Practical karate?

[xo-karate]

I've been googling again:-)

So what is "practical karate"? Does any one know?

Iain Abernethy seems to have an association for it.

And some clubs say they do Practical Karate?

So it's not traditional or sports or self defense? What is the point of view? the angle?

[Kusotare]

The most practical Karate is the one you get the most out of imo.

K.

[xo-karate]

The most practical Karate is the one you get the most out of imo.

K.

Not a bad point! This means we all have our own practical karate.

[straightblast]

I think it is self defense, not sports.

If it has a high percentage of working against a full resisting opponent, while you are full of adrenaline using gross motor skills, fighting for your life, that seems practical.

[Wastelander]

Practical karate is any style of karate that is taught and practiced in a way that teaches practical self defense and fighting techniques. It doesn't really matter what style or "type" (traditional, sport, etc.) of karate you practice--as long as you teach karate techniques in a practical way, then you are practicing practical karate.

[mal103]

If you think of a "safe" little club practicing safe Karate and only going as far as the 3 K's then they will learn Karate.

If you take Karate to the next levels and mix the 3 K's up with self defence with resisting partners then you will be practicing more practical Karate.

Ideally learn the more advanced applications from Kata and then drill it, then drill variations of it.

Take Gedan Barai, if you only ever think of it as a lower sweeping block against a kick then that is all you will ever use it for but by the time you have raised your sweeping arm you would have already been kicked, if you see the sweeping arm doing a block against a punch as it goes to the side of your head and the Hikite arm blocking or striking as it goes out first then the sweeping downward motion can be seen as a response/strike. You can use part or all of this when you are at a closer range, you can also drill it with a partner.

Think of 5 step, learnt early on, one punches while the other steps back and blocks.... get 2 good Black belts doing this at a closer range at FULL speed and power, instruct them to punch their partner if they don't move quick enough, that's slightly more practical.

To me a good Brown/Black belt should be able to apply their Karate in all situations and attacks, not just from controlled attacks in the Dojo, of course the better they are they would be unlikely to be in that situation in the first place.....

[vantheman]

Karate has much practicality in it. While some more Modern-style artists criticize things such as kata and other traditional aspects, Karate has applications in both Self defense and Sport situations (many MMA fighters do incorporate some form of karate into their cross-training regimen). That being said, cross training with a different art will only make you more versatile in both the street and in the competition.

[brickshooter]

I've been googling again:-)

So what is "practical karate"? Does any one know?

Iain Abernethy seems to have an association for it.

And some clubs say they do Practical Karate?

So it's not traditional or sports or self defense? What is the point of view? the angle?

I think that what Abernathy was referring to was interpreting Kata in the most practical way.

For example the opening steps in Heian Shodan is often a low block and lunging punch, followed by a 180 degree turn into another low block for an attacker approaching from behind.

Abernathy argues that the 180 degree turn is impractical when one can simply pivot in the other direction (counter clock) while remaining in the same place. This would be more practical since it keeps you out of range. Therefore the most practical application isn't a turn to face the attacker from behind, but a neck crank on your current attacker after you punch him.

I think that we were to expand on this theory of practical application, a lot of dynamic techniques would have a more practical and more realistic application. "Leaping over a sword" would turn into executing a judo throw, etc.

[mal103]

For example the opening steps in Heian Shodan is often a low block and lunging punch, followed by a 180 degree turn into another low block for an attacker approaching from behind.

Abernathy argues that the 180 degree turn is impractical when one can simply pivot in the other direction (counter clock) while remaining in the same place. This would be more practical since it keeps you out of range. Therefore the most practical application isn't a turn to face the attacker from behind, but a neck crank on your current attacker after you punch him.

It depends how you interpret the Kata and at what level, for beginners it's fine to drill a low block to the left, step punch, turn into lower block etc.

At the other end of the scale the first 90 degree turn and lower block could be pulling an attackers left hand down to your left then attacking them against their left side. It can also be a grappling move as you turn you are pushing them down to the left.

The 180 degree turn can be seen as a throw, the hammer fist strike starts off with pulling back your wrist after a grab, can also be clearing a chest grab on the way around, then finally striking down on the head, face etc.

Also think of the turn as just a way of showing that the moves can happen to both sides, left then right.

[Kuma]

I think it is self defense, not sports.

If it has a high percentage of working against a full resisting opponent, while you are full of adrenaline using gross motor skills, fighting for your life, that seems practical.

But in many "sport" martial arts, those same techniques that do so well there ARE those high percentage moves that work well against a resisting opponent. Something to keep in mind. Too many people are quick to shrug off the combat sports when in actuality they provide a great testing ground for demonstrating what works really well and what is for the most part impractical.