Killer Miller

Reaching your maximum ability requires three key areas. 1. Training, training, training. 2. Perfect training makes perfect. Meaning that it's not necessarily how 'much' you train, but how you train when you train that develops maximum ability. Another way of saying this is that you must train perfect each and every time you train in order to write it into you sub-conscious mind (also know as muscle memory) - otherwise, don't bother to train at all. 3. Without proper coaching, you may not know 'how' to train perfectly to achieve maximum ability... - Killer -

snip..kizame-zuki (don't remember the proper spelling?) snip... I just re-looked at my post with the above statement I made. If you are referring to that line, it was not directed at you and was a typo on my part. It was supposed to say "kizame-zuki ("I" don't remember the proper spelling???)" referring to my own poor spelling - not yours... - Killer -

You just might learn something if you listened to my mouth full of CRAP as you state... And secondly, I didn't criticize your spelling at all! I'm the last person to criticize a person's spelling... You must have confused me with another poster on the criticism. Finally, I explained "exactly" what was wrong with your stance in terms of hip rotation - based on your question. So I suggest you back down a little on this one! - Killer -

The stance should be a shoulder width wide, but is not the major factor in rotation - the length of the stance is the primary factor. When you are "squared off" as you say, your front knee should be over your front toe. If the knee is forward of the front toe, the stance is too short. If the knee is behind the front toe, the stance is too long. It takes time and practice for your body to learn the proper distance without thought. Also, the primary difference between gyaku-zuki or kizame-zuki (don't remember the proper spelling?) in terms of hip rotation is that gyaku-zuki uses hip rotation and kizame-zuki uses more of a hip vibration or just muscle contraction to execute the punch. Typically in kumite your hips are already rotated in a relaxed 45 degree angle and is one of the reasons that gyaku-zuki is such an effective technique - you're already in position for hip rotation of gyaku-zuki. Kizame-zuki usually only requires muscle contraction or slight hip vibration to effectively execute the jab. - Killer -

G59champ hit the nail on the head... a knife hand sweeping or pressing block is used. I'm just not sure if you have been taught that yet. Typically you would use the sweeping block, but the idea is not to actually absorb the force of the back fist strike, but to catch the "timing" of the back fist strike when your oponents arm is still in the bent and relaxed state, then just guiding the back fist slightly away from your head. Now your oponent's hand is in perfect position for some kind of grab and/or counter action - typically a sweep and counter punch at the exact same time with both hands. Anotherwise, your oponent does a back fist to temple, you do sweeping knife hand with one hand, and counter punch at the same time with the other hand. Any attack is always a beautiful oportunity for a counter at the same time. - Killer Miller -

Thanks all, glad you enjoyed the article... This article is derived from many of the world's top masters, international coaches and champions. This is a concept that is taught at thier level of training. The problem at lower levels is that this concept is not well explained in English - typically explained by Japanese (Nihon-jin). This article is my own English compilation and understanding as how it has been explained to me over the years of my personal training with these great Karate-ka. Normally it's a concept that is understood by training experience and not words. I choose to put these concepts/experiences into good English verbage for all to absorb in their training. I hope to have another article in the futuer for everyone, but my life currently has taken one of those BUSY turns. I guess time management is only good when you have time to expend. - Killer Miller -

HAAAAY-EAT!!!!! Lot's of modulation, air volume, and ground shaking...! - Killer Miller -

I'm with ya on this one. I trained for 17 years and 2 weeks short of my Nidan test. To truly perfect technique, there's truly no quick method. However, stardom has many quicker avenues though... I probably could have made Sandan in the length of time I trained and followed all the testing schedules - but rank really wasn't a priority in my life, training was my priority. Although, I couldn't have seen myself geeting any higher that Sandan with the amount of years I trained. All the Yondan's and Godan's I knew all had trained 25-30 years plus... Many of them wore white belts - meaning black belts where the black wore off to white. - Killer -

I don't know? There are some legitimate things on their site, and what appears to be some fiction to their beleifs as well. What few pictures there were looked like the technique wasn't too bad and posture looked appropriate. But I'm always leary of non-Asian persons proclaiming to be the best and baddest in existance with no real mention of Asian masters in their organization - these are statements that you would not hear from true Asian traditionalists. Plus the setting in beautiful picture perfect surroundings commonly is a give-a-way too. But who knows? - Killer -

My comments may seem a littlte confusing on the thread - which I realize and didn't realize at the time of writing. However, my comments mix up comments of this thread, other threads, and also includes private messages that are not visible to others. Is my view going to change on this subject - no... Do I need to take up full contact to prove a point - no. Have I participated in full contact in the past - yes. Have I seriously hurt people under these circumstances - yes. Did I feel good about doing that - no. Do I mind discussing the subject - sure, let's discuss. Is my tone a little direct at times - yes, but many times a message goes along with it and disrespect usually is not intended. The only point on this thread I've been truly trying to make is that comparisons typically come from lower levels. That's fine with me, I have no problem with that at all. But please, don't imply to be an expert on comparisons at lower levels - granted maybe not this thread so much, but threads in general. I have some pretty impressive training credentials and I've seen and experienced a lot in my day that most of you haven't seen (not to say that some of you haven't done so as well). Tone is strong perhaps this time and I'm not above apologizing to you guys/gals for that... But you all have to admit that the voicing on this forum about traditional karate have been pretty strong overall - which I will always defend. Let's welcome discussion, but keep things factual and the bias out of the picture. Comments like "let's get it on" won't sit to well with me either... - Killer Miller -

Here's the problem I personally have with this entire thread. Sure full contact/kick boxing has a different set of rules. The implication though, in this thread and most others, are that Karate-ka do not train hard enough to last in a kickboxing ring, can't punch their way from a paper bag, we have to train your way (or the kick boxing way that is), etc. This appears a little arogant to me from the kick-boxers perspective from very few persons that have achieved high levels of karate (from a traditional sense of karate that is). Lets look at this from another perspective. Do you feel that Oishi, Tanaka, Shirai, to name a few, would have a problem in a street fight, or in a kickboxing match? I seriously doubt it... Oishi and Tanaka are both multi International champions. Why is this? Because they have achieved high level Karate. Would I expect a low level Karate-ka to do well in a street fight or in a kickboxing match? Probably not, but they would probably develop better and faster than most. So the issue is this. 1. Should a lower level Karate-ka change their structure to another style or method to fit into kickboxing - because they haven't fully developed as a Karate-ka yet? Or 2. Should they expand their application as a Karate-ka, for development purposes, by maintaining their Karate structure while participating in kick-boxing? Yes, two different worlds in terms of rules, and "prefered" use of technique. But to imply that an experienced, fully developed, karate-ka can't cut the mustard in a kickboxing arena, or in the street for that matter, by using karate technique and structure is the most rediculous statement I've heard... These statements are commonly made by persons that have, for a short time, participated in karate, never fully developed in karate, switched over to kickboxing and act as an expert in karate stating that karate doesn't make it in the world of "full contact." I would love to see comments here from "experienced" traditional karate-ka on this subject. I suspect we won't is my guess. Not comments that "I trained JKA" or "I trained traditional karate" from people to won't specify what level they actually participated in - or that they never achieved a high level for comparison. I'm not trying to say that there's not differences between the two venues in terms of rules. But the implication in most of these threads is that we (JKA or traditional karate) don't train hard enough, have enough speed and stamina, or the proper technique to cut it in a kickboxing match. A lower level karate-ka, I might agree with you because they haven't developed in their own art yet. As a higher level karate-ka, I totally dissagree with most comments. So my basis of my original comments to the original karate-ka asking the question, was to stress to him/her that there is no need to change the way of training just to participate in a full contact art. They may have to train harder to be skilled enough to cut the mustard in full contact due to their lack of technique and experience in the traditional art, but this shouldn't be a negative reflection on the actual traditional art - just a reflection on the individual's current development and achievements... I'm probably rambling on at this point, but continued comments degrading traditional Karate as "useless" or "worthless" or "ineffective" in the world of full contact is getting a little tiring and a sore spot. I spent many years as a demo team promoting traditional karate in our region. So I do take this subject to heart. Finally, don't let this post stop you from expressing your comments to debate the issue and I am not mad at anyone here, just feel a need to support our art... - Killer Miller -

Tokaido all the way here... - Killer Miller -

Out of curiosity, how long did you train with JKA, and what rank were you? - Killer -

A little strong, yes. Meant for disrespect no. To make a point, yes. I have never gone on here and bad-mouthed another style on the forum - THAT"S respect... However, I'm a little tired of "other" styles saying things about my style that "are not true." These types of comments typically come from persons that have not trained my style before, or have not reached a significant level in the art to know the truth (black belt plus). And I'm supossed to sit here and go, "yeh you're write, my style is cr*p." I will only listen to that for so long before I start sticking up for my style regarding the real truth. I'm not mad, and I'm not trying to start a flame here. However, when I see impropper information be provided to a person/student of "my style," then yeah, I'm going to speak up. Who says that you actually have to train differently? How do you know how we/I trained? Do you think that we do contact, or know "how" to contact? I could make mince-meat out of a makiwara or heavy bag - is this not contact? If a body was there, this body would not feel pain, or be "knocked down?" Do you feel, or are you implying, that we are not capable of a "one point win?" That's the premise of our entire art - One chance to "kill" with the perfect technique. Either do it, or don't do it at all - so to speak... This is another incorrect statement as well. Do you think that we "pull" our punches? Wrong... We just happen to be polite enough, usually, and have enough control in our technique to stop 1/2" from hurting someone... To hurt you, or devostate you, we just carry it a tiny bit further - you would definately go down for the count. We do not "pull" our punches as you might think. Also, do you truly think we are only capable of only "one" blow to an opponent, or not capable of multiple blows? If so, this is incorrect as well. Do you also feel that I'm not use to being hit? I use to come home from team training with black & blue welts all over my body and I didn't even know I was being hit so hard... Also, do you feel that we don't know how "not" to use guards - beleive me, this is by far not a supprise or shock to our art. In fact, we hardly ever use protective wear because if gives a false sense of security and promotes improper technique development. No I don't think you are ignorant about fighting in full contact tournaments. And I appreciate your respect as always. However, you must understand my methods to my madness regarding my arts. Also, you are not an expert of my art, and feel that many of the information provided to persons of "my art" are inappropriately given by persons that do not truly understand what our art is all about. So my advice to the other person is not to dis-respect the kick-boxing community, but to instill a proper frame-of-mind to prepare him mentally through the transition between our art to their's. - Killer -

We would study bunkai, then work variations of one or two bunkai (as the concept of the night) with everything we did that night - including kumite, timing training, warm-down, during kata, etc... By the end of the night, you knew the bunkai not by mind, but by muscle memory (the sub conscious). Secondly, there is never "one" bunkai. If you get caught going down the road of only one bunkai in a kata, you may not be able to properly interpret the true meaning of the kata. Bunkai is an "inside" feeling, not an "outside" application of techniques. Once you understand that, it becomes easier to interpret and naturally vision the bunkai as if you truly were defending yourself against one or more opponents... - Killer -

Ah...*.... Stay doing your point sparring techniques, but carry your techniques another inch longer, and they won't be getting up - and they will wonder why you're so rough on them! Don't listen to half of whay you're being told from the other side that doesn't truly know what the point side of the world is really all about. It's a fine line in reality. I trained a couple of students that wanted to get into the point sparring arena for the heck of it. They did execellent... Not a concept I wanted them to learn at the time, but I wasn't going to hold them back from it either. If you "think" that "point sparring" is truly different from contact sparring, then you won't do so well. Once you realize that there truly is no difference, except the one inch, you will devistate quite a few opponents. However, at 3rd Kyu, I would wonder if you are refined enough to realize there's really no difference. - Killer -

Welcome BritNoob, It's totally normal to feel awkward at first. It will take quite a few months just for muscle memory to kick in to where it will feel routine. Hang in there, you have a LONG way to go... - Killer Miller -

I have to say this just for my own mental well being - no offense intended at all, and I make plenty of errors myself as well. However, everytime I scroll by this title, it stands out and punches me right in the face... Karate and I should be the title. There now, I personally feel much better that I got that out of my system. Not trying to get nit-picky with your writing - this was just for myself. - Jack -

That depends on what their goals are Sai - perhaps another poll. Personal development sounds good in words - no offense intended here at all Sai. But what does that really mean. How do you personally develop? or How do you know WHAT to personally develop? This might be a better question... One answer to the poll I didn't put up is poper instruction. Without this, you have no value in your personal development, no value or meaning in your training, goals are not met, body development is not proper or injuries may occur, etc... That why I love this poll/question. To see what everyone feels is important in their eyes... - Killer -

That's an interesting answer SaiFightsMS. Please elaborate - I'm curious as to why you say personal development? Nothing wrong with the answer, just curious. - Killer -

Excellent charts. But it still doesn't cover the breathing aspects of Kata. Knowing the timing, as the charts show, is important. However, it is meaningless if you don't understand the breathing aspects in relation to timing. Breathing is your internal clock... - Killer -

You are primarily referring to "Breathing Timing" which is a concept I've planned on writing an article on, but haven't had the time to do so. Primarily though, breathing timing is the art (and I call it an art because it's not taught enough as it should be...) of matching your body actions and body timing with your breathing. This is very important because it not only aids as a timing mechanism of body actions, but also allows a mechanism of prividing oxygen to your body/brain needed for muscle development, clear thinking, and endurance. I don't have time to go into details at the moment, but if you go to my table tennis website, shown at my signature, I beleive there's a section that covers pretty much the Breathing Timing aspects. Just replace the table tennis terms with karate terms, and wala... One of these days I'll covert it, and expand that article for Karate and get it out to you guys/gals. - Killer -

The concept of of Shotokan Karate (Karate being the "art of empty hands" in our context), is that you must learn how to properly use your body prior to learning weapons. The body actions in many of our techniques/katas are designed for use with a weapon as an "extension" of the action/technique. However, it is studied/practiced without the use of the weapon. Karate is actually a trilogy of three primary Japanese arts (in the Japanese aspect that is) - Aikido to learn many of the defensive aspects of the arts, Karate to learn the offensive aspects of the art, and Kendo as a weapon extension of both of the other two arts. There are also other Japanese arts that could be applied as the weapon extension of the first two arts as well. Mastering a lifetime of these three primary Japanese arts, you pretty much become Invincible in the non-modern sense of society... - Killer -

Thanks for stating that G59. I was going to write that as well, but didn't have time. - Killer -