At training on Thursday I did the no-Gi followed by the Gi session for a total of 3 hours of BJJ - completely exhausting. I also have several scratches because one of my rolling partners didnt cut their nails enough.
Anyway, I tried out my Sanseru bunkai guard pass (see previous post) against our second highest instructor (a BJJ Brown belt, say equivalent of Shodan/Nidan Karate skills due to different ranking system). It sort of worked, but he asked me "what the hell was that crazy shit you used? It wasn't BJJ!"
I was very fortunate to be able to discuss the technique with him and our black belt (20 years training, highest ranked in Adelaide) and the following is what I derived from the discussion.
- Using the 'step over guard pass' exposes the back. You are completely exposing it and are in a bad position if the opponent is fast.
- The technique applies pressure towards the knee. Therefore if done wrong may injure the knee.
The opponent can avoid the guard pass by pulling the attacked leg back, and then can take advantage by pressing it towards you. However I suggested that one would only use this technique when the guard is difficult to pass and the closed guard is firmly on. Perhaps to counter a retraction of legs one could hold onto the attacked leg?
- The opponent can base themselves with arms out and prevent you flipping them.
- It was noted that this is similar to the 'spine breaking' technique that occured in the infamous youtube video.
While this is slightly different to the bunkai (because the opponent who got badly injured here was holding onto a leg) the point remains, and one would have to be very careful to make sure that one's opponent does not have their neck in the wrong position.
- However it was noted that although an opponent could avoid the guard pass it could be an effective "once per match" move. It was also agreed that the move was a very effective move for use on the street.
What a great opportunity it is to be able to use on art to test another!
Osu!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Feedback vs Correction
Have a look at this article
http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2009/02/21/how-to-coach-advanced-karate-students/
Personally one thing that I have found unhelpful in training is for Sensei to say 'do as I say'. As I was recently told at the Kendo Nationals seminar by a Hachidan (8th Dan) "there are many ways to climb a mountain. You can go up one way, or another. However all these roads lead to the top of the mountain". I apologize if I have paraphrased the learned Japanese Hachidan but I think that I enunciate the point clear enough: there are many ways to achieve the same thing; other paths than the one you are currently on may be equally correct and lead equally to the same destination.
When I teach advanced students I try the best that I can to show them the things that I know and let them absorb it into their view of the martial arts. For example last Wednesday I visited our sister Traditional Japanese Karate Network Dojo, Magill Shito Ryu, and I took the senior part of the class for what I would decide as a 'boxing session'. We did boxing style punches, and focus mitt and bag work which was practically unknown to the students. My aim with the training was not to say "this is a better/more correct way of doing things" but rather to show a way that other people use. The students can then reflect upon what they have trained in and see how to use their own training to counter it. They are best placed to know how to use their own training to counter a new 'threat', and hopefully I have made a useful contribution to their training. My stated goal at the outset was to show them how work around the Jodan 'boxing style' combinations that my students use and so hopefully beat them at the next inter-club kumite.
Naturally our club has been working on strategies to defeat their 'chudan centric' manner of sparring. This minor inter-club rivalry benefits all participants.
My first training with our Shihan upon joining the TJKN was an excellent demonstration of the benefit of feedback, as compared with correction. Having never seen my training before, Shihan was able to give me several points of very useful 'feedback'. Of particular note was the manner in which he demonstrated his knowledge. While he could have said "X is the best way of doing this" he instead said "I see you are doing Y, you could also do X (addressing the students who do X), but since you are doing Y, here is how you could improve it".
The real honour in a situation like this is upon the instructor who not only demonstrates their knowledge of 'X' but also of 'Y' and other methods. It is one level of instruction to say "this is how I do X, copy me" and completely another level to be able to say "X is one of many ways of doing something and since you are doing Y this is what you should be doing". The difference in knowledge is exponential. Using the mountain analogy, it is like knowing many different ways to the top of the mountain.
An example of the feedback was for Shihan to say that when moving from kihon-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi one should slide their front foot upon the ground - moving in the most direct method. However an alternate manner of doing this is by stamping the front foot. This 'stamping' method is slightly slower but still provides the forward motion that the transition demands.
I had been using the latter method, mainly due to my training in Kendo. It would have been perfectly acceptable for Shihan to correct me and say 'this is how you do X'.
As an insight into student psychology I would have done what I was told, and then thought deeply about which is the correct manner of doing things later should I have been corrected. I don't know what my final answer would have been, but if it had been conveyed that using a fumikomi (stamp) did not have the adequate forward motion this would have been difficult to reconcile, especially since I can see how it is correct and applied well in Kendo.
However as a result of getting 'feedback' I could not only refer back to my Kendo training as to how I may improve my forward motion with techniques through fumikomi, (and thus improve my technique) I can also see the benefits of using a more direct movement. I will also examine the sliding movement and try to understand where it may be more appropriate than a fumikomi.
Whilst giving 'correction' would have resulted in a student doing what they are told (perhaps begrudgingly) by giving 'feedback' the result is a student looking to improve on what they are already doing, and also looking to incorporate the alternative way of doing the technique. The student's impression of the instructor is not one of "this person knows a path to the top of the mountain" but instead "this person knows my path, and many others, to the top of the mountain." This is exponentially a higher manner of viewing an instructor.
Importantly, whenever I am explaining how to make the transition from Kihon-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi, I will show my 'fumikomi' method of transition, but I will also show the alternate method of 'sliding transition' and will explain that while this is not the way that I do the technique, this is a perfetly acceptable alternate manner of doing the technique.
Hopefully I can teach as well as I have been taught.
Osu!
http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2009/02/21/how-to-coach-advanced-karate-students/
Personally one thing that I have found unhelpful in training is for Sensei to say 'do as I say'. As I was recently told at the Kendo Nationals seminar by a Hachidan (8th Dan) "there are many ways to climb a mountain. You can go up one way, or another. However all these roads lead to the top of the mountain". I apologize if I have paraphrased the learned Japanese Hachidan but I think that I enunciate the point clear enough: there are many ways to achieve the same thing; other paths than the one you are currently on may be equally correct and lead equally to the same destination.
When I teach advanced students I try the best that I can to show them the things that I know and let them absorb it into their view of the martial arts. For example last Wednesday I visited our sister Traditional Japanese Karate Network Dojo, Magill Shito Ryu, and I took the senior part of the class for what I would decide as a 'boxing session'. We did boxing style punches, and focus mitt and bag work which was practically unknown to the students. My aim with the training was not to say "this is a better/more correct way of doing things" but rather to show a way that other people use. The students can then reflect upon what they have trained in and see how to use their own training to counter it. They are best placed to know how to use their own training to counter a new 'threat', and hopefully I have made a useful contribution to their training. My stated goal at the outset was to show them how work around the Jodan 'boxing style' combinations that my students use and so hopefully beat them at the next inter-club kumite.
Naturally our club has been working on strategies to defeat their 'chudan centric' manner of sparring. This minor inter-club rivalry benefits all participants.
My first training with our Shihan upon joining the TJKN was an excellent demonstration of the benefit of feedback, as compared with correction. Having never seen my training before, Shihan was able to give me several points of very useful 'feedback'. Of particular note was the manner in which he demonstrated his knowledge. While he could have said "X is the best way of doing this" he instead said "I see you are doing Y, you could also do X (addressing the students who do X), but since you are doing Y, here is how you could improve it".
The real honour in a situation like this is upon the instructor who not only demonstrates their knowledge of 'X' but also of 'Y' and other methods. It is one level of instruction to say "this is how I do X, copy me" and completely another level to be able to say "X is one of many ways of doing something and since you are doing Y this is what you should be doing". The difference in knowledge is exponential. Using the mountain analogy, it is like knowing many different ways to the top of the mountain.
An example of the feedback was for Shihan to say that when moving from kihon-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi one should slide their front foot upon the ground - moving in the most direct method. However an alternate manner of doing this is by stamping the front foot. This 'stamping' method is slightly slower but still provides the forward motion that the transition demands.
I had been using the latter method, mainly due to my training in Kendo. It would have been perfectly acceptable for Shihan to correct me and say 'this is how you do X'.
As an insight into student psychology I would have done what I was told, and then thought deeply about which is the correct manner of doing things later should I have been corrected. I don't know what my final answer would have been, but if it had been conveyed that using a fumikomi (stamp) did not have the adequate forward motion this would have been difficult to reconcile, especially since I can see how it is correct and applied well in Kendo.
However as a result of getting 'feedback' I could not only refer back to my Kendo training as to how I may improve my forward motion with techniques through fumikomi, (and thus improve my technique) I can also see the benefits of using a more direct movement. I will also examine the sliding movement and try to understand where it may be more appropriate than a fumikomi.
Whilst giving 'correction' would have resulted in a student doing what they are told (perhaps begrudgingly) by giving 'feedback' the result is a student looking to improve on what they are already doing, and also looking to incorporate the alternative way of doing the technique. The student's impression of the instructor is not one of "this person knows a path to the top of the mountain" but instead "this person knows my path, and many others, to the top of the mountain." This is exponentially a higher manner of viewing an instructor.
Importantly, whenever I am explaining how to make the transition from Kihon-dachi to Zenkutsu-dachi, I will show my 'fumikomi' method of transition, but I will also show the alternate method of 'sliding transition' and will explain that while this is not the way that I do the technique, this is a perfetly acceptable alternate manner of doing the technique.
Hopefully I can teach as well as I have been taught.
Osu!
Grading Highlights 29 March 2009
Below is the highlights from the grading in March so that students may review what they have done. Congratulations to all those who have graded.
In regard to the grading the panel members especially noted the strong improvement that many Junior students had shown, challenging themselves to be able to demonstrate some very complex Kata, Ido (moving combinations) and showing good co-ordination. The panel members also note the strong focus that was displayed by the junior students.
For future improvement the panel members suggest continuing to practice Kihon (basics) because these are the building blocks of all a student's karate.
The panel members commended the high standard of the adults grading, and especially note the high standard of Kata from the Magill Dojo. Also commendable was the strong kumite from the Seacliff Dojo.
One point of discussion among the panel was Ippon Kumite (one step sparring). Here it was noted that the use of principles from Bunkai (application of kata) could assist students in broadening the techniques demonstrated. Also, students should use strong Zanchin: focus and committal to the technique in order to conquer their opponent.
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=537E5227D52FBF60
In regard to the grading the panel members especially noted the strong improvement that many Junior students had shown, challenging themselves to be able to demonstrate some very complex Kata, Ido (moving combinations) and showing good co-ordination. The panel members also note the strong focus that was displayed by the junior students.
For future improvement the panel members suggest continuing to practice Kihon (basics) because these are the building blocks of all a student's karate.
The panel members commended the high standard of the adults grading, and especially note the high standard of Kata from the Magill Dojo. Also commendable was the strong kumite from the Seacliff Dojo.
One point of discussion among the panel was Ippon Kumite (one step sparring). Here it was noted that the use of principles from Bunkai (application of kata) could assist students in broadening the techniques demonstrated. Also, students should use strong Zanchin: focus and committal to the technique in order to conquer their opponent.
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=537E5227D52FBF60
Monday, April 13, 2009
Kendo Nationals in the news
The ABC came to do a story on the 34th Kendo Nationals that were held this Easter weekend.
Here is a link to the story they did. Below is the transcript, for future reference in case they remove the story (it is exciting to have the club in the news!).
I will post more on the Nationals shortly...(watch this space)
Here is a link to the story they did. Below is the transcript, for future reference in case they remove the story (it is exciting to have the club in the news!).
I will post more on the Nationals shortly...(watch this space)
Over 150 of Australia's best blade fighters are heading to Adelaide for the National Kendo Championships.
"Kendo is based on the Samurai schools from many hundreds of years ago," explains President of the South Australian Kendo Association, Brian Balshaw.
Transferring from steel blades, to wooden swords and now bamboo poles, Kendo has risen in popularity in western countries after troops became exposed to the style whilst serving in Asia in World War 2.
Unlike other styles of martial arts, Kendo participants do not visibly show their grading, making it a little unnerving for those first witnessing it performed.
"You wear your grading in the way that you play," Brian reveals.
"It's very humbling in that way, but the grading system is still very similar to most martial arts, where you have ... kyu grades and you have black belts."
Although a relatively new martial art to Australia, numbers have recently started to grow.
"In Japan, there are a million people or so that do Kendo, in Australia there is about a thousand."
With the South Australian arm of Kendo having only 60 to 70 members, the hosting of the National Championships on 11 and 12 April, 2008 has been a huge accomplishment for the club.
The 34th Australian National Kendo Championships will be held in South Australia for the first time in its history, at Immanuel College Sport Centre on Morphett Road.
"The national body saw us as strong enough now to be able to hold the national level event ... it is a great honour to hold it."
Having a home town advantage for the SA team is something not lost with Brian, but with the lower numbers of members in SA, he remains quietly confident the local squad will perform well.
"We'll struggle to match up against some of the larger states, but in certain areas we do have a couple of key people in our state that are very strong and could be very serious contenders."
The National titles will be held from 9:00am on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April 2009, with over 150 competitors vying for titles.
Spectators are welcome.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Karate Throws
In the last post I finished with the quote "Ain no wrasslin in karotty". I had taken this from another blog post I read a while ago which detailed some karate throws, which had the quote as it's title. Unfortunately I am unable to find the post as I hoped I would be able to. However here are a couple of other resources which detail the throws in karate:
http://www.iainabernethy.com/books/chapter_throws_and_strikes.asp
Here is one that even references the Bubishi nicely
http://www.karateblogger.com/stari/articles/48%20techniques%20part%203.htm
And another well thought out article
http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=77
A couple of others links that might be useful
http://www.theshotokanway.com/throwsandlocks.html
http://karatejutsu.blogspot.com/2006/07/throwing-techniques.html
This one is one of my favourites
http://okinawakarateblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/raslin-101.html
And, quite naturally, if you look at the bunkai videos on our website you can see heaps of different bunkai that use throws
http://www.downloadkarate.com/index.asp?Sec_ID=156
http://www.iainabernethy.com/books/chapter_throws_and_strikes.asp
Here is one that even references the Bubishi nicely
http://www.karateblogger.com/stari/articles/48%20techniques%20part%203.htm
And another well thought out article
http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=77
A couple of others links that might be useful
http://www.theshotokanway.com/throwsandlocks.html
http://karatejutsu.blogspot.com/2006/07/throwing-techniques.html
This one is one of my favourites
http://okinawakarateblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/raslin-101.html
And, quite naturally, if you look at the bunkai videos on our website you can see heaps of different bunkai that use throws
http://www.downloadkarate.com/index.asp?Sec_ID=156
Karate Bunkai in BJJ
I have been practicing my kata bunkai and have been thinking about if I could use any of them in my BJJ. In BJJ I have spent the last month or so of rolling (sparring) working on my open-guard, because it was a bit of a weak point, but last lesson I decided to go back to normal rolling, and not just start from open guard.
BTW if you dont know what open guard is, check this link http://www.grapplearts.com/Glossary_BJJ_Open_Guard.html
So instead of just pulling guard straight away, I tried to take the opponent down first. Note that we start 90% of rolling from a kneeling position, and so 'take them down' means knock them off their knees to their back, not a judo style takedown from the feet. Anyway, I thought that I might try a bunkai from Shisochin. It is a very simple bunkai - one hand (for me mostly left hand) swats the opponents right hand, pushing it down, while the other hand (usully right) pushes straight forward under the chin and drives them back. From there I passed straight past guard most of the time, right into side control. I was really amazed that it quite consistantly worked for me - 4-5 times over our 40 minutes of rolling (tried it against 3 or 4 different opponents).
Here is an example of Higaonna Sensei (10th Dan) doing Shisochin. The technique in question is demonstrated at 45-50 seconds, and the bunkai at 50-55 seconds.
And the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPoZgm9cHTI
Obviously it works as a stand-up takedown as well, as demonstrated by Higaonna Sensei (and how I have been practicing it). It is certainly not a regular grappling takedown, and I wonder how it will work against a standing opponent who is a grappler (as opposed to a striker). I think that the big risk is that it would be seen by a referee as a strike (which it could indeed be used as) an therefore get penalized. The other risk is that the opponent's head goes straight down and they arch their back and land with their whole bodyweight on their head - very dangerous. I think though that if you stop pushing after you have broken the opponents balance they will try and stop falling and right themselves and will naturally avoid landing on their head - I guess this is why we do heaps of breakfalls in BJJ! However I guess that is also why Shisochin is usually taught around brown belt level - so that beginners dont use this bunkai.
The second bunkai I used to great effect last BJJ class was one out of Sanseiru. Obviously if you cant get straight past guard with the takedown you have a fun fight trying to do that fundamental BJJ activity of passing guard. Now this bunkai I usually use as a takedown - in Judo the first part of it is called Morote-Gari, and can extend to the full range of double and single leg shoots.
Here is a quick video of Morote-gari
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN5qpGuseMs
However the second part is my favourite part of the bunkai, and it is probably my favourite bunkai of all at the moment.
Firstly, you can see the kata technique demonstrated here by Gosen Yamaguchi at 1.15 to 1.17.
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCcAu8mgwbo
Basically it is a downward (gedan) X-block (juji-uke) from shiko-dachi, then turn around and another gedan juji-uke. The first juji-uke is the Morote-gari as you cross your arms under the opponents legs and grab them, but the critically cool part comes from the step turning around to do another juji-uke. With that step you turn over a prostrate opponent onto their stomach while completely controlling their legs. If you lift them up while you do it they turn over on their face! Muahahaha!
The only online video I could find of this is the below one, although I swear I have seen it in a Goju-Kai bunkai demonstration somewhere. I have also seen it in 3 or 4 Zen Do Kai 5th Dan gradings I have watchd videos of. Unfortunately I cannot find any of them online after a brief search.
Have a look at Bob Jones demonstrating the technique (in very bad skinny jeans) at 6.48-6.52
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZUJiJYhj88
The cool thing that I discovered about this bunkai is that it also works as a guard pass!
For those whoe dont know what a guard pass is, he is the first demo I found on the net (BTW this is a really good website - I subscribe to it, and you should too if you do any martial art)
http://www.grapplearts.com/MMA-Guard-Passing.html
Importantly, the bunkai works *really* well as a guard pass. This is how I used it in BJJ - at least 3 times last class!
While I dont do like Bob Jones and sit on the person a few times after flipping them(nor do I train in those horrible skinny jeans), once you have flipped them onto their stomach with you sitting on top of them you are spoilt for options. If you follow the bunkai of the kata strictly, you will most likely apply the second juji-uke as a leg lock (probably as a figure 4 style undernath the calf or ankle) however white belts are not allowed to use leg locks. All I can do is curse taking 2+ years per belt in BJJ (but the curseing is for this instance only, it is actually fun being a white belt). Insead, after initially pausing and being amazed at how well the bunkai worked, I slid off onto an easy side control on top of the opponents back. Such an excellent position to be in!
On the street I would probably just strike someone in the nuts, which are presented so completely to strike...
Encouragingly the guard pass worked against even strong opponents, and I managed to amaze someone with it (and my Shisochin bunkai) who is usually a very close match in all of weight, height, and skill level.
And who was it that said "There ain' no wrasslin' in ka-rotty"?
BTW if you dont know what open guard is, check this link http://www.grapplearts.com/Glossary_BJJ_Open_Guard.html
So instead of just pulling guard straight away, I tried to take the opponent down first. Note that we start 90% of rolling from a kneeling position, and so 'take them down' means knock them off their knees to their back, not a judo style takedown from the feet. Anyway, I thought that I might try a bunkai from Shisochin. It is a very simple bunkai - one hand (for me mostly left hand) swats the opponents right hand, pushing it down, while the other hand (usully right) pushes straight forward under the chin and drives them back. From there I passed straight past guard most of the time, right into side control. I was really amazed that it quite consistantly worked for me - 4-5 times over our 40 minutes of rolling (tried it against 3 or 4 different opponents).
Here is an example of Higaonna Sensei (10th Dan) doing Shisochin. The technique in question is demonstrated at 45-50 seconds, and the bunkai at 50-55 seconds.
And the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPoZgm9cHTI
Obviously it works as a stand-up takedown as well, as demonstrated by Higaonna Sensei (and how I have been practicing it). It is certainly not a regular grappling takedown, and I wonder how it will work against a standing opponent who is a grappler (as opposed to a striker). I think that the big risk is that it would be seen by a referee as a strike (which it could indeed be used as) an therefore get penalized. The other risk is that the opponent's head goes straight down and they arch their back and land with their whole bodyweight on their head - very dangerous. I think though that if you stop pushing after you have broken the opponents balance they will try and stop falling and right themselves and will naturally avoid landing on their head - I guess this is why we do heaps of breakfalls in BJJ! However I guess that is also why Shisochin is usually taught around brown belt level - so that beginners dont use this bunkai.
The second bunkai I used to great effect last BJJ class was one out of Sanseiru. Obviously if you cant get straight past guard with the takedown you have a fun fight trying to do that fundamental BJJ activity of passing guard. Now this bunkai I usually use as a takedown - in Judo the first part of it is called Morote-Gari, and can extend to the full range of double and single leg shoots.
Here is a quick video of Morote-gari
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN5qpGuseMs
However the second part is my favourite part of the bunkai, and it is probably my favourite bunkai of all at the moment.
Firstly, you can see the kata technique demonstrated here by Gosen Yamaguchi at 1.15 to 1.17.
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCcAu8mgwbo
Basically it is a downward (gedan) X-block (juji-uke) from shiko-dachi, then turn around and another gedan juji-uke. The first juji-uke is the Morote-gari as you cross your arms under the opponents legs and grab them, but the critically cool part comes from the step turning around to do another juji-uke. With that step you turn over a prostrate opponent onto their stomach while completely controlling their legs. If you lift them up while you do it they turn over on their face! Muahahaha!
The only online video I could find of this is the below one, although I swear I have seen it in a Goju-Kai bunkai demonstration somewhere. I have also seen it in 3 or 4 Zen Do Kai 5th Dan gradings I have watchd videos of. Unfortunately I cannot find any of them online after a brief search.
Have a look at Bob Jones demonstrating the technique (in very bad skinny jeans) at 6.48-6.52
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZUJiJYhj88
The cool thing that I discovered about this bunkai is that it also works as a guard pass!
For those whoe dont know what a guard pass is, he is the first demo I found on the net (BTW this is a really good website - I subscribe to it, and you should too if you do any martial art)
http://www.grapplearts.com/MMA-Guard-Passing.html
Importantly, the bunkai works *really* well as a guard pass. This is how I used it in BJJ - at least 3 times last class!
While I dont do like Bob Jones and sit on the person a few times after flipping them(nor do I train in those horrible skinny jeans), once you have flipped them onto their stomach with you sitting on top of them you are spoilt for options. If you follow the bunkai of the kata strictly, you will most likely apply the second juji-uke as a leg lock (probably as a figure 4 style undernath the calf or ankle) however white belts are not allowed to use leg locks. All I can do is curse taking 2+ years per belt in BJJ (but the curseing is for this instance only, it is actually fun being a white belt). Insead, after initially pausing and being amazed at how well the bunkai worked, I slid off onto an easy side control on top of the opponents back. Such an excellent position to be in!
On the street I would probably just strike someone in the nuts, which are presented so completely to strike...
Encouragingly the guard pass worked against even strong opponents, and I managed to amaze someone with it (and my Shisochin bunkai) who is usually a very close match in all of weight, height, and skill level.
And who was it that said "There ain' no wrasslin' in ka-rotty"?
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