sojobo

Ippon!!!

Hi, I edited my post because I thought it a little harsh. You got there before me though - good reflexes Sojobo

yeah but asking " is what you do KARATE?" is not useful to anyone. You want me to say that Im not doing KARATE, because your idea of karate differs from the sports karate. So what? What is useful with your question? You complained about my koshi nage, I already knew it was not okay, now I know that it is something that people notice, then I will work on it. That is useful. Critics are useful. Sudden virtual enlightments on what REAL KARATE is, are not. Sorry if my thoughts offend you. I think moving forward I best keep them to myself. All the very best. Sojobo

you should forgive me if i say that this is the question used by whom does not know what more to say. Is what YOU are doing karate? Who is doing KARATE? Kyokushin? Traditional fighting? Full contact? Okinawan? I haven't heard anybody who could answer that question yet. And anyway, i think we were talking about sports karate, that's it, once you get to know the "field", things are easier i guess. And moreover, you cannot know whether apart fromthe comps training, I'm doing "traditional" REAL karate. So what's the point in your question? I didn't come here to say that the karate i do is right and the others are wrong. I suppose that's one of the most common, ingenuous errors. With the greatest of respect Blacksilver, you posted your vid then invited comments on it. You got mine. Sojobo

Is what you are doing karate? Rhetorical question. Sojobo

Absolutely - and you have to choose what is right for you - at where you are in your stage of training/learning. I would be a hypocrite if I said competition was no good - as I spent best part of the 80's and 90's doing it. It is but a facade though - and I think (from reading your post) you realise this - and as long as you don't lose sight of that and you have some good instructors that can really take you to the next stage - then you are in safe hands. But... WKF bunkai is not safe hands imo... but again that’s me and being old Sojobo

Maybe not two separate worlds - different stages maybe? There is no doubt in my mind about the physical qualities and effort that you have put into this. It is often difficult to "quantify" ma and as a result, competition has become an easy way to compare/measure ones success - I understand that, and it is an important part of Karate imo. That said, I think there is a danger that the time you spend "polishing your act" (and making the audience go Ohhhh!!!) is time distracted from learning how to make your “Koshi Nage” actually work as opposed to it theoretically working. But as I say, all part of the broader spectrum of things. You are shaped by what you do. Sojobo

Hello, Well as you ask - I am going to play devil's advocate here - as this sort of thing just doesn't float my boat. Whilst it is very clear that you and your colleagues have invested a great deal of time and energy in this - and you should be commended for that - tbh, all I see when I watch WKF style kata comps is pure theatre (or more accurately Chinese State Circus) - particularly when bunkai is brought into the equation It has very little martial value - imo But that’s just me - I am an old git who studies even older ma. Sojobo.

I am impressed tallgeese, there are a lot of Wadoka out there that "don't get it" - as well as you seem to. Batoru - It is worth remembering that the "working bits" of Wado don't come from Okinawan karate - they come from Koryu jujutsu (namely Shindo Yoshin Ryu). SYR have literally hundreds of paired kata, but they also have solo kata / exercises (called Nairiki no gyo I believe) that are designed to manifest internal core strength through good movement, balance and body mechanics etc. Through training these solo kata the outputs can be applied to paired Kata to make them work. It’s my guess (and only a guess) that Otsuka used this approach - particularly with Kata like Naihanchi and seishan etc. Remember also that from a Wado perspective, Bassai is considered an "additional" kata and therefore only an exercise in variation of the techniques found in the official 9 Kata. Sojobo

Hello, In both my Wado-ryu and Koryu group, the role of attacker (Uke 受け / Teki 敵) is taken as seriously (if not more so) as that of the defender (Tori/ Ware 我). Most correctly, when practicing with a partner, the more senior should always be the attacker so the defender can learn more accurately. There are also other principles to bear in mind - including the application of mental pressure / dominance that a lower grade would not know how to correctly apply as an attacker to make the whole thing real. So, when I demonstrate something in my dojo, I use one of my senior grades - who will know how to attack correctly pertaining to the kata you are demonstrating - otherwise it is a waste of time. Sojobo

Many "engagements" were highly ritualised and to an extent structured. It was as if there were rules to follow and set procedures. If you were a leftie, the whole structure would collapse. Therefore there were no left handed swordsman in feudal Japan. That said there are numerous techniques in many Koryu that involve utilising the left hand (and a sword in both hands at the same time some cases) - some schools even specialised in them - like Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu. Sojobo

Not sure we are the MAP'ers here that you are referring to (well some of us are), but if it is WKF style shiai - the best way you can approach it is by thinking of it as a game of tag rather than fighting. As others have said, your main weapon (to tag people with) is a fast gyak and just like the game - get in and out quick and tag them before they get you. Sojobo

We charge £3.50 for an hour - that's better than the going rates for baby sitters here in the uk - so go figure? Sojobo

Hehe, I guess in this case, your sig says it all... "The proof is on the floor" Sojobo

If I recall, kozushi is the "breaking of the balance" that is one of the cornernstones of Judo, but is also found in other styles.The breaking of balance is Kuzushi. I didn't recognise Kozushi but thought it maybe something specific to judo. Sojobo

Kata has many layers and they are not always apparent. In my group, Junzuki and Gyakuzuki are practiced to middle (more) in kata as a training aid for correct movement and weight transfer (due to the target being closer to your hara / centre of mass). It is easier for a beginner to realise this - if the punch is performed to an equivalent height. Jodan punches are a little more apparent in the higher grade kata ie Wanshu. Sojobo

You're going to have an extremely difficult time proving that a person punching an attacker in self defense while the attacker is still standing as attempted murder. That's if the DA even decides to prosecute. Had I swept the attacker and stompted him while he lies on the ground, then you may have a case. But even then, prosecutors will likely skip my case since there are more important cases such as actual murder and robberies to go after. A district attorney who is an elected official in the US isn't going to be re-elected for wasting taxpayer money prosecuting ordinary people using excessive force in their own self defense rather than go after rapists and murderers. Such is the reality of a limited budget criminal law system. A legal recourse may be brought via the civil sytem. And even then, it is unlikely that the jury will be sympathetic to an attacker. He better look and act like Mother Theresa to have a chance in hell of prevailing. As a martial artist, I have two modes. Before the swinging starts, I always assume that I'm wrong. I will apologize profusely to the point of embarassing myself. But once I reasonaby feel that my life is in danger. Either the attacker is going down. Or I'm going down. Interesting, As I understand it - here in the UK at least - if you kick someone in the head when they are on the floor, irrespective of what they have done to you - that "could" be viewed as attempted murder. But even if the your assailant (in your original scenario) is not fully floored, surely by virtue of the fact you have "incapacitated" him with the preceding body blows - that constitutes a similar intent? Frankly, I am not that bothered (and I amnot a lawyer), but what you seem to be promoting (whether legal or not) is wrong, not good sd and certainly not Karate as I understand it imo. But to each their own. Sojobo

Well that depends on whether you need to be hell bent on knocking someone unconscious to stop them - maybe sometimes you do? This scenario though is different to the earlier one I was replying to - that alludes to repeatedly striking some one in the head after you have knocked the stuffing out of them. That's gbh (in most peoples book) - arguably attempted murder. As martial artists isn't our training supposed to better condition us (mentally and physically) and therefore help us avoid falling into this trap? Sojobo

Hello, What does Kozuchi mean? Just interested. Sojobo

I couldn't agree more - well apart from the losing face thing - why would saving your backside by running away -be looked at as "losing face"? I was simply referring to your earlier post where you commented on someone being doubled over gasping for breath after you had done your bit on them (there is your compliancy right there) and at that point you want to still hit them repeatedly in the head!!! Teaching students the full implication of their actions is in no way dumbing down Karate (from a technical or moral perspective). In fact it is often teaching the most common sense and efficient approach. What if - whilst you were busy "finishing off" your opponent - his mates turn up. Karate is Karate at the end of the day -there is no differentiation imo. Sojobo

Cool, What's your point? Sojobo

Hello, I wouldn't get too hung up on words like "Tegumi". After all, its just another way to write "Kumite" ("Te"=hand and "Kumi" (or "gumi" if it follows a word)=exchange) therefore Kumite = Tegumi. And all Karate has Kumite doesn't it? Sojobo

Hi tallgeese, As a dyed in the wool Karate-ka/Japanese Jujutsuka, I couldn't agree more. I even heard once a theory that if you performed the Pinan Kata(s) on the floor on your back (as if you were doing them standing up) then these could be translated as grappling techniques/scenarios. Unfortunately I think it is all to do with the fact that Kata - in a gymnastic sense - is easy to see and therefore understand. Kata in an internal sense is much more difficult and can't be communicated over internet forums. To understand their place better, you need to look into the strength building kata (Nairikki no gyo) etc. and understand that there is more involved than the direct combative translation. But what do I know... Sojobo

Hhmm, Personally, if I can walk (or run) away safely - without having to strike someone in the head on multiple occasions to "finish him" as you put it - that would always be my preferred option. Not sure about the law in the US, but here in the UK, we have something called "reasonable force". Sojobo

Good man yourself!!!