Killer Miller

Oh, did I forget to mention that some of them were signed... - Killer -

I had a lot of great books, some left, that grew legs. Either I loaned and forgot whom I loaned it to, or a new home was discovered... Whomever, I'm sure it was someone that I knew and would make good use of it. - Killer -

Great book. I use to have it, but it grew legs... - Killer -

Thnx Pers.

Drive is commonly referred to as power or strength. It's actually neither. Power/Strength is the by product, not the action. Drive is actually based on quick and centered starting action. The body has to be relaxed, centered, and both feet flat and engaged to the floor. When driving, all body muscles contract, as if going down stairs of a screwing down to the floor action. The body naturally drives forward. The faster you breathe/contract, the faster the forward/backwards movement. Driving over distance involves more work on breathing timing. And instead of thinking driving in one motion over distance, you drive centered in multiple minute/major contractions utilizing breathing timing until you achieve your target distance - otherwise you will be winded and not be able to recover from the movement. How do you develop this action. Stand in ready or a specific stance. Totally relax the entire body. Without thought, quickly exhale and contract all body muscles and drive forward - one step at a time. Then quickly relax the entire body to do another action. If you practise this enough, it will be second nature and you will be able to drive all day long (so-to-speak) without getting tired and applying maximum speed and power in any direction you chose to go... Hope this helps. - Killer -

We are all aware of the term "Muscle Memory." Bunkai is writing various techniques into muscle memory so that when you are confronted with a situation, you don't think about what you are going to do, but naturally react to the situation - without thought and without hesitation. The more variety of bunkai you learn, practise and write into muscle memory, the better chance you have of defending yourself when confronted. Additionally, there is never just "one" bunkai for a specific or variety of technique(s), there are many. This is why bunkai is so important - not to learn just one, but as much variety and variations as you can possible write into muscle memory. Thus, the meaning of "Mizu No Koko Ro." - Killer -

The object of a block is not to strike, but to deflect and redirect through good timing when the leg is in the relaxe stage of the kick. So, with practice and good timing, gedan barai is very effective and safe to use. - Killer -

When you define Karate-kas', keep in mind that there are two or three variations that are very different in style. I would doubt that you would have sparred with JKA style of Karate-ka because we typically don't sparr with outsiders, with the exception of the lower ranked practitioners - whom are not typically a good example of the art. Higher level JKA or similar are not necessarily someone you want to mess with because of the different philosophies. They are very refined in speed, hands and feet as well and will literally mow you over until you are down. The concept is to hurt or kill, not to spar and say whom is tougher... Wrestlers are tough to sweep, so you generally wait for them to move and then use good timing to counter and take down. I've sparred with wrestlers and couldn't budge them, but at the same time I've sent a few of them to the floor with good technique and timing. TKDs, the second they turned their heads slightly for their kick, they were dead meat (so-to-speak) because I would go through the opponent in the same direction and side they turned their head on and typically a forearm block for their kicking leg, sweep their supporting leg, at the same time the forearm block rises, and take them down with a punch or kick followup. They typically get up in extreme pain and have a hard time continuing. This all happens in a very quick and refined manner - they usually don't know what hit them. Many other hand oriented styles with a lot of fast hand/arm techniques, we would typically just let them do whatever they want to expend some energy, keep distance away, then when they pause for any reason, mow them down. They get quite confused at this point and don't know how to react to a train coming at them after expending all their energy on the flurry of hand techniques. The other option with this type of MA is to just drive them and mow them down because arm/hand flurries require a certain amount of distance to be effective and driving them in close with blocks, sweeps and counters render them quite helpless. Some of the newer styles like the grappling and what's referred to as the BJJers, I can't speak for because these styles are after my time and can't really offer any input on them. But from what I've seen so far, I'm sure I could create a few surprises for them as well. - Killer -

Actually, let me clarify what I mean. 1. I have a small city with at least 50 different MA dojos (my city is not too far from L.A., California). Not "one" of them have any similance, standards, or indicate any affiliation what-so-ever with the WKF. If they did, I'd be the first one over there assisting coaching for Olympic competition. 2. When you go to China, do you see karate as defined? No, you see standards more towards Kung Fu. When you go to Korea do you see karate as defined? No, you see standards more towards Tae Kwon Do (I hope the spelling is correct?). Etc... 3. Internationally, what is the actual definition of Karate from an Olympic Perspective and Performance Standards? Although MA is very popular, most MAs "are not" Karate. Karate as defined is primarily an olympic style of sport in perspective to Japan, USA, a fair amount in Europe, Some Mexico, Some Africa and some in many other countries. But it is not standardized in most countries - which is a primary IOC requirement. So just to say that "I am the IOC authority" doesn't mean squat if you don't have the programs in place internationally for Olympic support and standards. And in all the vast diversity of MAs, the majority has yet to agree as to what that will be. Should it even be called "Karate" in order for it to be accepted as an Olympics sport? This is the "age old" IOC battle that has been going on for years past, and years to come. - Killer -

WKF has established the rules and organization. The training support internationally for olympic teams as a standard has not. This is what the IOC looks for in addition. This has always been the main problem getting into the olympics. There has never been the financial and program support internationally that has been acceptable to the IOC. I'm not saying that the WKF hasn't made some headway in this department, but they are not there yet... And when you look at their website, they are a little vauge in these areas and still show a little disconnect as being the actual IOC Authority. - Killer -

Unless you know someone at the traditional dojos, they will beat the crud out of you until you become one of the respected karate-ka. And, I don't think you will be there long enough to achieve that status to enjoy the training. You definately have to earn your respect. Just a fact of life over there - you are gaijin... - Killer -

It will take quite some time still for Karate to be in the olympics. It's the same "old story" of all the organizations wanting to be the dominant authority of technique and rules... It's become a long stale mate since the 60s. We've made some ground on this note, but not enough. There's more to getting into the olympics than just coming up with an organization and establishing olympic standards. You also have to have that same standard in all dojos and countries as well with proper support and standardized training. Thus back to the same old problem... Who's standards do we implement internationally??? Once the IOC sees that accomplishment achieved, then we'll probably see karate in the Olympics. - Killer -

There are some discrepancies from dojo to dojo, but huge discrepancies are typically organization related. I suspect a totally different organization is the case here. - Killer -

Is there supposed to be a video link in the post? - Killer -

Congrats! - Killer -

Some of my favorites, many whom I've trained under at one point - regular and/or seminars. http://youtube.com/watch?v=B1bKXVXjGv0&feature=related http://youtube.com/watch?v=visOc8TnU-s http://youtube.com/watch?v=FQPjg_aw0g0 http://youtube.com/watch?v=kmmzv2u_HdI http://youtube.com/watch?v=qmJsLvgnqiA http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q3doBN7ad8U - Killer -

You would have to schedule the camps during the holiday season to get draw, and most people are doing family stuff at that time. Would be nice though. - Killer -

Nice Article, but I disagree as well. It's actually the other way around. 99% physical, and 1% mental. The 1% would represent the Conscious mind for your current surroundings, and 99% of the sub-conscious mind for the database of learned techniques - which comes from the 99% physical training becoming muscle memmory when competing. Hence the saying of "Mizu No Koko Ro" (Mind Like Water) as stated in my Mind Dumping article. - Killer -

bearich is right on the money. "Breathing Timing" means that your breathing matches "All" body movements in Kata from start to finish (and I can't stress enough about the word "ALL"). Ask yourself as to "why do you get tired?" It's solely a lack of oxygen to the Blood, brain, muscles, etc. How do you get oxygen into the blood? "Breathing." So what does "Breathing Timing" really mean? When you exhale your muscles naturally contract. When you inhale your muscles naturally relax. So when doing "each" movement in Kata, from start to finish, all these movements should match the timing as described above, and with correct breathing timing you are also allowing Vital Oxygen into your blood stream. Result is Maximum/Appropriate speed, control and power on techniques, and you won't get tired in the process. Now this is not to say that you won't get sore from undeveloped muscles producing lactic acid..., but you won't be tired. How do you train for this concept? By working on each Kata 3 or 4 times very slowly with correct technique and breathing (meaning with not only correct technique, but correct Breathing Timing for each technique). On the 4th or 5th time doing the Kata, then you do it at full speed with the only focus as being correct Breathing Timing. An amazing by-product of training this way is that you find out that the technique is naturally correct due to correct breathing timing. So you can see that it truly takes a "long time" to properly learn each Kata with the correct breathing timing application to where you don't get tired by doing continual Kata. This concept also applies to Kumite as well. You train this way long enough, it becomes so natural that you don't even think about it. Watch some of the Kata and Kumite greats and see how relaxed, powerful, fast and rested they are when they perform. This is Breathing Timing at its best... - Killer -

Shotokan-kez, I'm sure you have heard the term of "breathing timing." Beathing Timing is "so..." critical to Kata longevity... - Killer -

I appreciate your article and it was well written - Thank you. I agree that learning the "old" concepts that are commonly referred to are rare these day - true. But it is only rare because of the US popularity of Boxing in general, and the I'm a "tough guy" attitude in the US that spawned many of the popular MAs as a sport. The true essence of the "old" arts was to defend and kill as many and as quickly as possible. This is definitely not the essence of Sport MAs and does not apply to one or another. The old arts of "kara-te" (empty hands) was actually training, in large part, a trilogy of arts to prepare one for Battle. This would be an offensive empty hand arts(s) like Karate or Jujitsu, a defensive art like Aikido, and one of the sword arts like Ken-do, Naginata, etc. And in some cases arts like Kyudo (archery). These people were trying to defend their country and territories. This didn't mean to always kill, but kill if necessary... This concept of survival has no comparison to the boxing mentality. It was not a sport, it was a way of life to survive as a human being, family, or country. With this mentality of survival, life or death is one chance - or you may not get a second chance... This is what they taught, this is what they learned, and this is what they spent their entire lives perfecting. The rare instructors of the "Old Arts" are coming to an end of their generation. What they teach is an "art of perfection" which is a life long challenge to achieve. Boxers and Sports Arts enthusiasts do not have what is takes, or nor do they want to spend the time to achieve this level of perfection. It is out there, and being passed on to younger instructors, but most busy Americans don't want to take the time to learn or perfect it to an effective level. It is effective, and can quickly kill if necessary, but takes high levels and years to obtain this level for effectiveness. But this extensive time span does not make the art(s) less effective or less meaningless, it just takes longer for effective results. This reminds me of my business trip I was recently on and I spent a few days with my brother. My brother studies one of the "Boxing" style of arts. Off the cuff, we dropped by his dojo in our travels. There were a couple of guys training in a boxing ring they had set up when we got there. My brother said hello to them and introduced me to them and mentioned that I was a JKA black belt. The one guy was really friendly and cordial. The other guy was hanging over the edge of the boxing ring just staring me down like a rabid dog with the message that "I'm tougher than you and I'm going to rip your face off." I was always friendly while I was there, and really said nothing but "how's it going, please to meet you..." After a few minutes of this, I chuckled quietly smirked and left the dojo and waited for my brother. Here's someone that knows nothing about me or my skills, nor whom I've trained under and with, and he stares me down as if my art is an absolute waste of time like we are a bunch of pansies. My chuckle was because he had no clue as to what my art and purpose was really all about. I just think that the old arts could be better respected and an attempt to truly understand why the arts are taught the way they are. Why it takes so long to properly learn. Why they are effective with the situation they are intended for. Why you can't compare Boxing or Sport MAs with the Old Arts. Etc...

Good disclaimer Cross. My disclaimer would be: "I'm sure you think you understood what I said, but I'm sure you don't realize that what I said is not what I meant..." :0) - Killer -

It's not what's on the black, but what's missing from the black belt - which would be the black from being worn off from training... - Killer -

I didn't really have any issues with the outside movements or the mechanics of Nijushiho, but fully understanding the inside movements was a little difficult. You have to practice Nijushiho slow a lot, visualizing application of the kata, then maybe the 5th one full speed so you can merge the inside and outside movements together. - Killer -

Obviously very JKA. But I don't know who he is either. - Killer