moriniuk

I'm not 100% sure about the correct pronunciation of Japanese words or the grammar, but I've seen these words written in various books in various ways. For example, Mas. Oyama's books refer to Gyaku Tsuki etc and Otsuka's book refers to both Gyaku Tsuki and Kiba Tachi etc. I'd be suprised if it wasn't a native Japanese speaker who translated these books. I stand by my statement that unless there is an official way to translate a language into English, such as the Chinese Pinyin system, then there isn't an incorrect way to write a word. The way you spell a word could depend on your own accent. Many people in southern England will pronounce a "u" with the sound of an "a" as in cap. A Londoner would pronounce it that way, but I am from Manchester in the north and would pronounce it different. I think I pronounce it correct, (which I do!), but the Londoner will tell me otherwise. Back on topic. I did wonder myself if there was a link between sword test cutting and board breaking. But isn't the test cutting a Japanese thing which would have been practiced long before Karate reached Japan?

I have an old instructional video and the American narrator calls it Myou Thigh and Thigh Boxing. I'm glad to have helped you with your pronunciation.

Somebody must have invented the breaking of stones, wood, bricks or ice as a way of demonstrating strength or martial prowess, just like somebody invented katas. Regarding spelling. Most asian languages that are not written using our alphabet do not have corresponding sounds for our letters. Therefore, I don't think there is a correct way to spell it. I speak Thai and there are many different ways that people write the same Thai words in English and none are incorrect because there isn't a standardised system. We can write Zuki or Tsuki, Dachi or Tachi, Geri or Keri etc. Which ones are incorrect? None.

Ok, let's not get too hung up on the Oyama bit. I stated that I thought that I had read it, maybe I didn't. Perhaps a better word would have been "re-inventing". I know that makiwaras were common on Okinawa even for non-karateka, just like non-boxers may have a punchbag for fitness nowadays. I don't recall reading about or seeing any pictures of woodbreaking being performed in the distant past. Was it ever performed in China? Did it start in Okinawa or Japan?

Hello Kansas....... Just for information, I've been practicing karate for over 35 years. So no I'm not new to karate. Recently whilst trying to find info on the origins of wood breaking in karate I read that Oyama may have "invented" it. This provoked me to try and find out a bit more. It seems to be quite difficult to find any early history on the subject.

Taikyoku Shodan - It may be a cliche, but karateka should come back to the most basic kata to study body structure and condition, breathing, movement and timing. So much can be learned from this kata when correctly practiced. Tekki Shodan - I love it Kanku Dai - A good combination of bread and butter techniques and covers most of what is in the Heian katas. Bassai Dai - A nice strong kata Empi - I like Age Tsuki That's my 5. I don't know it but I like to watch the Goju Ryu kata, Suparinpei.

The question was just to find if anyone knew about the original origins of the practice of breaking objects in the practice of karate. I wouldn't consider Shorin Ryu to be a derivative of Kyokushin. I was thinking of styles like World Oyama, Seido, Ashihara and Enshin etc. All modern styles. Did Funakoshi, Miyagi, Yamaguchi, Ohtsuka, Mabuni or their teachers practice tamashiwara. Was it ever practiced on Okinawa or is it a Japanese thing? Within organisations like the JKA it may be used for demonstrations, but in Kyokushin and the Korean styles it seems to be part of the curriculum and is used as part of a grading test. Why is it only these styles that use it? I do have a way of contacting sensei Harada, who was a personal student of Funakoshi, so I may ask to see if he can shed any light on it.

Does anyone have any reliable information on the origins of tamashiwara, wood breaking or "trial by wood". It seems to only be used in Kyokushin and its derivative styles and some of the Korean styles. I think i've read somewhere that Mas. Oyama invented it, but it was possibly him that brought it into the spotlight.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler

The other Tony Jaa film was Tom Yam Gung (Prawn Soup) Enter the Dragon, Ong Bak, Kung Fu Hustle

One of the organisations that I practice karate with is Mitsusuke Harada's Karate Do Shotokai (KDS). One of the things that I like about this organisation is the humbleness of all the senior 5th dan members of the technical executive. 5th dan is the highest grade in the KDS and there are 11 in total including Harada sensei. It is therefore quite an achievement. Only Harada sensei is refered to as sensei. Everyone else is refered to by their christian name. The 5th dans line up with everyone and introduce themselves just like anybody else. In large group photos they will be dotted randomly in amongst everyone else and not all sat in the middle as is usually the case. I find this very refreshing.

I would suggest that kickboxing could possibly help with karate sparring. But I would say that karate would be detrimental to your kickboxing. The hand techniques are different and I wouldn't want to try to land karate type punches in a kickboxing bout. The kicks are basically the same but karate generally uses a more static fighting stance. This is very general as it all depends on the quality of training. A lot of kickboxing classes seem to concentrate on fitness from what I've seen. One that I trained at didn't teach any defence techniques! It was all padwork.

For me it would be Goju. This is the path that Mas. Oyama took, Shotokan followed by Goju. The reason for me is probably a bit silly. I have practiced Karate for over 35 years now and have tried to dabble in Aikido a couple of times. I really don't get any enjoyment whatsoever by having locks applied on me and getting thrown around. I don't mind applying them on someone else, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way. I also find that Aikido dojos tend to go a little overboard on the etiquette and formalities for my liking. Only my personal views.

Brilliant. A headless man performing a Taekwondo form.

I'm not usually a big fan of demos, but I enjoyed this one. A subtle blend of traditional karate techniques and flashy moves and thankfully none of the usually obligatory "kick in the balls" crowd pleaser. Well done.

If you had to suggest only one kata to represent your particular style of karate, what would it be? It should idealy showcase the particular style. Something like Kanku Dai for Shotokan and Sanchin for Goju Ryu.