sojobo

While I can relate to the concern here, the fact is that there are many "craft like" things, and manners that can not be conveyed precisely with words. IMO, "Because I said so", really means "I don't know" why, something that's difficult for any sempai, or teacher to admit. You got to look at your teachers history, demos, etc. to see if he's experienced, and competent in this matter. If he is, and it doesn't amount to physically damaging abuse, you got to have faith. If you can't, you must find a new Sensei. If the skill in question is currently beyond ones ability, he can not be expected to understand a vague explanation (by words) at that time. I actively encourage my students to ask questions - and I will always answer them if I can. If I can't however, I will be honest and say so. There are questions however where the answer has to be "arrived at" - by training, practicing and then "realising" as a result. You simply can’t verbalise the answer and also doing so would de-value the answer anyway. These are the types of things that I think honoluludesktop was alluding too. Sojobo

That's my point I guess -It is not a punch (and therefore not designed to be a sporting combative or SD technique). It is an exercise in body movement. It is designed to embed a way of moving - utilising maximum efficiency. Also; your point about needing to produce efficiency in a more timely manner is something that I tell my students to look elsewhere for if they want or need that. Many traditional forms of budo, have specific pedagogies that only works if you join up all the pieces of the jigsaw - and that takes time - but it is tremendously fulfilling and rewarding in the process also. Sojobo

Did you read the link I posted? And who is Webster? lol Being serious, and going back to the OP's point - I think sincerity is the key, and although I may not learn/teach what you do - it is still not wrong. It has its basis in pure budo. Again, sporting / SD applications are not the same as Budo per-se, but they are part of one and other - and much can be learned from all imo, but the means to the end are different - not better or worse just different. And you should not “knock” a style (or sensei) as a result of this not being immediately tangible as sometimes the bigger picture is beyond the vision of the student. Sojobo

Garden. The lawn for Karate kata and the decking for Iai-do. Sojobo

Sorry - see above Sojobo

Taken from a friend of mine's website. Note the part: "Junzuki, which should not be considered as a punch, is the practise of thrusting movement. Junte. Junzuki, and the used ayumi-ashi, teaches to go from point a to b. In other words, junzuki teaches bodymovement" http://www.ishikawa-karate.com/junzuki.htm Now I know - seems easy but I have being trying to nail this for best part of 3 decades!!! And thats just the start. Sojobo

Phew... hard over the internet - that is what sensei is for. Junzuki for starters? Sojobo

Your sensei is right - you lift the knee/foot in preparation for "fumikomi" (stomping kick). But, as others have said ask him/her to confirm this. Hope that helps. Sojobo

What if your Sensei told you it was a "foundation technique" onto which (with continuous training) you could build? This foundation technique may not have any "direct" application in its raw sense, but the end result (along with the rest of the schools curriculum) will yield results in long run.... trust me? Sojobo

It may well be a cultural thing, but i am not sure that's bad. Self defence and Budo for example are not the same thing. One is a by-product of another. Also, it depends what your goals are. I wanted to train in and understand Wado-ryu for example. At the top of the Wado-ryu training spectrum for example are paired kata called Kihon kumite. Most students do not begin to train these until they are 3rd kyu so about 2-3 years into their training. I've been training in Wado now for over 25 years and I am only just beginning to get them. That doesn't bother me in fact I love it because I have amassed huge experience along the way that has made me realise so many other things within the Wado spectrum of things. Sojobo

I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, many traditional martial arts were not designed to deliver results in a way that today’s world of instant gratification and the need for competition / comparative results has come to expect. Following with without question as not an idea that is supported in most walks of life today - however in budo it is pretty much essential. Sojobo

As an aside - strictly speaking - Shukokai is a group not a style. Sojobo

I voted the person. Or at least I would if that was on offer. Sojobo

With the greatest of respect I don't think it does. These stages of development have been around for centuries in traditional martial arts. Not decrying what Bruce Lee did,his ma or indeed his technichal standing, but let's remember, he was but a student like the rest of us - and there were and still are people far more qualified to transmit these things. Sojobo

Interesting read. The Japanese have a similar “3 levels” when it comes to teaching. It is called Shu-ha-ri. Shu = to embrace the kata (art) ha = to diverge from the kata (art) ri = to discard the kata (art) Certainly what lee seems to be describing in the last two stages are similar to that of “shu” and “ri”. Here is a fantastic essay on the subject by Takamura Yukio head master of the Takamura-ha branch of Shindo Yoshin-ryu. http://www.shinyokai.com/Essays_TeachingShuHaRi.htm It’s a bit wordy, but well worth a read as I would suggest it offers a little more depth on the subject. Sojobo

Here is my Koryu instructor with the group during an Enbu (display) in Tokyo a few years back. Mostly Koshi no Mawari (sword work) in this clip, but there is a bit of Jujutsu (or "Kumi-uchi" as it was called back then) toward the end of the clip. Sojobo

Waht group are you with? It will vary as there is no such thing as general wado kick blocks 4,5,6 etc. Sojobo

As with most things in Japanese/Okinawan Budo, there is more to breathing than meets the eye (or simple asphyxiation for that matter). In both karate, jujutsu and kenjutsu etc., the importance of correct breathing or "Kokyu" is key, but how it is trained varies from school to school. Some styles have breathing kata, whereas others incorporate it into their training as a natural byproduct of the kata/techniques timing. In my group, we train a paired kata with the principles of Ma-ai (distance), Kiai (focus) and Kokyu (breathing) but in this case, it implies correct timing to optimize technique. Sojobo

Any updates batoru?

My thoughts are more along the lines of Irimi combined with the way the shuto arm / shoulders travels in an opposite direction to the hips. Double moment as Ohgami sensei would say. Think Kihon Gumite Happonme. Sojobo

Ah no problem Batoru - I think the word "Bunkai" is thrown around far too liberally these days (in Wado circles anyway) - when its true meaning is quite misunderstood by many imo. On the Bunkai Vs Kaisetsu thing, a good Wado friend of mine has a saying that I think sums it up nicely: “Bunkai is like buying a new bike, then taking it apart to see how it works. In Wado we use Kaisetsu as we would rather just get on the bike and ride it.” Here is a link to his website where he goes on to expand upon this and also explains an important fact that is often overlooked by many Wadoka concerning the kanji used to describe "Kata" in Wado. http://www.ishikawa-karate.com/kata-kaisetsu.htm Ah cool, an off shoot of Peter Suzuki's group I believe - I hear he (Peter Suzuki) is back in action in a small way - I know his son Yoshi is heavily into promoting his new club - I've not met him but he seems like a nice guy. Me myself, Wado wise, I am with the England Wado-kai / JKF Wado-kai. I also train in Koryu Bujutsu under the auspices of the Seirenkan Sōsuishi-ryū U.K. Keikokai. For the record - I have trained Bassai kata with many notable sensei including the likes of Ohgami sensei - I have never heard him (or any other) refer to applying an arm lock in the dark when it comes to part of the Kata - that’s not saying it isn't - I've just never heard that (from a Wado sensei anyway). Sojobo

What Wado group do you train with? Sojobo

Hello, It is always difficult to explain to practitioners of other styles that Wado kata doesn’t have Bunkai. Bunkai is a process of dissection, to further develop potential the techniques within the kata, however the wado operating model is different to that of it Okinawan predecessor. Instead of Bunkai we use the word “Kaisetsu” which more closely means “commentary” rather than dissection. It refers to the utilisation of the technique exactly as it is performed in the Kata (without deviation). So techniques are performed as if against an opponent, however they are not modified in any way. Remember of course that Wado owes most of its genetic makeup to Japanese Koryu Jujutsu (not Okinawan te). The difference being that Wado has numerous paired Kata and Oyo - in which the body mechanics that are subsumed as part of the solo kata training are born out and further extrapolated upon. Its pedagogy is different to that of Okinawan karate – not better or worse just different. Sojobo

Bunkai is an Okinawan thing - Wado Kata does not have Bunkai. It is practiced the way it is (in Wado) primarily for Kinesthetic learning purposes. Sojobo

I suspect the reason why you haven't had it answered is because you haven't asked the right person. Karate is different things to different people that’s why I pointed that out my question was a rhetorical one. If you are anything like me, your view on what karate is, will change as you go through your karate career and as I said in an earlier post I am not anti competition (I've done enough of them). So what is Karate? According to the font of all knowledge yes... Wikipedia... Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called te and Chinese kenpō Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands (karate chop). Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles I am not being facetious when I post this, I think the answer is there in the words "Karate is a martial art". So what defines a martial art? If you are doing martial movements as part of show - does what you are doing make you a martial artist? Imo it doesn't, you are simply stringing a set of movements together – because it is missing vital elements of realism including threat and intent. Does the fact that you are practicing a martial art form - with a view to improving yourself make you a martial artist? "Shugyou" is a Japanese word that means to develop oneself through sincere training - and it can be any kind of training (flower arranging, painting, karate etc.) the overriding objective within Shugyou is self development. However, if you remove the martial "teeth" from a martial art (as seen in many WKF kata bunkai imo) – you are taking out the “Bu” from “Budo” and therefore you are no longer following the path of martial artists - you’re training becomes purely "Shugyou" as opposed to "Budo" imo. At this stage, what you are doing (be that Shotokan, Shito-ryu, or Kyokushin etc) - ceases to be Karate. Sojobo