sojobo

Wado's is also a lower strike, correct? Where would you be aiming if you were facing a real opponent with the strike? Personally I believe the technique would work best to grab an opponents leg after they threw a kick and were dumb enough to keep it there too long. Ueshirokarate - can I ask, do you run these types of things past your instructor? I think honoluludesktop mentioned about the importance of Kumite as part of "realising" kata. How is this done at your club? Not trying to de-rail your thread, but you seem to be searching for answers / re-assurances that frankly, you should be getting from your Karate school not from on line forums. Sojobo

I did my best to explain the principles behind the the wado version. You mentioned in you earlier post about how your school teaches it as a block (using the arm in shuto), against a kick but importantly there is a shift off the line of attack. Blocking kicks with arms is not always a great thing to do (legs are much stronger than arms), so the shift off the line makes the technique much more feasible. The principle this teaches you is the use of good tai-sabaki in conjuction with co-ordinating it with a block. Sojobo

Not really, or not in Wado-ryu at least. We do not move to the side - rather, we avoid the attack down the centre line by rotating the body. Also, the arms are performing "tsuki" rather than "uke" or "uchi". It is a very subtle. As an aside, I don't think you ever "conclude" what a sequence is all about as that implies limiting yourself. sojobo Interesting. The Matsubayashi version suggests that you are deflecting kicks: As I mentioned earlier - you'll be here all day if you compare why each style does what. It's the principles underneath that are more important than the technique(s). Sojobo

Yes, I approach the interval section as an exercise in Irimi. Of course there isn't a pause there as such because the intent is continuous but I know what you mean about re-evaluating Ma-ai. And Yes - I also know what you mean about the using it in Kumite - which is why I think it is as educational process at this level rather than a combative one. Sojobo

Not really, or not in Wado-ryu at least. We do not move to the side - rather, we avoid the attack down the centre line by rotating the body. Also, the arms are performing "tsuki" rather than "uke" or "uchi". It is a very subtle. As an aside, I don't think you ever "conclude" what a sequence is all about as that implies limiting yourself. sojobo

The problem is the diversity of the art – and the differences in approach between styles. IMO you are asking too big a question, I,m not sure you will get very clear answers. Take my style (Wado-ryu) for example, we do not utilise the process of “Bunkai”, but that doesn’t mean to say that the techniques that are found within Pinan nidan have no combative function – far from it. However, to grease the wheels of the thread – let’s try this: In our Kata pinan Nidan – the last 4 moves are demonstrated in the kata as nukite strikes in shiko-dachi this. In application however this represents an exercise in Irimi and the opening of the body. This action itself has a number of possibilities. On an “omote” level the leading arm deflects an incoming punch by sliding along the punch as it is travelling toward its target. The key to making it work is the rotation of the body (double moment) at the point of performing the block. This is however still rudimentary, as under the surface – it is the entire body movement that is more useful, when combined with correct “ma-ai” (distance) “sen” (timing) and combative processes such as “Noru”)(riding techniques) etc. When you get to this level – you’ll be cooking on gas!! Is this more what you are after? Sojobo.

IMO kata are not designed to deliver the answers this way. Kata are designed to train correct body mechanics/movement and as a result power. If you want to get good at the techniques that are in the Kata - you have to train them repetitively as part of a different model (well in most modern schools anyway). The best way to do this is by joining a good Jujutsu club - you will not get it from your Karate club. Sojobo

I think it is virtually impossible to bridge the gap between Kata and Kumite, unless you have an instructor that knows how and sadly there are very few of them about. As such, I agree with Tallgeese that ultimately there is little point in practicing Kata for combative reasons. Sad, but true. Sojobo

Hello, As many of you may already know, on Tuesday of this week, Suzuki sensei 8th dan passed away. He was without doubt one of the most important figures in world Karate (not just Wado) and his contribution to the art was outstanding. In 1964 a contingent of three instructors embarked on a tour of Europe and the US to showcase Wado-ryu to the western world. Along with Toru Arakawa and Hajime Takashima - Suzuki sensei visited London to demonstrate their Karate at the Shinto-ryu kendo club. After the tour, they returned to Japan however Suzuki sensei came back a year later in 1965. He subsequently lived in London for the rest of his life. His contribution to the propagation of Wado ryu (and Karate as a whole) is difficult to truly appreciate - particularly when you bear in mind that when he arrived in the UK as a young man he spoke no English. There were also huge cultural differences that had to be overcome. In order to successfully teach and spread Wado in England, and subsequently the rest of Europe (with the language and cultural barriers he faced) he used his knowledge and skill to transmit the information needed to understand the workings of the art. One of the biggest challenges that most Karate-ka face is how to bridge the gap between Kata/Kihon and Jiyu Kumite. This is hard enough to teach and understand in your own language let alone a completely foreign one. Suzuki managed this by creating a set of paired exercises he called "Ohyo kumite". This and a structured syllabus proved so successful that they remain to the day, a core part of most Wado groups training throughout the UK and Europe. Whether or not you trained directly with him, chances are that if you practice Wado in the UK you are doing so because of Suzuki sensei. Sojobo

It varies from group to group. Dan grades can be awarded by associations, national governing bodies and international bodies. Some Wado associations here in the UK only do practical examinations up to and including sandan - thereafter grades are awarded. When Suzuki introduced Wado ryu Karate into the UK, the highest grade that anyone had achieved at the time (including Suzuki) was 5th Dan – and that was awarded by Ohtsuka sensei. Some karate styles still have 5th dan as their most senior grade. I can't answer your question in terms of what is the difference, as I have never seen a Hachi-dan examination (in Wado). I know the JKF Wadokai have Hachi-dan examinations in Japan each year, but very few people have actually passed. In fact I don't think there is anyone currently living outside of Japan that has passed the exam. Even Shingo Ohgami sensei (world renowned author in Wado) failed his 8th Dan. I've been fortunate enough to have trained with him on many occasions and he is awesome - so lord only knows how good you have to be to get it. In fact Arakawa Toru, who is a 9th Dan with the JKF (and one of Japans most senior technical Karate directors and sensei), never took the test, so technically he hasn't passed it either - but let’s face it – who is there to judge him? Interestingly, there are other examinations within the JKF Wadokai that have an even lower pass rate. These are the instructor licenses (2nd and 1st kyu level). Very few people in Japan (and even less outside) have a 1st Kyu instructors license - Mr Ohgami is one of them however! So... it's not always about the grade. sojobo

Can we also do some Iai and Kenjutsu learning over skype? Sojobo

Yes, teacher worship syndrome being used to its worst possible effect. Sojobo

Hello, Just wondered what you guys are thinking about the deal with Harry Cook? I'm not a Shotokan fella, but this sort of thing has an impact on most Karate Instructors and students alike Sojobo

I am not sure you can belong to a style per se? You can however belong to a dojo or association that practices a specific style. As such, being part of a "Ryu-ha", you learn what has been passed down from progenitor through instructor(s) to student(s) to arrive at what it is today. So, my Karate style is Wado-Ryu. My Instructor was taught by Suzuki sensei who himself was taught by Otsuka I sensei (creator of Wado-Ryu) - My instructor also spent a lot of time in Japan and trained with Otsuka I sensei directly. He has also trained extensively with many of Otsuka sensei's most senior students (as have I), so I would say firmly that the "style" of karate my group practices is Wado. Do you have to belong to style? Imo no. Does belonging to a style make you a better Martial Artist? - That's difficult. I believe your odds are increased massively if you join a bone-fide MA group with a good heritage and instructor programme. Also - I think that when Karate styles are homogenised into just “karate” - you lose the specifics or workings in terms of what makes the style work. Wado works how it does - Shoto is different (very different). Neither is better than the other just different. You say your style has Wado in it mixed with Ashihara karate. Who created this style and what experience in Wado-ryu did they have? Also JKA is a Shotokan association - as such there are no other styles that are part of their group ... Do you mean JKF? Sojobo

I like that. So you see it as more of an agility drill. Not a bad thing. Promotes coordination and kinesthetic awareness...plus it's simple. At least on one level yes. As well as the advantages you mention, the other thing you get out of it is learning correct and efficient movement - on a multi axis level - up and down as well as backward and forward. In a nutshell, in kata sometimes the combative function (that you get out of training it) is simply training the body how to move efficiently and well. Add in other elements like correct breathing, mental awareness, distance and timing and you have a tool that has unlimited potential. Sojobo

I'd say train it for what it is. An exercise in learning how to drop (after turning), kicking maybe, land and then get back up (whilst turning). Doesn't need to be any more complicated than that. Sojobo

"Soccer" is abbreviated from "Association Football" The oldest governing body for soccer in the world is the English FA which stands for "Football Association" and that's where you get the name Association Football which was later abbreviated to "Soccer" in England at the end of the 19th century. Sojobo

Not sure, our Dojo is packed (to the point where we are turning people away) and we only charge on a pay as you train basis. We are a non profit making group - and that may be the difference. The instructors do not draw a wage so our only outgoings are the hall rental. In the economically austere times we have here in the UK at the moment - we are getting more and more people join. Wind back 5 years and I actually had a parent tell me that they weren't going to bring their kid to my dojo as it seemed too cheap? I didn't lose any sleep over it. Sojobo

NAKMAS?

You could always go for the reversable ones. Sojobo

How much will the grading cost? Sojobo

He did study classical ryu. However, he is still credited for coming up with many of the techniques of Judo. 99% would be an exaggerated figure. You can learn more about it in the many articles at https://www.judoinfo.com He also did not “invent” Randori - it was practiced by styles like Yoshin-ryu. What you say is only true if someone wants to train in a classical system. I can't study BJJ and then claim to be an expert in a koryu, and BJJ stylists don’t do this. I have, however, seen the opposite happen quite frequently, but that's dishonesty and a topic for a different thread. You have misunderstood - I meant from a ryu -ha perspective, in that “correctly” all aspects should be trained in parallel. Intention has little to do with effect. If the effect was insulting I apologise. It was not my intension to offend. Your analogy clearly put dentists as nothing more than a subfaction of physicians... The airforce is not a subfaction of the Army, rather a military faction in and of itself. They don’t just specialize in air combat. They have ground operators as well. It found it's origin in the Army, but grew to something every bit as useful on it's own. BJJ is the same. It grew from Judo. It has since grown into a complete art of its own, with doctrine and strategies of its own.I understand what you are saying, and again I make the analogy not to belittle or offend - but the truth is the core skills were bourne out of the Koryu schools - granted the skills have been improved upon, but nonetheless they were there. This is both correct and incorrect. The footwork, hip movement, and other gross movements remained rather constant. However, much was not. That is to say, the sword was not handled in the same manner as the spear. While the targets were similar, gripping and tactics were forced to change due to blades or being mounted on horseback. The two most widely used weapons in Japan's history, despite popular belief, were the bow & arrow and the spear. Do you honestly believe the weapons were employed in the same manner? Again, this is a conversation for another thread however. Again this is not quite accurate. Japan went through stages of war and stages of "non-war". Depending on the time of their creation, schools catered for different needs. Early Bushi often fought on horseback (with bow & arrow) and the use of Yari, Naginata etc. featured in their skill set, however in the later schools - techniques reflected the less "battlefield" type engagement and thus weapons like these weren't taught so much. The style of swordsmanship also changed to incorporate things like Batto-jutsu (whereas before the Bushi had no need for fast drawing of the sword as they had unsheathed their weapon well before engagement began on the battlefield). Atemi-jutsu also became more relevant with the wearing of civilian clothes (and less armour). Edo period styles (like Tenshin shinyo ryu and Kito ryu) did not teach Bow and arrow, and Sojutsu. The connectivity between weapon work and Jujutsu I was referring to is between the uchigatana, kodachi, tanto and hand to hand and I can tell you first hand that the techniques do transfer. We won't get into the "scrolls" thing. Especially since there is little evidence they exist in that manner. That’s an interesting statement. Why? Do you believe that they don't? I have seen my teacher’s scrolls so I can tell you that they certainly do for my group. My point was simply a response to the OPs opening statement.

So will you be graded by an examiner who practices, Ashihara, Tang Soo do or Wado. Or all of the above? [edit] What style does your dai-shihan study?

Which one? The guy that wants extort money (via contracts / deals) or the guy that wants value for money? Heck - you should be able to get the best training in the world for $ 7.00 per hour max otherwise you are just entering into the Mc Dojo. Sojobo

Kusarigama - ish? Sojobo