sensei8

This is the last of my series’s on key factors about Shindokan: 1) We never block an attack 2) We want to get behind our attacker 3) We want to be very close to our attacker 4) We don’t back up So far, and in no particular order, I’ve briefly discussed key factor #1; We never block an attack, and key factor #2; We want to get behind our attacker, and key factor #3; We want to be very close to our attacker. Today, I’d like to briefly discuss Shindokan key factor #4; bold typed above: We don’t back up. Why?!? To maintain balance and control. If I had eyes in the back of my head, then we’d have no problem with going backwards. There’s far more places that one can go other than backwards. Sure, backwards is option, however, it’s only as a last option. There’s avenues of transition that present themselves that allow me to get behind my attacker, and if not immediate, I can get us close until I can get behind my attacker. Backing up can create unwanted space for your attacker to exploit. We all have seen at tournaments during Kumite the endless amount of practitioners that do backup, ending out of bounds. Only reason I can think of why that’s their only option is because they’ve not matured in their techniques. Sure, I’ve also seen practitioners back up just enough to draw their opponent in for a turn around roundhouse kick, for example, or some other devious move. Nonetheless, the former is often chosen as a safe haven. Backing up compromises your balance which make it easier to for your attacker to either attack or counter you.Remaining grounded increases your stability and readiness for an effective response. Backing up can send signals of you being uncomfortable in an uncertain situation which can cause your attacker to press their agenda making you even more uncomfortable. Be proactive and stand your ground or sidestep or pivot. You’re a MAist, and I’m more than sure that your style teaches you to be effective in your lateral movements, which helps you in your agility, adaptability, and ability to deal with situations. Forced Corner: One drill that I teach, more than any other training drill, to my students, which is very effectively useful. Initially, I put them in a corner, instructing them to get out of the corner, by any effective means. Inadvertently, the students only reaction is to try to escape by retreating backwards. At first, the corner is about 10 feet behind them. Then, my attack begins in a blitzing fashion. But of course, the student backs up immediately, of which, I’m already upon her/him. At each retreat, I move them closer to the corner. I repeatedly attack them in a blitzing attack over and over , and as before, I’m upon her/him again. Again and again. By now, the student’s back is at the dreaded corner; there’s no escaping from me but by transitioning away through any effective angle away from me. I’ve closed the back door and the only way out of that corner is through or around me. Backing-up is no longer an option for them. Before the student even knows it, they’re getting out of the corner and getting behind me without backing up. I’m not saying that one will never ever back up ever again because things happen where you need to back up. Just minimize your backing up to the best of your ability. Maintain your ground and control distance. Remain Aware of your surroundings: Being astute as to your environment helps prevent unwanted retreats. If you know what’s behind you, you can avoid backing into things. Topographic conscious is a constant force that you can’t control because you didn’t have anything to do with whatever Mother Nature created. Uneven ground, roots, holes, branches, trees, bushes, rocks, and whatever else Mother Nature threw on the ground to make your fight one main pain in the you know where. Practice Forward Movement: Baking up is a bad habit if that’s all one can do. The more one practices a bad habit, backing up in this case, the harder the bad habit will be to break because the bad habit becomes part of ones muscle memory. Concentrate on drills that emphasize stepping forward instead of retreating. Sparring can focus on this concept without the full pressure of a full fight. Ever played Green Light, Red Light?? Don’t laugh. That simple child’s game teaching forward movement in a very proactive way. This too strengthens muscle memory. Control The Distance: Use protective stances to manage the space between you and your attacker. This helps you to stay grounded and ready to counter. Kiba-dachi, horse stance, is a very protective stance. So much so, that MAists world wide use kiba-dachi far more than any other stance. Stay Calm and Confident: Nerves get everyone from time to time. How one can control them makes the difference between life and death. Scattered nerves can lead to instinctive back up, like one sees at the dojo and tournaments. When that happens, one can find it difficult to reel calmness and confidence back in. To stay calm during a fight, BREATHE. Control your breath, confidence returns. When you’re not calm, you tend to choose to fight-or-flight. That’s why I prefer to utilize resistance training because you need to experience the pressure of what a real fight might be. That’s why I love to do blitzing drills where that pressure is right there immediately, and before you know it, the student is angling away. Drills can help to overcome the tendency of excessive backing up. Always move forward to your opponent’s center, not away from it. It’s best to have your attacker backup. IF you have to back up, don’t back up straight back; work the angles. Should you retreat, throw something, like a knee, as your advancing; never flight away without striking. Control the distance and push your attacker back as you’re advancing. Some Drills That Might Help: PRESSURING > >Get in a stance, of your choice >Shadow-sparring while advancing FORWARD, DO NOT BACK UP >Add lateral steps as though you’re circling your attacker >5 minutes rounds…keep your hands up while moving FORWARD ANGLES> >Have a partner stand opposite you >You step FORWARD AND TO THE SIDE (at an angle) instead of retreating backwards >After 2-3 steps, cut the angles once again >Work on punching and kicking or whatever as you move in In closing, backing up is a natural thing for anyone and because of that it’s a habit. Habits that are counterproductive can be difficult to break, but doable. Let me freak you out…Not all backing up is bad. Whenever possible, I love to back up a step or two in order to draw my attacker in for my counterattack. If my attacker doesn’t show me that they’d not be willing to come to me, then I will not try to bait them. Back up, go ahead, I’ll eat you up quicker than you can say…WHOA…so will your attacker!!

I've always enjoyed your contributions here at KF, @Revario. You're right, rank's not important and I respect your attitude towards rank. I too love the Ninja Turtles. Thank you for the interview.

Naka, to me, is always solid on the floor.

If this thread has already been discussed, I apologize. Today, yes today, my wife and I watched Black Belt: Kuro Obi. Here’s my brief opinion. This movie was released in 2007, and directed by Shunichi Nagasaki. No special effects; no flying and the such. The leads in this movie are Tatsuya Naka, a JKA Shotokan 7th Dan and Akihito Yagi, a Meibukan Goju-ryu 7th Dan. Also, Yuji Suzuki, a Kyokushin 1st Dan, co-starred. To me, the leads karate was pure across the board. There were no long drawn out fighting scenes, which was refreshing to see. The lead’s technique’s were right to the point and effective. The last fighting scene at the very end pitted the two leads against each other, but that’s understandable considering of their equal rank; it’s expected to be as I thought. I don’t like to watch MA movie because I don’t watch the movie for the entertainment value because I watch any MA movie as if I’m watching a Testing Cycle, hence way I’ve no watched this movie until now. Some parts of the movie are predictable but when it came to the karate of the two leads, pure true karate and very effective. This movie can be found on Prime. If you’ve watched this movie or will give this movie a try, please let me know what you think!!

True. Then that leaves you with a swimming pool. You've access to a swimming pool??

Greatly appreciate what it took for you to amass all of that information, Patrick. Thank you for posting and sharing, Patrick.

GO KNIGHTS!!

Yes, I do. I won't be using them because I wanted them for a collection piece; they set in one of our hutches.

I used to experience testing anxiety long, long time ago. Testing Cycles take care of themselves; one will either pass or fail. Why make things worse by worrying I learned that the more I worried about the test, the more anxiety I experienced, which lead to my failing said test.

Running in the pool is one of my most favorite training to strengthen my legs because the water offers quite a lot of resistance. Running in the shallow water of a beach can offer even more resistance than the swimming pool because that water is alive.

In a forward manner, ball of foot, heel, or top of foot. All can be snapped or thrusted. Ball of foot for the front snap kick, lead or back foot. Heel, for the most, is used in a thrusted manner at its target. Top of foot, for the most, to the groin. This is true for most MA, and I'd not be surprised if it's for all MA; one can never be absolute because no one has seen every MA style.

I finally got me 1 sheet. Picture of me holding the stamp sheet on page 2 of this thread.

I wholeheartedly agree with Brian across the board. Thank you, Noah for all you do on and off the floor.

I wholeheartedly agree with Brian across the board. Thank you, @Wado Heretic

You've been a stellar of a member here at KF from your first day. Your insight across the board have been exceptional on and off the floor. Your humor gets me every time in stiches; lights up my day. You beat me pretty much all of the time whenever it comes to posting updates in any sports thread/topic...I LOVE THAT!! I'm very glad you're here!!

I've extremely enjoyed following you and Zach's MA journey for all of these many years. I'm very proud of what you both have accomplished on and off the floor!!

How many different ways are there between one way or another?!? Oh let me count the ways. The body can only move one way or another effectively before you start playing twister. Oftentimes, techniques from the various MA styles look the same. I mean, how many ways can one execute a front kick?!? The label changes but the darn front kick looks just like the other MA style. Reminds me of this Bruce Lee quote, excuse me if I’ve mentioned this quote before… ”Because of styles, people are separated. They are not united together because styles became law!!”

I spar in a resistive way!! I don’t play pat-a-cake because it serves no purpose, imho. Our style lives off on the setup. Our primary tools for the setup is kicking the base to death while engaging my hands closeup.

Very well and very crucial dependent on one another. Like the…wrist bones connected to the elbow bone and the elbow bone’s connected to the shoulder bone and so on and so forth. If one bone’s affected in one way or another, then the structures, the human body, effectiveness is compromised. For instance, if I take shortcuts while I’m building my house so I can save money, then the infrastructure of my house is no longer save. These mentioned concepts must work/fit together or it’s game over. Without being repetitive over and over again so we don’t beat this horse to death from what has already been mentioned quite concisely. I define each term as the bodies building blocks of maturing effectiveness. Ignore these terms, as a whole, than power is devastatingly limited. These two questions go hand in hand because without the methodology and ideology of my style then there’s no way I can incorporate these concepts into my own karate training. I mean, without my styles teachings to guide me than I’m a blind man constantly crashing into wall after wall. By respecting those concepts wholeheartedly through what Shu-Ha-Ri provides by learning, training, developing, and starting that process over and over. My thoughts?!? Maturing in these concepts increases one’s ability to use the makiwara properly and effectively. After all, the makiwara is a tool, and like every tool, they have a purpose and a proper was to use said tools. Ignore that, as well as those concepts wholeheartedly through, the makiwara is going to send you to the ER room over and over again. Imho!!

My fingers and toes and legs and arms and eyes and whatever else I can cross for my Knights to sweep Colorado and return to the Stanley Cup. GO KNIGHTS!!

{{whispering….. I don’t want to jinx my Knights…so…go knights}}

We merged them together all of the time during class for continuity, grins, and giggles…mostly for the laughter. Got to break up the monotony of class from time to time. Other than that, when all of the fun is done, business as usual.

How about them Knights!! Let’s see if that win over Colorado was a fluke or if the Knights are serious!! GO KNIGHTS!!

My thoughts… Sport karate is for some and not for others; I’m of the latter. Albeit, my last tournament was over 30 years ago; I garnered 4 Grand Championships and 2nd place in the Senior Division Kumite. I think that sport karate and traditional karate is an oxymoron.