sojobo

TBH, when trained properly kata contain all of the movements you need in Karate so I tend to practice kata when training by myself. I augment this with stretches, a run, press ups and sit ups etc. The timescales are a bit like this. 5-10 mins warm up and light stretch 20 mins run. 5 mins stretch 5-10 mins of sit ups and press ups (approx 4 sets of 25 each interspersed) Kata 30 mins (ish): Pinan Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan. Kushaku, Naihanchi, Seishan, Chinto etc. (but I may feel it necessary to spend 20 mins on one Kata instead). I am a bit old fashioned in this respect, as I beleive that plain old gravity is one of the best pieces of apparatus you can have (and it's cheap). It is also an obstacle everyone has to overcome as part of being successful in combat. Sojobo

Romanization can be confusing at times, and you are right there is more than one method. Also; there is the thought that although a word may be spoken one way, it is more correctly written another. Factor into this the archaic Japanese often used in very old Koryu schools and it's no wonder westerners get in a real mess. On the subject of Koryu and getting back onto topic, it is interesting to note that in many Koryu schools "Seiken" (or punch with the front of the fist) is seldom used. In schools created before the end of the waring states period, people fought in amour so, just like punching the skull, it was a surefire way to hurt your hand if you punched the body. Instead Atemi used to be limited to exposed areas and the head using strikes like "Kikuza" (Back fist), "Dosei" (Palm heel) and "Koppo" (Web hand). Sojobo

Hi ps1, It's one of those things that as you see it/read it you will remember I guess. "N"'s and "M"'s are often incorrectly written as are "K"'s and "G"'s. "Keri" means to to kick whereas "Geri" means something else entirely (I'll leave you to look that one up!!) However when prefixed with another word like Mae (front) the "K" in "Keri" is rounded to a "G" sound ie "Maegeri". It still means "Keri" but is is not pronounced as such in this context. Sojobo

Hi Guys, Managed to find some pretty decent Takenouchi-ryu vids, I hope you enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wCQS6a530g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQRImrjv9Xs&feature=related Sojobo

Also, the human skull is like a crash helmet. Even if you were lucky enough to hit it, chances are you will hurt your hand more in the process. Although never rule it out as an option. Sojobo ps. I hope you don't mind me adding this, but the compounding of the two words "Gyaku" and "Tsuki" is more correctly written "Gyakuzuki"

Hello, As mentioned earlier, if you want to understand where Judo (and subsequent arts) came from, it is good to look at the older Koryu Bujtsu for clues. The oldest codified system of Jujutsu is that of Takenouchi-ryu (founded in 1532). Although classified as a "sogo" bujutsu (or comprehensive system (including various weapons teaching)), unlike its predecessors, it is best known for its armed and unarmed Jujutsu techniques including throws, joint locks, grappling and choking etc. This school went on to influence a number of later Koryu - two of which were studied in depth by Kano namely: Tenjin Shinyo-ryu (founded 1830): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenjin_Shiny%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB And Kito-ryu (founded early 1600's) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit%C5%8D-ry%C5%AB The latter has more throwing, joint locks and chokes in its curriculum. An important thing to note however is that the throws locks, chokes and grappling of earlier arts like Takenouchi-ryu and Kito-ryu were predominantly designed for (and therefore practiced against) oponents in full armor. Sojobo.

Have you tried contacting Harry Cook about it? He is very approachable and probably better to get it from the horse’s mouth. Sojobo

I think it depends on how you train Kata. Solo kata (Pinan Nidan etc.) can and should teach timing and distance in a "kinesthetic" sense. Paired Kata (yakusoku kumite) crystallises this against an opponent. As my instructor says, everything in keiko that is “prescribed” is Kata, the only thing that isn't is Kumite. Sojobo

Karate ni sente nashi...? Sojobo

I'd be interested to find out more. As far as I understood, Choki Motobu was the founder of Motobu Ryu?? Sojobo

Hello, Yes I wouldn't mind seeing the details. I don't live anywhere near Southern California (more's the pitty), but Motobu was I big influence on Otsuka when he was creating Wado ryu. Particularly Naihanchi Kata. Sojobo

Tai = Body Sabaki = Management All styles of martial arts (worth its salts) include "Taisabaki" as part of their training philosophy - it is counter intuitive not to. Sojobo

Hello, I have been overseas for the last 3 weeks so haven't had much chance to play. I do not know enough about Okinawan Karate to comment about it with great confidence, but I have no doubt that - like most things - in its original form it was almost certainly different to how it is today. In traditional Japanese "Koryu" Bujutsu terms however, essentially two types of "Jujutsu" evolved. Katchu bujutsu - fighting with weapons and/or grappling in armor (yoroi kumiuchi) - developed during the warring states period (15th - 16th century) and, Suhada bujutsu - fighting in everyday clothes (of the time), either with or without weapons - developed, in the most part in the 17th - 19th century, when there was peace (more or less) - utilising techniques to surpress and/or defeat an enemy or opponent. In other words both from a self defence standpoint and a controling point of view. The grappling content of the latter is the more correct term for what has today become known as "jujutsu" however it is far more expansive than just grappling in that it would often utilise everyday items (of the time) such as tessen (Iron Fan) as a useful weapons. These systems are not mutually exclusive of course and many traditional ryu practice both forms of techniques. These methods were developed by the Bushi (Japanese warrior) as martial necessities of the time. And I think that is perhaps the key. Both traditional Okinawan (Kempo Jutsu) and Japanese (bujutsu) martial systems grew out of what was needed at the time (necessity being the mother of invention and all that). Different demographics and history may have taken them down alternative paths but essentially they evolved because you needed to give yourself the best chance of survival at the time. The “do” in Japanese systems like Karatedo, Aikido and Judo etc., evolved for different (but arguably no less important) reasons - again for the time. As Donn Draeger puts it in his book “Classical Bujutsu” – “There are very great differences between the bujutsu, or martial arts, and the budo, or martial ways. The bujutsu are combative systems designed by and for warriors to promote self protection and group solidarity. The budo are spiritual systems, not necessarily designed by warriors or for warriors, for self perfection of the individual." Sojobo

Hello, Given the subject matter, I thought I'd post this for anyone interested. It was filmed yesterday at the Wado World Cup being held in Nagoya Japan. It is the semi final (the final will be taking place tomorrow). I'll be honest, both Kata are performed differently to how I do it/teach it, but they are good performances (embu) nonetheless. Competition causes things to evolve (for competition sake). If you don't have the "edge" on your opponent you will lose. It's not my bag anymore - but these guys are good, and will probably go on to be the top sensei of tomorrow. Maybe??? Sojobo

As I understand it, Uechi-ryu is recognised as an "official" style of Okinawan karate where-as Isshin-ryu is a relatively new school. But that doesn't really count for much as long as the training within the group is good. sojobo.

Is there a connection between Uechi-ryu and Isshin-ryu? Sojobo

Some of the techniques can not legally be put into practice maybe - today at least? Given your other post re Shiomitsu sensei, I take it you are a Wadoka honoluludesktop? No doubt then you will know therefore that Ohtuska sensei was schooled in Bujutsu (Shindo Yoshin-ryu) prior to his training Karate and his development of Wado ryu. He was also a great humanitarian and his teachings and philosophy was influenced by the Zen Buddhist / Shinto concepts. Here is a good essay by Tim Shaw: http://www.wadoryu.org.uk/philosophy.html Sojobo

Hello, As honoluludesktop says, the change of wording is as much to do with cultural atmosphere of the time - no doubt crystalised as a result of things like the end of the "Shogunate" in the 1860’s However, the main reason for the development of the aspects of "do" (or way) was as a result of the influence of Zen philosophy in the Japanese culture - in the early 17th century. The deadly techniques found in Bujutsu (or the warrior arts of the samurai in ancient Japan) were combined with the Zen philosophy and practiced with an "ethical" content - essentially becoming "Budo". As detailed in Roberto Danubio's book "Wadoryu karatedo" in an article by Benito Benitez: "Do is a principle of Asian ideology, the term originating in Japanese Zen Buddhism. Do can be translated as way, path, maxim teaching philosophy, direction, principle or method. At the center of every Asian path there is always the practicing of a skill. However the goal is not the acquisition of any particular skill, but the expansion of one's own potential and the search for and development of one’s own capabilities and opportunities." I think sometimes people are keen to put a label on something – to somehow separate from other branches of the same art/school, however my way of thinking Bujutsu and Budo coexist within one and other. Sojobo

Hello mr_obvious, I was also inclined to "no-vote" because a very talented karateka can pull off both. However it is my opinion that option 1 (mawashigeri) is a far more complicated kick to perform well than option 2. Ime, the people that can do #1 well can do #2 as well, however not the other way round. Therefore, in terms of effectiveness I was thinking a long the lines of training the hardest way in keiko in order to give you the best coverage (in terms of results) in kumite. What do you think? sojobo

Hello, I voted actor. Agreed; Mr. Lee was a martial artist also, however there were many talented martial artists around at the time (arguably some a lot better), who did not have the same exposure to the general public that Lee did as a result of his acting career. The success of this exposure (and thus the perceived "super skill" of Mr. Lee) was as result of his abilities as an actor (and the opportunities that his film career gave him) first and foremost. [edit] Combined with the limited ma knowledge/understanding of the cinema going public at the time. Sojobo

Hello, I have voted for Mawashigeri – simply because this is what we do in our dojo. For clarity, the kick I would refer to as mawashigeri is like this. If I have understood correctly the op's description of "traditional round kick" is like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2vC0ZEuFyA&feature=fvw They are two very different approaches with arguably different results. Ultimately I guess you should do it the way your sensei wants it done. sojobo

Hello julien, I think I understand what you are saying, but the inclusion of "Shiai" (or competitive fighting), may well be central to many Japanese styles however I am not sure it is the "driver" behind most of them. If we take Shotokai for example, they vehemently oppose it. Also; look at Ohtsuka Hironori sensei's "Wado-ryu Karatedo Jujutsu Kempo" - as pure a Japanese Karate as you will find and whilst many exponents of this style have gone on to dominate in "shiai" (in fact it could be argued that they set the blue print for most modern WKF fighters today) - it is also an extremely comprehensive and effective martial-art beyond the realms of competition. What the Wado guys do is to use "Shiai Kumite" as a conditioning tool (a piece of apparatus as it were). It is not intended to be the end result - just part of a bigger jigsaw. Personally if I were to walk into a dojo that made it clear that their main reason for existing was to compete or to create good competitors - I would walk out faster than I walked in. So, I am afraid it is another Okinawan vs Japanese Karate myth (or at least something that is not as completely understood as it could be). Best regards Sojobo

Hello shotokan-ste, Actually I am not (I am from London), but I spend a lot of time up north (with work) - and I guess it has rubbed off on me Sojobo

Hello isshinryu5toforever, Indeed, I was not trying to suggest that this adaptation did not take place. Sometimes however, I feel it is wrongly suggested that the Japanese approach to Karate (taking into account its modifications to suit the Japanese society/culture of the time) is in some way less effective as an end result. Probably, there would always be a want to systemise any martial art in Japan; after all they had been doing it in Jujutsu since the inception of Takenouchi-ryu (from the 1500's) and prior to that in their sword schools. I have been fortunate enough to train in both Gendai and Koryu schools (the Budo and Bujutsu sides of the same coin as it were) and whist both were systemised - there comes a stage where you have to stand on your own to feet and fight with the system behind you but with your own self doing the work. Japanese vs Okinawan Karate? - Different means to the same end using the same vehicle perhaps? Regards Sojobo

Hello, I am new here so hope you don't mind me chiming in. On the subject of "Budo" and how it fits in with Japanese martial arts - this is a very noteworthy article I think: http://www.budophiladelphia.com/What%20is%20Budo.html Sometimes the distinction between "Budo" and "Bujutsu" is often too readily made here in the west. It is less black and white in Japan. Best regards Sojobo