Kusotare

They have slightly different reasoning behind them. Kihon or "basics" as we are discussing are repetitive techniques usually done on mass either standing (Sonoba-kihon) or stepping (Ido-kihon). They are really moves found in solo kata which are done multiple times in a "flattened-out" format. The purpose of Kihon is to engrain good technical ability from a physical point of view. Wado-ryu's Kihon Kumite (which translates as fundamentals of fighting) is more about taking the techniques and learning how to utilise them against an opponent. Its about the stratagems of fighting - allowing us to develop things like correct distance, timing, centre line and body movement etc. It's also about something in Budo called "Kobo Ittai", which literally means attack and defence are one. The defender should have an attackers mind-set (think first move of KK no.1 - What are you really doing?). It's about both protagonist seeking to achieve "Sente"! Nothing basic about either! K.

Most English speaking Karate dojo will also refer to Kihon as "basics". The word Kihon however is more accurately translated as "foundation". When you think of it that way, it makes a lot more sense. K.

I love Kihon! I'm in my late forties now and, whilst in my younger days it was all about fighting, I get more out of basics now. I've never been one for the gym (bores me silly) and I hate running, so my escape is a good solid hour of Kihon with my fellow students. As my sensei used to say, when you walk into the dojo the vault door closes behind you and you leave every other part of your life outside. For that hour you have escaped - until that darn door opens again - and lets the world back in. Never mind there is always the next session K.

Yes I did, on 2 or 3 occasions and it was fantastic. The likes of which I had not experienced before or since. I believe he taught in North America on several occasions (don't know exactly how many). As head of the Technical committee of the JKF Wado-kai for so long, his services were very much in demand around the world. K.

As the title suggest, very sadly, one of the greatest Wado masters passed away this weekend. Anyone in Wado who was lucky enough to have trained with this great sensei will never forget his teachings. He was without doubt one of the finest technicians of Wado-ryu karate ever and he was an excellent sensei (with a wicked sense of humour to boot!) Within the JKF (Japan Karate Federation) Wado-kai, he was considered to be the ultimate Shihan - there was no-one more senior. So much so, the JKF (the national federation for Karate run by the Japanese Government) awarded him the rank of 9th Dan something that has only been achieved by 3 or 4 Karate instructors across all Karate styles! He will be greatly missed. K.

I once had this conversation with a student in Daito-ryu! We were talking about coloured belts and the need for them (and ultimately black belt)? I suggested that they weren't important, to which he replied - "people with black belts usually say that". K.

Red flag there from the get go! K.

Says who? Globally; karate is still one of the most popular martial arts studied and Shotokan is probably the biggest style. K.

If I remember correctly, the old video footage (that I believe you are referring to of Otsuka performing Kata in a tennis court) was not made public until about 25 - 30 the years ago, as it was part of a private collection (it was shot in the USA in the late 50's I believe). So although Otsuka's performance pre-dates Suzuki's - It is doubtful that Suzuki had seen this footage prior to him filming his version of Niseishi. Regarding the differences - I believe there are two possibilities. 1. It was Suzuki's personal development of the kata - Shu-ha-ri 2. Suzuki had minimum exposure to Otsuka's teaching of Niseishi (prior to his coming to Britain). Given the fact that it is well documented that Otsuka actually pared down the number of Kata he had in his system and by very virtue that there was little or no reference material at the time (no You tube ,VCR's and scant Wado books in the 60s) - I believe it was the latter. K.

I do not think the absence of self defence within a school makes it a McDojo. And, whilst I would agree that there needs to be a degree of active sparring / combative application, I don't think creating "ultimate fighters" is the be-all and end-all. Karate as Budō is far more multifaceted and as Spodo Komodo alludes to, there are also cultural and historical considerations to bear in mind. K.

Wado is like that - it gets into your bones! I've been training in it now for 30 years and there is no sign of it letting up. I also practice a classical Japanese jujutsu and sword system, but Wado remains, and will always be, at the core of my training. K.

As well as specialist Wado Forums I go on M.A.P. quite a bit. Some very high calibre martial artists are contributors there. K.

I wasn't trying to say one system was better than another - I was simply suggesting that trying to make something out of "possibilities" comes with problems. I jujutsu terms, I think what Leigh is trying to explain here is a kotegaeshi or wrist turn. The problem is not the application of the wrist turn, it is about how it is "realised" in this particular phrase of the kata. In essence what your hands our doing have very little effect in the technique. Its more about your body movement in itself and in relation to your opponent. If you perform kotegaeshi and cast your opponent backward away from your original starting position, this is generally referred to as an "Irimi Kotegashi" or entering wrist turn" The rear leg past the front from behind (as Bassai) is not the most effective way to transfer your body mass through this technique. Rather - it suggests to me that there is a turn involved which would employ a another version of a kotegashi where the opponent is eventually cast behind you. So, whilst the idea is there (regarding what the hands are doing) the body isn't doing the right thing IMO. And this is my point. If you want to learn how to do kotegaeshi properly (and not just play at it) go to your local Aikido or Jujutsu club. K.

I'm I bit of weird breed - as I am both Karate-ka and Jujutsu-ka. I'm sorry but imho - that would not work in either. I have a problem with folk trying "reverse engineer" jujutsu techniques into karate kata. I have trained for 3 hours today with some hard core jujutsu-ka and that technique would have left them laughing... Sorry. K.

This could well be true, but that doesn't change the fact the kata he was taught had bunkai to them. Agreed, but to an extent from a Wado perspective anyway, it didn't (and still doesn't) really matter what the traditional Okinawan bunkai may have been for any given kata, as Otsuka had his own ambitions in terms of what core principles and concepts he wanted to promote from the moves and movements of the kata. And in a nutshell, this was driven by Otsuka's background in Koryu bujutsu rather than Okinawan karate. Without getting into semantics, Suzuki clearly demonstrated "kata applications". I hoping this whole thing has not been a misunderstanding on my behalf and what I mean by bunkai and what others mean. To be clear by Bunkai I mean "kata applications performed with a partner". Yes, I know bunkai doesn't technically mean that, but it is universally known as such. Not wishing to derail this thread but whilst "Bunkai" and application may have come to mean the same thing these days, they have some important differences. More typically form an analysis point of view, I see what Suzuki does as "Kaisetsu" or literally a "commentary" of any given technique within a kata using an opponent. It is a realisation of the technique in its "omote "or surface level form. But that is just about it. Not at all, but we shouldn't say something never existed just because we chose not to train it. "Bunkai" as I understand it - is more a process of dismantling and organically growing from there. From a Wado perspective this holds very little value as there brings with it a risk that one will migrate away from the core principles and concepts for which the practice of any given kata is its raison d'etre K

Indeed, but given the length of time that Otsuka spent with the likes of Funakoshi, Mabuni and Motobu - it is unlikely that he learnt any of said "bunkai applications" in any great depth. I'm in the camp that Otsuka saw Okinawan karate as a vehicle to promote his new ideal of "Karate-jujutsu kempo" which - in a nutshell was Japanese Budo rather than Okinawan Karate. The old " Pinch of Salt" quote springs to mind. Perhaps this is where terminology becomes skewed - but I saw what Suzuki sensei did a oyo (or Ohyo as they call it in Wado) that's not quite the same as Bunkai. Splitting hairs maybe - but then there are also market forces at play. If the Shoto, and Goju lot are doing Bunkai - then we all should!? Fact is Otsuka propbably didn't have enough time to fully internalise the kata he learnt ( from an Okinawan perspective) and he probably didn't need to given his pedigree in Koryu Bujutsu. K.

Interesting topic, You will often hear practitioners of Wado Karate say "Wado doesn't have Bunkai" and to a certain extent I would agree - in that it doesn't approach the application of Kata moves and movements in quite the same way as Okinawan karate. In his book Wado-Ryu Karate, Otsuka sensei wrote this: "It is obvious that these kata must be trained and practised sufficiently, but one must not be 'stuck' in them. One must withdraw from the kata to produce forms with no limits or else it becomes useless. It is important to alter the form of the trained kata without hesitation to produce countless other forms of training. Essentially, it is a habit - created over long periods of training. Because it is a habit, it comes to life with no hesitation - by the subconscious mind." K.

The Pinan Kata diverge into Kushanku and then ultimately (with the introduction Naihanchi and Seishan) - Chinto. Therefore Chinto is the summit of Wado kata - although there is a lot of learning from the other Kata to be done along the way. Otherwise you are just going through the motions. K.

All of the above PLUS.... 1. Pick your date well. There are a lot of competitions these days and if yours clashes with one that is already in the calendar - your attendance will be disappointing. 2. Medics - You will need medics on hand, particularly if you are proposing a full contact tournament. 3. You might want to use an on line organisational tool... This covers promotion, registration, fees and tournament planning / draws etc. We use this one... https://www.sportdata.org/ K.

Are you sure on this? Kodokan was the name of Jigoro Kano's Judo school. Kodokan is actually quite a common name for a number of Japanese dojo. It simply means place of learning or place for old ways! K

Hello, I have a lovely new student who is keen and wants to buy a gi. He's a rather large chap (although not too tall) and we can't find any gi here in the UK that would fit. Knowing that the states probably has more options, can anyone recommend an international supplier who can ship a Karate gi (preferably medium weight) for someone that is 5'10" with a 52" waist. I look forward to hearing from you. K.

I like that. It's a good reminder. Masafumi Shiomitsu (9th Dan Wado-ryu) wears a pure white belt (not an old black belt that has turned white) - for much the same reasons. With the exception of possibly adding Toru Arakawa (JKF 9th Dan), I think I would agree with you. Interestingly, all of the above would most likely prefer to be addressed as simply "Sensei". IMO, that is the most important (and treasured) title of them all. K.

For me, the acquisition and improvement of skills, is my only goal within martial arts. I'm a senior Dan grade within the England karate association, but grades (and shogo titles) mean very little to me (but I can see how others are excited by them). I seek out and train with people that, in my view, are extraordinary individuals (within their field). Some of which have no formal grades to speak of so they are not even Shodan. K.

Yes, in a nutshell. No offence intended. K.

My motivations were not malicious!! My goals were not malicious!! To spread knowledge across the great divide!! Why are seminars done to begin with?? Well, my intents are always good, and not bad, and I can't speak towards their reason(s) intelligently. No disrespect, but why should I pick you to do a seminar? Sure, you demonstrate a reasonable knowledge of Martial Arts on this board, but again, with the greatest respect, to an extent a lot of that information can be found in books, magazines and the web - as long as you know where to look. Practical ability and knowledge is another thing entirely. In order for me to buy you as a service therefore, I would need to see you in action. There are a lot of excellent martial artists out there that do seminars (some of my friends teach globally). But our time (and my dojo time) is precious, so we need to know we are investing our time wisely. K.