I've not studied Sanchin kata yet, but the body mechanics described in this clip are transferable to many techniques from other kata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBoECsZLYT0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
22 Jun 2013
9 Feb 2011
Twitter feed
I've just gone live with a Twitter account @fkarate. Next task will be to put the widget on this page.
Koryu Uchinadi - Galway Training Camp
I have become increasingly impressed with the Koryu Uchinadi syllabus the more I learn of it. Similarly, the high standard of teaching from Ben Ryder has been a huge influence on my decision to get more involved in KU.
For these reasons it was a really attractive prospect when, just before Christmas, Ben suggested I attend the gashyuku with the KU team in Galway and train under Shibucho (Chief Instructor) Ante Brännbacka for a weekend during January.
On Friday night we covered the standing portion of the KU two person Shime-waza (chokes and strangulation techniques) drill as well learning how to apply these techniques in response to Habitual Acts of Physical violence such as haymaker punches and bear-hugs. Sensei Brannbacka then increased the difficulty level by encouraging us to react as quickly as possible to a threat. The threat was simulated by closing our eyes and allowing our training partner to give us a quick tap on the head or a slap, as a trigger for our defensive response. Obviously in this simulation when you have your eyes closed you don’t have a clue where your opponent or his limbs are in relation to you, or where his strike is coming from.
After training some of us went down to an American style diner for hamburgers then to a pub for a swift one.
On Saturday morning we went through the solo and two person version of the Keri-waza drill in detail.
KU also includes some weapons work in the guise of Yamane Ryu kobudo, which initially involves learning the Bo.
I’m already keen to organise a training session so I can work on all this new material.
For these reasons it was a really attractive prospect when, just before Christmas, Ben suggested I attend the gashyuku with the KU team in Galway and train under Shibucho (Chief Instructor) Ante Brännbacka for a weekend during January.
On Friday night we covered the standing portion of the KU two person Shime-waza (chokes and strangulation techniques) drill as well learning how to apply these techniques in response to Habitual Acts of Physical violence such as haymaker punches and bear-hugs. Sensei Brannbacka then increased the difficulty level by encouraging us to react as quickly as possible to a threat. The threat was simulated by closing our eyes and allowing our training partner to give us a quick tap on the head or a slap, as a trigger for our defensive response. Obviously in this simulation when you have your eyes closed you don’t have a clue where your opponent or his limbs are in relation to you, or where his strike is coming from.
After training some of us went down to an American style diner for hamburgers then to a pub for a swift one.
On Saturday morning we went through the solo and two person version of the Keri-waza drill in detail.
KU also includes some weapons work in the guise of Yamane Ryu kobudo, which initially involves learning the Bo.
I’m already keen to organise a training session so I can work on all this new material.
5 May 2010
Girl Guides subject Martial Artist to Vicious Beat-down.
Yes - I got beaten up for money yesterday.
Thats a joke. Somewhat.
Yesterday I taught an introduction to Self Defence to a group of Girl Guides. There were two session of approximately forty minutes, with 16 Guides in each session. The number of students was pretty big for the topic, but that aside I managed to cover some of the essentials, and to dispel a few commonly held misconceptions. Hopefully they had a little fun too.
Forty minutes is not much time to go over the soft skills AND to provide some fun, physical practice. The danger is that you might resort to demonstrating crowd-pleasing (but ultimately useless) strikes or escapes purely to keep their interest levels up. I erred on the side of caution and perhaps the session came off as a bit dry and dull - but I'd prefer that than to be remembered for something that didn't work when the chips were down.
Thats a joke. Somewhat.
Yesterday I taught an introduction to Self Defence to a group of Girl Guides. There were two session of approximately forty minutes, with 16 Guides in each session. The number of students was pretty big for the topic, but that aside I managed to cover some of the essentials, and to dispel a few commonly held misconceptions. Hopefully they had a little fun too.
Forty minutes is not much time to go over the soft skills AND to provide some fun, physical practice. The danger is that you might resort to demonstrating crowd-pleasing (but ultimately useless) strikes or escapes purely to keep their interest levels up. I erred on the side of caution and perhaps the session came off as a bit dry and dull - but I'd prefer that than to be remembered for something that didn't work when the chips were down.
3 May 2010
Koryu Uchinadi - a study session
Last Sunday I attended the Koryu-Uchinadi study group session, instructed by Ben Ryder - assisted by Stuart Sadler. Lee Richardson of Halifax Jissen Karatedo hosted the training. Here's a quick (!) run-down of what we covered.
We began with a tegumi flow drill which doubled as a good warm-up. This drill includes commonly used strikes e.g. straight and hooking punches, uppercuts, knees, plus parries and traps.
The tegumi drill also serves as a great springboard from which to practice other techniques such as joint locks, take downs and clinches and indeed this was the main focus of the study session.
From each of the basic strikes we then practiced counters that flow through into effective clinches leading to takedowns then ground-based submission or control and restraint techniques.
On numerous occasions, Ben pointed out where the various postures seen in each grappling technique could be found within traditional kata such as Naihanchi/Tekki, Empi, Niseishi/Nijushiho, Gojushiho, Passai/Bassai Dai, Jitte, Nipaipo etc.
After a short break (during which I tried to mentally catalogue all that I’d learned in the previous couple of hours!), we then learned escapes and counters to the grappling clinches we’d learned earlier. All the while we practiced these clinches and their escapes from a pre-emptive strike or habitual act of violence at realistic range.
There then followed logically sequenced ne-waza (groundwork) techniques including upper-four-quarters with knee strikes, scarf-hold with associated jointlocks and strangulation methods, the mount, and the guard and escapes from all these.
The final forty minutes or so were spent consolidating this vast amount of material in a two person drill which can be practiced with varying levels of compliance to allow testing of the techniques with increasing realism.
I thoroughly enjoyed the training and learned a great deal. Thanks again to Ben, and Stuart (yeah, cheers Stuart, my thighs are still knackered from the demonstrated method of releasing a bearhug! *grin*) and to Lee for organising everything.
Look out for the next session - this one was a bargain at only £10 for four hours training!
We began with a tegumi flow drill which doubled as a good warm-up. This drill includes commonly used strikes e.g. straight and hooking punches, uppercuts, knees, plus parries and traps.
The tegumi drill also serves as a great springboard from which to practice other techniques such as joint locks, take downs and clinches and indeed this was the main focus of the study session.
From each of the basic strikes we then practiced counters that flow through into effective clinches leading to takedowns then ground-based submission or control and restraint techniques.
On numerous occasions, Ben pointed out where the various postures seen in each grappling technique could be found within traditional kata such as Naihanchi/Tekki, Empi, Niseishi/Nijushiho, Gojushiho, Passai/Bassai Dai, Jitte, Nipaipo etc.
After a short break (during which I tried to mentally catalogue all that I’d learned in the previous couple of hours!), we then learned escapes and counters to the grappling clinches we’d learned earlier. All the while we practiced these clinches and their escapes from a pre-emptive strike or habitual act of violence at realistic range.
There then followed logically sequenced ne-waza (groundwork) techniques including upper-four-quarters with knee strikes, scarf-hold with associated jointlocks and strangulation methods, the mount, and the guard and escapes from all these.
The final forty minutes or so were spent consolidating this vast amount of material in a two person drill which can be practiced with varying levels of compliance to allow testing of the techniques with increasing realism.
I thoroughly enjoyed the training and learned a great deal. Thanks again to Ben, and Stuart (yeah, cheers Stuart, my thighs are still knackered from the demonstrated method of releasing a bearhug! *grin*) and to Lee for organising everything.
Look out for the next session - this one was a bargain at only £10 for four hours training!
5 Aug 2009
Flow drills
I’ve started a steep learning curve recently, based upon two person flow-drills. Continuous training drills were a feature of my original karate study, but they were so stylised as to be irrelevant in terms of real combat application. The most significant advantage of these new drills over the ones I worked previously, is the realistic range.
Basic Tegumi flow drill –
Incoming RH direct punch/throat grab
Parry across your body with LH (outward-to-inward motion is quicker than inward-to-outward), RH haito to his wrist, press/trap with LH, Punch direct with RH.
Interestingly – this most basic of flow drills is essentially the same technique as the first part of Jitte no bunkai ichiban. It’s a shame it was always practiced as a defence against a chudan jun tzuki in zenkutsu-dachi stance from a full stride away instead of a close range boxing-style jab punch.
The traditional karate foundation (or at least its training drills) on which my skill set was based, begins all its techniques with the protagonists a step or so apart – which gives a fraction of a second of preparation time that does not necessarily exist in a realistic conflict. Certainly, if you have your wits about you at this range, the chances of stopping a situation from escalating either with avoidance, awareness, dialogue or pre-emptive strikes are half-decent. The real training need kicks in if everything has fallen apart – when you’re forced to cover, block or parry incoming strikes – then your arms will connect with your adversary’s and this moment is crucial as the phase of combat transitions from kicking/punching range to clinching.
Most martial arts possess drills to train the practitioner to capitalize on this moment of connection with the adversary. My research has indicated that Chi-sau, Hubud, Kakie etc. are distinctly different methods from traditional arts, but they focus on the close range fight scenario.
Steve Morris says of Hubud;
“The Kali hubud drill is one similar to that used within Tiger systems and Uechi-ryu. It's a way of making offensive, defensive or counteroffensive contact on the outside or inside of the man's arm, and on the basis of that contact and his reaction to it, initiating your next move and so on and so forth…
…it forces you to work with your hands out in front of you, not cocked or 'chambered' as in a karate. They become antennae, looking for contact and learning to interpret and act upon cues of touch. At that range, you can't use your eyes. Your working range is from elbow to hand, so it's not only half-beat but half-range working range. That's why the emphasis within the southern systems is on short-range strikes.”
Patrick McCarthy has developed drills in his “Koryu Uchinadi” syllabus for traditional karate practitioners to achieve the similar ends - some of these drills I’m learning and messing with for my own training regime.
The challenge for a keen practitioner or wannabe-instructor like myself is to bridge the gap between these valuable drills, and the actual fight. A drill will only ever be a drill, regardless of how much training value it can imbue. Unless you put the drills to one side and so some actual fight practice its all still academic – especially if they are stylised. Why keep one hand in hikite during a drill, unless that hand is there to simulate a grab…?
Basic Tegumi flow drill –
Incoming RH direct punch/throat grab
Parry across your body with LH (outward-to-inward motion is quicker than inward-to-outward), RH haito to his wrist, press/trap with LH, Punch direct with RH.
Interestingly – this most basic of flow drills is essentially the same technique as the first part of Jitte no bunkai ichiban. It’s a shame it was always practiced as a defence against a chudan jun tzuki in zenkutsu-dachi stance from a full stride away instead of a close range boxing-style jab punch.
The traditional karate foundation (or at least its training drills) on which my skill set was based, begins all its techniques with the protagonists a step or so apart – which gives a fraction of a second of preparation time that does not necessarily exist in a realistic conflict. Certainly, if you have your wits about you at this range, the chances of stopping a situation from escalating either with avoidance, awareness, dialogue or pre-emptive strikes are half-decent. The real training need kicks in if everything has fallen apart – when you’re forced to cover, block or parry incoming strikes – then your arms will connect with your adversary’s and this moment is crucial as the phase of combat transitions from kicking/punching range to clinching.
Most martial arts possess drills to train the practitioner to capitalize on this moment of connection with the adversary. My research has indicated that Chi-sau, Hubud, Kakie etc. are distinctly different methods from traditional arts, but they focus on the close range fight scenario.
Steve Morris says of Hubud;
“The Kali hubud drill is one similar to that used within Tiger systems and Uechi-ryu. It's a way of making offensive, defensive or counteroffensive contact on the outside or inside of the man's arm, and on the basis of that contact and his reaction to it, initiating your next move and so on and so forth…
…it forces you to work with your hands out in front of you, not cocked or 'chambered' as in a karate. They become antennae, looking for contact and learning to interpret and act upon cues of touch. At that range, you can't use your eyes. Your working range is from elbow to hand, so it's not only half-beat but half-range working range. That's why the emphasis within the southern systems is on short-range strikes.”
Patrick McCarthy has developed drills in his “Koryu Uchinadi” syllabus for traditional karate practitioners to achieve the similar ends - some of these drills I’m learning and messing with for my own training regime.
The challenge for a keen practitioner or wannabe-instructor like myself is to bridge the gap between these valuable drills, and the actual fight. A drill will only ever be a drill, regardless of how much training value it can imbue. Unless you put the drills to one side and so some actual fight practice its all still academic – especially if they are stylised. Why keep one hand in hikite during a drill, unless that hand is there to simulate a grab…?
26 Apr 2009
Naihanchi / Tekki
I finally spent some time learning the sequence of Naihanchi/Tekki kata this weekend. Its a pretty short form. I've been taught a large number of practical applications for it recently. Many of these applications are clinch fighting techniques and hence provide a great addition to my skillset (which is predominantly longer range still).
Its a great kata for solo practice (if that's your interest, though obviously solo practice of a form will only provide limited training benefits) in the home since it requires so little floorspace.
Its a great kata for solo practice (if that's your interest, though obviously solo practice of a form will only provide limited training benefits) in the home since it requires so little floorspace.
12 Mar 2009
Internal Battles
Its not easy to for me to write this kind of stuff.
Inbuilt in me is a need to record some of my thoughts on martial arts/self defence, and to share them. Unfortunately the very act of formulating all this material, in order to put it into words tends to become so long-winded that the thought has then passed on, morphed into something else or been discarded for more pertinent information. Perhaps the act of writing is a good exercise, a way of stretching my communication skills by describing a coherant shape to things that were unformed.
Another part of the difficulty that I battle with whilst writing is to do with the martial arts/self-defence topic itself. This content is very sensitive because of the simple fact that I don't want to spread any mis-information. If I'm going to write anything down on this subject I want to be as sure as I can be that its fact, or at least workable and practical. Its one thing to teach martial arts as a means of attaining fitness, since this is relatively easy to achieve if you're leaping about room for an hour trying not to get hit by someone. Its a totally different animal to teach someone to become more aware of their surroundings, and equip them with a means of coping better with violence should they encounter it.
I know in my heart-of-hearts that some of the material I can offer is worthy of reading by the right audience. Its sometimes difficult to acknowledge or have confidence in this though, because the standard of information and the quality of delivery from some of my sources is so solid.
That may seem like a pair of contradictory statements, but look at it this way; There's no point in me regurgitating information straight from the likes of Iain Abernethy and Rory Miller, they deliver it far more succintly than I ever will - you're better going straight to the source. That means in order to have something to say I need to add value to the debate, and quite honestly thats a tall order.
I guess Sgt. Miller has said this already though in a far more succint way:
"I’ve put as much personal experience into my teaching and writing as I can, along with advice from people I know and trust to be experienced. I also quote or paraphrase researchers (many of whom have never bled or spilled blood in either fear or anger) when the research sounds right. Take my advice for what it is worth. Use what you can use. Discard anything that doesn’t make sense. Test everything."
Inbuilt in me is a need to record some of my thoughts on martial arts/self defence, and to share them. Unfortunately the very act of formulating all this material, in order to put it into words tends to become so long-winded that the thought has then passed on, morphed into something else or been discarded for more pertinent information. Perhaps the act of writing is a good exercise, a way of stretching my communication skills by describing a coherant shape to things that were unformed.
Another part of the difficulty that I battle with whilst writing is to do with the martial arts/self-defence topic itself. This content is very sensitive because of the simple fact that I don't want to spread any mis-information. If I'm going to write anything down on this subject I want to be as sure as I can be that its fact, or at least workable and practical. Its one thing to teach martial arts as a means of attaining fitness, since this is relatively easy to achieve if you're leaping about room for an hour trying not to get hit by someone. Its a totally different animal to teach someone to become more aware of their surroundings, and equip them with a means of coping better with violence should they encounter it.
I know in my heart-of-hearts that some of the material I can offer is worthy of reading by the right audience. Its sometimes difficult to acknowledge or have confidence in this though, because the standard of information and the quality of delivery from some of my sources is so solid.
That may seem like a pair of contradictory statements, but look at it this way; There's no point in me regurgitating information straight from the likes of Iain Abernethy and Rory Miller, they deliver it far more succintly than I ever will - you're better going straight to the source. That means in order to have something to say I need to add value to the debate, and quite honestly thats a tall order.
I guess Sgt. Miller has said this already though in a far more succint way:
"I’ve put as much personal experience into my teaching and writing as I can, along with advice from people I know and trust to be experienced. I also quote or paraphrase researchers (many of whom have never bled or spilled blood in either fear or anger) when the research sounds right. Take my advice for what it is worth. Use what you can use. Discard anything that doesn’t make sense. Test everything."
30 Sept 2008
Training and teaching
I put a call in to T. yesterday. He trained bloody hard in the year or so during which I was teaching, and he was starting to get pretty good, but unfortunately I had all the hassle with changing location, taking onboard the kids from Dan’s old dojo and time pressures with my change of lifestyle etc. T stuck with it until I took the decision to close up the dojo and I honestly felt like I’d let him down. Teaching the kids had its merits, but it was never what really interested me at that stage.
I'm still more interested in teaching adults, since it has a direct impact on my own technique and also gives me the opportunity to practice for myself.
I'm still more interested in teaching adults, since it has a direct impact on my own technique and also gives me the opportunity to practice for myself.
26 Sept 2008
Scary stuff
I’ve just acknowledged another lesson re-learned last night. In order to stay sharp, do something that scares you on a regular basis. Get your adrenaline going. Get your body used to the rush and learn to work with it. Become familiar with the adrenal response and how it affects your motor skills, vision, clarity of thinking etc.
It’s no wonder I blanked this out last night. When you’re tired it’s not easy to take onboard challenging advice.
It’s no wonder I blanked this out last night. When you’re tired it’s not easy to take onboard challenging advice.
25 Sept 2008
Choice of Lesson / The Poker Game
I'm not interested in sport karate. Not really.
So when we started to work on some sport techniques in class tonight I was a bit disappointed and part of my mind was dismissive of what was being shown to us.
Lesson 1: You can't always choose the nuggets of useful info that may get thrown your way.
However, just as I was getting frustrated, I was quickly taught that I should be taking note, since sport karate is largely about deceiving your opponent and that deception allows you to land your technique.
Just like pre-emption on the street.
I have bad "tells" too. My partner saw me coming a mile off and each time told me why.
"You're taking a breath before each attack,"
"Now you're dipping into the movement"
"Your punching arm is telegraphing because you're winding it up"
"Your eyes widen each time you're about to launch"
Working on strikes infront of a mirror while staying relaxed should assist in patching some of these flaws.
So when we started to work on some sport techniques in class tonight I was a bit disappointed and part of my mind was dismissive of what was being shown to us.
Lesson 1: You can't always choose the nuggets of useful info that may get thrown your way.
However, just as I was getting frustrated, I was quickly taught that I should be taking note, since sport karate is largely about deceiving your opponent and that deception allows you to land your technique.
Just like pre-emption on the street.
I have bad "tells" too. My partner saw me coming a mile off and each time told me why.
"You're taking a breath before each attack,"
"Now you're dipping into the movement"
"Your punching arm is telegraphing because you're winding it up"
"Your eyes widen each time you're about to launch"
Working on strikes infront of a mirror while staying relaxed should assist in patching some of these flaws.
23 Sept 2008
Pushing Against an Open Door
I think this blog will be very beneficial as time goes on – a great resource to refer back to. The Word file format I’m using at present is very easy to access from my desktop on a daily basis. It’s the easy access that has meant I’m writing quite so frequently.
One important task I have yet to tackle is the formation of a solo training regime. I want to improve my actual physical techniques and strength.
Here are some solo training tips I have just grabbed from the web:
“Use only one submission technique for the whole session. If all you are using is a straight armbar the opponent will get pretty good at defending it and you will get much better at figuring out answers to their counters. The next time, switch to a different technique.”
“When sparring beginners allow them to start with you pinned or nearly submitted – work your escapes!”
“It's fine to build stamina on your own. Solo training is great for building up the numbers of punches and kicks you can perform in a row. Great for building power and speed.”
“Spar with an open door as your enemy.”
Now, I'm not sure quite how the last one works, but it sounded kind of interesting!
One important task I have yet to tackle is the formation of a solo training regime. I want to improve my actual physical techniques and strength.
Here are some solo training tips I have just grabbed from the web:
“Use only one submission technique for the whole session. If all you are using is a straight armbar the opponent will get pretty good at defending it and you will get much better at figuring out answers to their counters. The next time, switch to a different technique.”
“When sparring beginners allow them to start with you pinned or nearly submitted – work your escapes!”
“It's fine to build stamina on your own. Solo training is great for building up the numbers of punches and kicks you can perform in a row. Great for building power and speed.”
“Spar with an open door as your enemy.”
Now, I'm not sure quite how the last one works, but it sounded kind of interesting!
Dancing Freak
Here’s an extract from an article on visualisation:
“…certain styles of Kempo, teach a method of freestyle Kata. Students imagine what the attacks are and then move spontaneously to deal with them. According to history, freestyle Kata practice was the method of training for real combat. By picturing multiple attackers and then moving to defend against them, a person learns how to move instinctively, a necessary skill for self-defence.”
I should give this a go. I’ll look like a dancing freak no doubt, but perhaps it will provide a useful training experience.
“…certain styles of Kempo, teach a method of freestyle Kata. Students imagine what the attacks are and then move spontaneously to deal with them. According to history, freestyle Kata practice was the method of training for real combat. By picturing multiple attackers and then moving to defend against them, a person learns how to move instinctively, a necessary skill for self-defence.”
I should give this a go. I’ll look like a dancing freak no doubt, but perhaps it will provide a useful training experience.
20 Sept 2008
The Double-edged Sword
Like a growing number of karateka, in the last couple of years I have moved away from my original 3Ks training regime in an effort to explore practical self-defence applications of my art.
This move is a double-edged sword.
It’s challenging to gather training partners together who have their own schedules, preferences of location, etc. It’s tough to plan practice sessions in a balanced and inspiring way. It’s not cheap to source mats, mitts and pads. Travelling many miles to attend seminars is time consuming and financially burdensome. Engaging in more realistic training will, by its very nature, come with bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes.
But those barriers are surmountable.
The benefits are many; the chance to set and work towards my own goals, improved fitness, greater physical strength, enhanced self-confidence. Now, more than ever I’m convinced of the need to take responsibility for my own training.
Like any other weapon, with practice the double-edged sword can be mastered.
This move is a double-edged sword.
It’s challenging to gather training partners together who have their own schedules, preferences of location, etc. It’s tough to plan practice sessions in a balanced and inspiring way. It’s not cheap to source mats, mitts and pads. Travelling many miles to attend seminars is time consuming and financially burdensome. Engaging in more realistic training will, by its very nature, come with bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes.
But those barriers are surmountable.
The benefits are many; the chance to set and work towards my own goals, improved fitness, greater physical strength, enhanced self-confidence. Now, more than ever I’m convinced of the need to take responsibility for my own training.
Like any other weapon, with practice the double-edged sword can be mastered.
19 Sept 2008
An introduction to Koryu Uchinadi
Friday lunchtime, and I’m still trying to take in all that happened on Wednesday evening. I can remember most of the Koryu Uchinadi drill Ben taught us and I’ve made the best written notes I can. Unfortunately I can’t remember the last part of the sequence or how it loops. Hopefully C or M will remember, but if not I’ll have to ask Ben via email.
I found some footage of the same application flow-drill on Patrick McCarthy’s Youtube page, though it’s a bit rough and ready and too fast to absorb in places. The participants were obviously going at it hell-for-leather, so its tough to see the detail.
Ben’s understanding of karate is on a whole different level – he seems to have absorbed a principle-based-training model that seems as desirable as it does foreign, and for that reason his view of kata is far clearer and less dogmatic than mine.
His applications for the “hopping backwards through rice paddies” mnemonic from Chinto freaked me out. I’d previously visualised some of the applications that were described on Iain’s message board but still not been convinced as to their effectiveness (or even whether they truly could be accepted as part of the original kata), but damn me when he choked me out or did that neck destruction technique with the bouncing foot motion I was totally freaked. His level of knowledge is clearly exceptional.
I found some footage of the same application flow-drill on Patrick McCarthy’s Youtube page, though it’s a bit rough and ready and too fast to absorb in places. The participants were obviously going at it hell-for-leather, so its tough to see the detail.
Ben’s understanding of karate is on a whole different level – he seems to have absorbed a principle-based-training model that seems as desirable as it does foreign, and for that reason his view of kata is far clearer and less dogmatic than mine.
His applications for the “hopping backwards through rice paddies” mnemonic from Chinto freaked me out. I’d previously visualised some of the applications that were described on Iain’s message board but still not been convinced as to their effectiveness (or even whether they truly could be accepted as part of the original kata), but damn me when he choked me out or did that neck destruction technique with the bouncing foot motion I was totally freaked. His level of knowledge is clearly exceptional.
17 Sept 2008
upcoming training...
Well, I’ve got a venue sorted after talking with the Ashton Leisure Centre and will be training tonight with Ben assuming everything goes according to plan. I’ll probably take the Bunkai Jutsu and DVD player incase we run out of ideas.
15 Sept 2008
Iain Abernethy Seminar
I went to Iain Abernethy Seminar yesterday at Brighouse near Leeds. At the end of the seminar I also bought Iain’s 2nd Kata Bunkai DVD with Naihanchi and Bassai kata analyses. From the content of the seminar and previous articles he’s written on Naihanchi I expected to see some pretty brutal applications for this kata, but the Bassai section caught me by surprise. I hadn’t any idea of some of the neck wrenches and (in particular) the nasty arm manipulation techniques he’s described.
As the review on the cover describes, the DVD has wall-to-wall content and is very good value for money. I’m not sure that the Seisan/Hangetsu one will be important to my current needs, since the shito-ryu Seisan is so different to that of other styles. The Pinan series DVD may be worth buying for the progression from basic and core techniques through to more elaborate fighting methods, rather than diving in the deep end, but I’m not familiar with the Pinan katas of course.
Whilst writing my message to Iain (asking about local training in KBS), I acknowledged that I should have spoken to J or I about a private training session in order to cover the content I want to. This should be next on my list of activities after training with BR. B has offered to get together sometime this week and I’m really pleased about that, the difficulty I need to overcome now is how to find a good venue. Possibly an Ashton squash court will do?
As the review on the cover describes, the DVD has wall-to-wall content and is very good value for money. I’m not sure that the Seisan/Hangetsu one will be important to my current needs, since the shito-ryu Seisan is so different to that of other styles. The Pinan series DVD may be worth buying for the progression from basic and core techniques through to more elaborate fighting methods, rather than diving in the deep end, but I’m not familiar with the Pinan katas of course.
Whilst writing my message to Iain (asking about local training in KBS), I acknowledged that I should have spoken to J or I about a private training session in order to cover the content I want to. This should be next on my list of activities after training with BR. B has offered to get together sometime this week and I’m really pleased about that, the difficulty I need to overcome now is how to find a good venue. Possibly an Ashton squash court will do?
19 Aug 2008
Throw into Jujigatame – J showed me some important steps to follow in the transition from throw to armlock (or perhaps more accurately, from clinch/roll into the armlock).
Use left hand (usually grabbing lapel), to pin opponent’s left shoulder to the ground. Use right knee on opponent’s chest or stomach. Step over opponent’s head with left leg and apply the lock.
When applying the lock in a class situation it’s obviously important to ensure your training partner’s safety, keep hold of his lapel with your right hand and THEN apply the lock once in the lying position. In a live fight you could obviously drop into the lock in one motion.
Raising the hips applies more pressure to the joint. In order to utilise this effectively, secure the opponent’s arm against your chest as tightly as possible and THEN raise your hips to apply the pressure.
The escape:
Just as the lock is about to be applied, use the pulling action of the opponent to help you twist your body around to your right and slip out from under his left leg. Your head is the last part of your body to escape.
The counter:
Assuming the opponent tries to achieve the mount position having escaped the lock, use your left foot to stop him by pushing on his upper right thigh. Now pull his arm (the right arm which should still be securely in your grasp, off to the right side of your body (across his body) and curl your right leg over his left shoulder and around the back of his head. Secure the leg by hooking the crook of your left leg over the ankle of your right foot. Doing so will apply the triangle choke.
Use left hand (usually grabbing lapel), to pin opponent’s left shoulder to the ground. Use right knee on opponent’s chest or stomach. Step over opponent’s head with left leg and apply the lock.
When applying the lock in a class situation it’s obviously important to ensure your training partner’s safety, keep hold of his lapel with your right hand and THEN apply the lock once in the lying position. In a live fight you could obviously drop into the lock in one motion.
Raising the hips applies more pressure to the joint. In order to utilise this effectively, secure the opponent’s arm against your chest as tightly as possible and THEN raise your hips to apply the pressure.
The escape:
Just as the lock is about to be applied, use the pulling action of the opponent to help you twist your body around to your right and slip out from under his left leg. Your head is the last part of your body to escape.
The counter:
Assuming the opponent tries to achieve the mount position having escaped the lock, use your left foot to stop him by pushing on his upper right thigh. Now pull his arm (the right arm which should still be securely in your grasp, off to the right side of your body (across his body) and curl your right leg over his left shoulder and around the back of his head. Secure the leg by hooking the crook of your left leg over the ankle of your right foot. Doing so will apply the triangle choke.
21 Jul 2008
Confusing hips
The Double hip technique and other checkpoints I’m being taught at Ashton are certainly providing me with greater power than I had before. I’m confused as to which direction my hips should move for chudan uchi uke though.
6 Jun 2008
Poo Punches
Did some more padwork at Ashton Shukokai last night. I can’t believe just how poor my punching technique and power generation are at present.
How can I improve? I need to practice the hip twitch for punching and get on with some pad work. Keep the structure straight for impact, legs, back, shoulders and arm.
How can I improve? I need to practice the hip twitch for punching and get on with some pad work. Keep the structure straight for impact, legs, back, shoulders and arm.
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