Chitsu

Make sure you consult your sensei before spending a lot of money on equipment that could do you more harm than good. Take for example Makiwari pads as you say - probably the little wall mounted type? If so I would tread carefully as the ones I have tried, have very little give in them. - Remember, it is a myth that makiwari training is about conditioning the hand/wrist alone for impact - they are about engendering correct biomechanical form - from the whole body. Good Makiwari should have between 4-6" of give imo - something you don't get from the wall mounted jobs. Also, you say about a Wavemaster helping you with your blocks - Isn't a Wavemaster a punch bag? Chitsu

Hi joesteph, glad you liked it. As you liked that, you would probably find a home for Nagashizuki, which is a natural extension of tobikomi. Chitsu

Kinda like Tobikomizuki. Chitsu

The falling step concept - is this the same as the sine wave thing? Chitsu

This is the most comfortable--and doable--for me. I'd say that half the time my fist is in motion, it's in the vertical position. I also prefer the three-quarters fist, so I'm not rotating as much as when I'm performing a form. Hello, Can I ask, if you complete you fist rotation prior to impact, what do you feel is the reason behind rotating the fist in the first place? Chitsu

Haha, when you first mentioned the splits I thought you were talking about the splits in a gymnastic/dancer sence ie legs akimbo etc. I see what you mean now - split timing. I thought it was nice touch - is it supposed to be a reflection of the sinus principle? Chitsu

But if you fully rotate the fist before impact, you lose the rifling effect of the fist rotation and the trauma caused by it, as the fist penetrated your opponents body. Tbh, I vary rarely use a twisting punch in application, but the principle is there. Chitsu

I suppose it was the stylistic differences that stood out - the "sine wave" thing is unique to TKD and something that I have not seen in any traditional Karate. Also, you say they are in unison but there are parts where clearly, they are not. I thought this was deliberate because they were trying to expand on the the sine wave principle by utilising a "mexican wave" effect during the performance. Thats how I saw it, different. Chitsu

Thanks for Sharing that DWX, I have never seen footage of TKD team kata. Its quite different from Karate kata isn't it. Chitsu

It depends on what sort of level, for what reason you are practicing team Kata and what your goals are. If you are doing it to compete, I would suggest that each team member needs to a have a good understanding of the kata before trying to blend it along side others. Then there is a lot of work to do as team. As an individual, you have the freedom to move in accordance with the most appropriate way (in accordance with you size and build), but as a team you have to move as one. Team Kata was not really my thing, but I did once scrape a medal in the Europeans - and it’s a fair bit of fun too. If you are serious about competing, then the first thing you have to do (after you have done your best to really understand solo form), is to be part of a team that is of similar build and ability to each other. Then you need to train alongside one and other - and I mean literally next to each other (for weeks) in the Kihon line up - as this helps you get a feel for how each other move. As others have said, you need to practice the "verses" of the kata and work them over and over again until you understand among yourselves how to move as a unit. Depending on what sort of comp you are doing (mine were mainly WKF governed comps), the three person team has to start with each team member facing front and there can be no audible or visible prompts to start or between each move - this is where the months of training as a unit comes in. After their walk on, most teams today start the kata in triangle formation. I always liked this method as you have a point man at the front who leads and then when the form turns to the left right and rear, the people at the respective points of the triangle assume the lead for the others. Here is a clip of Niseishi one of the team Katas my group used to in competitions with similar walk on and formation. All good fun. Chitsu

In Kihon, I tend to break down the 180 deg fist rotation into two halfs. First; when the fist leaves the side of the body it is in fingers up position, however at the point of initial impact (the point where the punch first touches the opponents body) it is in a vertical position (tate seiken) - i.e. it has travelled 90 degrees until this point. The remaining 90 degrees rotation happens as the fist penetrates into the body, until kime point where the fist completes its 180 deg journey. As I understand it, beyond this – the classic karate “fist chamber” position and rotation was more an exercise against fresh air to engender correct biomechanical form. By chambering in a “fist up” position it is not only aesthetically tidy, but also helps keep the elbow in as you punch, and therefore keeping it directly behind the fist which lends its self to good mechanics and a strong punch. Turn the fist too soon and the elbow wings out. Chitsu

Ahh, Don't assume that the guys that study the broader aspects, don't know how to stick it in!!! Of course they do, they just get a lot more to boot But its hard - a different kind of hard maybe. Chitsu

If you don't get it, then it's not for you. Fair enough. It's a challenge, not a thought process. Agreed, thats why I asked the question. Not everyone gets traditional Japanese ma either, but thats not to say that "Ten, Chi, Jin" isn't just as important to a Kyokushin practitioner as it is to say someone that practiced Katori shinto ryu. Without these things perhaps, karate becomes just a sport/self protection system. Chitsu

Most traditional Japanese ma operate on a "kata" based system (not just heian shodan type thing, but kata in the broader sense). With this, there is a general understanding of "Omote" and "Ura" - surface performance and deeper understanding. TBH I don't get the 100 man Kumite thing. Not saying its wrong but it doesn't seem (to me anyway) to undertake, or subscribe to the omote/ura process Could be that through the process of 100 man kumite the Omote becomes Ura? Chitsu

Both. If I'm fighting a guy who has to fight 99 other people and I'm hitting him hard and he's hitting hard back and not quitting, you can't help but respect that guy. Kuma, I understand your sentiment, but I got the impression from soheir's post that it was more about impressing others (beyond the participants). Chitsu

It's obvious, not everyone could do it, but if you complete it, you'll get a lot of respect. And is gaining the respect of others the main goal? Chitsu Well of course not,don't get me wrong. I'm just saying. Sorry, I don't mean to offend but - what you saying? What sort of "respect" and from whom? The individual participating in it? or from others? Chitsu

It's obvious, not everyone could do it, but if you complete it, you'll get a lot of respect. And is gaining the respect of others the main goal? Chitsu

Hello, Can I ask why you ask only re: "gyaku-zuki"? - what of junzuki, tobikomizuki etc.? Chitsu

Why do you think that was? And when you say voluntary, could anyone volunteer, or could you only do so after achieving a prescribed rank? Chitsu

Can I ask: - Is this something that practitioners decide to do - maybe at some point of their career - or is it a requirement for dan/academic/technical/physical advancement or all of the above? Granted, I guess all go hand in glove, but I just wondered whether it was something that groups actively promote as a tool for advancement - or is an individual’s choice? Chitsu

Yes, Understand that they are Kata... Simples!! Chitsu

Why not go the whole hog and say - konnichiwa, ogenki desu ka? Or would that be a bit silly? Chitsu

Hi Tony, A weighty subject if you forgive the pun. In terms of Karate, the jury is definitely divided when it come to the pros and cons of weights. Certainly building excess bulk can be counterproductive - in terms of efficiency of movement and speed. But as far as using weights to help understand correct "biomechanics" I agree, it could have merit, however I think most martial arts (worth their salt) have this process imbedded into their technical system anyway. Like most lads, I did weights in my early twenties however today, I tend to rely on gravity. If you think about it; as well as the guy(s) standing in front of you, the constant of gravity is another opponent you have to overcome to win the fight. So most of my "additional" training tends to involve whatever is around me to strengthen my core muscles. If you are interested, I can share some with you - that involve little more than you, the floor and a wall. Chitsu

Many groups do award on merit - 4th dan and above based on "contribution" to the art. Many also allow you to grade for it. The JKF Wadokai in Japan has "physical" gradings, up to and including 8th dan - although you could probably count on one hand, the number of successful candidates there has ever been at Hachidan. I think what is interesting though is the fact that some groups like JKF have instructors exams (in addition to dan gradings). If you want to run a JKF Wado-kai branch for example, you are encouraged to enter and hopefully pass the 1st Kyu instructors exam (which licenses you to teach students up to and including 1st kyu) A friend of mine who is a 4th Dan with the JKF Wadokai and recently completed this test, said it was one of the toughest he had ever done – technically and physically a lot more demanding than any Dan grade. Chitsu

No Ido Kihon? Chitsu