sensei8

A karateka can no longer separate him/herself from kata more than one can separate him/herself from karate; they are dependent upon one another across the board. Kata competitions from the sport aspect is truly unhelpful for the karateka's betterment. It's clear to anyone with a knowledge of real karate, that neither the competitors nor the judges have any idea of the purpose of kata. In sport kata, the visual show is the main goal, and in doing this they abandon classic karate concepts as far as self-defense is concerned. Karate is suppose to be valuable but the disruption of karate's heredity through the misunderstanding of kata is taken as the proposed gospel of what kata is not. Relax the rules/regulations, if only for just a moment, one might see what karate can and will effectively do in an MMA venue. Imho!!

Whenever a school of the MA denies access to their school and/or students... Is it because they're protective of their students? Or is it because that they're insecure that they might lose some students for whatever reason(s)? It can't be because styles aren't similar, that's why training EXCHANGES are sought after because not every style of the MA is all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips; something must be found other than the usual norm; limits are recognized. I/Hombu deny excess only if I/we feel that what other styles of the MA have to offer is grossly insignificant in added depth to Shindokan. In that, we've opened our doors more than we've closed them.

I've one little question... When is it time to let students go from under your wing? Once they're Sandan [3rd Dan]? Once they've opened up their own dojo/school? Let the discussion begin.

My Dai-Soke passed away a few years ago, and in that, a huge hole was created in my life and in my training. Kids have a way of asking things that most adults shy away from. Last time I was at the Hombu, I was teaching a class full of our JBB's. I was talking to a few parents, and in the corner opposite of where I was standing, I noticed that a small group of our JBB's kept looking at me and then talk to each other. This happened for the next several minutes, and after I finished speaking with those parents, I instructed them to remain right where they were. "Ok boys...what's going on?" I asked. " Nothing sir" was all they said. "Really!? Why acting all secretive and all?" I asked, and then I explained to them what I observed. "Oh...that...that's nothing sir" they said back to me. "Come on boys...spit it out" I said more firmly. "Well...since Dai-Soke has passed away...who teaches you sir?" they sheepishly said. "You do!!" I said. "We understand sir...thank you" was their response. "Your welcome" and we bowed to one another. I learn from my students. I learn from EVERYONE. However, my formal days of learning more about Shindokan is over. Yes, the many things that I still don't know about Shindokan are located in our scrolls, but, understanding them is another thing. Self discovering about Shindokan will have to come to me in my aha moments as long as I have Kancho and the Board of Regents I should be able to evolve within Shindokan as my betterment increases. If your instructor has died...Who teaches you? When your instructor dies...Who will teach you?

The difference between a technique(s) being effective or not lies within its execution. No technique is ever guaranteed! Will said technique(s) work as prescribed? For example... A punch, kick, and/or strike will need power at contact. If there's no power at contact to sufficiently impact said target, as one might do is anger said opponent, therefore, wasted some precious time/energy. A beginner lacks power, an intermediate is learning power, and an advanced practitioner continually refines power. Will your technique(s) stun or stop or do absolutely nothing to your attacker? Do you hit like a truck? Will your hit debilitate? If you don't know or you're not sure...well...you better find out and fix it asap. I'm speaking primarily about seasoned BB/veterans of the MA, where I've witnessed the lack of noted power while I'm holding a shield/bag; they seem to only possess questionable power. Two of my most personal favorite drills to get the umph factor is simple... WORK THE BAG: Not just any ordinary bag but one with a lot of weight and girth to it. The harder/compacted the bag the better because a pillow dense bag offers no resistance. WORK THE POOL: Getting in the swimming pool is a great resistance tool because your overall body will be tested in many areas. The resistance is within trying to move all of the water out of your way. I once worked out with Eric Nolan, and once I saw him drop a knee on an opponent which appeared to lack power, but the reaction of his opponent made me think differently. So, I asked him to demonstrate it on me. He did! We engaged is sparring and then I allowed him to get close to me, and when he closed the distance, WHAM, his appearing weak knee drop to the top of my right thigh felt like I was hit with a sledgehammer. I spun away, but to late, I was soundly overcome by this technique...that had the umph factor!!

Two weekends ago, I conducted an Instructor's seminar covering a plethora of subjects pertaining to Tuite. During the session about "Short Range Techniques" I offered up a question for them to consider. I'll get to the question soon. Let me preface my question... It is said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Geographical that might be true, however, in the MA, especially where Tuite is concerned, that isn't always true. For example, an opponents defensive posture and/or defensive counter might present an obstruction in an otherwise clear path towards your sight-of-target. Now, where your attack was deflected before, your transitional movements/footwork created in/by/through a more clearer opportunities, i.e. a hook punch/kick/throw around. Now for the question... When is the fastest way better than the shortest way and vice versa?

However, the rules/regulations governing these venue's prohibit many techniques that would normally be used by karateka's trained in them. Karate traditionalists in the MMA? Old school types might view MMA as nothing more than sport, and in that, sport karate is below them because they view those as kuchibushi; those who teach karate with their mouths and never get their gi dirty. I think a karate infestation that karateka's might hope for is at its zenith.

I've four kids, only one should any interest, but that interest has been replaced with newer interests. All of my kids have been around the MA their entire lives, however, they were quite involved in the administrative side of my dojo's, as well at the Hombu. I've never pushed them to try the MA because they have to want to do the MA, just as I wanted to do the MA whenever I first started. I wanted to learn the MA a lot and had my parents pushed me into it, I would've walked away from it quick. I would've loved to have had my kid(s) rank out, but I'm at peace about the whole thing. I wonder if... Nobuaki Kanazawa Sensei; son of Hirokazu Kanazawa Sensei OR Nidaime A. Nakamura Sensei; son of Tadashi Nakamura Kaicho OR Gosei Norimi Yamaguchi Sensei, Goshi Hirofumi Yamaguchi Sensei, Gosen Kishio Yamaguchi Sensei, Wakako Yamaguchi Sensei, and Makiko Yamaguchi Sensei; children of Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei ...and the list could go on and on and on... Were these children of the most notables forced into MA training or did they start learning the MA because they wanted to??

I agree Brian. It's all about the positive muscle memory..."I do not hit, 'it' hits all by itself!" Everyday things that we do, we do them without premeditated thoughts, like getting dressed or eating or walking/running, we just do 'it'.

Imho... For the most and in part, sport sparring is deficient because those karateka's interested in the MMA venue do not have experience of real karate, and therefore little control. In the world of sport karate practitioners execute unneccessary and illogical movements with each other to bring new extremes to the competition floor to win that, to them, all important trophy/medal. Most "experienced" karateka's are only beginners, and in the venue of MMA, they're outclassed right from out of the gate. Harsh statement? No...an honest statement. Most karateka's have absolute NO GROUND ABILITIES, and the little they do have, they quickly discover that it's not enough to counter the most basic ground attack. As karateka's learn more and more ground skills and become well tenured in that venue, maybe. and I feel it's a big maybe, more and more karateka's will enter the octagon more willingly. Those karateka's who truly want to enter the MMA world, and whom are sincere in their quest/desire, then they will achieve the needed experience before crossing the MMA threshold with any confidence...but that will take many, many years of training. Yes, there are few karateka's within the MMA world, but few isn't enough to make a noticeable dent.

Harkon72, Do you and/or did you find the instep to strike with difficult to learn and/or mold? Thank you in advance.

Is it the conscious through analysis? Or... Is it the sub-conscious through knowledge? Or...Is it through the desire of surviving the immediate moment? While the parameters do change, of the three, which one dominates? I believe that it's through the sub-conscious through knowledge more often than not that dominates. The conscious through knowledge, as well as the desire of surviving the immediate moment DOES happen during the attack. "Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick."~Bruce Lee Whatever begets any said technique, be sure of one thing, IT will happen, allow yours to be there first before your opponents.

I love it as well!! Juniors/Seniors alike, I love it when they're there for themselves and not for their parents/spouse. More efforts are put in their own training by them take responsibility themselves. Every MAist, imho, must be accountable for their own training and in that, heart must be in the training because a student can be quite easily swayed away from the floor by family peer pressure.

Its a good article, and written by a very knowledgeable Karateka, but I don't think it totally discounts the ability to use high kicks. I concur!!

Some great advice has been given already. I'd just want to reiterate that time in any technique will be needed to overcome and/or adjust to be effective. You'll, in time, overcome this temporary setback/frustration by being diligent with your efforts. Learn to kick both ways and don't disregard either of them unless YOU decide!! Hang in there...good luck!!

Tameshiwara [board breaking] is a very important part of our style. It's a measuring tool of some type that we value, and whether a practitioner likes or dislikes it, imho, isn't that important. Brain's topic title is quite accurate across the board...pun intended. Technique is a must in all aspects of Tameshiwara, and as technique will serve one very well against an opponent(s), that same said technique will serve one very well against any chosen material. Hit any given material improperly and one will be provided vital and important feedback instantly via your unsuccessful break attempt; your body will scream out..."OUCH...that hurt!" It drives me crazy when I see a practitioner going through a lot of preparation before any said break. One doesn't have that luxury against ones opponent/attacker when everything counts. Have the faith and confidence on your proven techniques and let them fly to the target.

Imho... While your style may or may not have high kicks, one should do whatever works for "you" no matter the census might be on the subject. My style is Okinawan, and our kicks are waist down, in that, I'm well versed in high kicks, part because of my very limited TKD background. Yet, over the many years, I've developed my high kicks as part of my arsenal because I can and that's also because I've been trained to do them, and do them effectively. Having said that, in discovering that my opponent is a high kicker, I'll stay very close and personal, albeit, I'll jam him/her constantly, and in that, I'll throw a high kick whenever it suits ME pertaining to the parameters before me.

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Before Dai-Soke passed away...I was trained by him...for over 40 years!!

RUSH!!

Congrats...well deserved!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome back!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!

Welcome to KF!!!!!!!!