This article seeks to summarize the article So You Want To Learn Implicitly? Coaching and Learning Through Implicit Motor Learning Techniques by Jamie M. Poolton and Tiffany L. Zachry International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching Volume 2 · Number 1 · 2007 and to relate how implicit learning may be applied to Karate and Martial Arts training.
by Adrian Cartland
Llb (with Hons.) BEc GDLP
2nd Dan Goju Ryu
The Author is indebted to Dr Greg Lovell Mbbs Dip Dhm FACSP for his guidance, learned discussion and supervision.
Implicit Learning
“At its onset in 1992, implicit motor learning was investigated as a means to overcome a
breakdown in performance sometimes seen under psychological stress [1]. To learn implicitly basically means to remove the verbal and/or analytical systems (i.e. working from memory) from the learning process, while explicit learning techniques often encourage the use of those same systems by employing various types of instruction and/or guidance”
Put another way, implicit learning seeks to bypass the conscious learning mechanisms so that students do not need to rely on their conscious memory. Under explicit learning students eventually develop into unconscious competence of a given skill; however there is a risk that the conscious may re-engage, especially under periods of high stress, in which case the skill has a higher chance of breaking down.
An example of explicit learning in Martial Arts is as follows (admittedly exaggerated somewhat to emphasize the difference between explicit and implicit learning):
Students new to Karate are shown how to defend against a straight right punch to the chest (Gyaku-Zuki Chudan). The instructor demonstrates and explains in front of the class that the students should:
From natural stance (Heiko Dachi) step out 45 degrees to their left into deep stance (Hidari Zen Kutsu Dachi) and execute an inside to outside block with their right arm (Migi Chudan Uchi Uke). Then execute a right ridge hand strike to the attacker’s throat (Migi Jodan Haito Uchi) and shuffle step behind the attacker, turning them anti clockwise, and grab your right hand with your left hand to execute a rear naked choke (Hadaka Jime). With your right leg right kick the opponents right leg (Kansetsu Geri) to bring the opponent lower and make the choke more effective.
The students are then paired off and begin to practice the entire sequence.
Initially one would expect that students would struggle with all these techniques - between them having to learn to punch, block, choke and kick - and they would no doubt be very actively thinking about each technique. Especially since this is their first lesson. Perhaps this was too advanced to teach an absolute beginner? However, let us assume that the instructor is wise and makes the students practice the sequence every class for many months and the students eventually are able to apply the sequence fluidly and unconsciously.
Where there this research says that there is a risk is that under stress the student who has learned in this manner may revert to having to consciously thinking about the skill, with the potential to break down. That is, there is a risk that if the student had to apply these techniques under a (very stressful) self defence scenario they may have to think about how to defend themselves, consequently decreasing reaction time and the ability to apply their techniques.
Benefits of Implicit Learning
Learning without using the conscious memory (without using verbal and/or analytical systems), that is implicit learning, may remove the risk of reverting to conscious thinking under stress, however does a teacher in a manner so that students may learn implicitly?
Implicit learning it not a novel technique that is the one way to teach students. Rather there are many ways in which a student may learn implicitly. However, the initial research into implicit learning was not entirely helpful:
“The trouble with the initial implicit motor learning techniques, however, was that they tended to be somewhat less than practical for a teaching or coaching environment [9]. For example, to ensure that learners were not relying on their verbal or analytical systems, the earliest study had participants attempt to randomly generate and call out letters of the alphabet ... while they are practising golf putting ... Obviously, using these methods in the practical arena would beat best a nuisance and at worst confusing and demotivating to learners”.
Fortunately more recent research has developed implicit learning further.
Errorless Learning
“Errorless learning does not literally mean that no errors are made, but simply that errors are kept to a minimum, especially early in the learning process. The concept behind it is a method that practitioners have been using for centuries to teach people new skills – start easy and gradually increase the difficulty. In its applied form, errorless learning is a more rigid use of this concept and it attempts to constrain the learner’s environment such that errors are prevented, if not altogether, then at least for the most part. The idea is that with a reduced amount of errors will come a reduced propensity to form and test hypotheses that would lead to a buildup of declarative knowledge. For instance, the first errorless learning study by Maxwell and colleagues [7] had an errorless group start putting golf balls at a distance of 25 cm from the hole and gradually moved back to 200 cm in increments of 25 cm (50 trials at each distance). An errorful group, which started from the furthest distance and worked their way closer to the hole, was included as a contrast to the errorless group. Unlike the errorless learners, this group was put in a position to encourage more errors early in the learning process. A group that putted from the different distances in random order was also included to act as a control group, and none of the groups were given any kind of verbal or physical guidance. One of the most important findings of this study was that the errorless learners were able to maintain their performance level despite...[other tasks that they were required to concentrate on]”
Errorless learning is a concept familiar to many who have studied Karate and other traditional Martial Arts. Having a very slow learning curve might be seen in learning one Kata for several years, e.g. Higashionna Kanryo would teach Sanchin kata for 3 or 4 years, and Gichin Funakoshi wrote that he spent 10 years studying Naifanchin (Karatedo: My Way of Life, Funakoshi, 1956).
Applying errorless learning to the teaching example above the instructor might drill the students on transitioning from Heiko Dachi to Zen Kutsu Dachi, and then teach the Uchi Uke from Zen Kutsu Dachi, and only once they have perfected both move on to combining the both of them. Then perhaps teach the Chudan Gyaku Zuki and then in pairs practice Uchi Uke against Chudan Zuki. Slowly add in the further components of stepping, Haito Uchi, shuffle stepping, Hadaka Jime and Kansetsu Geri.
“Does this research suggest that a coach eager to pass on years of wisdom and expertise is now obsolete? To address this question and to further emphasize its usefulness as a means to impart implicit motor learning characteristics, a study by Poolton and colleagues [11] showed that errorless learning is most important in the early stages of acquiring a skill and does not suffer ill effects if verbal instructions are introduced later on in the process.”
“This revealed that, as a learning technique, errorless learning can have positive effects even if
combined with the explicit “rules” that had been shown to be detrimental in previous studies;
the only stipulation is that these rules should not be given to the learner until a period of
implicit (in this case, errorless) learning has taken place.[Underlining added]”
Therefore if the students have already built up the skill sets in question, the explicit teaching method is no longer detrimental: that is, the students will not suffer from a possible breakdown in technique or reversion to conscious memory under stress and will instead be able to execute the techniques with unconscious competence.
Therefore if the original example is changed so that the students learning the techniques are not beginners but are instead Black Belt student who have trained all of the techniques in question through errorless learning then explicit instruction method would be well suited and the students should be able to perform the techniques under stress.
As a final point on errorless learning, under a state of physical fatigue errorful students (that is students that are allowed to make mistakes during their learning) have significantly reduced performance in a state of fatigue whereas errorless students are either unaffected in their performance or at least significantly less affected.
Unfortunately the research on performance by errorless students does not currently extend to performance under psychological stress (such as the type that may be encountered in a self defence situation) although it would be expected that errorless students would perform better than errorful.
External Focus of Attention
The intention of an external focus is to prevent the student “from becoming too engaged in the step-by-step mechanics of a skill and allows more automated performance to occur”
“What this means in simple terms is concentrating one’s attention on the aspects of a movement which relate to its outcome, rather than on the movement itself (which has been dubbed an internal focus of attention)”
Put another way, internal focus is focusing on the individual movements that make up the skill, external focus is focusing on the overall result and the letting brain take care of the rest.
A simple example of the difference between external focus of attention and internal focus of attention is hitting a ball with a bat. Internal focus is where the striker concentrates on the movement of their arms or on the bat or on both of them; external focus is where the striker concentrates on the movement of the ball. It is common wisdom that it is better to “keep your eye on the ball”, and the research into an external focus of attention supports that external focus of attention supports this common wisdom. Specifically, in studies contrasting external focus and internal focus the external focus participants have been found to have:
* better retention of the skill practiced;
* better accuracy and co-ordination;
* more attention resources available (useful if multiple tasks are being undertaking, e.g. striking and also warding off strikes);
* less knowledge of explicit “rules” (the problems with which are explained above); and
* more automated performance.
A classical example of external focus of attention in Karate is thinking of striking “through” the target: the focus on the target - specifically upon striking through it - will improve the technique. In contrast an internal focus while punching might be: 'as you strike the target feel the arm straightening with the elbow extending and the wrist holding straight and with the weight moving forward from the body'.
The external focus can also be applied when executing Kihon and Ido (basic techniques). That is, a focus on an imaginary external target when practicing techniques in the absence of a target.
Finally, an external focus of attention when practicing Kata will improve the techniques demonstrated; the external focus applicable is the bunkai (application) of the Kata. For example when demonstrating the final techniques of Saifa the practitioner might think of the Haito Uchi and Hadaka Jime (rear naked choke) described above. (See video below for an example) Naturally and external focus of attention during Kata is made easier by having specific bunkai for each technique - or set of techniques -rather than performing mere movements that may have a multitude of applications.
Analogy Learning
Analogy learning should be something familiar to many Martial Artists. Indeed, the first example given in the Paper of analogy learning is that from the original Karate Kid movie where Mr. Miyagi uses “wax on, wax off” as an analogy to executing blocks.
Analogy learning is a type of implicit learning, having the benefits described at the outset of this article. Further, analogy learning has been tested directly under psychological stress, whereas errorless learning and external focus have only been tested indirectly.
Analogy learning is often coupled with an external focus of attention, e.g. in golf “let the club perform a pendulum like motion”, or may be used to create an external focus of attention. So the final technique in Saifa may be described as a Haito Uchi to an opponent followed by a Hadaka Jime etc.
An important component to analogy learning is having a culturally relevant analogy. For example a Gyaku-Zuki being blocked by an Uchi Uke (as described in the initial example) could be described as“one-homed ox” and “keeping a flower” (Posture 37, page 222 of the Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat, as translated by Hanshi Patrick McCarthy) which the writer assumes may have historically been an appropriate analogy in China. While modern readers will struggle with old chinese analogies it is up to the learner to develop new ones that are applicable to him.
Each of us have different backgrounds and can (if prodded) come up with our own new ideas as memory devices. That way we will remember them much more readily. It may be in everyone of us to create the next “wax on, wax off” that will be used by countless students into the future, or which is pored over by historians hundreds of years in the future.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Sanseiru "MMA Bunkai" Seminar
Visited some old friends on Saturday where I did brief seminar on Bunkai (applications) from the Kata Sanseiru. Because of the audience I showed how bunkai from Sanseiru could be modified to fit in with material that I had been taught in MMA seminars. This recapitulation of the techniques is designed to serve as an aide memoir for the participants, and also to stimulate discussion for others who are interested in Sanseiru.
I have posted some video of Sanseiru applications before.
Technique 1 (Opening 3 punches)bunkai: pummelling for underhooks
Here is an example of pummelling
Technique 4 bunkai: single leg takedown.
(techniques 2 and 3 were skipped)
I went through a couple of variations, namely pushing with the left hand on the knee, on the hip, and using body weight to take down)
There are some examples of this here:
At the end, of this
And here it is done in a more MMA/wrestling oriented way
Combination 5 (the up-elbow, cross, front kick, turn-outer block combination) was done in a slightly changed order (to fit the MMA theme):
*catching a hook punch with the elbow (one can also dig into the attacker's arm);
*cross punch;
*use front kick to step past opponent
* turn for a winding throw (cross between Tai-Otochi and Seio Otoshi)
Have a look at this video for some more ideas on this:
For the "X-block" it was used as a Morote Gari. I have previously
described this technique.
Here is another video of Morote Gari being demonstrated:
Final technique (Morote Ko Uke) I used as a single collar grab, similar to that used in the wrestling ankle pick video above.
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| Karate Sanseiru Seminar 31-07-2010 |
I have posted some video of Sanseiru applications before.
Technique 1 (Opening 3 punches)bunkai: pummelling for underhooks
Here is an example of pummelling
Technique 4 bunkai: single leg takedown.
(techniques 2 and 3 were skipped)
I went through a couple of variations, namely pushing with the left hand on the knee, on the hip, and using body weight to take down)
There are some examples of this here:
At the end, of this
And here it is done in a more MMA/wrestling oriented way
Combination 5 (the up-elbow, cross, front kick, turn-outer block combination) was done in a slightly changed order (to fit the MMA theme):
*catching a hook punch with the elbow (one can also dig into the attacker's arm);
*cross punch;
*use front kick to step past opponent
* turn for a winding throw (cross between Tai-Otochi and Seio Otoshi)
Have a look at this video for some more ideas on this:
For the "X-block" it was used as a Morote Gari. I have previously
described this technique.
Here is another video of Morote Gari being demonstrated:
Final technique (Morote Ko Uke) I used as a single collar grab, similar to that used in the wrestling ankle pick video above.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
SA BJJ titles 7 March 2010
First I will make some observations about my performance. The lead up to the competition was easier this year because I have been 90.5kg - 0.5kg under the weight limit for the 85-91kg category - for the last 3 weeks and therefore haven't had to drop a few kilos in a couple of weeks as I did the last two years. This removed stress from making weight and allowed me to eat regular meals leading up to the comp. I was even able to have a few drinks.
I did not mentally prepare as much as I wanted to. Usually I run through the diary of techniques that I keep (writing down each technique we do in training) so that I can list what I can do from each position. This forms a rudimentary game plan. However time constraints leading up to the comp prevented this.
I entered into 4 divisions: weight class gi and no-gi and open weight gi and no-gi. I did much better in the gi divisions, probably because I hardly train no-gi. But it was only good experience to go into as many divisions as possible. In the first open weight gi match I used my regular game plan well; pulling guard later moving to spider guard sweeping to mount and doing a gi choke. That caused a rotation into back mount where I got another gi choke eventually, though not after going through ankle pain for leaving my hooks down too deep. My bad.
The next match the ref said that I tapped out to a triangle choke (no points scored) that I had plenty of airspace on. I didn't tap at all! But I guess that the ref was just looking after the fighters. *shakes fist*
In the Weight gi division (when the match finally happened 3 hrs late) I pulled guard against a really strong opponent (I won't mention names on this blog unless I have permission) who could easily control my arms, which made attacking from guard that much harder (basically impossible). In the last 30 seconds I pulled an arm bar as he stood up, which was my best move for the day - I just saw the opening and jumped for it.
In summary of the other matches I need to work on my top game and some finer points of guard passes. I also had a rematch against my very strong friend in the open no-gi and he got me with a footsweep and landed on mount and then as I turtled to escape he got my back and finished with a rear naked choke - very nicely done. I ended up with a bronze in 85-91kg Gi, which is at least something. I will hopefully post a couple of videos shortly, although because much of my game uses the guard some matches are pretty boring to watch.
Second I will make some general observations about the competition:
There were allot of injuries. A couple of people said that people weren't tapping out of hopeless positions and so maybe that was it. One guy said he had a tight armbar and was popping his opponents elbow but still the opponent didn't tap for a while. It is one thing trying to win, it is another trying to win when you have lost. Suck it up and tap. Or get injured and tap anyway.
* I like the relaxed nature of competitors. I got to chat with people from many different clubs and all the people I talked to didn't have egos and were really relaxed. This includes dojo instructors from clubs who I was competing against. It certainly shows the good spirit of the competition when you are able to exchange compliments with a competing dojo's instructor.
* Congratulations to IsoHealth for winning the team element of the competition. The comments in the preceding paragraph certainly apply to those I met from this team. BTT took third this time after winning last year. We will have to get lots of our new guys to compete so we can hopefully win the next one.
* Match of the day I think went to a BTT member who fought a rippling musclebound machine probably 30 kgs beaver than him and who held guard for at least 3 -4 minutes (losing no points during that period). That his opponent didn't rend him within 30 seconds certainly gives him a moral victory and shows how good technique can prevail over strength.
* Kudos to the freestyle Karate guy from Elizabeth who without any ground experience went in the no-gi competition. It is great to see people throw themselves into the deep end. I hope that he continues to practice grappling.
I did not mentally prepare as much as I wanted to. Usually I run through the diary of techniques that I keep (writing down each technique we do in training) so that I can list what I can do from each position. This forms a rudimentary game plan. However time constraints leading up to the comp prevented this.
I entered into 4 divisions: weight class gi and no-gi and open weight gi and no-gi. I did much better in the gi divisions, probably because I hardly train no-gi. But it was only good experience to go into as many divisions as possible. In the first open weight gi match I used my regular game plan well; pulling guard later moving to spider guard sweeping to mount and doing a gi choke. That caused a rotation into back mount where I got another gi choke eventually, though not after going through ankle pain for leaving my hooks down too deep. My bad.
The next match the ref said that I tapped out to a triangle choke (no points scored) that I had plenty of airspace on. I didn't tap at all! But I guess that the ref was just looking after the fighters. *shakes fist*
In the Weight gi division (when the match finally happened 3 hrs late) I pulled guard against a really strong opponent (I won't mention names on this blog unless I have permission) who could easily control my arms, which made attacking from guard that much harder (basically impossible). In the last 30 seconds I pulled an arm bar as he stood up, which was my best move for the day - I just saw the opening and jumped for it.
In summary of the other matches I need to work on my top game and some finer points of guard passes. I also had a rematch against my very strong friend in the open no-gi and he got me with a footsweep and landed on mount and then as I turtled to escape he got my back and finished with a rear naked choke - very nicely done. I ended up with a bronze in 85-91kg Gi, which is at least something. I will hopefully post a couple of videos shortly, although because much of my game uses the guard some matches are pretty boring to watch.
Second I will make some general observations about the competition:
There were allot of injuries. A couple of people said that people weren't tapping out of hopeless positions and so maybe that was it. One guy said he had a tight armbar and was popping his opponents elbow but still the opponent didn't tap for a while. It is one thing trying to win, it is another trying to win when you have lost. Suck it up and tap. Or get injured and tap anyway.
* I like the relaxed nature of competitors. I got to chat with people from many different clubs and all the people I talked to didn't have egos and were really relaxed. This includes dojo instructors from clubs who I was competing against. It certainly shows the good spirit of the competition when you are able to exchange compliments with a competing dojo's instructor.
* Congratulations to IsoHealth for winning the team element of the competition. The comments in the preceding paragraph certainly apply to those I met from this team. BTT took third this time after winning last year. We will have to get lots of our new guys to compete so we can hopefully win the next one.
* Match of the day I think went to a BTT member who fought a rippling musclebound machine probably 30 kgs beaver than him and who held guard for at least 3 -4 minutes (losing no points during that period). That his opponent didn't rend him within 30 seconds certainly gives him a moral victory and shows how good technique can prevail over strength.
* Kudos to the freestyle Karate guy from Elizabeth who without any ground experience went in the no-gi competition. It is great to see people throw themselves into the deep end. I hope that he continues to practice grappling.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Koryu Uchinadi Seminar
Had a great seminar with Renshi Jason Griffiths on the weekend who travelled down from QLD. On Saturday we focused on bunkai (applications) for Pinan Nidan and on Sunday did Choku gata futari geiko. There a large amount of material covered and these couple of lines hardly do it justice.
For reference here is a video of Chokyu gata, which is related to the Gekisai kata we do in Goju Ryu.
The event was organised by Chris Gillies
For reference here is a video of Chokyu gata, which is related to the Gekisai kata we do in Goju Ryu.
The event was organised by Chris Gillies
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Working vs Training - or both?
It is 8.45 pm and am still at work at the moment! I will probably be at work for a while... This is one bad thing aboubt being a Lawyer. But 95% of the time work is fun. (Note: 95% may or may not be an accurate figure)
Being a Tuesday I usually try to get to a MMA class at Brazilian Top Team followed by a Gi BJJ class for about 3 hours of training total. Tonight there was also our monthly Advanced Karate seminar which was on a special Kata that catalogues all of the blocks of Karate. It is being presented at the camp this weekend and the test run was tonight. Unfortunately I could not get to any training tonight :(
I had some urgent work come up and so had to skip training. Work comes before training unfortunately. To make it worse the work is basically administrative work and will probably not be billed (so no happy time sheet). And I still have heaps to do...
Thankfully while I am waiting for documents to print and scan I am able to do some Kata practice in the hallways. I am working on Shisochin at the moment, and have managed to fit it in between the desks in my office because of the symmetrical nature of the Kata. The only modification I have to do is not extend my legs for the Mae Geri (front kicks), otherwise I will knock over a filing cabinet and/or put a hole in the wall! I am also practicing the Kata quite slowly so as not to sweat in my business attire (or rip it).
The Kata is definitely being used as a moving meditation (and is helping keeping focus on a mundane task), but I am also thinking about bunkai (applications) and so am mentally going through self defence applications. While this is probably not as good as lots of hard training, it certainly is more useful than pacing up and down the hallways.
Osu!
Being a Tuesday I usually try to get to a MMA class at Brazilian Top Team followed by a Gi BJJ class for about 3 hours of training total. Tonight there was also our monthly Advanced Karate seminar which was on a special Kata that catalogues all of the blocks of Karate. It is being presented at the camp this weekend and the test run was tonight. Unfortunately I could not get to any training tonight :(
I had some urgent work come up and so had to skip training. Work comes before training unfortunately. To make it worse the work is basically administrative work and will probably not be billed (so no happy time sheet). And I still have heaps to do...
Thankfully while I am waiting for documents to print and scan I am able to do some Kata practice in the hallways. I am working on Shisochin at the moment, and have managed to fit it in between the desks in my office because of the symmetrical nature of the Kata. The only modification I have to do is not extend my legs for the Mae Geri (front kicks), otherwise I will knock over a filing cabinet and/or put a hole in the wall! I am also practicing the Kata quite slowly so as not to sweat in my business attire (or rip it).
The Kata is definitely being used as a moving meditation (and is helping keeping focus on a mundane task), but I am also thinking about bunkai (applications) and so am mentally going through self defence applications. While this is probably not as good as lots of hard training, it certainly is more useful than pacing up and down the hallways.
Osu!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Practical Kendo
While many people take up Karate or BJJ for self defence, very few people take up Kendo for self defence - and for a good reason: there are not too may Samurai walking the streets these days.
However because of the interest in the Japanese sword arts (Iaido, Kendo etc) and their availability to the public the incidence of violence occurring involving a Katana ("Samurai Sword") is surprisingly high. Here is a quick article that has compiled a few incidents in one area. While I cannot find the news article anymore there was a gang fight in Sydney a couple of years ago that involved two gang members facing off with Katanas. If I recall correctly one gang member had their wrist severed (or at least badly injured) and each had some bad cuts. Humorously my initial thought was scoring with Kote!
There has been quite a bit of writing in the last few days about the incident involving a Johns Hopkins University student who slew a burglar with a Katana. Here is one example news story for the details. Further details state that the Katana wielding student scored a Kote, dealing alot of damage to the thief's hand and cutting into the thief's chest. While some think this is cool I am not going to make any jokes here. As some have already mentioned, this incident will probably scar the victim student psychologically.
Perhaps that is where Kendo is really practical in an incident like this: providing a physical release from stress and cultivating a strong mind and spirit. If one accepts completely committing to a technique and applies it to their life by completely committing to their actions then perhaps they will accept and deal with the consequences easier.
However because of the interest in the Japanese sword arts (Iaido, Kendo etc) and their availability to the public the incidence of violence occurring involving a Katana ("Samurai Sword") is surprisingly high. Here is a quick article that has compiled a few incidents in one area. While I cannot find the news article anymore there was a gang fight in Sydney a couple of years ago that involved two gang members facing off with Katanas. If I recall correctly one gang member had their wrist severed (or at least badly injured) and each had some bad cuts. Humorously my initial thought was scoring with Kote!
There has been quite a bit of writing in the last few days about the incident involving a Johns Hopkins University student who slew a burglar with a Katana. Here is one example news story for the details. Further details state that the Katana wielding student scored a Kote, dealing alot of damage to the thief's hand and cutting into the thief's chest. While some think this is cool I am not going to make any jokes here. As some have already mentioned, this incident will probably scar the victim student psychologically.
Perhaps that is where Kendo is really practical in an incident like this: providing a physical release from stress and cultivating a strong mind and spirit. If one accepts completely committing to a technique and applies it to their life by completely committing to their actions then perhaps they will accept and deal with the consequences easier.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Contact in Karate
Last weekend (when this was written, though the time of posting is a couple of weeks after that) we were fortunate to have a 6th Dan from our network fly in from interstate and conduct as a grading for the Adelaide Dojos and do a seminar on Kumite (sparring). At the end of the seminar there was naturally some Kumite matches, and in one of them someone's Mae Geri (front kick) got blocked too hard and they asked for the match to be stopped. Actually the kick was not blocked that hard, but there was a pre-existing injury on the leg and the block aggravated it.
Anyway Shihan said that even if you get injured in Kumite you should not show it or stop the match, unless the injury will require hospitalisation or some such. Even then you should try to remain as composed as possible. The reasoning for this had a street application: if you are attacked and you show that you are injured then the attacker will be encouraged to attack you further because they can see that you are being beaten and are weaker than them.
Showing strength and determination even when in pain is also related to Zen because of the drive and focus to achieve the end goal. Just as a punch requires full commitment to be effective, so to does all aspects of Karate, including training with commitment to the Kumite match.
Shihan mentioned that in the past Dojos he has trained in bouts were not stopped even when teeth flew onto the floor! I can think of several examples told to me by people I have trained with of a similar acceptance of punishment while still sparring, but most stories occurred in or before the 1980's - well before my time. Comparing these stories (which, because I have heard them from such a variety of sources I assume to be a true contrast to today) with Kumite today it seems that there are many more people who train with much less contact.
The interesting discussion is how much contact is the right amount of contact in Karate?
Firstly I would like to say that I think that "Non-Contact Karate" is really not appropriate. While it goes without saying that Kids training should be non-contact, and there is no harm in not contacting a beginner, if black belts are not familiar with contact (of any kind) and able to accept it I think that Karate would actually be making their life more dangerous for them (and possibly others) from a self defence point of view. If someone thinks that waving their fists and feet around doesnt cause pain they are going to be in for a rude shock if they are ever called to use their skills. If someone has gained confidence from Karate to face an attacker but does not realize how much it hurts to get hit then their confidence is going to take a massive shock, and so not only would they being more confident than they should be, they are also doubly scared and demoralized. They would have been better off being sure that they knew nothing.
At the other end of the scale I think that the core demographic of Karate students are not interested in "full contact", at least not initially. Naturally I am excepting Kyokushin from the definition of Karate that I am using, not because it is not Karate, but merely because it attracts a different demographic. I think that in the western world the core demographic for Karate are middle class suburbanites. Ignoring kids the people that make up Karate classes are teens, Uni students and people over 35 who approach training with a more mature mindset. For differing reasons each of the groups do not want to turn up to work/study the next day with a broken nose or barely able to walk. Therefore training with full contact is not appropriate.
I would like to seque here and note that even in full contact Karate (Kyokushin) they do not have 'full contact' matches every class. They usually spend most of the class doing bagwork, sparring drills, conditioning drills, basics (kihon) etc. Similarly other full contact styles (eg Muay Thai) do not pound each other 'full contact' every class. One quite simple reason for this is that even a strongly contitioned human body can only take so much damage. It is usual to have months between full contact matches to have time to re-cuperate and train for the next match.
An interesting proposition that arises from the fact that full contact training does not involve full contact each class is that by definition a student must be able to train (to a certain extent at least) like a full contact fighter without being subjected to the rigerous bodily punishment of a full contact match. Obviously there is a huge amount of experience to be gained from the actual matches that would be missed, but I wonder how much the correlation would be from training. Would someone who trained at a Kyokushin dojo but never entered any full contact matches be 90% as good as someone who has trained for the same length of time but who enters full contact matches? Put another way, what proportion of the skill of a 'full contact fighter' is attributable to experience in full contact matches, and what percentage is attributable to training methods that are less than full contact? I might hazard a range of 10%-30% of skill being attributable to the full contact matches. I really dont know for sure. Moreover it would be difficult to measure.
But unless the actual 'full contact fighting matches' accounted for the majority of the skill in full contact fighting a student can still get most of the way there, without actually 'stepping into the ring'. This is a reasonable proposition because of the amount of time full contact fighters spend doing 'non-full contact' training.
On the other hand it cannot be said that martial arts would be the same if no-one did full contact fighting, because how would it be known which drills and training prepare people to deliver and receive that type of impact? It could be guessed, but never known for sure. Also, the challenge of competition encouraages the development of new fighting training methods.
Therefore a club that has exposure to full-contact fighting via a couple of its students (but not all) could train the rest of the students most of the way to the skills of full contact fighting, without the other students having to compete in full contact fights.
Sequeing back to the topic I like the level of contact that it seems that our network has - low/none for beginners and increasing to a quite strong contact (expecially to the body) for more senior ranks. While this not necessarily the only "happy medium" level of contact, it seems to me to address all of the points that I raised above, namely:
-Dont have useless/deluded black belts
-Dont damage people who need to take a 'pretty face' to work/study the next day
-Practicing committment/follow through with techniques
-Having people with the knowledge of the drills necessary for more contact orientated fighting and their effectiveness who can disseminate the training methods to the 'non full contact' students. (Including having people who have experience in the full contact arena, although I will continue to decline to name people in this blog)
What do you think?
Anyway Shihan said that even if you get injured in Kumite you should not show it or stop the match, unless the injury will require hospitalisation or some such. Even then you should try to remain as composed as possible. The reasoning for this had a street application: if you are attacked and you show that you are injured then the attacker will be encouraged to attack you further because they can see that you are being beaten and are weaker than them.
Showing strength and determination even when in pain is also related to Zen because of the drive and focus to achieve the end goal. Just as a punch requires full commitment to be effective, so to does all aspects of Karate, including training with commitment to the Kumite match.
Shihan mentioned that in the past Dojos he has trained in bouts were not stopped even when teeth flew onto the floor! I can think of several examples told to me by people I have trained with of a similar acceptance of punishment while still sparring, but most stories occurred in or before the 1980's - well before my time. Comparing these stories (which, because I have heard them from such a variety of sources I assume to be a true contrast to today) with Kumite today it seems that there are many more people who train with much less contact.
The interesting discussion is how much contact is the right amount of contact in Karate?
Firstly I would like to say that I think that "Non-Contact Karate" is really not appropriate. While it goes without saying that Kids training should be non-contact, and there is no harm in not contacting a beginner, if black belts are not familiar with contact (of any kind) and able to accept it I think that Karate would actually be making their life more dangerous for them (and possibly others) from a self defence point of view. If someone thinks that waving their fists and feet around doesnt cause pain they are going to be in for a rude shock if they are ever called to use their skills. If someone has gained confidence from Karate to face an attacker but does not realize how much it hurts to get hit then their confidence is going to take a massive shock, and so not only would they being more confident than they should be, they are also doubly scared and demoralized. They would have been better off being sure that they knew nothing.
At the other end of the scale I think that the core demographic of Karate students are not interested in "full contact", at least not initially. Naturally I am excepting Kyokushin from the definition of Karate that I am using, not because it is not Karate, but merely because it attracts a different demographic. I think that in the western world the core demographic for Karate are middle class suburbanites. Ignoring kids the people that make up Karate classes are teens, Uni students and people over 35 who approach training with a more mature mindset. For differing reasons each of the groups do not want to turn up to work/study the next day with a broken nose or barely able to walk. Therefore training with full contact is not appropriate.
I would like to seque here and note that even in full contact Karate (Kyokushin) they do not have 'full contact' matches every class. They usually spend most of the class doing bagwork, sparring drills, conditioning drills, basics (kihon) etc. Similarly other full contact styles (eg Muay Thai) do not pound each other 'full contact' every class. One quite simple reason for this is that even a strongly contitioned human body can only take so much damage. It is usual to have months between full contact matches to have time to re-cuperate and train for the next match.
An interesting proposition that arises from the fact that full contact training does not involve full contact each class is that by definition a student must be able to train (to a certain extent at least) like a full contact fighter without being subjected to the rigerous bodily punishment of a full contact match. Obviously there is a huge amount of experience to be gained from the actual matches that would be missed, but I wonder how much the correlation would be from training. Would someone who trained at a Kyokushin dojo but never entered any full contact matches be 90% as good as someone who has trained for the same length of time but who enters full contact matches? Put another way, what proportion of the skill of a 'full contact fighter' is attributable to experience in full contact matches, and what percentage is attributable to training methods that are less than full contact? I might hazard a range of 10%-30% of skill being attributable to the full contact matches. I really dont know for sure. Moreover it would be difficult to measure.
But unless the actual 'full contact fighting matches' accounted for the majority of the skill in full contact fighting a student can still get most of the way there, without actually 'stepping into the ring'. This is a reasonable proposition because of the amount of time full contact fighters spend doing 'non-full contact' training.
On the other hand it cannot be said that martial arts would be the same if no-one did full contact fighting, because how would it be known which drills and training prepare people to deliver and receive that type of impact? It could be guessed, but never known for sure. Also, the challenge of competition encouraages the development of new fighting training methods.
Therefore a club that has exposure to full-contact fighting via a couple of its students (but not all) could train the rest of the students most of the way to the skills of full contact fighting, without the other students having to compete in full contact fights.
Sequeing back to the topic I like the level of contact that it seems that our network has - low/none for beginners and increasing to a quite strong contact (expecially to the body) for more senior ranks. While this not necessarily the only "happy medium" level of contact, it seems to me to address all of the points that I raised above, namely:
-Dont have useless/deluded black belts
-Dont damage people who need to take a 'pretty face' to work/study the next day
-Practicing committment/follow through with techniques
-Having people with the knowledge of the drills necessary for more contact orientated fighting and their effectiveness who can disseminate the training methods to the 'non full contact' students. (Including having people who have experience in the full contact arena, although I will continue to decline to name people in this blog)
What do you think?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
End of Financial Year - Finally Posting Kendo
Have been supremely busy with end of financial year tasks at work - and have even missed a few trainings! Terrible, I know, but work must come before fun...
I am going to finally post about the great time I had at the 34th Australian Kendo Championships on 11th April 2009, and have finally compiled the videos that I took. At the moment I will just post the 2 matches that I was in due to time constraints (because blogging is inherently narcissistic), but I got a few Kyu individual matches, especially of the South Australian team so if someone wants a copy please let me know. There was also someone at the Adelaide Dojo who was going to compile the video that they took into a nicely edited DVD of the Nationals and they were going to incorporate the video I took, but they have been busy/not at training the same time as me and so am not sure of the status of this project.
Video is uploading to Youtube as I type, though I am getting tired and may not post it today.
At the Seminar we had 2 visiting 8th Dans from Japan and I will write about a couple of the most important points that I picked up from them (I have several pages of notes, but most are probably boring/personal).
- There are many ways in which a person can be taught Kendo, and there is not necessarily a "right" way. There are many ways to climb a mountain, but all of the ways lead to the same summit/peak.
- It is important that the distance that Kendoka start away from each other is 9 paces. At that distance you are wary of the opponent. Further than that and you are not in danger. Once you are at 9 paces you each take 3 paces in and you are at To-Maai and are dangerous to each other.
- When you lift your Shinai you keep your arms in the same position as Chudan-no-kamae and do not move past where your shoulders naturally allow. Your strikes should be relaxed and natural
I am going to finally post about the great time I had at the 34th Australian Kendo Championships on 11th April 2009, and have finally compiled the videos that I took. At the moment I will just post the 2 matches that I was in due to time constraints (because blogging is inherently narcissistic), but I got a few Kyu individual matches, especially of the South Australian team so if someone wants a copy please let me know. There was also someone at the Adelaide Dojo who was going to compile the video that they took into a nicely edited DVD of the Nationals and they were going to incorporate the video I took, but they have been busy/not at training the same time as me and so am not sure of the status of this project.
Video is uploading to Youtube as I type, though I am getting tired and may not post it today.
At the Seminar we had 2 visiting 8th Dans from Japan and I will write about a couple of the most important points that I picked up from them (I have several pages of notes, but most are probably boring/personal).
- There are many ways in which a person can be taught Kendo, and there is not necessarily a "right" way. There are many ways to climb a mountain, but all of the ways lead to the same summit/peak.
- It is important that the distance that Kendoka start away from each other is 9 paces. At that distance you are wary of the opponent. Further than that and you are not in danger. Once you are at 9 paces you each take 3 paces in and you are at To-Maai and are dangerous to each other.
- When you lift your Shinai you keep your arms in the same position as Chudan-no-kamae and do not move past where your shoulders naturally allow. Your strikes should be relaxed and natural
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Brace for War - Silvester Lidicky (Integrated) VS Kane Gehling (Brazilian Top Team)
Recently one of the guys from BTT competed in a MMA tournament up in QLD. Unfortunately South Australia has restrictive laws and we cant have this much fun down here.
Kane did a great job, although he lost on points.
Watch what I believe is Round 1 here
Osu!
Kane did a great job, although he lost on points.
Watch what I believe is Round 1 here
Osu!
Current Training
I haven't been posting much because I have been doing alot of training at the moment. Also, I have had lots of work and family commitments. I was going to post the videos that I took at the Kendo Nationals, but haven't had time to edit them yet. Also someone from the Dojo is going to more professionally edit the videos that they took with any other they can get (including mine) for a DVD for everyone to reflect upon.
Therefore I will most probably just edit video of my matches so people can see me get defeated - this keeps my humility and is in line with the narcissistic nature of blogging. I shall also try to post some comments about what happened, and especially the semiar with the 2 Hachidan's, which was one of the most significant martial arts experiences I have had, ever!
In the meantime I suggest you have a look at Vivian Yung's write up of her experiences of the Kendo nationals. I have been reading her blog for a while and we discussed blogging at the nationals. We naturally discussed Kendo too!
http://nintai.blogspot.com/2009/04/34akc-shomen-ni-rei.html
At the moment my training regime has been approximately this:
Monday: Kendo. (I missed the last 2 weeks due to work/injuries and did a 9 km run instead)
Tuesday: Weight training.
Wednesday: 9 km run (though this week Kendo because I missed Monday's training)
Thursday: No Gi BJJ; Gi BJJ - 3 hours total!
Friday: 9 km run or kata and kihon. Try for Kendo kihon inside
Saturday: 3-4 hours bunkai research at night
Sunday: 2 hours normal Karate class + 1 hour informal kata training with seniors (Sanseiru at the moment) + 1 hour of bunkai and conditioning with students or 1 hour bag work at home
Therefore I will most probably just edit video of my matches so people can see me get defeated - this keeps my humility and is in line with the narcissistic nature of blogging. I shall also try to post some comments about what happened, and especially the semiar with the 2 Hachidan's, which was one of the most significant martial arts experiences I have had, ever!
In the meantime I suggest you have a look at Vivian Yung's write up of her experiences of the Kendo nationals. I have been reading her blog for a while and we discussed blogging at the nationals. We naturally discussed Kendo too!
http://nintai.blogspot.com/2009/04/34akc-shomen-ni-rei.html
At the moment my training regime has been approximately this:
Monday: Kendo. (I missed the last 2 weeks due to work/injuries and did a 9 km run instead)
Tuesday: Weight training.
Wednesday: 9 km run (though this week Kendo because I missed Monday's training)
Thursday: No Gi BJJ; Gi BJJ - 3 hours total!
Friday: 9 km run or kata and kihon. Try for Kendo kihon inside
Saturday: 3-4 hours bunkai research at night
Sunday: 2 hours normal Karate class + 1 hour informal kata training with seniors (Sanseiru at the moment) + 1 hour of bunkai and conditioning with students or 1 hour bag work at home
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sanseiru/Sesan combination in Goju Ryu
One of the key techniques in Sanseiru is the Uchi Uke/Mae Geri/Empi/Gyaku Zuki (outer block/front kick/up elbow/reverse punch) combination that is repeated 4 times. I started looking at bunkai for it but haven't found too much material on the internet (my primary research source) beyond the Higaonna bunkai and the Goju Kai bunkai for this combination and I so broadened my search from Goju bunkai on Sanseiru to other styles. Here is the Goju Ryu version for reference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kdosSNtzZ0
Uechi Ryu has a kata of the same name, but which visually looks quite different. However it does have a similar technique combination in it: Kake Uke/step forward/Empi/knuckle strike/ippon ken sen (grabbing block/step forward/elbow/knuckle strike (or backfist)/ single knuckle strike). The technique is not however repeated 4 times like in the Goju version. See Kanei Uechi do the technique at 38 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey_dIRzffNc
The next thing that I did was look at the video of Uechi Ryu Seisan because it looked interesting to see this old footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd5YdEkmQxo
I was surprised to see that at 50 seconds the same combination appears!
Going back over Goju Ryu Seisan at a similar part of the kata, albeit facing the opposite way, the combination step forward/ura zuki/uraken/gedan barai/gyaku zuki appears (step forward/uppercut/backfist/lower block/reverse punch). There is even the left hand in a blocking/deflecting/checking position before the combination is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMxnKhAJby8
What that lead me to think is that perhaps the 'Goju Sesan' combination and the 'Goju Sanseiru' combinations are actually from the same source and were once performed more similarly. Looking at the combinations they are quite similar in their nature:
First: a block or check with the left hand in a manner that would usually block from inside to outside and which could also be a grab (ie Kake uke).
Second: mae geri or stepping forward with the right leg.
Third: upward strike
Fourth and Fifth: Sesan only
Sixth: Gyaku zuki
While the fourth and fifth techniques of urken (backfist) and gedan barai (lower block) only appear in Sesan, the combination also appears in other kata.
Looking at Superinpei a similar combination appears at 1.38 and 1.57: Kake uke/mae geri/empi/uraken (grabing block/front kick/up elbow/backfist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF_pfELVkhA
The Goju Superinpei combination appears much closer to the 'Uechi combination', being different only in the omission of the ippon ken sen (single knuckle strike) at the end (done with the right hand). Supposedly there was a fourth Uechi kata named Superinpei, although Kanbon Iechi did not have time to learn it. For those who are not familiar with the theory that Kanryu Higaonna only tought Miyagi Sanchin-Sanseiru-Sesan-Superinpei, published in an article a in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts (16:4, 2007) entitled “A Preliminary Analysis of Goju-Ryu Kata Structures” by Fernando Camara and Mario McKenna have a look at the following summaryavailable online.
http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/2008/05/origins-of-goju-kata.html
That the three Kaishugata (kata with open hands: combat application reference kata) from the same system had a similar combination that appears in each would not be surprising - there are several other similarities between the three kata such as the opening using the 3 'Sanchin' punches, asymmetry, finishing with either mawashi uke or morote ko uke (double wrist block) etc. If the Goju Sesan, Sanseiru and Superinpei 'combinations' are actually derived from the same combination, I would think that the version that has survived in Superinpei would be more original for the simple reason that less people learn the higher level kata and so there are less people for it to evolve through. Perhaps also with higher level kata peope learn them much later into their practice and are less likely to change the kata at this stage (though this is just a quick postulation/musing).
If you look at a more 'modern' kata in the manner of Gekisai, you can see the following combination: uchi or kake uke/mae geri/uraken/gedan barai/gyaku zuki (outer or grabbing block/front kick/backfist/lower block/reverse punch). Because this kata was created by Miyagi it exposes his thinking on how the style of Goju Ryu fits together. He could have easily not have included a Gedan Barai and Uraken and made the 'Gekisai combination' simpler and more like Goju Sanseiru. Alternatively he could have switched the empi (elbow) for a ura zuki (uppercut) and made the combination more like Goju Sesan. I think that the choice of techniques in Gekisai shows the crossover in the combinations: that they are essentially the same thing.
One thought though is that in Gekisai Dai Ni, where the Uchi Uke (outer block) are exchanged with Kake Uke (grabbing block) and the Yama Zuki (double punch/mountain punch) is exchanged with a Mawashi Uke (circular block) to make the Kata more 'Okinawan' perhaps that 'Gekisai combination' could have been changed as well? It could have been made into the 'Superinpei combination' or the 'Uechi combination' perhaps. Say with the empi done into the left hand, or the gedan barai exchanged for an ippon ken sen.
In other Goju kata the 'Goju Sesan combination' appears in Seienchin and the 'Goju Sanseiru combination' appears in Shisochin and Kururunfa, although there is no Gyaku Zuki (reverse punch) at the end in any of these three kata. However the other hand is cocked and rotated ready to do a punch. A gyaku zuki (reverse punch) can very easily be implied into bunkai at the end of these combinations.
Interestingly Saifa and Sepai are the only 2 Goju Ryu Kaishugata (note Sanchin and Tensho are Haishugata: kata with closed hands - training kata) which do not have this combination. I think that the absence of the combination in these two kata is an additional factor of support for theory (see McKenna article, above) that Sanchin-Sanseiru-Sesan-Superinpei are 'H1' kata, ie passed down from Kanryu Higaonna to Miyagi, and that Saifa-Seienchin-Shisochin-Sepai-Kururunfa are 'M1' kata, ie kata that Miyagi derived from another source.
However on the basis of the inclusion of the combination one might further differentiate the M1 kata. Perhaps the exclusion of the combination signifies that Miyagi learnt Sepai and Saifa from a totally different source as all the other Kaishugata, say on his travels to China. Following through that line of thought one can see that the combination appears in some other Okinawan kata, such as Niseishi. There is a discussion that Nisheishi is a forerunner of Goju Sanseiru here:
http://cyberdojo.ning.com/group/gojuryu/forum/topics/how-much-of-aragaki-seishos?page=3&commentId=2954669%3AComment%3A4882&x=1#2954669Comment4882
Personally I agree, and by looking at Niseishi it seems to me to be a bridge between the otherwise very different Goju and Uechi versions of the kata. At 35 seconds and 41 seconds the 'Gekisai combination' appears in Niseishi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjsJJ4xqxKY
There is written record of Seisho Aragaki performing a kata named "chisaukin" at a demonstration in 1867 and this could quite likely be the kata Shisochin. In his book “Okinawa kempo” Choki Motobu mentions the kata seisan, seiunchin and naihanchi as kata that were in existence in Okinawa long before Kanryo Higaonna’s trip to China.
“Among those styles or katas which have been used in Ryu Kyu from ancient days are:
Sanchin, Jo-Ju-Shi-Ho, Seisan, Seiunchin, Ippakku-Re-Hachi, Naihanchi (Ichidan, Nidan, Sandan), Passai, Chinto, Chinte, (bamboo-yari spear style), Wanshu, Rohai and Kusanku.
And especially the three styles Nai-Hanchi, Passai (great and small), and Kusanku which are very widely known to many islanders." http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/2008/08/origins-of-goju-ryu-kata-part-2.html
Therefore one can deduce that the kata Shisochin and Seienchin have Okinawan histories, even if they were not passed on by Kanryu Higaonna. They can be contrasted with the Saifa and Sepai which have different sources. It is difficult to say where Kurununfa fits in: that is a discussion for another post (when I know more about it!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kdosSNtzZ0
Uechi Ryu has a kata of the same name, but which visually looks quite different. However it does have a similar technique combination in it: Kake Uke/step forward/Empi/knuckle strike/ippon ken sen (grabbing block/step forward/elbow/knuckle strike (or backfist)/ single knuckle strike). The technique is not however repeated 4 times like in the Goju version. See Kanei Uechi do the technique at 38 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey_dIRzffNc
The next thing that I did was look at the video of Uechi Ryu Seisan because it looked interesting to see this old footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd5YdEkmQxo
I was surprised to see that at 50 seconds the same combination appears!
Going back over Goju Ryu Seisan at a similar part of the kata, albeit facing the opposite way, the combination step forward/ura zuki/uraken/gedan barai/gyaku zuki appears (step forward/uppercut/backfist/lower block/reverse punch). There is even the left hand in a blocking/deflecting/checking position before the combination is done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMxnKhAJby8
What that lead me to think is that perhaps the 'Goju Sesan' combination and the 'Goju Sanseiru' combinations are actually from the same source and were once performed more similarly. Looking at the combinations they are quite similar in their nature:
First: a block or check with the left hand in a manner that would usually block from inside to outside and which could also be a grab (ie Kake uke).
Second: mae geri or stepping forward with the right leg.
Third: upward strike
Fourth and Fifth: Sesan only
Sixth: Gyaku zuki
While the fourth and fifth techniques of urken (backfist) and gedan barai (lower block) only appear in Sesan, the combination also appears in other kata.
Looking at Superinpei a similar combination appears at 1.38 and 1.57: Kake uke/mae geri/empi/uraken (grabing block/front kick/up elbow/backfist)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF_pfELVkhA
The Goju Superinpei combination appears much closer to the 'Uechi combination', being different only in the omission of the ippon ken sen (single knuckle strike) at the end (done with the right hand). Supposedly there was a fourth Uechi kata named Superinpei, although Kanbon Iechi did not have time to learn it. For those who are not familiar with the theory that Kanryu Higaonna only tought Miyagi Sanchin-Sanseiru-Sesan-Superinpei, published in an article a in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts (16:4, 2007) entitled “A Preliminary Analysis of Goju-Ryu Kata Structures” by Fernando Camara and Mario McKenna have a look at the following summaryavailable online.
http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/2008/05/origins-of-goju-kata.html
That the three Kaishugata (kata with open hands: combat application reference kata) from the same system had a similar combination that appears in each would not be surprising - there are several other similarities between the three kata such as the opening using the 3 'Sanchin' punches, asymmetry, finishing with either mawashi uke or morote ko uke (double wrist block) etc. If the Goju Sesan, Sanseiru and Superinpei 'combinations' are actually derived from the same combination, I would think that the version that has survived in Superinpei would be more original for the simple reason that less people learn the higher level kata and so there are less people for it to evolve through. Perhaps also with higher level kata peope learn them much later into their practice and are less likely to change the kata at this stage (though this is just a quick postulation/musing).
If you look at a more 'modern' kata in the manner of Gekisai, you can see the following combination: uchi or kake uke/mae geri/uraken/gedan barai/gyaku zuki (outer or grabbing block/front kick/backfist/lower block/reverse punch). Because this kata was created by Miyagi it exposes his thinking on how the style of Goju Ryu fits together. He could have easily not have included a Gedan Barai and Uraken and made the 'Gekisai combination' simpler and more like Goju Sanseiru. Alternatively he could have switched the empi (elbow) for a ura zuki (uppercut) and made the combination more like Goju Sesan. I think that the choice of techniques in Gekisai shows the crossover in the combinations: that they are essentially the same thing.
One thought though is that in Gekisai Dai Ni, where the Uchi Uke (outer block) are exchanged with Kake Uke (grabbing block) and the Yama Zuki (double punch/mountain punch) is exchanged with a Mawashi Uke (circular block) to make the Kata more 'Okinawan' perhaps that 'Gekisai combination' could have been changed as well? It could have been made into the 'Superinpei combination' or the 'Uechi combination' perhaps. Say with the empi done into the left hand, or the gedan barai exchanged for an ippon ken sen.
In other Goju kata the 'Goju Sesan combination' appears in Seienchin and the 'Goju Sanseiru combination' appears in Shisochin and Kururunfa, although there is no Gyaku Zuki (reverse punch) at the end in any of these three kata. However the other hand is cocked and rotated ready to do a punch. A gyaku zuki (reverse punch) can very easily be implied into bunkai at the end of these combinations.
Interestingly Saifa and Sepai are the only 2 Goju Ryu Kaishugata (note Sanchin and Tensho are Haishugata: kata with closed hands - training kata) which do not have this combination. I think that the absence of the combination in these two kata is an additional factor of support for theory (see McKenna article, above) that Sanchin-Sanseiru-Sesan-Superinpei are 'H1' kata, ie passed down from Kanryu Higaonna to Miyagi, and that Saifa-Seienchin-Shisochin-Sepai-Kururunfa are 'M1' kata, ie kata that Miyagi derived from another source.
However on the basis of the inclusion of the combination one might further differentiate the M1 kata. Perhaps the exclusion of the combination signifies that Miyagi learnt Sepai and Saifa from a totally different source as all the other Kaishugata, say on his travels to China. Following through that line of thought one can see that the combination appears in some other Okinawan kata, such as Niseishi. There is a discussion that Nisheishi is a forerunner of Goju Sanseiru here:
http://cyberdojo.ning.com/group/gojuryu/forum/topics/how-much-of-aragaki-seishos?page=3&commentId=2954669%3AComment%3A4882&x=1#2954669Comment4882
Personally I agree, and by looking at Niseishi it seems to me to be a bridge between the otherwise very different Goju and Uechi versions of the kata. At 35 seconds and 41 seconds the 'Gekisai combination' appears in Niseishi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjsJJ4xqxKY
There is written record of Seisho Aragaki performing a kata named "chisaukin" at a demonstration in 1867 and this could quite likely be the kata Shisochin. In his book “Okinawa kempo” Choki Motobu mentions the kata seisan, seiunchin and naihanchi as kata that were in existence in Okinawa long before Kanryo Higaonna’s trip to China.
“Among those styles or katas which have been used in Ryu Kyu from ancient days are:
Sanchin, Jo-Ju-Shi-Ho, Seisan, Seiunchin, Ippakku-Re-Hachi, Naihanchi (Ichidan, Nidan, Sandan), Passai, Chinto, Chinte, (bamboo-yari spear style), Wanshu, Rohai and Kusanku.
And especially the three styles Nai-Hanchi, Passai (great and small), and Kusanku which are very widely known to many islanders." http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/2008/08/origins-of-goju-ryu-kata-part-2.html
Therefore one can deduce that the kata Shisochin and Seienchin have Okinawan histories, even if they were not passed on by Kanryu Higaonna. They can be contrasted with the Saifa and Sepai which have different sources. It is difficult to say where Kurununfa fits in: that is a discussion for another post (when I know more about it!)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Update on Karate Bunkai in BJJ
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!
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!
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"?
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Grading Sunday 29 March 2009 - Kumite videos
Congratulations to all who participated in the grading today the standard was very high and all of the senior ranks and the spectators were very impressed. Well done!
As you may have noted I was videoing parts of the grading for later reference. I have got videos of everyone doing a few things, which total about half an hour or so. I have started uploading the videos to Youtube so members of the club (and anyone else who may be interested - eg other members of the TJKN) may reference what has been done.
The easiest videos to upload were the Jiyu Kumite (free sparring) because they were broken up into 2 minute packages and so I have done those first. I will add the other videos as soon as I am able.
Here is a playlist of the Jiyu Kumite
And the link
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5CAEFCF6C4105A5F
As you may have noted I was videoing parts of the grading for later reference. I have got videos of everyone doing a few things, which total about half an hour or so. I have started uploading the videos to Youtube so members of the club (and anyone else who may be interested - eg other members of the TJKN) may reference what has been done.
The easiest videos to upload were the Jiyu Kumite (free sparring) because they were broken up into 2 minute packages and so I have done those first. I will add the other videos as soon as I am able.
Here is a playlist of the Jiyu Kumite
And the link
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5CAEFCF6C4105A5F
Thursday, March 26, 2009
How not to do Tensho
Normally I avoid making negative remarks about demonstrations of techniques, because firstly it usually causes people to get defensive and not listen to the feedback, and secondly there is often something to learn from other people that I have not realized yet.
And then every so often along comes someone who deserves to be bagged...
Apparently this version of Tensho was taught by a master of Bullshido, who probably learned it from secret ninjas in Okinawa 200 years ago in the cover of darkness while becoming enlightened by mystic monks who could levitate through their breathing techniques, but in actual fact only hopped in crossed legs.
(I hope all readers know that Tensho was created in the 1920's by Miyagi Sensei)
What truly takes the cake (besides the fat guy in the video) is combination of the garish uniform, the bad music and the mystical rubbish. The part that scares me is that I have seen this disgusting trio of offenses rear their ugly head at purported Dan gradings before. *sigh*
Even though I normally am fairly understanding of stylistic differences (especially when they have an explanation, other than "uhh, I dont know, I just changed it to make it pretty") and beginners not doing things well (especially kids) I must give a warning to any of my students reading this post: performing kata like this is a great way to instantly fail your grading, or whatever else you are doing!!!
Watch and laugh (and pity the poor student as well)
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCtxpI2TCmY
And then every so often along comes someone who deserves to be bagged...
Apparently this version of Tensho was taught by a master of Bullshido, who probably learned it from secret ninjas in Okinawa 200 years ago in the cover of darkness while becoming enlightened by mystic monks who could levitate through their breathing techniques, but in actual fact only hopped in crossed legs.
(I hope all readers know that Tensho was created in the 1920's by Miyagi Sensei)
What truly takes the cake (besides the fat guy in the video) is combination of the garish uniform, the bad music and the mystical rubbish. The part that scares me is that I have seen this disgusting trio of offenses rear their ugly head at purported Dan gradings before. *sigh*
Even though I normally am fairly understanding of stylistic differences (especially when they have an explanation, other than "uhh, I dont know, I just changed it to make it pretty") and beginners not doing things well (especially kids) I must give a warning to any of my students reading this post: performing kata like this is a great way to instantly fail your grading, or whatever else you are doing!!!
Watch and laugh (and pity the poor student as well)
and the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCtxpI2TCmY
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Kendo Senpai...and feet
Last week at Kendo I got to be Senpai! (I missed training this week due to Adelaide Cup Day public holiday)
There is a bit of a roundabout reason for this.
[Discussion of my feet ensues - you may skip to next brackets to avoid]
I have been having a lot of problems with my feet because of Kendo - every week I get a massive blister that consumes the entire ball of my left foot. I have kinda got used to this after nearly 3 years of training but about a month ago I got some additional blisters on some of my toes and elsewhere on my feet. Normally the blister on the ball of my left foot breaks and comes off by the next training - so I am constantly growing new skin on the same place every week. However the other blisters (which were also on my right foot) caused heaps of additional skin to peel off. Then at my next training even more skin came off from around where the blisters has been.
To make matters worse other training started to cause my feet to peel - skin forcefully came off my toes at BJJ so much that I started bleeding and had to tape them up heaps (which was a pain because the tape kept slipping off due to the friction of the mats).
In summary my feet looked like the feet of a leper.
To remedy my feet I skipped a week of kendo and cut off as much skin as I could off my feet. My feet were doing better, until last Monday at kendo when I started to get a blister. I decided to wuss out (and let my feet recover) and so halfway through Kihon I stepped out and asked if any help was needed with the beginners.
[End references to feet]
At Kendo they only have beginner intakes at the beginning and the middle of the year. This means that Senpai are not spending all their time instructing new people on basics like how to hold a shinai, they just do it twice a year.
Last year the intakes were unfortunately a bit small, but a couple of good students joined out of them. When I started there were about 25 new people. Out of them only myself and another (who is an awesome kendoka) remain.
At this intake there were over 30 new people!!!
The other senpai found my big voice useful (and I have been teaching karate for 5 years not so I have a couple of tricks for keeping people engaged). Within a couple of minutes I went from assisting with a couple of students to taking the whole 30!
I tried to keep up the spirit of the class and did lots of big kiai's with the cuts. I think we even gave the seniors a run for their money! It was heaps of fun and there are lots of promising new potential kendoka. I really quite enjoyed being a Kendo senpai and wouldnt mind doing it a couple of more times during the beginner course.
Fortunately with kendo they really look after peoples training and it is unlikely anyone at the club will get stuck teaching and therefore miss out on their training. Everybody trains, every week. Even when we get visiting Sensei the highlight of the class will be doing 'Sensei-Geiko' (sparring against Sensei).
Everybody traiing is one reason why there are no Fat Sensei at the kendo club!
There is a bit of a roundabout reason for this.
[Discussion of my feet ensues - you may skip to next brackets to avoid]
I have been having a lot of problems with my feet because of Kendo - every week I get a massive blister that consumes the entire ball of my left foot. I have kinda got used to this after nearly 3 years of training but about a month ago I got some additional blisters on some of my toes and elsewhere on my feet. Normally the blister on the ball of my left foot breaks and comes off by the next training - so I am constantly growing new skin on the same place every week. However the other blisters (which were also on my right foot) caused heaps of additional skin to peel off. Then at my next training even more skin came off from around where the blisters has been.
To make matters worse other training started to cause my feet to peel - skin forcefully came off my toes at BJJ so much that I started bleeding and had to tape them up heaps (which was a pain because the tape kept slipping off due to the friction of the mats).
In summary my feet looked like the feet of a leper.
To remedy my feet I skipped a week of kendo and cut off as much skin as I could off my feet. My feet were doing better, until last Monday at kendo when I started to get a blister. I decided to wuss out (and let my feet recover) and so halfway through Kihon I stepped out and asked if any help was needed with the beginners.
[End references to feet]
At Kendo they only have beginner intakes at the beginning and the middle of the year. This means that Senpai are not spending all their time instructing new people on basics like how to hold a shinai, they just do it twice a year.
Last year the intakes were unfortunately a bit small, but a couple of good students joined out of them. When I started there were about 25 new people. Out of them only myself and another (who is an awesome kendoka) remain.
At this intake there were over 30 new people!!!
The other senpai found my big voice useful (and I have been teaching karate for 5 years not so I have a couple of tricks for keeping people engaged). Within a couple of minutes I went from assisting with a couple of students to taking the whole 30!
I tried to keep up the spirit of the class and did lots of big kiai's with the cuts. I think we even gave the seniors a run for their money! It was heaps of fun and there are lots of promising new potential kendoka. I really quite enjoyed being a Kendo senpai and wouldnt mind doing it a couple of more times during the beginner course.
Fortunately with kendo they really look after peoples training and it is unlikely anyone at the club will get stuck teaching and therefore miss out on their training. Everybody trains, every week. Even when we get visiting Sensei the highlight of the class will be doing 'Sensei-Geiko' (sparring against Sensei).
Everybody traiing is one reason why there are no Fat Sensei at the kendo club!
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