Technique
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Efficacy or Effectiveness?
I have heard people say that Karatedo is an “effective” method of self-defense. Yet, at other times I have also heard the complete opposite, that Karatedo is “useless in a real fight”. Obviously there is a discrepancy between the two statements, but why? In my day-job definitions are important in helping us allocate resources to… Continue reading
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Inoue Motokatsu: Nunchaku & Suruchin Kata
I find it odd that the Inoue Motokatsu’s Ryukyu Kobujutsu group do not use the kata developed by Taira Shinken for suruchin and nunchaku. Indeed, Inoue’s nunchaku and suruchin kata do bear Taira’s name (ie. “Maezato no …”). To the best of my knowledge Inoue stated that all his kata came from Taira and there… Continue reading
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Bechurin (Suparempei) Anyone?
Here are some applications that could be used for the crescent kick portion of the kata Bechurin (Suparempei). These sequences are from Sato Kinbei’s book on Chin’na (Jissen Kinna Jutsu; pg. 136 & 173). Sato Kinbei was the instructor of Murakami Katsumi, a teacher that I respect very much and have posted about on this… Continue reading
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Old School Karate: Kebanashi
If you look at some versions of Karate kata you can see remnants of the older techniques used before the emergence of Karate into the public school system in the early 20th century. Bo-geri (棒蹴り) is one such technique that has been mentioned by Motobu Naoki in his blog, but another example of an older… Continue reading
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Skill Technique Kata – 技 術 型
Here is an interesting view of Karatedo by Tadahiko Otsuka from his Goju-ryu Kyohan series (Volume 2, Page 11). It’s something that I wished I had known years ago, but at least people like Russ Smith have brought these concepts to the Karate community in recent years. Here’s the translation and my interpretation of the… Continue reading
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Kake-te
Tou’on-ryu has fewer classical kata compared to it’s sister art of Goju-ryu, but shares four in common. They are: Sanchin (三戦), Sesan (十三), Sanseru (三十六), and Bechurin (百歩連) (2). Despite sharing the same names and following approximately the same enbusen, the technical content of these kata between the two arts differs in some interesting and… Continue reading
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Jissen, Kakedamashi & Kuden
The Red Light District of old Okinawa was called “Tsuji” (although there were two others as well: Tochi and Nakashio) and was often the place for both Jissen and Kakedamashi. Jissen (実戦) or “Real Conflict” was just that, a confrontation against another person with no rules, i.e. a street fight. Kakedamashi (掛け試) on the other… Continue reading
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Stances Aren’t Natural
I think that some Okinawa Karatedo teachers look at foreign student and inwardly mumble to themselves, “what the he!@ is that?” It is a sad fact that some of these students’ Karate is weak or at times downright terrible. Their backs are rounded, knees knocked inwards, elbows flaring away from the body, shoulders rolling forward, just… Continue reading
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Who Does the Heavy Lifting for You?
Strength and conditioning have always been a part of Okinawa Karate-do, especially those styles classified as “Nahate” such as Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, and Tou’on-ryu. I’m sure you have seen many old photos of younger Karateka doing their “strongman” pose showing off their level of muscular development and low body fat. Many of these early Karateka had… Continue reading
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Bechurin
In the frontis of ‘An Overview of Karatedo‘ (Nakasone, 1938) there is a photo of Kyoda Juhatsu leading a group of middle school students in Karate practice where he is on a platform positioned in shiko-dachi, with his right fist by his midsection and his left fist extended to the front. This photo has always… Continue reading
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