Spartacus Maximus

This is something that can be seen across all Okinawan styles, although under different terms. The explanation is centred around the concept and approach that principles of movement are more important to acquire than individual techniques. Many techniques follow the same single applied principle of movement. Defense and counter is based on where one is positioned at the moment the attack comes. A punch for example: If one is on the inside, the defensive technique and counter(usually simultaneous actions) will be best from there. If one ends up on the outside, one will aim to defend/counter from there.

The testing isn’t quite as formal as what one might expect to see in the majority of karate schools in Japan or the West. Only Hanshi can decide who is ready and one simply does not test until Hanshi explicitly tells them to test. Perhaps this is only possible because it is a small dojo with few students and less than 5 training today one time. The test is judged by Hanshi and a panel of at least 3 other people who are at least 2nd Dan or 2 Dan grades above for shodan and above tests. The test content is nearly identical for each level, but the appropriate level of understanding for the grade tested for must be demonstrated. Usually as follows: 1. All kihon waza and 5 kihon kata. 2. Bunkai and bunkai application of 1 kihon kata drawn at random from a hat 3. One Naihanchi with bunkai(solo) and bunkai application(attacks by volunteer shodans and above). Students choice 4. Same as above for Pinan kata. One chosen by the students and a random one chosen on the spot by Hanshi 5. Demonstrate(no bunkai) the highest kata learned for the grade ex: candidates for 3dan must do Kusanku Sho or Chinto 6. Breaking with correct technique. Technique varies by grade tested: 1 inch thick pine board. 3dan and above must break 2 boards and 5dan and above can do tiles. All this takes maybe 45min at most. No gruelling series of push-ups or 5km runs through the neighborhood. No free sparring either. Those are expected to be practiced in regular training and at home. This is by far the shortest and most informal testing I have ever experienced.

For some reason that isn’t quite clear, it seems like there is much less organized curriculum requirements in Okinawan dojos. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that the number of belts/grades was very small before Sho Dan. White, blue, green, then brown. Everyone was expected to learn the Naihanchi and Pinan within the first year and every one trained those according to their level of understanding of the bunkai/application. From Sho Dan onwards in no specific order each person learned Passai Sho/dai, Kusanku Sho/dai, Chinto, Seisan, Gojushiho and Teisho

It is indeed undeniable that karate was influenced by Japanese martial arts when it was brought to the mainland from Okinawa. However it seems odd that the concept of kiai or anything similar would be absent from karate in its earlier history. It may be a matter of coincidence but something similar to kiai exists in many Chinese martial arts including those taught brought to the Ryukyus by Chinese experts and Okinawans who studied in Fukien. In the case of Shorin ryu there may have been some influence as early as Matsumura Sokon’s time. After all, Matsumura was known to have trained in China and also in the Satsuma clan’s territory in Japan where he became highly skilled in Jigen ryu swordsmanship. Jigen ryu is well known in koryu kenjutsu for its distinctive kiai called « enkyo » the « monkey’s scream ». It isn’t entirely impossible that Matsumura may have incorporated a few things from the other systems he learned into his personal practice and teachings…

When first learning the Naihanchi series it did seem simple at first glance because the katas have very few moves and they repeat themselves in opposite directions. Like for many karate students, it wasn’t until much later that it became clear how important these are in Shorin ryu. The depth and breadth of application of it is quite amazing and it isn’t difficult to understand why past exponents like Motobu spent years on it before learning anything else.

Not to depend on books, but books and publications from reputable and reliable sources are probably the best start to get informed before and in preparation to seeking out a proper discussion with a legal professional. Getting a basic understanding and ideas about the local self-defense laws is definitely something worth looking into for anyone who seriously trains martial arts. Having references on hand is also important for instructors who may want to have something to point interested people in the right direction.

Indeed, but it can also be seen in the older sparring footage from the earlier Japanese karate tournaments. Several well known karateka from that era were especially adept at this…Yahara Mikio of Shotokan comes to mind.

Based on your local legal system and laws, what would you say is the most accurate and reliable publication(books etc..) on the legal aspects of self-defense? What, if any, books/written documentation would you recommend to your students/fellows short of discussing the topic with a legal expert(lawyer, judge etc)

There is another concept in Okinawan karate and related martial arts which agrees with getting behind the attacker. The idea is that the most advantageous position for counterattacking and defending is always at an angle or offside instead of moving straight backwards or meeting the attacking force straight on. This is especially important if the attacker is much bigger and stronger. This means moving out of the attacker’s direct line of sight and into the “blind spot” so that the counter will be much more difficult to see coming. Moving behind or as close as possible to the attacker’s back is the ideal application of that strategy.

It seems, at least from personal experience training and discussions with Okinawan teachers; that the idea of ´blocking’ is something that is lost in translation. As what Sensei8 describes, uke waza is different than stopping an attack force on force. The more accurate translation and description is receiving (ukeru in Japanese) the attack in such a way as to deflect it, absorb it and using it to one’s advantage by creating an opening to counter. Both uke and counters are often done simultaneously. Okinawan martial arts share this concept with most styles of Chinese Chuan Fa(Kung fu). As far as distance is concerned, there are some styles such as Uechi ryu/Pangai Noon and Goju ryu which emphasize a very close-in range but all Okinawan karate seems to be most effective from shorter distances, mainly from within arms reach.

Two of the most obvious explanations for hikite or “chambering” become clear when considering the strategy and range of Eastern martial arts. Particularly those of Chinese and Okinawan origins in their older pre-sport versions. Unarmed fighting and self-defense is rarely if ever done at distances beyond arms reach and most techniques require closing distance. It makes a lot of logical sense to seize, trap and pull an attacker while striking. The other explanation for hikite is exploiting antagonist motions to train effective body mechanics and structure for maximum power generation. This is not really unique to Eastern martial arts, but a vital concept. Every technique involves opposite movements and push/pull is one of the most important. In Eastern arts, at least, this is more obvious in training and becomes more subtle once skill develops and when used in actual fighting or defense.

What besides redundancy could motivate a martial arts instructor to decide not to pass on something?

It is a well known historical fact that every lineage of traditional martial arts has one and sometimes several instructors who either added something or removed something from what their own curriculum. This is one of the reasons why there are ´lost’ kata/forms. Chibana of shorin ryu , for instance was well known for insisting on passing on exactly everything Itosu taught him. However several of Chibana’s successors changes. Chinese chuan fa is also known for this as different teachers of the same style will often have a different curriculum and not include everything.

In the history of teaching martial arts it isn’t unheard of for an instructor to change their material. Sometimes by adding something or removing another. Even in the most traditional lineages there are those who, for whatever reason, do not teach everything their own teacher taught them. It could be a certain technique or an entire kata/form. For anyone teaching, is there anything you learned from your instructor(s) that you do not or will not teach? What would motivate you to make such a decision?

Another often pondered question: Is practicing forms at 100%one’s power, speed every time more or less effective as a training exercise From personal experience and observation, going 100% speed/power every time is not something that is done often outside of demos, competitions or some kind of performance(as for testing for example).

Is there a some difference between the way you do your forms in the dojo/school and how you practice them by yourself on your own personal time in private? Personally when practising kata alone it makes sense to do everything step-by-step. Pace and rythm would depend on when the kata was first learned.

There are few things in martial arts practise that are as rewarding as the opportunity to share it with one’s own child. Generations ago it was much more common for parents skilled in something to actually pass it down and teach/train a son or daughter. The possibility of this is actually a great personal reason to keep practicing.

To anyone using solo forms(kata, hyung/poomse, taolu) or techniques sequences: In practise what is the usual speed? What rhythm is used ie: is each move done one at a time step-by-step OR some moves/parts flow into one another? For this discussion the focus is on individual personal training as the conditions for skills evaluation or demonstrations are separate points.

There can be many reasons to find lying about rank objectionable depending on perspective. If it’s done at a competitive event, it is a form of cheating. Much like a pro athlete passing off as an amateur just to compete in a local level tournament. Anyone with a sense of fairplay would justly call cheat/fraud.

If you are teaching, who was the first person to be your student? How did you find this person or how did the student find you?

@Nidan Melbourne The most obvious explanation was that although it was the exact same style(Chibana lineage); the association/GB were different and so were the instructors. The other, no less important, is that ´giving up’ any previous rank/level was essential as a sign of good faith and readiness to learn with the approach of a beginner. To put it into a relatable context, it could be illustrated like this: Your grandfather passed his karate style to four sons who each founded their own association/GB. You started and trained under your father’s students and reached 3rd dan. Then a short time later, you start training with your uncle who was also taught by your GF. Same karate, same kata, same lineage….but taught differently with different focus. All very minute but significant differences. It is as much an advantage or a disadvantage, but as far as the curriculum of kata and techniques everything was familiar. It was/is just a matter of re-learning in a different way and on a different level.

This reminds me of dojo ideals/rules shaped by Okinawan karate and many other martial arts traditions with a code of some sort: As we train our body, we also train our character: This means to strive to be someone who can make conscious efforts to change personal faults. To become a kind and agreeable person. This requires determination because any effort made must be consistent and constant. Martial arts are a great way of developing patience and also determination, resolve. These qualities are essential and cultivated actively in traditional martial arts practice. Cultivate conscious effort. Develop a strong determination/resolve. That is also a loosely translated version, but the meaning stands: To learn and practise martial arts requires making conscious efforts to improve skills. Training over time requires determination and resolve.

knowledge and skills and habits can never be erased or taken away. This means that any revocation or giving up of rank is a symbolic act. In personal memory there is one example of each. One is a former student of the grandmaster. This man ranked 7th or 8th dan but was disowned/expelled and struck from records after being found guilty and imprisoned for very serious violent crimes. The other is myself. Reached 3 dan in Shorin ryu before giving up that rank and training from zero under a different association/GB of the exact same shorin ryu(kobayashi) lineage. My sensei’s teacher and the grandmaster(deceased) of my former GB were both taught by Chibana Chosin.

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.