Wa-No-Michi

Ok now we're off... One way I see this move is pressing down an opponents guard with the left whilst simultaneously striking (over the top) with the right. Lets get a list of options going.

Yes, we step foward with a low x-block. Then, without stepping foward, tuck the x-block in (over the knot in the obi), opening your hands, bring it up over your head, crossing the hands over (originally it was right over left, now it's left over right) and bring it down to your obi. I see it (this whole sequence) is that someone mae geri'ed you toward the crotch, you x-block, twisting the opponent's foot as you cross the hands so the opponent will face the opposite direction. And from there, you can do whatever. Again, hard to describe, but that's how I see that move.I see this as a move from Pinan Godan? Weren't we talking about the third sequence of Pinan Yondan? Not your fault, this thread has jumped about a fair bit.

Soto uke Jodan (outer block head) with the left, and the right in front of the forehead in protection / kamae (preparation) form. Never heard of it refer to as age tsuki (rising punch) and I think it sort of defeats the purpose of practicing this move in the kata this way.

Agreed, and I think it is the job of the instructor to always promote and re-enforce this mindset amongst his/her students. Failure to do so is failing your students IMO.

So after you have repeated this combination to the other side, how do you see the next technique - Step forward X block?

Cool, another Wado-ka on the forum. swadoryu2000, the Bunkai or Kaisetsu (as its more generally referred to in Wado), you have explained here is pretty standard, although as I understand it, the Haishu-uke (back of hand block) is performed against a Jodan Tsuki (not Chudan) in the Kata. The right hand is not so much of a block. As I understand it is performed as protection / Kamae (preparation) for the next technique of which a shuto strike to the throat as you explain, is probably the one of my faves as well. Either Way, pretty cool. Edit: spelling

There is no doubt about it that someone who has been classically trained in a movement based art (dancing / performing) will pick up the shapes of Karate far quicker than the average Joe. In my experience though, sometimes that can be a disadvantage. When I first started teaching I had a couple of dancers train at the club, and I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread, but in time I came to realise that although their karate looked good despite my efforts to teach them (and believe me I worked hard), they couldn't fight for toffee - cause they didn't really want to. But of course it is down to the individual, I now that, but perhaps what I am trying to say is dont assume that because someone appears to know how to move (flexibility / awareness of form etc.) it makes them a fighter. It that word "Intent" again.

Trouble is, if you are relatively new to ma, how would you know whether they are good bad, or indifferent? There's a lot of smoke a mirrors being used out there!!!

I would have to see the Kanji, but I guess it sort of means the truthfull way. Ten = Code or law. The word Shin in Japanese budo usually implies heart or truth / truthfull. Kan is another word for house / style / way. Sounds more like a club name to me than a style though.

Hi Tiger, and I'm LMAO after finding out what LMAO means! Brilliant!

Hi RoyalPython, I notice from your info bar that you are based in Surrey. Is that Surrey England? If so I am just arround the corner from you. If you are interested, the Wado club that I teach at, has an adults specific club (no ankle biters). Also we do NOT charge up front, we charge on a pay as you train basis, no contract. There is a good bunch of folk that train at the club. Very supportive.

No, this is a myth. The Makiwara is used to develop correct form and timing when delivering a punch against it. It is a way to hone correct body mechanics, nothing to do with developing callouses on your knuckles. Anyway, why would you want to?

Well yes I guess you could have said it was/is a test of technique and spirit. Reference the wooden armour; the basic armour worn today by Kendo-ka is called "Bougu" and the centre section worn around the chest / stomach is called the "do" or do plate. Traditionally this is made from laquered bamboo, but it is important to remember that, in kendo anyway, it is only supposed to offer protection against a shinai, not a sharpened blade. Whether this form of body protection has its origins on the battlefield I dont know, but it may have been a cheaper option for the slightly less well healed Samurai, particularly if you bear in mind the cost of formed metal in this period of time. I read once that a Katana was almost more of a status symbol than it was a weapon of utility, and by todays comparisons it was like owning a Ferrari.

The trick is to not get caught! And Halloween is only a few days away so maybe combine the two.

Yes, I have heard this explanation before, and agree it is a possibility. In the most part though, I think that the Jujutsu techniques developed by the Samurai would have been more appropriate against a heavily armoured oponent. This leads me to believe that the practice of Tameshiwari was then, and remains today, a test of ones spirit.

Hehe, a bit like MA internet forums really!

Aww! come on you lot, let kids be kids. Too many mums and dads out there. Be safe and try not to upset anyone, apart from that have a ball, thats what I think.

Well there you go. So what's a MT boy like you dabbling in the traditional Karate world for? Sorry if that sounded like a pick up line.

About two years ago as I seem to remember. Apologies to the people of Keale for spelling their town wrong btw.

Sorry, pushed the return key before I had finished. Also, I would add that courses are good (vital even), but they are no substitute for training week in week out with a good instructor when it comes to these sort of fundamentals. As you say moriniuk, they are not transmitted in an instant, they have to be experienced and then realised, tempered and honed. No short answers really.

There's a bit in both books actually. In introduction to Karate under "Study of Tsuki" pg 82-87, and in Karate Katas he says pretty much the same thing but on page 90 there is the energy curve graph that is very interesting. One of my students trained for a brief period at a KDS club when he was at Uni in Keal. He enjoyed it and found some similarities with Wado. Some say that Wado today is more like Shotokan used to be (pre Nakayama), and I know that the KDS Shotokai try to observe this earlier version of Shoto, so perhaps that why the transition wasn't as hard as it could have been. Most Wado katas are geared around teaching you how to move correctly, and the word "Kime" is a moot point. Some argue that it is so slight /quick in Wado (because it has to be due to the ability to relax and transmit energy) that it hardly exists if at all. Your right though, Forums are not the place to learn these principles. You have to work on them under the watchfull eye of a knowlegeable instructor.

In Japanese Jujutsu / Karate you will hear the expression Hara or Tanden. This represents the center of mass of your body or your core (its where your Ki emanates from etc). All good karate-ka will move from the Hara, not from the ground up. Its the best way to transmit kinetic energy. If you have a chance get hold of Shingo Ohgami's book "Introduction to Karate". It has an excellent section about the development of power. As well as being a JKF (Japan Karate-do Federation) 7th Dan, he holds senior dan grade ranks in Iaido. Additionally he practices Aikido, Tai-chi and Ton LoonChuan (Chinese Praying Mantis). Most importantly though, before retiring to teach martial arts full time, he was a doctor of physics, and therefore he has a very clear Scientific explanation on what makes things work - No eastern Mumbo Jumbo as it were. I have trained with him on several occasion, and he is an incredibly talented and humble man. moriniuk, I think you will find his work covers many of the points you have raised plus many more that may interest you.

I agree it is about fighting, but I wouldn't say Fighting Period. Thats too narrow minded for me. I also agree about the western mind versus the eastern mind. I am not Japanese (although many of the senior instructors in my group that I train with are), but I also dont think that when in comes to Budo the eastern mindset is very different from the west. They come at it from a different angles maybe but the end result is the same. Look for example at the word meditation - exclusively eastern I don't think so. Most western athletes have been using these methods to get in the zone for decades. Edit: spelling due to typing in a rush trying to get out the door for training.

Moriniuk! You can't leave us hanging like this! Subtle and yet "it would rock the traditional karate world" is something you have to share. Yeah, we're all ears!

Of course, you can perfom Kiai's without actually shouting.