Chitsu

"Ni Sente Nashi" is a sentiment - not to be taken literally. "Go no sen", "sen no sen" and "sen-sen no sen" are bujutsu concepts of timing. From a self protection point of view its quite clear imo: If you find yourself in a position where you feel sure [1] that (despite your best attempts to avoid such escalations) you (or others around) are at risk of being killed or seriously injured as a result of the violent action of a third party [2]- you are entitled to use "reasonable force" [3] (preemptive if need be) to stop it from happening. If it ends up ugly [1], [2] and [3] may have to be considered by a court of law, but as they say... What is better? To be tried by twelve or carried by six? Chitsu

No problems with me either. As I said, this is one of the better ones - some are getting to the point where it seems as though 80 % of the content are ads. I suppose being a Brit I still struggle with the commercial world of ads in ever walk of like. Remember we still have TV channels over here that have no Ads at all - imagine that!!. BB by the way stands for Bulletin Board. Chitsu

Hello, As a martial artist first and foremost and a slow learner in terms of the internet age, I have a love hate relationship with many bb's on the internet today. Participant content is one thing, but have you noticed how sooo many boards these days sneak in more and more ads? They put bigger and bigger banners top bottom and sides!!! I guess that’s just the world we live in, but personally I am not a lover of it. What is more important the content being discussed or the almighty buck??? Some would argue that running a company you have overheads, but I am not too sure this applies to running BB's, as they cost next to nothing by comparison - (most of the good ones are a labour of love anyway). Any thoughts, experiences? [edit] and oh yes!! this ones not too bad of course. Chitsu

I'm not sure I would agree that Wado is more about self defence. Equally, I am sure there are many Shotoka who would argue that Shotokan was not competition orientated. Naturally it will vary from Dojo to Dojo however. As far as the Shotokan connection and the "Jujutsu" element is concerned - Hironori Otsuka was a highly graded teacher (menkyo Kaiden) in Shindo Yoshin Ryu well before he started training with the likes of Funakoshi, Mabuni and Motobu. He created Wado out of his SYR knowledge and experience, but utilised processes and methodologies (mainly Kihon and Kata) found as a result of his studies in Okinwan karate - but the modus operandum is different - in terms of the katas and the principles of movement etc. Also you have to bear in mind that the karate practiced by Funakoshi back at the turn of the last century - is a country mile from the Shotokan practiced in many Dojo today. Also; shindo Yoshin Ryu is clasified as a Nihon Koryu Bujutsu - and as such the Jujutsu element is a far cry from the sport / self protection Jujutsu that most people see in their minds eye when the word is mentioned. Personally, I love Wado with all of its idiosyncrasies - and would do my best to avoid swapping to another style, however strangely enough I am drawn to Kyokushin. It’s the complete antithesis of Wado, but I think that would make it easier in a way, as I would not have to completely unlearn one thing in order to learn something that was similar but different. Chitsu

Have you tried contacting Bob Nash? He is the chief instructor of US Wadokai and knows all of the right people around the states. Chitsu

Hi Robbo, Always must seek clarification from your sensei. Forums like these a great to get other peoples viewpoints but its your sensei's that counts. In our dojo, all turns during techniques performed in hanmi kamae are executed with a transfer of the guard - as you say -straight into hanmi kamae again - rather than a formal block. In Ido kihon (stepping basics) however, we use Jodanukes and Gedanbarai etc when we turn - (but nothing to stop you doing any other varients etc.). So it’s important to establish what type of basics you are doing here. Also, remember that an important part of Wado Ido Kihon is "Kette-Junzuki" etc. These are in essence renraku waza (combination techniques) performed in Junzukidachi (not Hanmi Kamae). With these you should be turning with a formal block on the end (Jodanuke etc.). Can I ask - where are you based Robbo and what Wado group do you train with. Chitsu

The art of fighting without fighting?

Hello, The "typical" wado syllabi tend to utilse Jodanuke from Junzuki position and gedan-barrai from a gyaku poistion - simply because it is a training aid to correct movement. You mention about combinations up and down the hall - do you mean this (ie stringing kick with a punch followed by another kick etc)? This is usually done in Hanmi Kamae (half stance) and as a result part of the less formal approach in Kihon. In this instant there would be no prescribed upper or lower block. Chitsu

I like techniques that take me off line. They rock for scoring

Just got Ninja'd by Ninjanurse!! Dohh!!

Hehe! Toptomcat - thank for your concern, but there is no fight here. I beleive we have both learn't from one and other, which has to be the core reason why we participate in these forums. I say lets have more of these. Chitsu

I just updated my prvious post Ninjanurse Chitsu

In my experince most of the Japanese authors use Honbu.

As understand it the Hepburn Romanization is much more widely recognised throughout Japan and the rest of the world. Kurei-shiki is also recognised by the Japanese government as an alternative but is not as widely used. Most of the dual language road signs in Japan for example use the Hepburn Romanization. Refer to works by quality authors (Japanese and Western) and the vast majority will use this spelling (with an "n"). I quite understand the reasoning behind making a more direct link between the phonetic sounds of words especially if the end result is to understand how a word is said and therefore recognised as part of the spoken language, however the problem here – on forums and in literary works, is that there are often deeper associations / meaning behind words that are at risk of being lost if they cannot be understood in writing first and foremost. It’s then up to educated student to make the conversion from written meaning to spoken word. Take Junzuki/Oizuki as another example: I used to believe it was more correct to write “Juntsuki” in accordance with the two parts that make up the compound word. "Jun" = same side (ie arm to leg ratio), and "Tsuki" meaning thrust or punch until I was taken to one side by a native Japanese person who advised me that, it was much more common (and therefore more broadly accepted), to write as “Junzuki”. Both are in fact not wrong and to each their own, but from a broader perspective I like to ensure I am being as accurate / most commonly understood - as possible. I am usually the first to question the validity of a Wiki entry but in this case they seem to have it right. In budō sports (Japanese martial arts) like karate, judo, aikido, kendo, etc., there is usually a headquarter for each organization or region[4]. The Japanese word honbu (本部)[5] is generally used for that, also outside Japan. Sometimes they refer to this headquarters as honbu dojo (本部道場) in which dojo (道場) is a facility provided for practicing discipline, the training ground. Sometimes honbu is written as hombu, the way it is pronounced, but according the Hepburn transcription, the correct spelling should be honbu in which the 'n' is a syllabic n http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honbu Same applies with Senpai http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sempai Chitsu [edit] Updated for clarity

In terms of speech science p's and b's are referred to as "bi-labial" sounds - in other words both lips have to come together to make the sound. As I understand it, in spoken Japanese, where a "n" precedes a "bi-labial" sounding letter it is rounded off to an "m" sound - as it is another bi-labial sound (with a similar resonance to n) Therefore Senpai = Sempai, Enbu = Embu, Honbu = Hombu etc. Chitsu

The king of them all in Shiai has to be a well timed Gyaku - doesn't it? Chitsu

Hmm, I am not sure. Take the written word Senpai the sen in senpai has the same meaning as the sen in sensei. We don't refer to our instructors as Semseis do we? Chitsu

Hello, In my group, blue belt is 5th Kyu and therefore only about half way through the Kyu rankings. Of course it is always good to look forward to future gradings, but be careful not to lose sight of the one immediately in front of you. As for what you have cover between 5th kyu and 1st Dan -well it’s a fair amount really. It’s probably the steepest learning curve you will encounter in your karate career – in terms of what you have to take on board. In addition to all of the pinan Kata, you will need to have learnt Kushanku, Naihanchi, Seishan and Chinto. – When I say learn I mean have a good basic grasp. As well as the Solo Kata you will also have to start to get into the senior pair work most important of which is Yakusoku Kihon Kumite – Wado wouldn’t be Wado without them of course. The journey in front of you will be fun – but as I say, you have a lot to cover. I always say to my students – there is no rush to Dan grade. It’s better to take your time (particularly as you have so much to cover), get your foundations right to start with and this will stand you in good stead and allow you learn so much more (and there is so much more to learn) at 1st Dan and beyond. The study of karate is a lifetimes pursuit imo and eventually you will get to a point where you won’t be able to take any more Dan gradings (or if you can they will be years apart). So enjoy your learning first and foremost – gradings are just a bye product. All the best though Chitsu

same here. Same here as well! In my Jujutsu days, my sensei was always keen for us to train with everyone else in the club - regardless of size differences. What it makes you realise is that techniques that work on one size of person, may need to be modified (slightly) to work against, say, someone a lot taller than you. I hear what others are saying about learning first with a similar sized opponent, and to an extent I would agree. Indeed If you consider that many traditional Japanese Jujutsu techniques were designed to work only against people of similar build (due to the limited diversity of body type found in south east asia). The most important thing though is that the core principles (of movement / timing and entering etc) must remain unchanged. The basic principle of Kuzushi (off balancing) is key to good takedowns, so once you have that sussed you should be able to modify it to suit any size opponent. Chitsu

Have you looked here?: http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/002/001/index.html Chitsu

Keyhorns?

The tragedy is where something gets sold as one thing - when clearly it’s something entirely different. To understand the politics thing, you have to revisit the 50's, 60's and 70's and remember that there was a race on. The winner of that race would be the Japanese Karate School that successfully grew and achieved bridgeheads in Europe, North America and the rest of the world. Although not something we like to think about today, fact is many senior dan grade ranks were simply handed out by founders of schools in recognition of support / creation of a national group - irrespective of the recipient’s technical ability. In other walks of life, this type of politics would not raise too many eyebrows, but when it comes to ma, this is where it goes askew. Take the guy who (despite being way of the mark technically) gets awarded a rank well above his ability. He faithfully tries to promote the art and teach it “warts and all” – trouble is, the depth is not there in the first place - so chances are irregularities are only going to be further amplified the more the art is transmitted through the group. Jeffrey, The thought that Wado ultimately originates from Chinese / Okinawan origin seems to be a common argument frequently put forward by proponents of Shintani Wadokai. In reality of course it doesn't; but to understand why, would put those suggesting such theorems at considerable discomfort - so it’s an easy out to just say we all grew from the same tree. Chitsu

Hi Jeffrey, As I am sure you expected, I am going to take exception to what you have written. First, on the general topic - I would agree that the lineage that is important is what you are taught not necessarily who taught you. And I would agree that there are some minor differenced between the 3 main Wado groups around the world - but the principles conatined within remain constant. Unfortunatley this does not apply to the Shintani Wadokai group imo. From a technical view point (literally how they move) their Karate is so far removed from mainstream Wado - its quite remarkable. So here is a case in question where Shintani trained with Otsuka but over time the satalite of Shintani Wadokai became so distant it evolved into something completely different - not a good example of Karate lineage rather an example of karate politics at their worst. Chitsu

Koryu - (literally "Old School") in its martial sense - refer to schools that were codified and recognised / recorded (generally) prior to the Meiji Restoration (as Toptomcat says) c. 1868. Most Koryu schools today (or the ones that still survive) are members of either the "Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai" or "Nihon Kubudo Kyokai" (the two traditional societies for the preservation of Koryu Ma in Japan). The fact that the school in question contains the word "koryu"in it name is a give away from the start - ie if it has to state it is, almost certainly it is not. That said, just because the school isn't - strictly speaking - Koryu doesn't mean to say it can’t adopt the principles and techniques from one into its training. Also; a Koryu doesn't necessarily have to teach a wide range disciplines into it system (in order to qualify as one). Daito ryu for example is predominantly unarmed stuff, where as Ono ya Itto ryu is purely kenjustu – both are however Koryu Schools. Schools that incorporate a wide variety of disciplines (armed and unarmed) are generally referred to as "Sogo" Bujutsu schools. Chitsu

Ahh, but isn't reciprocation part of correct boimechanics? Eitherway, traditional Maki training is about conditioning the whole body - NOT just getting calluses on the fist. Chitsu