GKRDan

Couldn't of put it better!

This is true, like the story of the cat and the fox. As you know there too many techniques to practice individually as kihon, which is where kata helps. I do very much endorse, for self defence purposes, something I call the 'main artillery'. A smaller set of effective techniques that I train to be as good as they can get, so they can be pulled off as hard and fast as possible. I am constantly discovering and revising a few different techniques/combos through kumite (as you have mentioned), and consider thier effectiveness and ease of execution. Other factors include how the attacker could approach, body language etc, alot of this is covered in the earlier mentioned books. We don't often pull off a text-book technique when under pressure, or if we have to defend ourselves very quickly and unexpectedly.

The cat stance is a stance that you can launch a front/other kick from, I don't think is a stance that one would 'fight' from. It is also a good stance to launch yourself forward from, hence the name. It uses the knee to protects the groin and lowers your centre of gravity. There are many ways to interperet every single technique in kata, but they only reveal themselves as time goes on. I still discover new things about katas, and I have been doing them awhile now. Although when I was a complete beginner at karate, I didn't understand alot of the techniques that I do now. Until the sensei told me the bunkai, or I discover it/the alternatives myself. I, like bushido man, really enjoy the challenge I can set myself by performing kata and trying to get it right. When I do I get a buzz, when I don't I try and correct it. Individual techniques can be mastered in a relatively short time compared to a whole kata, so this gives me a lifetime of varied training. It also helps me get a good idea of how to string techniques together to generate more power etc in technique. As well as giving a good understanding of my body works and 'feels'.

When every single fight in a non MA tv show/film looks completely amateur, and you continue to explain this throughout the whole scene to others watching! When you cycle 2 miles to the beach at 10pm in heavy pouring rain and thunder to practice kata on the flat sand at low tide.

Adrenalin can have many affects on the mind and body, one of these is to take away alot of the sense of pain, it is not until after the incident that it is remembered, felt etc. You can dampen/switch off an attacker's adrenal 'shield' if you like, by "saying please don't hurt me" as convicingly as you can and cowering. Then you go straight in with a pre-emptive strike, and make it count! Or even something quite unexpected like "that's a nice shirt, where did you get it from?" Said as convincing as possible whilst you line up our shot. This makes an attacker have to think for a split second, and that split scond is yours. Yet again, strike when they are in a thought process. I could go on about adrenalin/adrenal dump and its affects etc, but I'm sure you are all too aware of that. If not, buy some Geoff Thompson books. ('Dead or Alive' is a good one.) Of course, some guys have quite well muscled (or fat!) inner thighs which often prevent even a hard kick/knee to the groin. So it is desirable to have a well placed/timed strike. Your chances of success will increase greatly however if you can place a good shot with the hand, or even better, a very hard and fast grab and squeeze. Maybe you'll get to try it! Obviously this too will not always 'work', and there's no chance of implementing this in the ring. As for my books, I haven't written them myself, just a rather large collection as I don't have time to attend many different classes. You are correct in saying a 'mixed martial art' fighter is not a fighter who just happens to train in 2 or more arts to compliment/complete another style/styles as in JKD. I am the latter, although I am not JKD. Excessive conditioning isn't neccessary as you have stated, I don't consider myself to be as conditioned in tameshiwari as the guys in the clip. As you have said it is a training issue with regard to competion, a dedicated practioner of any art will overcome an average exponent of another. Regardless of style. P.S I do not except any responsibility and am not liable for any comments that I make on this or any forum.

It's all white for me too, good for training in the sun light. I wear my black one when training out at night on my own.

Yeah that guy was 74, he didn't look like he had arthiritis though, but then maybe he didn't condition as heavily as the younger guy. P.A.L- I don't think in a self defence scenario one would switch to a particular style, you just use what works. I wouldn't start performing a kata on an opponent! But punches, kicks, and my fave, eye hitting techniques are all practiced in a kata. With the exeption of some grappling, although there are some holds etc in kata. (Which is why I train in Ju jitsu also!) Allbeit against an imaginary opponent at full speed, they are there, but I wouldn't try 'kata traps'. I do totally agree with you, but the purpose of kata aren't to 'trap people'.

I totally agree with your post, I think we have more in common than I realised. I agree that as a young, fit, flexible man, kata won't play as vital a part in my life/training until I start getting older. I believe then, that my mobility etc will be superior to most older people who do not train in kata/patterns/forms. I see so many elderly people struggling, but then you look at that guy in that clip! I suppose I don't need to try and defend 'pressure points' as such, because they are used all the time in the ring anyway. Even all the locks/holds etc. I personally train in karate-do for the mental benefits it offers me, which are great and are the best self defence in thierself. I also concentrate quite heavily on pressure testing, confrontational scenarios etc. For self defence only, I read and study alot of Geoff Thompson's books that help me also. He really knows what he's talking about, when it comes to defending yourself. Why don't you check him out?(Unless you have already)

I do also train against a resisting partner, quite often actually! I know some good ground work, I also know how tiring it is! But if I started striking my training partner with my well conditioned ungloved hands, pushing my fingers into his eyes, striking his neck with shuto (knife hand) etc, trying to break his neck, biting, stamping on joints/weak spots etc. This would greatly improve my chances of overcoming his cage/ring fighting only techniques. If you liked the last clip, watch this. Look how kata keeps the old guy (74) going and how well he moves, and watch the sparring, of which traditional karate was supposed to be practiced as much as kata. http://youtube.com/watch?v=mGIHXVeL24o&search=uechi%20ryu

But did he push his eyes as far as he could into the back of his skull and hold them there? No? I completely understand where you are coming from and I respect your knowledge as a fellow martial artist. Basically, this all started from someone saying kata is 'useless' for kumite. The fact is that kata cannot be 100% useless, as it strengthens your body and speeds up your reactions to some extent. So, if it practiced enough, there will obviously be 'some' benefit relating to competition/one's physique. Although other methods of training for competition fighting might prove more productive. I personally focus quite heavily on full speed one step sparring and grappling in my training along with my karate. I practice tameshiwari (breaking) and conditioning quite heavily, and I find it so hard to believe that any pressure point (including eyes throat groin) when struck correctly will lead to no real affect! Even though I have had first hand experience that reassures me that these weak spots are extremely sensitive, and such techniques 'do hold water'! Look, all I'm trying to say is that I'm growing sick of all the 'karate vs Gracie Jiu Jitsu'/'Thai boxing vs karate' clips claiming that karate is useless. Well, as soon as you put boundaries on it, it is! Karate wasn't meant for competition, it's a killing art without weapons. Thats not to say the other arts aren't, because they are too! But I guess most MMA guys don't condition as much without gloves on as these guys! http://youtube.com/watch?v=RWfXX5aQhjc&mode=related&search=uechi%20ryu

Throats, groins and eyes are limited amoungst other things. Why not ask yourself why that is? There are plenty of kata that practice strikes to these places, which are also 'pressure points'. True karate employs the use of a conditioned fist without gloves, gloves add alot more surface area to the seiken, thus reducing concentration of power over the smaller surface area. No wonder they were innaffective, especially not being allowed to go for the weakest spots (eyes, throat and groin)! I have been a doorman/bouncer/security guard for years, I train 5 days a week, I have my own dojo, and a library of various MA books. I do 'Mixed Martial Arts' which doesn't mean I fight in a ring.

I am new here, but have been training in Karate for over 11 years. Do you think kata was practiced for kumite or ring/cage fighting? The answer is no. There are so many pressure point techniques etc hidden within these kata, techniques that would never be allowed in competition. Karate is a 'martial art', martial means war, war means death. Competition does not allow deaths! I believe certain systems have proven effectiveness in the ring, this isn't karate's true purpose, and it isn't why I train.