Functional Karate: Seinchin checkpoints November Gashyuku 2007

5 Nov 2007

Seinchin checkpoints November Gashyuku 2007

Seinchin checkpoints from Hogan Shihandai on November Gashyuku:

Fists touch sides of legs in kamae position.
Ensure proper 45 degree angle in shiko-dachi stances.
Shiko dachi nukite. Bunkai: Break off rearward wrist grab.
For break-off of bear hug. Breathe in, hunch shoulders forward using internal strength. Keep shoulders hunched and exhale whilst feeding hands into the gap created in front of chest. Continue exhalation to generate power whilst breaking off the grab.
Deflect with one hand, then grab with the other whilst stepping into shiko dachi. Pull opponent’s shoulder in curved path towards solar plexus (this disrupts their posture) whilst striking nukite to armpit.
Next application was against wrist grab. I'm unsure of the actual form. Break off with asassae uke, raise opponent’s arms quick then strike to chest with assisted punch (bottom two knuckles). This was shown as a power strike to send opponent flying, not a localized sharp shock technique.
Deflect incoming jodan tzuki, grab back of opponent's head and strike empi uchi.
Deflect incoming chudan tzuki and strike tsuki age chudan to floating ribs. Grab opponents RArm with your RH and whilst dropping into shikodachi strike tetsui uchi to groin. Change grip, twist arm with your LH and break arm with RH gedan barai strike. I’m unsure of the flow of this one…
Deflect then grab with RH whilst dropping into shiko dachi and simultaneously striking with LH gedan knifehand to floating ribs. This technique is block and attack at same time.
Alternatively the gedan hand is blocking a kick. From nekoashi dachi kick with the forward foot to the opponent’s groin.
When performing solo form keep RH in same position when moving up into sanchin dachi. This way the RH is cocked and ready for soto uke strike. Follow this with small step and uraken uchi.
Block incoming punch with yoko uke LH whilst simultaneously punching opponent’s shin with RH. Grab with RH and strike uppercut. Uraken and then gedan harai uke.
Step to outside, parrying chudan tzuki with R elbow. Strike R elbow empi to opponent’s ribs whilst moving into zenkutsu dachi.
Deflect incoming chudan tzuki with downward sweep of LH. This draws opponent further in and onto RH uraken to face. Next kick mae-geri from nekoashi dachi.
Opponent grabs lapels. Use elbows and drop into nekoashi dachi to break off grab whilst disrupting opponent’s posture. Gouge eyes or throat with fingers.

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About Mike

Though he studied Judo for five years as a junior, it was not until 2001 that Mike began training in Kusano-ha-Shitoryu Karate with Paul Ferris (at that time 5th Dan and Chief Instructor of Kenshikan England).

Mike was awarded his 1st Dan in 2004. and the rank of Shidoin-Ho in 2005. He taught classes in traditional Karate weekly during 2006-2008 and is still in contact with some of his students and fellow training partners from Kusano-ha.

Mike trains regularly with other martial artists and focusses on the practical applications of Karate for self defence purposes.

Introduction to Functional Karate

Developed from Chinese boxing and Okinawan wrestling systems, Karate was originally called just "Te", meaning hand. It is likely that Karate's original pioneers were well educated and respected people such as law-enforcers and the bodyguards of dignitaries.

The meaning of the term "Kara-te" was changed from "Chinese hand" to "Empty hand" in the early 1900s and, in a modified form, the art was introduced to the Japanese school system as a way of developing fit and healthy, disciplined students. It was this transition from the backyards of Okinawa to the schools and dojo of Japan - and ultimately the western world - which ensured Karate's survival as an art, but relegated many of its most effective techniques and training methods to obscurity.

Modern trends for reality-based martial arts are now helping to boost the profiles of those karate practitioners who look closely at their own art, are not afraid to question tradition and who have discovered the brutal effectiveness held within.

In this blog I put into words some of my training notes and also I include links to other karate-ka who are helping to bring functional Karate back into the world, albeit with modern training methods.