Kusotare

Keep in mind that the article is only a basic explanation and oversimplifies things. Most of us in the MA teach kids and beginners techniques using big movements that exaggerate the techniques a bit; this is done so they can get a feeling for the muscles required to perform the technique. As they progress, they are shown how to tighten up their movements so that they become much smaller and more direct. The same goes with learning gamaku. Once a student understands the muscle control and body structure to engage gamaku, the movements are much less pronounced, for instance, rotating the pelvis to align the spine with tanden (which must remain in perpendicular alignment to the earth). It's all about keeping movements, gamaku, etc with an unbroken tanden. In fact, gamaku won't work if tanden is broken. I agree that rotating the pelvis as much as is shown in the diagrams is excessive and a bit unstable, but once a student understands how gamaku works, all that becomes mute. As far as being restrictive goes, again, all our movements must be done in such a way that our tanden remains intact. So, yes, in a way, we restrict our movement in such a fashion. I'm OK with that; it makes my movements MUCH more stable and less likely to be knocked or taken down. I understand what you are saying (and you have valid points), but I think you could achieve the same end results with doing a programme of crunches. As I understand it "Gamaku" is learning to generate power from short sharp movements (from ones centre) - ALA Naihanchi... To my way of thinking - practice Naihanchi more...

I'm not a fan of turning the pelvic bone upward. It's biomechanically very unstable and restricts movement. At best it serves as a defence mechanism to protect your testicles from a kick from behind, but that’s about it. K.

Is the use of the word “Karate” exploited? In the UK – for the most part it isn’t, but I’m getting the impression that in the US it is. I know that TKD and Karate have – in the most part - merged into one in the US, but a recent thread about terminology of Japanese techniques and mental approach has lead me to think about how sincerely “Japanese” most karate clubs are these days in terms of their approach and pedagogy. I know there are some strong objections on this board to using Japanese language / expressions as a primary way to relay the teachings of arts like Karate, but just wondered whether things had moved on a little? K.

As I understand it, in traditional Japanese budo there have been a number of ways to describe "attacker" and "defender" over time. Most Gendai arts today (Judo and Aikido for example) use "Tori" (short for torimi) and "Uke" (short for ukemi) to describe the one that accepts and the one that receives - and in that order. I know, basically the same thing..!! Because it is!!! Ultimately, the ones that accepts and manages the initial attack Tori(mi), turns the table on the bad guy who ends up "receiving it"... BIG TIME - thus - "Uke(mi)" Then in swordmanship you get "uchidachi" (stricking sword) and "uketachi" (receiving sword). Go back a bit further and you get "Teki" (lit Enemy) and "Ware" (lit your self). Point is, in pair work, attack and defence are one. And so are the mindsets - that's why the Japanese terminology is not so black and white. K.

This is probably where many are going to differ. In some systems "Soto" (Lit. outside) refers to a block in which the arm travels from the inside to the outside. Were as "Uchi" (Lit. inside) refers to a block travelling from outside to inside – (or it can also be the part of the arm you are blocking with IE the outside or the inside) In other systems, it’s the opposite way round - as a result of where the technique emanates from. Generally speaking, as Karate is a gendai system, most of the terminology is the same (with a few exceptions). With older systems it gets a little more complicated as the terminology is quite archaic. K

Being a grumpy traditionalist... Are all the Osu's really needed? Just saying. K.

I really liked that Nidan Melbourne, it's a complicated kata! Thanks for sharing [Edit] And in addition, I liked the way you gave your better half a credit (in terms of filming)... Now there's a man that knows how to take care of him self lol! K.

None of these schools will remotely improve your ability to defend yourself. Please don't think that they will. As others have said, EVERYONE puts "good for self defence" on their web site. Karate is a martial art - as is Archery and Iaido etc. and like the last two - will probably be as useful if someone jumps you in the street. K.

Yeah going to go check it out. The way the instructor talked to my wife it is a Traditional School, with a focus in Self Defense. He said that it could be used in Full Contact or Knockdown Karate Tournaments, and even Point Sparring. He sent the Style list (above the long one I posted) in my email, but also told my wife it is a Kempo (or Kenpo dont remember right spelling) Karate. Just to be clear, Shotokai is the name of the group (and thus the recognised style) headed by Mitsusuke Harada This group (Zen Shotokai Karate Ryu) might have connections in the dim and distant past, but as far as I can see, it is NOT Shotokai Karate. It's just the name they have given themselves. Had a look at the web site (as well as the vids) and well, I've seen worse. Depends also on how much of a stickler you are for correct procedure. Personally, I hate folk slapping their arms on the side of their legs like penguins when they bow - that demonstrates zero understanding of Rei-ho and where it fits into Japanese Budo. I also don't like seeing images of folk posing with katana (Japanese sword) wearing their wrist watch! But, I’m a grumpy old man K.

Is it linked to Playwell.co.uk? I must admit, the "Playwell Biker" thing is a little tenuous. A site that sells motorcycle gear as well as bokutō is a new one on me. Still, if you are happy that's the main thing. Just don't hit anything with it I would suggest . K.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about Goju Ryu, so wouldn't be capable of doing any good work on it. But in the future, instead of writing all the stuff, I may simply contact authors of other martial arts and publish their work through the existing technology. Let me know if you know someone who understands and studies Goju Ryu to the tiniest detail. . The problem is you are dealing with a very slippery fish ie: Nihongo+Martial Arts+Ryu-ha Unless you are a native, the Japanese language is hard to enough to translate well - even just in general terms. Put martial arts into the equation and there are many idiosyncrasies that even Japanese speakers (who are not martial artists) would struggle to uderstand. Factor in different martial arts schools the same terminology to mean different things and the problem gets bigger. Then, even within different factions within the same style of the same martial art - terms are used differently, from dojo to dojo. Really, the only 100% correct way (for you) is how your sensei uses it in your dojo. K.

You don't make it about them, you say it is not working out for you! I've been an instructor for over 20 years now, and to say I've lost count of the number of students that have come and gone is an understatement. I used to take it personally - especially if I had gone out of my way to offer extra help to students, but after a while I realised that training in Martial Arts - particularly a traditional system - isn't for everyone. They might think it is at the start - but after a while, the gloss wears off and they realise that actually, it comes down to a lot of repetition and hard work. There also comes a time when students have to do more of the "mental weightlifting" for themselves - as they progress through their grades - and some folk dont like that. To each their own. K.

What did you end up getting and from where? Always interested in finding new sources of weapons supplies. K.

Not wishing to de-rail this thread but I'd like to hear more about that! K.

I'm also not a Goju man but, as I see it, Tensho kata is an introduction to basic "ukete" or receiving techniques. Step two is learning how to move your body (whilst using these methods also). K.

I really liked that. Thanks for sharing ps1

The embusen is vaguely the same - but that's about it. The Wado-ryu version employs different principles (and rotational directions etc). K.

The best (and to my knowledge the only) specialist bokken supplier in the UK (if not in Europe) is Nine Circles. http://www.ninecircles.co.uk/Wooden_Weapons__Shinai/Bokken/Specialised_Bokken.aspx They are a good bunch of guys - I would suggest you ring them. I think they also sell the laminated bamboo bokken but I've never met anyone who trains with one. I think they are for throwing around your head. K.

How much weapon on weapon impact do you have? If none or very little - it's purely a cosmetic choice. If however you are doing some serious impact stuff then I would suggest a Keishi-ryu or Itto-ryu bokken. It's not necesarily the wood they are made from (however in most cases they are made from white oak) It's the thickness of the weapon. K.

I Think this also sums the humour up. Here he is at a martial arts HOF induction party. What I like about this is that he's pulling legs - but these guys (who's legs he's pulling) love it! K.

He holds dan grades (proper ones that is) in American Kenpo and Okinawan Karate. Training with him - although only fooling around as he was playing Master Ken - you could clearly see he is a very good martial artist underneath. Some of the older British guys here will remember the late comedian Les Dawson who used to play the piano really badly as part of his act. Truth be told, to make it sound that bad, you actually have to be pretty good in the first place. And I think that sums up Matt. K.

Had the pleasure of meeting and training with him last year. Matt Page is a very funny man, and a really nice guy as well! K.

It certainly does. It's hard to put a date on it, because as long as there has been battles there has been restraining and tying techniques. As part of codified syllabus it was included in Takenouchi-ryu which dates back to early 16th century. As the first hand to hand combat systems it's safe to say that their hojojutsu is amoungst the oldest practiced in Japan. K.

The point of tying up would be similar to how LEO's do it today i.e. you would have immobilised your opponent first. You may also have a razor sharp kodachi across his throat... People tend to be more compliant in these circumstances. K.

I prefer not to ignore the elephant in the room! Just because gendai budo systems (like karate etc) don't necessarily offer "realistic" sd applications - doesn't mean you shouldn’t train in them. K.