Spartacus Maximus

In martial arts and specifically systems of East Asian origin, anyone training would agree that grade level or belt rank is entirely subjective. They are marks of technical skill and understanding of a specific curriculum based on the evaluation of specific individual teachers and/or seniors. At the same time, each practitioner’s progress is different, even from those of equal grade. This is why time-in-grade minimums are often used. These are also usually unique to each teacher/dojo’s instruction style. For discussion’s sake, how many kyu or dan(or equivalent) grades does your dojo use and what is the minimum time one must train before being tested? Also, what was the longest time you have stayed at one level before being tested and promoted? My instructor used 3 kyu levels(3,2,1) and then shodan-10th dan. Minimum before being told(nothing is automatic) to test are like so: 3kyu blue: 6mths 2kyu green: 8mths 1kyu brown: 10mths shodan black: 1 year nidan: 2 years sandan: 3 years…et cetera that is provided one trains 10~12hours/week in the dojo plus outside/at home. Due to distance and irregular work and travel(and COViD prevention) my time between tests has been very long. Reached 2nd dan in early 2018 and still working towards 3rd.

One must bear in mind that training in Japan or even Okinawa is no different than training anywhere else. It is not a matter of where but with whom. That is what makes the experience worthwhile. With that said the best course of planning, as others have mentioned is to arrange it through connections and references. These are extremely important and perhaps essential. In many instances just showing up without an internal referral is a major blunder which will give a rude impression and cause for refusal or cold reception. Many traditionally minded sensei and Japanese people in general are weary of foreigners unless they have a clear signs of good faith and respectable intentions. Expect to be closely watched and scrutinized in the dojo and outside as well. In recent years there has been much conflict, frustration and justified anger because of a few ill-behaved, uncouth and foul uncivilized behaviour from foreigners who seem to think they can abuse the kind and polite nature of Japanese society. Mistaking this for weakness always ends badly and those who behave like trash are treated like trash. The man to look up in Okinawa is Mister Miguel DaLuz. He has lived there for years, and is very well connected to all styles sensei. It is actually his job to help foreign karate students find a dojo. He also runs a great magazine covering karate, history and Okinawan culture published in French, English, Spanish and Japanese which he speaks flawlessly. A very interesting fellow to talk to. The mainland is less familiar to me, but there are quite a few reputable places in and around Tokyo.

This is not at all to dismiss, discredit or discourage training in martial arts. It is more about having a healthy aversion to violence and the importance of reserving it for only the worst threat of unavoidable physical harm. Having a good understanding of how easy it is to cause serious injuries to a human body and being conscious of its fragility should be something to consider. Particularly if one trains to develop the skills to do it effectively. Knowing this does not exclude the usefulness and perhaps the necessity of training for such skills.

What is most concerning is that many people who’ve never experienced violence with true intent to harm do not realize that even a poorly executed strike from an angry untrained person can have disastrous life-altering consequences. Whether it is intentional or not, all it takes is one bad fall to turn a knockout into something much worse. This is a very good reason why youths, especially teenage boys and young adult men ought to learn not to never take violence lightly, and the self-restraint/control to not be provoked or goaded into stupid fights over frivolous ego issues. Martial arts training just makes everything potentially worse and serious injuries much more likely.

@sensei8 Resilience like yours is admirable after everything you’ve had to endure(shared on KF). One of the most difficult things to imagine was how it must have been to lose so many friends and fellows at once in that awful freak accident.

Most people including trained martial artists who have never had the misfortune of physical confrontation often do not understand or appreciate how easily a human body can be damaged. Normal law-abiding people would much rather avoid all the legal, ethical and mental consequences of using force. All it takes to cripple or end a life is one strike or fall, even without intent. There are countless instances of people falling badly and getting very serious or fatal injuries that were not intentional. Most of these involve untrained people. Despite this, this is rarely discussed in martial arts schools. It is by far the best reason to avoid playing with MA outside the dojo/school or using it unless absolutely forced to defend oneself. Young men and teenagers (especially)who train would do well to listen and hear this warning. One bad judgment and a stupid fight(they are all stupid unless defending yours or another’s life/limb) can and will ruin your life, your future and perhaps your sanity. Am I prepared to deal with the authorities and the legal system? Do I really want to go through the mental consequences of having permanently crippled another human or caused their death? These are the questions to ponder. As a personal cautionary true story, I keep a newspaper article about a former classmate who has been disowned by his parents and serving 25 years. He had no training whatsoever but killed another fellow with one punch causing the other 18year old kid to fall and fracture his skull open on the pavement.

Europe would be the closest and least expensive, but going almost anywhere else would likely cost as much as going to where the CI lives and teaches most of the time. Sending videos is probably the best solution, but there are only a few things that can be evaluated without being present in person. trained intensively for just shy of ten years before life happened and being forced away. Although it is a project, lack of resources and a full time job make it impossible for the time being to open a branch dojo.

In all your martial arts training history, is there anything you regret or wished you had or could/should have done? For me it is finding and training under my teacher. Perhaps my understanding of Okinawan karate and martial arts would be greater had our paths crossed much earlier.

Does anyone else train this way for lack of better options? After much thought, it seems like sending videos of training is the best way to progress when doing it in person isn’t possible. Even if there are some parts of training that require in person evaluation, it would be better than nothing. Travelling one direction or the other to train might only be possible once every two years as it is quite far and expensive for myself.

As a student without a dojo, there is nobody else to share any costs with. Obviously the basic thing to do is covering the plane ticket, but there must be other things to do. The plan would be to invite the CI of the main dojo(my sensei), or one of the seniors. The CI already travels to teach in Latin America and Europe regularly. Basically, the goal is to keep training as well as setting up a shibu dojo in a region/country where Okinawan karate is virtually absent.

This topic is interesting. When there are no others to train with nearby and one’s instructor live too far away. for everyone, what is required for inviting the head of your style or high seniors to teach? Being a karate orphan can be challenging, especially when the hanshi and even the nearest senior is an 6~8 hour flight away.

The main reason for the inquiry is that there are quite a few of Miyahira’s direct students(9th and 10th dans) teaching out there who do not seem to be affiliated to the hombu in Okinawa. It would be interesting to have the input of someone who is with Shidokan.

It is much easier to learn what kata techniques mean and how they are applied at the same time than no having a clue until shodan. Ideally, one would start learning the bunkai and applications(basic oyo) soon after learning each kata. Longer kata might be split into shorter sequences for this. perhaps another reason why this changed is because karate was usually taught in private or very small groups. It’s a lot tougher to effectively teach/learn bunkai to 25 at a time than it is with 3~5 people.

Very interesting about the grappling in Okinawan styles. It is said that Ti, the native pre-todi martial arts had as many throws, locks and grappling techniques. Another native art called Tegumi is mostly grappling and has been called Okinawan Sumo. It also explains why every oyo bunkai for shorin ryu kata ends with some kind of throw, lock, and then strike combo.

Okinawa Shidokan was founded by Miyahira Katsuya to pass on Chibana’s karate. Miyahira taught many students who now teach outside Japan and Okinawa. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could share some insight about Shidokan in other countries. Are they all affiliated with the Hombu in Okinawa? How do they all relate to each other? Going by videos out there, there are quite a few 9th and 10th dans. Any information and opinions are appreciated, but please send a PM if the information could be sensitive. It would serve no good to inadvertently step on anyone’s toe or cause a stir.

Thinking back on past experiences, bunkai applications and practice was reserved for shodan and higher. This resulted in people reaching shodan with no idea of the purpose, meaning and use of kata. Much like learning swimming step by step, yet not knowing/understanding that it is meant to be done in water and never actually going in water. Never mind the frustration for students, it does not make for a very interesting or effective way to teach. When and why did this become the norm? This is in sharp contrast to personal experience where Okinawan and Japanese instructors would teach the meaning and application step by step for each part of kata from the very beginning.

Very interesting indeed. The particular stance of Motobu Naihanchi is different from most Okinawan styles, but shares the same emphasis on developing strength and stability in the lower body and twisting power for short range range techniques in front and left/right sides. Contemporary first-hand accounts tells of a time period before established ryuha, when both Naihanchi and Sanchin were taught/practiced in Shuri-te and Naha-te. Many of the known experts/teachers of that time were acquainted with each other and likely trained together or at least exchanged skills. Some even had solid friendships like Itosu and Azato. Then later at some point Shuri-te kept Naihanchi while Naha-te retained Sanchin. How, why and when is uncertain.

Another question for everyone: Whichever of the two kata you practise, what would be the most accurate, detailed(finer points like tension etc) and comprehensive description of how the stance should be done correctly?

@Wastelander At least on the surface, the stance used in Sanchin is nearly identical to Naihanchi except one foot is forward making it look like a staggered Naihanchi stance. The Naihanchi stance referred to here is the one from Shorin ryu. Back straight with pelvis tilted, knees bent feet turned slightly inwards and shoulder width apart. Thighs, knees and lower body tensed. If Itosu is indeed the originator of this, it would be interesting to know what evidence of this there is. On Okinawa there are some schools of Shorin ryu where Naihanchi is practiced and used exactly like Sanchin in Uechi ryu and Goju ryu. The breathing and rythm is different but, it is done with the same or very similar tension. Just like Sanchin, students are tested during the kata by someone striking various areas of the body. Higa Minoru of Kyudokan comes to mind.

As described here, the Naihanchi stance is different from the one used in most Okinawan schools. It sounds closer to Motobu’s Naihanchi and other shuri-te derived styles where the stance is shikodachi or some variant. The stance in the OP is the Naihanchi stance with feet turned slightly inwards and almost identical to Sanchin except both feet are on the same line instead of staggered. How is Sanchin dachi supposed to feel? Where and what is tensed? How about structure and balance?

These have some interesting points in common. The input of those familiar with Sanchin will be helpful as it is the least familiar of the two, personally. Given that both of these kata have many different versions, this post focuses on versions in Okinawan styles. Stance: How is this taught and explained in your lineage? How should the stance feel? Completely loose and relaxed or tensed in some areas? For anyone replying, please mention which of the two kata you practise and the founder of your lineage. Similarities between the two and anyone may add and correct: 1. On the surface Naihanchi and Sanchin stance are similar, especially the knees and feet direction. 2. Both are considered core kata and fundamental training(tanren). 3. Both probably originated from or were heavily influenced by chinese systems from Fukien. 4. Both are deceptively simple and short 5. Both kata are used to test and evaluate skill level, mental and physical toughness and body conditioning.

Would any or some types of action be more appropriate considering the agro person has not initiated any physical contact, though close enough to smell his breath. Obviously the threat is there, but some actions might be legally/ethically better.. Assuming that escape is impossible without dealing with the threatening person. Is a strike more justifiable than a throw, a lock or a kick?

@Montana to answer some questions about the initial situation and antagonist.. The agressive/threatening person and the defender are perfect strangers. The agro person is enraged and initiated the situation by closing, while shouting threats, insults and with obviously threatening gestures. He is definitely closer than anyone would let a stranger get, especially an obviously violent one. There is no significant size/weight difference. He shows no signs of being intoxicated.

To put it in a simplified way, forms/kata that are considered beginner level in a system are the ones that introduce for the first time the most basic and essential skills and principles. The techniques and core elements in them are usually developed and expanded upon in all subsequent ones taught. Most of the time these forms are purposefully short, but the length or number of steps isn’t always an indicator or whether a kata is XYZ level. Some short kata are deceptively complex. Another trait the lower level kata share is that they are often the oldest or among the oldest in the system.

Here are some more variables: it is outside not too long after dark, not stupid o’clock. The area isn’t considered risky or problematic and the area is urban although not in a large city. Both parties are alone. The aggro guy has managed to get within grabbing/hitting distance. He hasn’t touched the defender yet, but is verbally and physically threatening. This is something often overlooked or taken for granted, especially for people who have never had to physically defend themselves.