Killer Miller

Ah yes, my primary tournament kata. I loved that kata... Have to stay very centered with that kata and really good breathing. - Killer -

Instructor is correct. Always knee up first to target, then let the foot snap out. muscle contraction and hip drives the knee to target. Too many try to drive the foot to target instead of knee - losing speed, power, and acuracy to target. - Killer -

McCarthy looks like a fun person with a lot of character - based on his pictures. I enjoyed looking at the pictures. - Killer -

I use to teach a lot of kids. 1st, their attention span at that age is only about 15 minutes, 30 minutes max. I think too much is being expected from him. If you can't teach it to him/her in the first 30 minutes, they are not going to get it no matter what you do... 2. Only expect them to learn the outside movements. 3. Focus primarily on breathing aspect of karate. If they truly understand the breathing aspect, and learn to develop the inside feeling of muscle contraction, expansion, etc., all of the outside movements will rapidly fall into place naturally. - Killer -

Actually Menjo, it's the other way around... Proper technique naturally comes with proper Breathing. - Killer -

No, Nishiyama was JKA. Prof. Dr. Shinam Ilija Jorga was fudokan. - Killer -

I beleive that record was either tied or broken years ago by Tanaka and Oishi of the JKA. - Killer -

I usually catch them when they are attacking and just as they start to plant, sweep and counter at the same time. - Killer -

Loose hand and straight wrist is the way to go... The hand is closed only to keep from breaking the fingers. Knuckles take the impact of the punch. - Killer -

Pretty good stuff. One of the guys in the video looks like someone I trained with in the past, but they are not JKA. Although, I didn't see much difference in the Kata and Technique, with the exception of the back fist, than JKA. - Killer -

I second Tokaido and a good wood floor... - Killer -

Think of Tekki Shodan when sweeping. But the object is not to just sweep alone. You Sweep/Counter at the exact same time. They never know it's coming. When the timing is correct, which requires a lot of timing training to perfect, sweeping requires "no effort" at all... There are a couple of types of sweeps that are most effective. One is sweeping to the side or a pulling the sweep into you if your foot is far enough inside their foot. The other is sweep their foot into their back foot, causing them to basically trip over themselves when going backwards. Both sweeps are most effective when executing a counter or step in punch at the exact same time. Between the sweep and punch, they go down really hard - and like I said before, with "no effort at all..." And yes, the bigger they are, the harder they fall! - Killer -

DokterVet said it exactly right. You have to wait until a person's body weight in commited for the foot to plant. But after the foot contacts the floor, and before the heel actually plants, this is exactly when you sweep. Not a second before or after... armanox, if the timing is right, anyone will go down and go down hard... - Killer -

I see some good habits in their videos, and then again I see some really bad habits too. Their bouncing rhythm drives me up a wall... Don't use these videos as examples - OK for comparisons, but not for good examples. - Killer -

Yes, JKA Shotokan. I can't really compare with Goju Ryu. However, true traditional Shotokan is far more versatile than most might think - if you stick with it to higher levels. But, if you compare with lower levels, it may not appear that way. When we attack, yes we are quite linear and direct in our attacks - shortest point to target from point A to B. But when not attacking, we are Very relaxed and ready to go any direction and make any necessary movement. - Killer -

Cumon guys! Be Nice!!! Oh, can I have one McDojo with everything on it and hold the pickles??? :0) - Killer -

The focus of traditional karate (shotokan) is definately NOT tournaments. However, there is a heavy focus to apply what you learn - Kumite... Morover, traditional shotokan tournaments are actually part of the learning process in terms of your test or report card of what you have learned. This is traditional Shotokan. Now, there is a huge crowd of "non-traditional" Shotokan practioners and tournaments. This is a whole 'nother world than the traditional tournaments. This is what most of you commonly see and compare the traditional crowd as being - which we are not. The non-traditional tournaments have more of the non-standard belt colors, gis, techniques, flashy guards and uneccessary types of contact rules. So when you compare Goju Ryu with Shotokan, you should actually state it as comparing Goju Ryu vs Traditional Shotokan vs Non-Traditional Shotokan. There is a world of difference between the Traditional and Non-Traditional Shotokan practioners. In fact, they are not even the same organizations... Even in traditional Shotokan there are about three main different organizations. - Killer -

That's true danbong. Only the very experienced Aikido-ka can get one on me. The rest are dumb founded because I see what they are going to do WAAYY before they do it. It frustrates the heck out of them... - Killer -

I study/studied Aikido (a little for fun), and Aikido is very legit and effective. I've seen a couple of bad body action I think could be more effective, but overall a very good art. Of course, Aikido is like any other art. At beginner levels, it may not be too impressive from the viewer. But from the vetran Aikido practitioner, it's first rate... - Killer -

I'm afraid that you use/hit makiwara to work on and improve kime (focus)... - Killer -

It seems that Egami was doing more of "soul searching" of a life long journey of dedication. If you practice one concept all the time, without variation, you either do not develop properly, or learn improperly with bad habits. I wonder if he trained with the Makiwara so much in in life that he develop more of trying to power through it. Thus, the concept of "lightness..." Many of us experienced Karate-ka go through this internal challenge at one point of our lives. I think his reference to relaxation and lightness is very accurate. I too progessed bounds in Karate when I worked on relaxation for speed, then speed for power. Then you actually feel a lightness in your technique. However, I think the spiritual aspects he refers to is really the understanding of the concept of "breathing timing" that I often refer to and once understanding your own, you understand your oponents. When two karate-ka works on relaxation and breathing timing together, the two of you become one and react to each others body movements and actions - internal and external. His writings were very interesting to me, but I don't think that he truly understood what he was experiencing in his development in terms of what is truly understood in todays technological society. - Killer -

Thanks Brandon, I agree that their style can be effective. But I think the potential would be much more effective by not bringing the foot out from the start. With the foot coming out early is a sign of excessive body tension that can severely slow down the action and power generation. - Killer -

The kick in the video short is "not" even close to a Shotokan type of roundhouse kick. The foot is not coiled back ready for release. Instead, their foot comes out almost immediately when executing the kick - which requires more hip movement to be effective. This type of kick can be slower due to the pre-extended foot - not recommended for Shotokan. The foot should not come out until the knee is pointing at the target - then BLAM... - Jack -

I agree with WhiteFeather and aefibird. If you concentrate on two or three max techniques, and practise them in "all" possible variations, you should do pretty darn good in the tourney. This is what the world champions do to prepare for tourneys... Which technique? This is more of an indivual decision of what fits your style and strengths. This is where I can not help you. Your instructor should be helping you on this part, and if not, like aefibird said, ask some of the other seniors to assist you. If you approach the seniors like your "stuff doesn't stink," they're not going to offer help. If you ask to truly want to learn, they will normally help. If your instructor is truly "clickish," then he is really a bad instructor and you should find another instructor... - Killer -

He is studying Shotokan. That's why we are focusing on the snap concept. - Killer -