Spartacus Maximus

Ideally kata are meant to be taught along with the use and purpose of the techniques they contain. There is no sense in waiting until shodan or any other grade to learn applications because without them kata is meaningless and useless. It is by knowing and understanding what the moves are and how they are used that one learns to perform them effectively. The best time to learn bunkai is right from the beginning. Having said this, it is quite unfortunate that most karate dojo do not teach in this way. Somehow, somewhere along the way kata, bunkai and kumite became separate parts taught independantly or in some case not at all. It has been largely forgotten that these are all connected and were never meant to be taught separately.

In all the years sing I have been involved in karate and interested in martial arts I have never ever heard of an instructor teaching for nothing in return. A short survey of martial arts history proves that the idea of students paying their instructor in some form is at least as old as the martial arts themselves. All the earliest accounts of martial arts tells us that students were expected to take care of their teacher in exchange for training. Most of the time payment was in the form of meals or work maintaining the training place and equipment or the instructor's home and yard. Each student gave his time and did whatever he could. For example a student who was a good carpenter might build makiwara for everyone to use. This type of payment was very common in post-war Okinawa when most people had no money and many depended on sharing and exchange. Even nowadays it is considered the bare minimum for students to pay their share of dojo expenses and volunteer their time for cleaning and repairs. Whether it is money, time or food, your instructor deserves something in return for devoting his time to sharing his skills with you.

This is indeed a very difficult question to answer because it is subject to so many interpretations. A black belt is not meant to be a commodity or a material product to be bought. Any cost value given for obtaining a black belt grade is as arbitrary as the set of skills the student should have acquired for that rank. A black belt can cost anything or nothing. The only price that matters is how much it cost in effort, practise and training. That said, anyone can buy a black belt rank. Some pay a little, some pay through the nose but not everyone has the patience and dedication to earn it. The fact that the higher the cost the less depth there is in content is also very telling.

Aging and the way it affects how it changes the way people move is natural and impossible to escape. For anyone who expects to continue training it is important to consider and make conscious efforts to maintain good techniques with correct form as one ages. Martial arts training is meant as a way of self improvement and cultivation of health. Without health and strength nothing else is possible. What good is technique without strength? How can one continue training without health? Is it possible to get strong without first being fit and healthy? Instructors who have succeeded in doing these things are the ones who are still training into their old age.

I would add that the advocates of "better tried by 12 than carried by 6" also invariably tend to have only one very extreme way of "defending" themselves. This type of thinking is very dangerous because it allows fear and other emotions to take over judgement. Proponents of this attitude will have difficulty evaluating situations and will respond to ANY type of threat as if they were in mortal danger. This will result in an overkill "defense" that will certainly land them in serious trouble and not just with the law. It is tempting to believe that rules do not exist in self-defense. They are different from the ring or dojo but they do exist even if they are not explicit.

When I first learned karate the roundhouse was taught with the impact area being the ball of the foot or the instep/top of the foot. These are the most commonly taught across all styles of karate. The instep works well in competition with footpads but it is very risky if the kick is aimed high. Done barefooted it can result in severe injuries for the kicker if the kick strikes something hard such as an elbow. The original striking surface for the roundhouse in karate is the big toe or the area of the upper instep where the foot meets the ankle. The toe is used for a pointed, penetrating kick aimed at softer targets such as the kidneys or liver and upper legs. The instep is used for low roundhouses aimed above the ankle on the inside or outside of the leg where there is almost no muscle. A slight kick there is very painful and a hard kick will break the smaller bone. Needless to say it is not allowed in tournaments. The most important thing to remember about kicking is that whatever striking surface you are taught to use, it is vital to condition that part by hardening it gradually. If your striking surface is properly conditioned to hit hard, it will be much less likely to get broken or injured. Bare feet and legs are meant for getting around, but it is conditioning that makes effective defensive weapons.

If you approach training on your own time by yourself or with a group as an extension to dojo training it should not jeopardize anything. Focus on things you are comfortable with and that you can remember as accurately as possible. When you get to the next dojo day, make sure to consult your instructor to answer questions or help you with any details. Let him know what you are working on because it will be very useful to guide your private training.

Just the fact that there is someone who knows more than you should be more than enough motivation for the serious student to keep training beyond shodan. A good student who is not driven by material or status rewards has no need for goals to be spelled out before him. A student is more likely to train long after shodan if he is able to focus on gradual improvements instead of the next "requirement" to get a grade. It is also important to realize that progress beyond shodan is much slower and less obvious because the is less new material. This often gives the impression that no progress is being made. Many students find this difficult and discouraging. The best thing an instructor can do is explain that it is a normal part of training. Like mountain climbing, it is not straight up all the way to the top. The first parts are almost like stairs or a ladder. Other parts are almost flat but still lead up to the top. Good climbers are good climbers because they enjoy the challenges and the view a long the way instead of constantly seeking new heights. Those who focus on reaching heights will learn very little on their way to each one.

Few ordinary people have the means to hire an attorney. Even less have one at their disposal and available to be consulted at their request. More than likely both parties in the case will be represented by a public defense attorney. In light of this it is much wiser to take the precautions necessary for preventing legal action; or at least increasing the likelihood that a claim of self defense will be easily established and supported. Any expert called to give an opinion based on the circumstances will be expected to do so honestly. This can be a double- edged sword especially if any point is ambiguous. Realistically speaking though, when dealing with an attack by a stranger there is a strong probability that such an attacker will not want to bring the incident to the authorities. It is far more probable that he will attempt to escalate the assault or seek revenge. Escaping at the first opportunity solves this problem. I would also add that self defense situations don't always happen in familiar circumstances or environment. It is best not to assume that the authorities or legal system will agree on who is at fault. As for me, I would rather not take the chance to find out. After the shock of an attack, the injuries and other aggravtions the last thing I want is having to spend countless hours explaining and pleading my case. I would much rather have that time for recovering, unwinding and thinking about if I could have handled it better so that such an experience does not repeat itself. One time is too many, even if you do make it in one piece physically, emotionally and financially.

There is always more to learn. In fact, there is much more to learn from shodan onwards than everything up to shodan. At most a shodan has learned the basic techniques such as kicks and punches and a few kata. It is easy to forget that this is very superficial knowledge. A shodan student may be able to perform these but there is still much training and practise necessary to be able to understand and freely apply them. Stopping at shodan would be akin to learning the alphabet without ever learning to spell words or put words together in sentences. From shodan onwards the focus of learning should focus on developing depth of skills in applying basic techniques and understanding the content of kata. In the end only students whose goal is functional skills will continue because the motivation to train comes mostly from within. There is very little an instructor can do to motivate a student to continue past shodan if that student sees shodan as an end.

Training outside the dojo is essential but it can be difficult to manage, especially with irregular or very long working hours. I find that making a schedule helps in finding a suitable time to train. Right now I take an hour or more if I can manage it everyday when I return home from work. A couple years ago I worked late so I split my training in two. I would do a half hour before breakfast and another just before going to sleep. The key is to take any free time you can get outside work hours and do something everyday. It doesn't matter if all you have is 15 minutes as long as you practise something, anything EVERYday. That way when you go to the dojo your use of time will become a lot more efficient.

When I first discovered karate many many years ago, both my gi and belts were from Century, a very large North American martial arts supply company. The belts were of good quality and did not deteriorate quickly, except for some black belts that were made with a type of surface layer that frayed after a year or so of intensive use. Since my teens I have used only Shureido brand and have found those belts to be the best and longest lasting.

It is easy for students to forget that despite decades of practise and a very high level of mastery and skill, their sensei is is still but a human being subject to age and all it's effects just like anyone else. Even students who have been training with the same instructor for years sometimes see only an expert who is technical perfection and power incarnate instead of just a person who has been exceptionally tenacious in training. My sensei says this is a common trait of foreign students who come to Okinawa and elsewhere in Asia seeking tuition from eminent masters of martial arts. These masters are also very few to actually explain that their age might account for slight variations which the student end up copying faithfully.

Unfortunately the popular perception among ordinary people who's only familiarity with martial arts, combat or anything of that nature come from popular culture and the media. It has changed somewhat but it is still superficial at best. Urban legends, myths and misconceptions are still widespread. There is not much that can be done to change this because the average person has no serious interest in learning the truth. If they were, everybody would be involved in martial arts etc. Knowledgeable and experienced individuals are few and far between. They could be called upon to bring their opinion to a court case the same way psychologists are called to assist but it is not so common. It would be quite difficult to assemble an entire jury on short notice. Doing this would also negate the purpose of a jury, which is meant to represent the society by including men and women from various social and professional backgrounds. Being aware of this is an important thing to discuss and remember so that accurate and realistic preparations can be made for the event of a self defense situation. It is unfortunate that so few instructors teach this to their students in addition to all the physical techniques. Too many skilled practitioners lack the skills and awareness to keep themselves out of situations where martial skills would be needed.

After many decades of practise, many lifelong martial artist and teachers don't realize how much they have internalized and adapted the techniques. The changes and variations appear very slowly and gradually. It takes careful self observation and conscious effort to maintain the techniques the way they were meant to be as one ages. Changes and variations due to aging are not good or bad. What is important is for an instructor to understand what is happening and explain this to students while striving to maintain way he was taught. As an example from shorin-ryu. The kata series naihanchi is one of the first kata learned and it is performed in a stance called naihanchi dachi. Feet are shoulder width apart with knees bent and toes turned inwards. My sensei is nearly 70 year old and when he does this kata sometimes his stance has the feet point more forward. Recently he realized that some of his dan grade students (all much much younger than him) were doing it that way too despite the fact that he instructed them to point the toes inwards. After correcting everyone one more time, he told us that few teachers are aware these changes are happening and many students will try to imitate their teacher without understanding that what they see might be a habit brought on by age

In cases like that of the war veteran mentioned earlier, I would agree that the situation probably gave him few other recourse. He was old and he was outnumbered by younger perhaps stronger armed attackers. However, the fact that he was initially charged and taken before a magistrate proves the point that claiming self defense is very difficult to do. Courts can be costly and trials can have terrible consequences even if one wins. The general public perception of people who are trained to inflict pain such as active/ex soldiers, martial artists etc is always a disadvantage in court cases where such persons are involved. Escaping at the first opportunity is the best insurance because it clearly shows who is the defender if the parties end up in court. It also prevents the attack from escalating to a more serious conflict.

This thread seems interesting to keep. My goal for 2014 is the same one I have for the coming year and I have done it. So far I have been not caught a cold, a flu or any of the common viruses that aggravate people each year. Not even a runny nose! I think that is awesome because most people usually get one of those at least once a year. Now if I can keep that up for many more years it will be truly great. As far as training I'm hoping to improve the form and power in my basic techniques. Who else has goals for 2015?

Your friend is correct, I'm afraid. That is why doing anything except trying to escape is something that will land you in trouble. Even if the other person or persons involved are the aggressor, they can and will try to get you in trouble because bad guys are sore losers. If your actions obviously show to even a casual witness that you are trying to escape the altercation from the onset, you will be safe. Whatever the case, it is best not to stand around and wait to see if the authorities will take your side or if the attacker has mates that show up to give you a boot party. Later on you can explain with full confidence to the authorities that you were trying your damnedest to escape and the attacker got hurt in the process. You can also say that you left the scene because you feared further aggression. Both of these claims will sound reasonable and true IF and only IF you used just enough force to escape. Usually this means no more than two or three techniques such as blocking/countering, knocking down the assailant and running like the wind while he's still hurting.

Wow, 50 years old is not very old at all to "retire". Someone who is crippled by cumulative training injuries by that age certainly must have been doing something wrong. This is true today but it was also true a long, long time ago when medical care was not readily available and training was much harsher. Legendary Okinawan karateka of the past century all lived well into their 80's and some even older with few exceptions. Back then life expectancy was much lower than today and the fact that these men still had great skill well into their old age is a testimony to their level of mastery.Training is meant to increase physical fitness, not cripple and deteriorate health. Even if your instructor cannot perform the techniques the same way at 70 as he could do them before age-related differences started; he still knows how they should be done and the reasons why. That is where listening to instructions and applying become essential. Robotic imitation does not allow a student to internalize and truly own the techniques. Adapting the same techniques in a way that always fits oneself without compromising effectiveness and purpose takes a deep understanding of each step involved. If you are a 20 something 1st dan, you should not try to do your kata and techniques like your 60 something 8th dan instructor. Instead you should do them the way your instructor expects someone of your age and level.

I train in a place where physical violence between ordinary citizens is relatively rare and laws are very strict regarding self defense or defense of others. From reading about many scenarios it obvious that judging what is reasonable force in the heat of the instant is very difficult or nearly impossible to do through the rush of adrenalin and chaos of emotions. The simplest advice I ever heard was from my sensei, a karateka who has lived in some of the most violent places and times. Reasonable force is whatever allows you to ESCAPE from the altercation with as little injury to yourself as possible. If you stay or do anything more than that, someone somewhere in the aftermath will interpret that against your favour. This applies in double when the person defending has training and especially if the defender would be considered an expert. It may not always make perfect sense in all cases and even seem unfair, but that is the way the laws are applied in civilized nations. In more chaotic and harsh ones, a quick escape will prevent further violence. If knocking the breath out of your attacker creates the chance to escape, nothing else is needed. There is no need to inflict more serious injury or stand there waiting for his next move because it will be irrelevant if you are gone before he can catch his breath again. If you stay one second longer than necessary, any possible witness will see it as a fight. A fight is not self defense and fights are always punishable by law.The first thought in your head when attacked should not be how to "win". It should be what to do to escape. Run through, run over, run under but RUN. If there is no opening to run, create one and then RUN. It will be impossible to conclude anything except self defense if your attitude was defensive and if you ran after one or two quick strikes.

It seems like the discussion I started is taking a turn I did not expect. There are valid points here, but my aim was to point out the fact that learning by trying to copy your instructor has some limitations. Being out of shape and infirm is not the same as just being old. Regular training and practise will only slow down the effects of aging. Eventually, no matter how fit the instructor is, his techniques will naturally vary. The image of the old master with almost super-human skills is so ingrained in popular culture that students often try to emulate their older instructor without considering age. An instructor with decades of training will not do things exactly the same way at 45 and 70 years old, even if he is very fit. The older one gets the more important it is to make constant conscious efforts to maintain correct technique and minimize or adapt to the effects of aging. I'm not certain if I explained my point well enough. I hope some of the lifelong older martial artists know what I mean.

Observing and emulating the instructors techniques is one of the classical ways of learning karate. This works very well but students often forget that listening and applying the concepts that are explained. This is especially true if the instructor is past his prime. The instructor may be a phenomenally skilled expert, but students should realize that age forces him to do things a certain way. Slight variation in stances while executing a kata for example. Students don't often consider this and try to emulate exactly what they see because they are convinced the way the instructor does it is perfect. It is not stressed enough in most dojos that doing what the instructor says is sometimes more important than trying to do it exactly the way he does it. I have only heard this twice since I became involved in karate at age 10. Just recently, my instructor stressed that he has adapted his techniques and kata to fit his age and other physical attributes. His main point was that students should follow technical instructions and explanations more than trying to just copy the way he does. If a 20 year old student just apes his 70 year old instructor he would be doing old man karate. In other words that student would not be doing karate to his full potential. It is best to listen and try to apply what your instructor says. Once students acquire the correct way to execute a technique, they should aim to adapt it to their own physical traits. A great example of "Do what I say and not what I do". Too often student forget that a master or expert is not someone with perfect performance. An expert or master is one who has a level of understanding that allows him to adapt techniques to his own age and physical condition without compromising effectiveness.

The right way is the way that will work for the situation where you MUST do it that way or get injured, maimed or killed. That is the most simple answer but sometimes it is not that simple. The point is that as an instructor, it is not helpful to just answer a student with: Do it this way because this is how we do it in XYZ-style. This kind of answer might work for new students but sooner or later somebody will want to know more. Without understanding the function and purpose of the techniques, one is just performing meaningless gestures. It becomes form without substance.

Before asking the question that started this thread, it might be a good idea to give a definition of what is a beginner. Without first establishing what is considered a beginner, it is impossible to give a precise answer. Each martial artist who gives his opinion will answer the original question according to his definition of a beginner. Here is mine: a beginner is a person who is still in the process of learning how to execute the basic techniques, the first kata/forms and fundamental principles of the system such as generating power, etc. This stage is every level below Shodan. In my dojo it takes around 2 years of practise everyday. It takes up to 5 years if training only 2 times a week. At shodan a student is considered an initiate or advanced beginner. A Shodan is supposed to have a good understanding of all the basic techniques and must know basic applications of all the required kata. At this level a student should also be conditioned enough to do contact drills with some power. All the training onwards is focussed on skill refinement and increasing the level of technical precision, power generation and kata application.

It really is an unmistakable show of ignorance and narrow-mindedness for a karateka or any martial artist to make such a claim. With all the karate styles that exist and their off-shoots there are hundreds of kata and the variations of these easily double or triple that number. To conclude a kata does not exist or is not legitimate on the sole reason that one has never heard of it; or does not include it in their system is indeed very ignorant. Why, there are over a hundred kata with just the original Okinawan styles! Even Wikipedia has a list of nearly all the kata and it is quite long!