yamesu

What you've asked is sure to raise a few mixed answers. When MasOyama Sosai was only 18 he killed another man with a single punch to the head. Kyokushin fights bare-knuckle. This probably plays a strong part in why we no longer compete with punches to the head. Originally, (in the 1950-60's) MasOyama Sosai's fighting tournaments were no-holds-barred, with basically any strike, lock or throw allowed. This changed rather rapidly, especially in the western world, due to the severity involved, and the lack of competitors. (Seeing a man who is undefeated in over 300 NHB fights, and can kill another with a single punch kinda threw people off a little bit I think.) IMHO, it requires a LOT more skill to land a solid head kick than a head-punch. The most solid answers to your questions will definantly come from MasOyama Sosai's books, such as ADVANCED KARATE, or his own Biography. Osu. BTW; Fighting Black Kings is definantly a cool video, if you interested in more Kyokushin tourni vids/DVD's, I reccomend the World Karate Tournament feat' Kancho Matsui. (He has AMAZING head kicks!)

Shorinryu Sensei hit the mark IMO. I woulnt even start teaching breaking to a student until they were at least 16 years old.

Hehehe, an all too often overlooked point.

Hehehe, the only time ive ever heard of Wudan until now was in Jet Li movies. Hehe, I thought it was a mythical style.

Remember, In Kyokushin rules fighting is BARE-KNUCKLE, i think people dont understand this sometimes.

Well, we could always hold full-contact, bare-knuckle, no-holds-barred matches like MasOyamaSosai did in the old days. Where striking anywhere was OK, grappling/throwing was OK. People got seriously injured though...............

Wow, this thread turned into a bruce lee-psuedo philisophical argument.

Ive read about him. Most peoples, especially those studying Bujinkan will say he is a fraud. I reserve my judgement. Im sure you can find his website by googling.

I agree, performing a kata with brute strength alone loses meaning. But this does not mean that you cant be exerting maximum energy during the kata, or be focusing on correct body tension, etc. If one hasnt practiced the bunkai for the moves in a kata, how can they possibly perform it to emphasize the correct body kinetics and focus on particular points during a movement in that kata? Osu.

I agree with everything exept getting away from walls, in some situations a wall can be a quite benificial weapon. (But point still taken )

Yep, yep, yep. Infighting is key to kyokushin tournament fighting, Clinching, groundwork, throws are practiced seperately.

Another good point, but what about in cases like Ortiz Vs. Shamrock, they went to the ground, and stayed there for like three 3minute rounds, all because the fighters were being instantly productive. Its a lot harder to try and score a submission than it is to ground and pound, especially if the opponent is not exauhsted. Cheers.

There was an incident with gangs in Sydney Australia a few years ago involving baseball bats and samurai swords (katana.) It was broadcast on national news. This post just reminded me of it. The outcome was not pretty as lives were taken, Im sure the outcomes of any situation involving the use of a weapon maliciously is not a pretty thing. It also set the cherry on the cake for harsher sword-laws in AU.

Good points. Just make sure you focus on what your doing. If you throw a Chudan-Tsuki, make your whole body do that punch, even have focus in your eyes. I hate seeing kata done with a lazy attitude.

Oopsss, I forgot, Junior ages, 16 and under always wear pads. Insurance.

We spar kyokushin rules, Beginners usually do light sparring, with or without pads at their own disgression. Intermediate grades do light contact, no pads, and gradually move up to full-contact, no pads. Blackbelts fight full-contact, no pads. Bunkai is not included in Jiyu-Kumite, but is practiced in Ippon/Sanbon Kumite, or similar.

As previously noted, Kyokushin is not all Knock-down fighting. I know kyokushin karateka who havent fought ko in 20years, but still practice it for selfdefence, fitness, and higher awareness everyday. Even when one is no longer able to compete in full contact, they can still train kyokushin wholeheartedly. Kyokushin does indeed practice a vast array of trapping, manipulation, and throwing, and it was originally allowed in full-contact kyokushin tournaments at an early stage (~1960's), along with knee+groin kicks. But did not last for long, for obvious reasons. Just wanted to clarify. As for HKD Vs. Kyokushin. I dont know, Ive only trained HKD with hacks, never been to a decent dojo, or been immersed in the art, so my opinions will be unwillingly biased. But I do know one thing, Kyokushin is the most COMPLETE martial art ive ever studied. It encompasses everything I can think a MA should, and when I think of more, the answers always in one of OyamaSosais books, or in the heads of a Shihan/Sensei, or even Kohai. And from what ive seen, 99/100 people who start training kyokushin never look back. Cheers.

If you look at a japanese style punch, youll notice it also has a small pop/twist of the wrist to enduce torque upon impact. I agree with ovine king, only differences are in peoples opinions of the punches, not the punches themselves.

and My sentiments exactly.

I teach my students chaos theory, and how no altercation will be perfect, hence, the need to adapt to the unknown is a primary survival function. Even assuming your opponent is only as skilled as yourself is, there still is a large void for error, and no opponent should ever be taken lightly. Cheers.

Now you must tell me, What is Xoalin Showdown on WB??? Cheers.

Agreed, When i hear people critisizing kata, i think the exact same thing. They prob never done a proper kata in their life.

I dont agree with the UFC refs being better. I think they're easily manipulated by the audience. Lots of times they do ridiculous standups, like when someone has half guard, or mounted positions. A lot of standups occur simply because the audience doesnt understand the ground game, hence boo when the fight goes that way. Seriously, thats a really good point, which I neglected to touch upon in my previous post. In some respects I agree, the refs can be to hasty, but generally the refs are standing fighters up if they dont see the ground game immediately going somewhere. I think this is a good thing. IMO, it simulates combat a little better, as the fighters are more enticed into choosing moves which are more devestating to their opponents. Nowdays, because of refs standing fighters more often, wrestlers must go and learn more striking skills to stay in the game, as they cannot rely on rolling around on the ground for 3minutes trying to score an arm-bar. Just my opinion. Cheers.

Osu (pronounced 'ooss') is a word youll here a LOT in a kyokushin dojo. It means, crudely translated, 'I am in Spirit.' For example, a Sensei will say: "Jiyu Kumite, Yoi?" And students(kohai) will reply with an "Osu" instead of a yes. To delve deeper into the meaning of Osu is to get to the heart of kyokushin, but its far too deep and too much info for me to explain here.

Aye, good post. When I first read the title I was like; Huh, theres no rules in self defence. How wrong I was. Cheers.