Spartacus Maximus

The same thing happens with karate. In Okinawa, the “uke” techniques are named by where the movement ends instead of where it begins like in many dojo abroad. These were reversed so that a basic chudan soto uke referred to the one with the “blocking” arm making contact with the outer side of the forearm. For uchi uke the contact arm ends at the opposite shoulder and contact is made with the inner side. Very confusing at first.

The further one is from the source language of whatever one practises, the more likely are misinterpretations and errors in terminology usage.

This probably varies significantly from place to place but, the Japanese terminology is used often enough for everyone who has been training a few years to have heard it all. It makes things easier and smoother when groups from different branches practise together for an association connected with Okinawa/Japan. Also much more likely to be frequently or exclusively used if one was taught in Japanese or is the direct student of a native instructor who speaks nothing else.

Perhaps one solution to this question can be found by observing older martial arts practitioners who have continuously trained for decades and are still very active. Changing style or martial art is not necessary if not desired. What older practitioners learn to do eventually with years of experience is to change and adapt the way they train so that they can continue to do it. That is how, for example, a 70 year old karate expert is still able train as hard as before and still more than a match for a younger person. The younger person may be physically stronger and faster reflexes and every advantage of age, but the older expert has had the time and experience to adapt and compensate for the natural physical degradations.

The whole thing was never intended to be a martial art. It was a con from the beginning designed and implemented to profit from taking advantage of people. It has/had many things in common with both cults and scams. Morals and ethics aside, the founder must have made a lot of profit. Fools and their money as soon parted. If this it is a prime example.

Concerns about the length of the curriculum is just another distraction for students. As a student it is better and more productive to focus on the present. Progress will come eventually if one keeps training diligently and applying one self to practise each technique and concept thoroughly. If the purpose is to become proficient in applying the techniques it does not matter how much one knows. What matters is how well one knows it, and how well one can use it. In general, experience has shown that the longer a student been training, the less they care about the length of the curriculum or how much there is left to learn. The truth is, it never ends. Student question: What else is there to learn? Sifu/sensei/instructor’s answer: much. Student question 2: the curriculum is so long! It’ll take a lifetime to learn all that! Sifu/sensei/instructor’s answer 2: Aha! Now you’re starting to understand. Karate or any martial art was never meant to be learned quickly. Anyone can go through the curriculum in a short time no matter what it is. Going through each part in depth and actually taking the time it takes to develop skill is a different thing.

Napoléon Bonaparte Winston Churchill Both were men who knew how to inspire and lead their people through difficult times and often with difficult odds.

Practically speaking the best kind of self defense weapon is whatever opportunity provides. Something immediately available that can be picked up and discarded quickly. Using everyday objects as defensive weapons is not a new idea and it is possible to train with them and get an idea on their effectiveness. Several good publications exist on the subject.

will it last as an Olympic discipline or is it likely to be included for only a while? How will it be presented versus TKD, which is very similar(at least to spectators)? Sport/competition karate is much more diverse(rule sets etc) than TKD and one can easily imagine the headache of coming up with something all interested participants can agree on.

Only one thing is certain and sure. It is that after years of learning and practise, there is still much much more to be learned and more still to train. The more one practises and the longer one trains the more obvious this certainty becomes.

Now that karate has been entered as an Olympic sport, what kinds of developments can be expected from it? What can reasonably be expected in the way karate will be presented in the Olympics?

Testing concentration and learning to adapt and adjust to an unfamiliar setting was one of the main ideas of training in such places. For the obvious reason that if one ever has to use martial arts skills to defend oneself, it is highly unlikely that it will happen on a nice even floor clear of obstacles like in the dojo.

Super glue? What would be glued with it?

fasting can be dangerous if it is done without proper guidance from a health professional or other such reliable reference and advice. Fasting is not a common practice in the history of karate and perhaps other East Asian martial arts. The old-timers on Okinawa had/have a diet based on one basic principle which is to never eat until one feels completely full. There are few to no restrictions only moderation. The traditional diet consisted of mostly of vegetable/plant food, tubers(a type of potato), rice is available and the rest was seafood. Meat was rare and only eaten for special occasions. Usually it was pork or some other type of lean meats such as poultry.

Having potential means nothing if one doesn’t do anything with it. It has to be developed, cultivated and practised to result in any sort of benefit. A person who is a natural athlete but doesn’t train is eventually going to stagnate in skills and be surpassed by one who has less potential but trains diligently.

It is definitely a stroke of luck, but there are no less than three hospitals or medical clinics within a ten minute drive from the dojo. Several of the regulars have extensive first aid training as part of their jobs and the instructor is professionally trained in bone-setting(putting broken or dislocated bones back in place). The first aid kit is mostly medical tape and splints and a few different bandages. Just enough to take care of injuries until the injured person can be taken to one of the hospitals nearby.

The reasoning behind the idea of training in a former cemetery was that it was an ideal place where it was very unlikely to be interrupted or distracted. To someone who was unfamiliar with the local history, it just looked like a nice clearing with a few old trees around it and slightly overgrown paving stones. Very good and even to walk in comfortably. The second reason is that anyone who knew the place and what it once had been would avoid it. Traditional and personal beliefs fueled by folklore made it feared, revered or both. The instructor belonged to that culture, but reckoned nobody living or dead would be offended as long as everyone left the place as it was found. The centuries old house was chosen for nothing but the most practical reasons. The ruins were made up of remains of the four outer walls and the floor stones, which were flat and smooth. Walls were between waist to shoulder height on an average size man depending on how much each wall had deteriorated. In the mid July heat and humidity the dojo was too uncomfortable and it was decided that the small group of 8 students would go outdoors. It was the best and most suitable place available.

Whether or not one is teaching, one never really ceases to be a student as long as such a relationship exists. This is important for attempting to give an answer to this question. “Sensei” is not only someone with skills, knowledge and experience. It is someone who can get others to develop those qualities. It is someone who can recognize student’s strengths and weaknesses, but knows how to improve them. Most important of all it is someone who can be trusted to give honest and objective appreciation of progress in what is taught.

Perhaps it would not be exactly accurate to call most of these people described “frauds”. That would imply dishonesty and intentional deception for selfish reasons and gain or greed. It would it be just to lend such intent to those who are just overestimating their ability through misplaced ego, or boasting to impress an audience. The two traits sometimes are found in the same person, but not always.

Strangely enough, most martial arts teachers are the most ordinary kinds of people one could ever meet. There is nothing obvious at first glance about them that might indicate any unusual skill or ability whatsoever. What is observable to anyone with enough experience and intuition who can read body language is that these martial arts teachers walk, talk and move with radiating inner strength and confident calm, assurance. In short, they look very strong but disarmingly good-natured. Training mostly in Okinawa and Japan, experience allowed me to cross paths and train under many such teachers. Every time these instructors never failed to surprise and amaze in the dojo. Outside the dojo when not training they were great company and the most down-to-earth people one could ever meet. They certainly knew how to enjoy themselves and all had interesting things to share besides their skills and knowledge in Karate. As far as strange or unique places to train, there are a few and all were outside or not in a conventional or purpose-made building. Had instructors who would conduct training on a tiny island of mainland Okinawa. Another place was the outer wall ruins of a 500 year old house. Lastly, there was a place that used to be a cemetery. Training outdoors is quite common and any place with somewhat even ground is usable.

It is a real eye opener for any practitioner to experience and learn how martial arts are taught in the native cultures. When comparing personal experience training in Okinawa and Japan, some things about how the terminology is used and abused by unknowing people appear strange. “Oss/osu” is one of those things.

It matters little how many days or hours per week one attends dojo training sessions. A person who trains and practises outside and in addition to time st the school will always get better faster than someone who does nothing whatsoever outside of school training. School time with an instructor must be used efficiently. The dojo/school is for learning and asking questions, practise and technical refinement is something that must be done on one’s own time.

Homework. That is what makes all the difference. In martial arts as in any type or study, the key to developing and refining skills is practising on one’s own time in addition to, and beyond whatever is learned under supervision of a teacher. A student who only does class work and never studies or does homework will not assimilate skills or knowledge as much or as quickly as a student who studies regularly, does all the homework and ask questions when the teacher is available. Life’s other important commitments take much time out of the average person’s day. Those who progress the fastest and improve the most are invariably the ones who take, and make time to train, practise and review on their own regardless of how often they can make it to training

The idea and concept of “osu/oss” is entirely from Oyama as far as its use in kyokushin. It is definitely not something he got from any of those who taught him. Another fact worthy of note is that Oyama and the Kyokushin has had considerable back-influence because of its reputation and fame. This means that some styles without any connection began to copy things like “osu/oss” From personal experience, the reason why Okinawan teachers might not like it is for two main reasons. First because it sounds rude, crude and uncouth suitable for rowdy college students. Definitely not something one would use with one’s teacher. It is also associated with the underworld of gangsters and other undesirable which any decent karate teacher would avoid like the plague lest he gain a reputation for teaching gangsters.

The hardest test was the first time for shodan. An excruciating ordeal lasting an entire week. Looking back it seemed almost as gruelling as basic training required for military recruits. Everyone had to do the same thing no matter how old. Each day was a hell of knuckle push-ups, crunches/sit-ups and drills. Following that was all the kata in the curriculum up to shodan. On the last day in addition to everything, everyone had to run about 8km and do kumite immediately after. Kumite was with the seniors one on one, two on one and three one one. Finished with a bruised rib and a very obvious black eye. As physically demanding as that was, it was harder to re-test for shodan in the same style under a different sensei after starting over the same style from white belt. This time around the test lasted less than an hour, but it was focussed on practical application of three kata under pressure. Barely passed due to difficulty controlling an anxiety attack.