BoothJ9

What are your opinions on people learning techniques/kata from the internet? Today there are so many videos and courses online that can teach you pretty much anything. I've been thinking about learning some kobudo katas and techniques from courses but I know that if anyone would happen to see me pratising them in the dojo they would ask me to teach them. This is where I feel the area of debate is. If I'm learning it for myself, why not? If I end up teaching it to someone else though, I feel a bit fraudulent if I haven't actually been taught in person and had the chance to ask questions and build a more full understanding of applications etc. What do you think about learning from the internet? A fair option or something to stay away from? Thank you Edit: Spelling and grammar

I put this in General Chat as I though it was a book and different bits can be relevant in many different martial arts. I recently purchased the 2016 Patrick McCarthy Bubishi and so far I have been fascinated with almost all of the articles and have had a good time enhancing my bunkai knowledge from the 48 illustrations. For those who have read the book, which sections did you enjoy reading the most?

Thanks for the ideas. I like the sound of the photo collage. It would be really nice to be able to show the progression. There are some of us who started off in the children classes and are still here a decade later now in the adult classes.

At my martial arts school, we've been scratching our heads for something we can do as a window display. We're based in a village with lots of small businesses and we notice how all the mountaineering kit shops have a display that they change every few months or so to keep it fresh and grab the attention of the locals "Ooo, look! They've got a new display!". Our student retention is good so we're trying to bring new people in the door (we try and focus more on retention than gain). We're on the high street and have two windows with posters and one very large window, (it must be about 4 metres long and almost from ground to ceiling) looking onto the main dojo floor with our logo in the centre. During the evenings we have a fantastic ever-changing display of the students training but during the day when the dojo is empty it looks very quiet and quite simply 'empty'. Does anyone know of something interesting and unique we could put in the window during the day? Ideally something we're able to remove during classes, one for light and two so people can see in. I was thinking possibly something like boards where students write what karate means to them, why they continue to train etc. Just thought I'd ask around here to see if anyone has any ideas

I practise Shukokai karate but as it wasn't an option I selected Shito Ryu, its parent style

Massive congratulations!!!

A wooden one with some weight to it could certainly cause some damage.

Yes indeed, physics can be your best friend and your worst enemy, good old Newton's 3rd law. That's partially why I find the question so interesting because there are countless things to use but is it a good idea to? Is it going to help you or leave you in a worse situation than you would have been anyway?

Thanks for the reply. I understand the concept of probability of hitting a specific spot where you want to with something small is extraordinarily low vs hitting the general body (any further references to firearms will probably go over my head, I've never shot a gun before in my life, I'm in the UK which also has many many many more weapon laws). I should also have said that this is very much hypothetical, just wanted to see if other people see things that I don't. I practise martial arts hoping that I'll never have to use it to save my own or others' life. It's also UK weapon laws that got me thinking about it because walking around with any kind of typical weapon can very easily lead to trouble. Then I remembered hearing somewhere isn't one of the ideas behind using kobudo weapons modern day isn't to learn to defend with those weapons but to adapt the techniques and concepts to be able to use almost anything around you in the same fashion as a traditional kobudo weapon? Thanks for the reply

Thanks for the answer. Don't think I'd use a smartphone though, especially newer ones because like you say, I think with a newer one I'd do one strike and it would possibly break. I can also see how what's about heavily depends on the environment. Just got to keep your eyes open to the options sort of thing. Thanks again for the reply

Not sure if this is the right section for this thread, it kind of relates to martial arts weapons. Really simple question: What are some everyday items that can be used as improvised weapons that we don't usually think of? I can easily think of keys between the knuckles, belt, anything in the hand to increase the mass, a pocket torch and the likes. What else do people often have with them that can make a good improvised weapon for defence?

I really enjoy katas, not only performing the techniques but the state of mind that comes with a well-practised kata where muscle memory almost completely takes over. I find it peaceful. Whenever things in my life are getting on top of me, I'll specifically take the time to work on kata after kata after kata as it focuses my mind on that. On the benefits to defence and fighting, I see kata as the base on which techniques and combinations are built, it provides sequences of techniques that can be practised and used in other scenarios. It's a plan from which I can take ideas and put them into use elsewhere. I also think that working out the practical applications of katas can really enhance my understanding of techniques. I think kata is an extremely important aspect of karate as kata develops shin, gi and tai if practised with the right mindset. Just my opinion

Thank you very much everyone for shining some light on this topic for me. I've certainly learnt stuff. Although I would love to know the historical truth, I must agree with sensei 8 that there is some beauty to not knowing for sure. Thank you all for taking the time to answer and helping me with gathering and improving this bit of my knowledge.

I understand that many weapons used in Kobudo originated from other countries predominantly China and would have emigrated to Okinawa via the sailors and traders. I, like many others, have also heard that the reason many Kobudo weapons have other functionalities or resemblances to tools, is that there was a weapon ban in Okinawa which resulted in the population using the things around them like kama for cutting grain, nunchaku for a rice flail, tonfa for a grinding wheel handle etc. My question is, was there ever a weapon ban? As I have heard that this is a load of rubbish and that these weapons were used as weapons and not as farming instruments to avoid breaking the weapon ban "This is not a weapon, just my sickle for cutting my grain" kind of excuse (although it can be argued that anything can be used as a weapon). What is historically accurate in this context and what is simply a myth? I am just curious about it as I have heard so many different stories about it. The fact that the weapons originated from other countries is something I am fairly sound upon, Kobudo weapons are frequently described or seen in texts and pieces of art from places other than Okinawa. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated

I do not study Matayoshi Kobudo. The only reason I am practising this kata is because it was introduced to me during a quiet higher grade class and then it fizzed out since then. I was the only one who continued to practise the beginning sequence I'd been taught. I then decided to search the internet to find a video of it just to learn it on the side sort of thing. I enjoy dabbling in kobudo katas every now and again. Sorry for taking so long, I've been very busy as of late

Fair play! It's a very nice reminder to me about how much karate can mean to people. It's amazing to hear that you've picked it up again. Good luck with the belt testing!

It helps a lot, thank you. I suspected that it was at 45 degree angles but the grey background made it difficult to be sure. Also, thank you for the fascinating history behind the video as well. That is just as valuable to me. Just practise, practise and a bit more practise to improve on technique and precision now. Thank you very much

First off I have felt the embarrasing feeling myself where you might have been physically pushed to your limit during a dan grading and felt that you demonstrated very good technique that you had really practised; then you see someone with the same grade with poor technique and it makes you cringe and feel as though it has devalued your efforts. I've felt this but recently came to understand that the grade means very little, it is mostly used as a way for a sensei to track how long a student has been training. The colour of belt means very little. I also came to further understand that standard is highly relative. These two things lead me to realise that one is graded on how they perform, if it is to the best of their ability I think it is fair to pass them. With comparing my efforts with someone else, who am I trying to prove things to? I am happy knowing that I tried my best and demonstrated things technically correct and accurate and I am proud of how I achieved my grades but comparing it to someone else, what does it matter about someone else? If someone from outside the dojo makes a comparison there's no point arguing about it, I accept their opinion and move on. Their opinion does not affect me greatly. Also, with so great a variation in styles within karate, then a great variation within styles it would be almost impossible to set a standard that would work for all schools of all styles which is the requirement for them to pass. This is just my opinion on the matter and as a topic I have experienced though might as well join the conversation.

I'm half excited for it and sincerely hope it's a good production. As a fan of Tolkien's books and the LOTR film trilogy I just hope it's up to as great a standard.

Yubi-hasami or hira basami is i think what you may be looking for. but like spearhand and other finger strike techniques i still think they may not be the best go-to type strikes due to possible injury. but i do understand the traditional strikes are part of learning and tradition I had looked at yubi-hasami but it isn't quite the technique that I am thinking of. This is also not a technique I would use against an opponent, as it would crush the windpipe and kill the opponent plus the reasons you highlighted. I was simply trying to find the name of the technique and would only use it during practise. Curiosity really. Thank you for the reply

It seems that toho uchi is the technique I am referring to. I had also had a look at yubi-hasami but as you say, it seemed to be a different application to what I was describing. Thank you very much

I am trying to find the name of a technique which I occasionally use during defences. I would describe it in English as a 'cupped hand strike' which would be used towards the throat, similar to a single handed choke but not holding. A simple strike with the hand matching the shape of the neck. The hand is in the position as though holding a cup. Is this even a technique and if so what is the proper English name and, if known, the Japanese name for the strike? Thank you for any replies or any light shed on this matter.

Either way thank you for the reply tatsujin. Yes, it does seem we're talking about different katas, here is a video of the kata that I have learnt but as I was saying due to the plain floor and background along with the changing camera angles it is very difficult to see exaclty which angle certain sequences are aimed towards. edit: Spelling and formatting

A few years ago, before the pandemic hit I had just learnt the kata Kohbu Nicho Gama however in the time since then I have forgotten and had to relearn much of the kata but cannot for the life of me remember all the angles and there seems to be a wide variation in the angles used in videos online? Are the change of grip sequences performed at 45 degree angles towards the back of the dojo? Are the final two sequences (with the two slashes, double strike downward into kosa dachi double strike to the sides each) performed at 45 degrees towards the front of the dojo? Those are the two main bits which I struggle to remember and have a lot of variation online or is simply hard to see what the direction is due to the camera angle. Any help would be massively appreciated