problems as they get older. Messing up hips or knees because of bad technique is probably the worst thing that can happen to a MAist or anyone who has always been active and hopes to continue well into old age.

Adding some clarifications to the original scenario/hypothetical situation: MA guy trained in country Y, where XYZ art originated while he lived there. MA guy’s teacher is the Chief of the main school which has branches in other countries except MA guy’s. MA guy is the only person who practices XYZ art in his country. MA guy trained daily for over 10 years before returning to his country. He remains a student of his teacher with whom he trains on yearly trips. MA guy’s teacher gave him permission to teach and they have discussed the idea of MA guy eventually running a branch school. MA guy practises almost everyday, usually at a local community centre. Being there so often, sometimes people stop to watch. The curious child and the grandmother are just the only ones so far who’ve done more than watch. MA guy is interested in teaching and allowed by his teacher to do it, under the condition that he doesn’t teach minors(under 18). This is also his teacher’s rule because he considers XYZ art too risky and dangerous for ´children’ to ´play with’.

Common concern about this pivoting issue is that if not done correctly or far enough, it can result in knee/foot/leg or hip injuries because of bad/wrong pivoting.

Thanks to everyone without who my only outlet to discuss martial arts with likeminded people would surely not be possible.

Where a lot of people have difficulty is not actually the ankle, what is referred to is the twist/turn on the ball of the support foot needed to get the heel towards the target.

Thank you

The are a lot of people who have difficulty turning/twisting their support foot for yoko-geri(side kick) and mawashi geri(roundhouse). What are some good exercises to focus on that part of kicking? How much does your style turn? Some will turn only about 45degrees and others almost 90 towards the target.

In a few MA schools/lineages(East Asian MA), teaching anyone outside one’s instructor school or having students requires formal explicit permission from said instructor. Also depending on the person’s skill/knowledge level, there may be limitations in place. Such as a 3dan(for example) being only allowed to teach adults up to brown belt.

The MA guy in our situation has been using the community centre/public gym to train by himself. The old lady noticed because MA guy trains there almost daily and at the same hours. This isn’t the first time other users have watched him train, and this is probably the reason the lady asked. Our MA guy learned and trained in his MA’s place of origin and travels there to train each year. If MA guy taught, he would be the only one teaching that style and lineage because there are no schools or others practising it in MA guy’s country

It would have been shocking if someone like Sensei8 wasn’t familiar with the “Chuck Norris” catalogue. Practically anybody teaching martial arts or running a store had piles of these. They would hand them out to new students when they joined and then whenever a new issue came out. Always looked forward to going through it, even when not specially ordering anything.

Anyone remember the old Century MA supply catalogue that was printed up to the late 90’s? Chuck Norris was in too many adds and too many cover pages to count. For a long time he was just the MA gear add guy. Been a fan since finding out about his authentic training in martial arts; military career, and of course the movies.

Just a question for the sake of argument about teaching martial arts: what do you think you would do differently? hypothetical situation: After recognizing you as “the martial arts guy” from the community centre(your frequent solo training place) a grandmother and two school age children come asking if you teach/how much for lessons? The MA guy has never taught formally or outside his instructor’s school. He knows he has been explicitly allowed to teach. The MA guy is still himself a student. The MA are very commonly considered a children’s activity; and assuming the adult was asking for the children MA guy refuses. Politely MA guy explains that he is allowed to teach but will not teach children. He also explains that although he would be the only one of his art and lineage, MA guy is himself a student and still training with his instructor of the last 10 years.