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T H E O N LY M A G A Z I N E D E D I C A T E D T O A L L K A R A T E K A

TRADITIONAL

KARATE Vol. Vol. 22 22 No. No. 04 04 February February 2009 2009

Okinawa The State of The Arts MMA Hits Okinawa!

Kumite From Start to Street

Chris Denwood Respecting What is Old; Creating What is New

Visit the Traditional Karate magazine website at www.karatemag.co.uk

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BOOK REVIEW

Four Shades Having trained in various martial arts since my early teens, I have to say that my cynicism levels are relatively high when someone claims to have ‘something new to say’ regarding the traditional arts. And so it was when I ordered my copy of Four Shades of Black - The Traditional Path to Building the Complete Fighter by Gavin Mulholland.

I have read a lot of Gavin’s views in the past and have always been struck by his pragmatism and argument regarding where karate may have strayed from the path over the years and so I was already looking for ward to the release of his new

book. I was not disappointed.

It’s not that Four Shades of Black has something new to say. In fact, just the opposite. What Gavin has to say is far deeper than that. What Four Shades has is something old to say. The book logically guides you

around the structure of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, showing how all the various training practices found within karate today, were originally tailored to produce a better fighter.

From kihon, to kata, from junbi undo to hojo undo, a logical progression of the fight from long distance striking, to close quarter combat is revealed in the kata system designed by Chojun Miyagi and laid bare in Four Shades of Black.

And one of the things that make this book so unique and believable, is that Gavin Mulholland has made very successful inroads into the world of MMA and Cage Fighting. Neil Grove, presumably trained using the schema outlined in Four Shades of Black, recently took the Ultimate Challenge Heavyweight World title and, to be honest, there isn’t a bigger title in the UK today. The reality Cage Fighting show Fighting Hurts finalist Dyson Roberts, is also one of Gavin’s. Again, presumably trained in the manner outlined in this amazing book.

This is a stunning book. From the way it looks, to the way it reads, to the richness and depth of what it actually has to say. Anybody and everybody with even the remotest interest in the martial arts should read this book.

But don’t just take my word for it: “Simply Brilliant!” Iain Abernethy “A feast for the eyes. .. illuminates the traditional path to becoming a complete fighter in a unique and very exciting way”. L.A. Kane

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of Black A book review by Eric Bertram

“No more guessing or confusion, just a clear route to combat effectiveness”. Gary Chamberlain “Beautifully violent” Goran Powell “If you value good insights - you will never let your opponents read your copy of this fantastic book”!

Paul S Clifton.

“You will be stunned. Four Shades of Black is one of those books you own...and never loan”. K. Wilder “I implore everyone who is ‘searching’ to read this book”.

Geoff Thompson And if it’s good enough for that lot, it’s good enough for me!

Read this book!

Ultimate Challenge World Champion & DKK Fighter Neil ‘The Goliath’ Grove

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Okinawa The State of the Arts - MMA Hits Okinawa!

By George W. Alexander, Ph.D. kinawa the birthplace of karate is still home to much martial arts activity today. This beautiful island set in the shinning sea south of mainland Japan has been a melting pot of martial arts for hundreds of years. In fact, the Okinawan culture is over a thousand years old.

Accordingly, Okinawa has many deep and rich social traditions that are expressed in subtle ways among its people. On my recent trip to Okinawa I had the opportunity to meet a number of senior practitioners of the arts. In karate kid fashion, I ventured out from my hotel on the first day to meet Nitta Seifuku, 10th Dan. He is sixty-three years old and teaches shorin ryu karate. His son Kazuma Nitta is carrying on the family tradition of martial arts. At only 18 Kazuma has a maturity to his karate that is beyond his years. Powerful

O

and fast he moves with a certain grace that’s immediately pleasing for any martial artist to watch. His easy going personality belies the fact that he has captured over one hundred tournament wins in both kata and kumite. In this brand of shorin ryu, sparring is done full contact with bogu tsuki or chest armor. Nitta sensei hosts a full contact tournament on Okinawa once every three years.

His next tournament will be in 2009.

Danger Nttta sensei has developed a unique kata called habude or snake hand.

The habu is a poisonous snake in Okinawa that has been a danger to the people for many years. It is the source of much folklore and has been used to make habu sake, Japanese rice wine. Habu sake is taken for medicinal purposes because its venom is so strong. It is

also thought to make one who consumes it stronger. Once bitten though one might only take a few steps and never finish his kata. Nitta sensei’s grandfather was Kotaro Nitta (1880-1965) also known by the nickname Bushi Chatan Shita. He initiated the habude form and later Nitta sensei further developed and finished it. Habude or snake hand has crane movements, a two-finger spear hand and snake-like blocking movements that are the signature movements of the kata. It has practical self defense applications that include throwing and striking techniques.

One of Nitta sensei’s karate students is Air Force Sergeant Fred Lee. He is an accomplished K-1 kickboxer and is one of the top martial artists on Okinawa. Fred started in kung fu back in Cleveland, Ohio before joining the Air Force. Once on Okinawa though he started training in shorin ryu karate and kickboxing and has been hooked ever since. He has been on the island for four years and plans on staying a few more years before retuning to the states. Sensei Kenneth Daniels a former Marine and full time resident of Okinawa teaches karate on base. He keeps busy teaching the many “Little Dragons” at Camp Foster Marine base. Kenneth has been living on Okinawa for twenty years and has loved every minute of it.

MMA

Jerry Nelson (L), George & Kenji Amano at Tenkaichi Gym

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Since MMA has become so popular worldwide, one of the goals of the trip was to find out if MMA was practiced on the island and if it has influenced Okinawan karate at all. At Tenkaichi Stadium in Chatan town we found an MMA and kickboxing

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gym with many members and the center of much activity. There are MMA competitions held at the gym once a month. The Marines stationed on Okinawa train at the gym and participate in the fights as well as the Okinawans. Additionally, a number of civilians who live in Okinawa train at the gym and some of the mainlanders including a few Brazilians come down to fight as well. Jerry Nelson who is in the Air Force is one of the MMA instructors there. He trained with Dan Severn back in the states before coming to Okinawa. He said the MMA program started about a year and a half ago at Tenkaichi and is growing rapidly. Kenji Amano a very personable fellow runs the kickboxing program and is an accomplished Muay Thai fighter. His boss is a young fellow by the name of Shiko

Tomaru who owns Tenkaichi gym and three other kickboxing and MMA gyms in Japan. He told us, “The sport is growing so fast it’s hard to keep up with it.” Meaghan Pimsler who trains at Tenkaichi gym is an English teacher in Okinawa and a former Olympic tae kwon do competitor. She started kickboxing at the Tenkaichi gym and recently won her first bout by knocking out her opponent in the second round. She said, “Training with mitts is a good way to practice but the best training for a fight is to get in the ring and spar.”

Sensei Robert Starke who teaches karate at Camp Courtney is also an MMA competitor. He says, “I like the competition. It adds a sense of reality to what I’m teaching.” He recently won his bout at the last MMA competition held at Tenkaichi. After his bout

the bruises on his face were a testament to the reality he talked about. In his recent bout his opponent mounted him and proceeded to ground and pound. Even though Robert was pummeled to the face fifty-eight times he managed to hang in there and overcome his opponent with an arm bar after two minutes of the second round. He said, “Even though the whole fight was only seven minutes long it was a long road to victory.” The main gym in Okinawa for MMA training is Tenkaichi but there are now two other schools teaching MMA on the island. Tenkaichi started out as a kickboxing gym. Then jujitsu was added and it just evolved into an MMA program. Everyone at the gym had a great attitude and all were very enthusiastic about what they were doing. Fred Lee will soon have

George on beach Okinawa

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Nitta sensei Paints scroll for George “Belief in oneself!”

another kickboxing bout at Tenkaichi.

If he wins he will be ranked the number one heavyweight K-1 kickboxer on the island.

The next stop was at a famous karate man’s dojo. His name is Iken Tokashiki sensei and is well known on the island. He is a 10th Dan in goju ryu karate and tomari-te, a form of shorin ryu. He is undoubtedly a very scary version of Mr. Miyagi. When one of his students brought me in to meet him I was somewhat taken aback because he didn’t acknowledge me with any kind of greeting other than a scowl. This is unusual because most Okinawans are quite friendly. He only eyed me with suspicion and distain as I entered the training hall. At first he wouldn’t talk to me directly. As I asked questions he responded through his students, one of whom spoke English fairly well. I speak pretty good “karate Japanese” so eventually he realized that I knew

something of karate history and he began to loosen up a bit and speak to me directly. Tokashiki sensei has done extensive research on karate history. This includes translating the Chinese version of the Bubishi [karate’s mystical sourcebook] and traveling to China over thirty times on fact-finding missions. Additionally, Tokashiki sensei had a monument erected in Fujian, China to commemorate Ryuryuko (1852-1930) one of the Chinese masters who influenced modern karate a great deal. In 2010, Ryuryuko’s contribution to Okinawan karate will be acknowledged again when Tokashiki’s group the Gohaku Kai Karate Do Association will go to China to commemorate the twentyyear anniversary of the construction of the monument.

Birthplace According to Tokashiki sensei the elusive Ryuryuko went to Yong Chun Village in Fujian Province [from Fuzhou] and learned white crane.

‘‘

Higashionna (1853-1915) in Fuzhou, China. Higashionna studied martial arts in China and then returned to Okinawa and spread the teachings of Ryuryuko.

At 68 years old Tokashiki sensei is a strong and robust karate man.

Incidentally, Okinawa has some of the world’s longest-lived people.

Must be something about that clean living, diet and all that exercise that makes them last so long. After first meeting him one notices the huge calluses on his knuckles from punching the makiwara board for so many years. This is a sign of courage and commitment among Okinawan karate men. This badge of honor lets others know your sense of commitment and dedication to karate. Even though makiwara punching especially with a leather cover produces ominous looking knuckles it probably isn’t necessary. The goal is to have a strong fist and an equally strong wrist. This can be accomplished by hitting the heavy bag, which won’t produce the heavy calluses on the knuckles.

Impact conditioning increases bone density and strengthens sinews. This is all that is necessary to create a strong fist in order to hit hard. But without the big calluses on your knuckles you can’t impress your karate friends on Okinawa.

Further Tokashiki sensei explained that even though the marital arts of China highly influenced the development of their Okinawan counterpart most of the traditional Okinawan kata that are practiced today originated in Okinawa and not China. Many other senior masters concur with this theory. In fact, I have proved this empirically with documented research and by going to southern China three years ago and further researching the Chinese/Okinawa karate connection firsthand. Actually, Tokashiki sensei was there at the same time.

‘‘

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Okinawa has some of the world’s longest-lived people. Must be something about that clean living, diet and all that exercise that makes them last so long Yong Chun is the legendary birthplace of the white crane style that was founded by a woman. Ryuryuko studied the native style in Yong Chun Village, China and later developed his own style known as whooping crane. Later he taught this style to an Okinawan named Kanryo

Rrae Kata

Kickboxing match at Tenkaichi Gym

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While at Tokashiki sensei’s dojo his son demonstrated the rare kata nepai from the Bubishi. Tokashiki used this book to reconstruct the kata from reading the old Chinese text [in the Bubishi] and working with Chinese masters. He explained further how Ryuryuko’s white crane style was the

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basis for the goju ryu karate style.

Originally karate was simply called Te [hand]. The art then took on the name of the respective town that it was from in Okinawa such as Shuri-te and Naha-te. Later the styles became known as shorin ryu and goju ryu.

After a long interview and discussions including comparing notes and performing kata for one another we concluded our meeting. Unbelievably upon leaving Tokashiki sensei gave me a number of old karate books, a newspaper article [about the origins of karate kata] from 1914 and a copy of his version of the Bubishi. This was pretty amazing considering the initial uncomfortable introduction. I guess this was his way of testing me. That was fine with me because some dojo in Okinawa would rather beat the hell out of you as a way of testing your metal. It’s a Japanese macho thing. After he bestowed the rare books on me I explained to him that I now felt like a kid a Christmas!

I then saw him smile for the first time. We then bid our fond farewells and parted company. He never did say my karate was any good though!

Controversy Currently on Okinawa all sorts of martial arts co-exist and flourish. We even saw a capoeira school on the outskirts of Naha. Judo and kendo are practiced mostly by the police much the same as in mainland Japan. Although there is also a big judo school open to everyone. A world Okinawan karate tournament is scheduled for 2009. There is some controversy surrounding this with regard to whether or not kumite or sparring will be part of the competition. In 1997 at the first World Okinawa Karate Tournament a competitor from Australia was killed by a kick to the head.

In Okinawa all aspects of the martial arts are alive and well.

Okinawa is still the home of tradi-

tional karate but Mr. Miyagi would be amazed at the diverse styles of martial arts being practiced in Okinawa today. With my time on the island at an end I was a little saddened to leave this land of “Happy Immortals” and the many friendly people I met there. But I left knowing I will return again soon to this land of tropical beauty, friendly people and the home of karate-Okinawa!

About the author: George W. Alexander, Ph.D. is a tenth degree black belt in shorin ryu karate. He is the president of the International Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo Federation and the Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo Association. He is the author of Okinawa: Island of Karate, Bubishi Martial Art Spirit, The Japanese Martial Arts Dictionary and Warrior Jujitsu. He can be contacted at ISKKF Honbu Dojo, 180 Yellow Jacket Drive, Reliance, TN 37369 or alexyama@mindspring.com.

George applies joint lock

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Core Teachings Of Karate With Chris Denwood

Respecting what is old;

creating what is new In this new column, exclusively for Combat Magazine, it is my intention to spend each month discussing subjects, which for me, serve to outline some of the essential aspects of traditional pragmatism in karate. In this first piece however, I’d like to set the tone a little by defining what is first meant by ‘traditional pragmatism’, how the core teachings of karate may have been (somewhat quietly) passed through generations through the medium of kata and prove that it’s entirely possible to go against the many demeaning comments modern day karate has suffered from in past years and adjust your training to be far more realistic, whilst still maintaining the wholly traditional values and ideals of your own style or dojo.

The history of karate as we know it depicts an art that has undergone many changes over a comparatively short period of time. In as little as approximately twenty years at the beginning of the Twentieth Century, it transformed itself from a secluded, but devastating combat system once taught in secrecy into a widely practiced art form of rather regimental nature, suitable for both the mass public and for junior development.

Indeed, much of the original under-

Miyagi Chojun (founder of Goju Ryu) as a young man pictured left, training with Kyoda Juhhatsu (founder of To-on Ryu). Both were long-term disciples of Higaonna Kanryo, circa early 1900’s. Notice the training attire.

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standing of karate was hidden within the physical movements of kata and skilfully disguised through a veil of what I like to refer to as ‘misshapen understanding’. Methods of teaching and technique labelling were also cleverly incorporated to further shroud the potency of what was actually being practiced at its core.

As class sizes increased and as Japan became more interested in this ‘new’ martial art, transmission through more western principles and dynamics became much more common place, since these ideas were very much in fashion as the country started to embrace more the industrial methods of these ‘contemporary’ cultures. This practice only served to further dampen the original teachings passed from Okinawa only a matter of a few years earlier. In a similar way, the names of the kata were altered to Japanese terms so that they could be better accepted and embraced by the huge influx of would-be students in the country. Furthermore, we can’t forget that the devastation to Okinawa caused by the Second World War meant that much of karate’s documented history and heritage was com-

pletely destroyed (even though like most physical dynamic systems, it was still heavily dependent on accurate oral transmission).

Upon the development of the longrange sparring aspects in Japan that became so popular with young adults in the schools and universities where karate was flourishing at the time, the vast majority of the former ‘closerange’ self-defence principles became progressively under practiced and eventually withdrew back into the solo forms and time went by, these tended only to be practiced in order to either pass grade examinations or to win trophies. As the sporting aspects of the art developed, long-range training became priority and the order of the day because quite simply, this is what was needed to excel in these sporting arenas. Therefore, karate began to morph further through understanding of what was required once more and of course, in line with the natural requirements and objectives of its practitioners in a much more modern and inherently safer society.

Ironic as it may seem, the very actions that have seemingly reduced the practicality of the art, were indeed

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critically necessary if it was to survive and spread outside of Okinawa. The fact that we can enjoy the art now is all thanks to those who helped modify everyday practice to suit the needs of the majority. Without this insight and fortitude, karate would have probably never left Okinawa, let alone Japan.

But what about those pragmatic traditionalists who wish to learn karate in its original form? What about the minority in the dojo who have never perceived karate as a sport or recreational activity, but instead see it as a lifelong pursuit of personal challenges through the means of physical selfprotection, pragmatic combat and personal development?

Originally, only a small number of kata would normally be practiced by each practitioner, often chosen by the teacher based on body size, key attributes and experience. These were of course, over and above the key foundational forms of Sanchin (Nahate) and Naihanchi (Shuri-te), which themselves would take up many years of initial and intense study. These kata would be trained well and understood thoroughly to incorporate the intentions and underlining concepts (lessons) of every movement. As soon as the bunkai or ‘analysis’ phase of

training became omitted from everyday practice, the only aspect that remained was the solo form, even though in reality, this only represents a comparatively small proportion of a complete kata study. As a result, no longer would a practitioner need years to study a single form thoroughly and the emphasis naturally moved to the perfection of the form for personal improvement and aesthetic sake, rather than for application and pragmatic functionality.

If there’s only the solo form to learn and no analysis to conduct then how would you make up the remainder of a practitioners study? The answer is of course to add more forms! Nowadays we can see styles with many forms that are in the majority of cases only practiced superficially. My own style for instance has fifteen kata in its syllabus, which from a traditional point of view would cover many lifetimes of study. However, I believe that the inclusion of many forms into the modern styles was carried out for another very important reason. Quite simply, to make sure that the forms would not be lost to the annals time and would be preserved so that future generations (if so driven) could study and re-extract the

potency from the art once more. In addition, because a large significance was placed on the perfection of the solo routine, this also attempted to ensure that the kata techniques would be conserved to a very high quality.

Even with the differences that exist in modern styles, these are usually only variations on a theme and in most cases, can be applied the same.

Quite an ingenious strategy really!

To re-extract the potency from the forms, we do not need any magic formula or closely guarded secret. All we need is a little common sense coupled with responsibility and the freedom within our dojo to think outside the box. For instance, I know one particular karate-ka who was confidently adamant that the classic ‘X’ block found in a number of kata was for blocking kicks aimed at the groin and his views would not change simply because his sensei told him so and for him, this became the ‘gospel truth’ (as Bruce Lee would say). Even after explaining that many of the ‘unrealistic’ applications were designed for children or the mass public and centred more on the perfection of the technique and long range distance rather than any pragmatic application, he still would not be swayed until we

Karate training in the grounds of Shuri Castle circa 1938. Notice the ‘regimental’ approach of tutoring many and all with identical attire. The instructor is said to be Gusukuma Shinpan (a student of Itosu Anko), who still taught his few dedicated students in a very traditional manner right up until his death in 1954.

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SHOTOKAN HORIZON In a series of interviews shortly before his death, Vernon Bell, the founder of the British karate movement, described, in some detail, what he taught his earliest students, before his encounter with Master Tetsuji Murakami, in Paris, in August 1958. Shotokan Horizon, therefore, is concerned with the karate that Bell learned from Henri Plee and Hiroo Mochizuki, whilst under the auspices of the Yoseikan dojo, in Japan. The book thus concentrates on the period 1956-1958 and makes for a truly fascinating read.

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tried it out away from the realms of a controlled pre-arranged attack.

Of course, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that if you bring both hands down to cover the groin then your head is left wide open for whatever’s coming next! Once this flaw was realised, this karate-ka could not believe how ‘blind’ he’d been and thus changed his views almost instantly. I’m mentioning this not to promote my own approach to bunkai, but rather to show how much preconditioning through repetitive training can easily distort your perceptions, blinding us to what may have been in front of your face the whole time, staring right back at you. I’ve suffered from this more times than I care to remember and sometimes it can be quite difficult to alter your way of thinking, but once we get used to always considering our art through shoshin or ‘beginner’s mind’, we realise that it is only this that the kata asks of us. Quite often then, everything else will simply fall into place.

It is this pre-conditioning that I believe was proactively used in the modern development of karate and served to safely spread the art whilst still keeping it ‘alive’ for anyone who (1) really wanted to learn and (2) who were prepared to look deep enough. It was certainly the case in the older Chinese arts that students would only be given a ‘full transmission’ of the art once fully trusted and had been loyal for many years and in many cases this could have been restricted to one or two per generation. Perhaps a similar idea was systematically ingrained into modern practice and kata for the sake of protection, safety and ultimately, the art’s survival, popularity and spread.

Indeed, what’s been passed down traditionally is in no way pragmatically flawed; only clouded by what we may have been pre-conditioned to see. It is up to us as conscientious students to look at things with an open mind and in line with the original aims of the art as a method of civilian selfprotection. In addition to this, I feel we also have a deep obligation to study the interconnected personal lessons that are taught through this means of combat. Ironically, we’re taught how to fight, but also historically advised to (if possible) always refrain from

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would suggest many ‘traditionalists’ still feel so uncontrollably bound by ‘formation’ that they may not adequately align to any one of these qualities and thus, inevitably move further away with every bead of sweat, from what the essence of karate is eagerly yearning to show them.

Now that the scene has been set, over the next few months, we’re going to be looking at number of principles that I believe to be chiefly important in developing traditional pragmatism in karate. Until then, thanks for taking the time to read my words and for those who have been in touch, more so for the very kind feedback I’ve received so far - it’s always very much appreciated.

Chris Denwood 4th Dan is the Chief Instructor of the Eikoku Satori Karate-Do Kyokai and a senior instructor for the British - Confucius Karate-Do Chojinkai, one of the most successful of time or even come about in the first associations in the UK. He is also nationally qualified fitness trainer and place. Therefore, ‘traditional pragmacertified ‘extreme kettlebell instructor’, tism’ for me is about aligning to the uniquely specialising in the incorporabeliefs of karate and ingraining these tion of kettlebells via hojo undo pracpractically into your training.

The history of karate (and its tradi- tice to specifically enhance the tion) shows us an art based on a expression of karate’s core principles, deep desire to be stronger against an found within the traditional forms. For adversary, a malleable approach to more information about Chris’s particuse whatever appropriate in order to ular approach to ‘adaptable’ karate or realise personal goals and a real abili- to enquire about seminars and workty to learn from others and fuse this shops etc, please contact the E.S.K.K into what you may have already on 07801 531 914 or visit their webbecome proficient at. Even today I site at www.eskk.co.uk. using those skills unless absolutely necessary. To me, this is not just a lesson in ego management, but also a clear indication that there is far more to be gained in the art of karate than the aim of becoming proficient in civilian combat strategies.

The word ‘tradition’ can be defined as being, ‘a handing down of customs and beliefs from generation to generation’. This is a key translation for me as it focuses on belief, rather than action and it is usually the action based on antiquity that many socalled ‘traditionalists’ depend almost entirely upon, with little emphasis in ‘why’ or in many ways, ‘how’ those particular actions have stood the test

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It matters not how slowly you go so long as you do not stop

Motobu Chokki (second row, third from left), founder of Motobu Ryu, with a small group of students, circa 1926.

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Kumite From Start to Street

By Andy O’Brien 5th Dan. Technical Points from Mike O’Brien 8th Dan Chief Instructor of the Karate Union of Wales

What is Kumite? Ask ten different Karateka and you’ll get varying replies depending on each individuals experience, knowledge, coaching and personal preferences; from ‘Uh, I dunno!’ to Ippon (1 step), sanbon (3 step), Gohon (5 step), Jiyu (Free) or tournament fighting. Of course, all are correct answers in the respect that they are all forms of pre-set confrontations commonly taught and practiced in modern karate against other karateka.

The literal translation of Kumi-te is “Changing Hands” or “Crossing Hands”. To you and me, FIGHTING. In Gichin Funakoshi’s Karate Master Text, Karate Do Kyohan, (which was written as a guide to all Karate and not just Shotokan. The stylisation of karate was something that Funakoshi was against), the architect of modern karate defines kumite as follows. “Kumite is a type of kata in which you practice the defensive and offensive techniques already learned in the different kata but within a context of assumed circumstances that are assimilated into realistic situations”.

He then adds, “Needless to say that kumite should not be independent and separated from kata since Andy with his dad Mike

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every kata is applied in kumite.

Therefore, sacrificing kata for the sake of kumite should never happen.”

What these statements tell us is that kumite comprises of pre-set, rehearsed forms to practice both attacking and defending techniques found within the various kata. To make the practice of these techniques more ‘realistic’ (not real), you should practice these techniques with another karateka in a controlled environment that represent real situations i.e.

Real in that you have an opponent.

Kumite and Kata are one and the same in that Kata is the essence of all Karate and Kumite is the essence of Kata. One should always remember that the various Kata were created with the sole purpose of recording complete fighting systems designed for the self-defence of the common man to use against thugs and yobs, not other trained karateka!

However, many of the techniques found in kata and the often multiple applications of each technique are often ignored in kumite practice; in particular the misconception that the techniques taught as blocks will actually work for that purpose in reality. Believe me, in a real close up blood and snot confrontation, blocks don’t exist! However, the physical movements of the techniques we know as blocks, when studied prag-

matically and applied practically, most definitely will.

Before I go any further I should make it clear that in the following paragraph I am not knocking sport karate whatsoever. The skill levels of today’s top competitors are amazing to behold and these athletes deserve all the awards and plaudits they receive for the hundreds of hours of hard work they put in.

Since the introduction of Karate into the mainstream educational systems of Okinawa and Japan and its exponential evolution into a worldwide sporting phenomenon, the symbiotic link between Kata and Kumite has almost been completely severed.

Each are often taught as separate entities to be aesthetically pleasing to referees, judges and spectators in order to gain that all important podium place. Some of the bunkai demonstrations seen at competition, whilst incredible to behold with amazing skills are totally impractical, completely unrealistic and would only work on a Hollywood film set. I do concede that if the true nature of karate kata were to be shown to a paying audience, it would not be that pretty to watch and would probably shock many of them!

Also, many of the scoring techniques in kumite competition, particularly the high level kicks would be very difficult and risky to execute in a real life situa-

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tion as street fights are never held at kicking range. The common use of feints is a great tool on the mat to get a predictable response from and opponent and gain an opening for a score against other karateka but simply will not work against a streetwise opponent in the, to use a Geoff Thompson phrase, “Pavement Arena”.

In recent years pragmatic and incredibly studious martial artists such as Vince Morris, Iain Abernethy, Peter Constardine and Geoff Thompson, all of whom have had a great influence on my teaching, have recognised that Karate needed a reality check, with Senseis Morris and Abernethy in particular delving deeply into the brutal self-protection techniques found within kata and then applying them to live combat drills.

However, for the beginner there must be a starting point, a place where the integral link between Kata and Kumite can be introduced and easily recognisable, a warm cosy place where the danger of getting hurt is still “in a galaxy far far away”.

Throughout the following articles we will guide you progressively through all the forms of Kumite as Gichin Funakoshi laid it out in Karate Do Kyohan, as I believe he knew something about it. However, we will not follow it blindly as not all of the methods and techniques within can be applied in a practical manner so some will have to be discarded. We should also remember that his master text was the blue print for karate to be taught ‘en masse’ to schools and classes and was certainly not the brutal, unforgiving and often dirty method of karate he would have been taught by his great mentors, Itosu, the creator of the heian / pinan series of katas and Azato, who was also the Okinawan Kings most trusted military officer. Therefore, as well as looking at the familiar fundamental forms of kumite briefly mentioned in the first paragraph, we will also take a closer look at the structure of the techniques and apply them in the way that they were intended to be used; as an effective self-defence system to be implemented against those who would encroach upon our and our loved ones existences in a violent and invasive way.

So then, let’s crack on. “When you sing you begin with Do, Ray, Me” but when you fight, Gichin Funakoshi said that you begin with Ten No Kata.

Next month, see Ten No Ka ta explained and illustrated in full.

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FEK001/01

Federation of English Karate Organisations International In direct membership to the World Karate Confederation and English Traditional Karate Body

Federation of English Karate Organisations In direct membership to the English Karate Governing Body

Federation of Martial Arts In direct membership to the F.E.K.O Int’l Criminal Records Bureau registered for Disclosure including outside groups. NSPCC endorsed Child Protection policy document A Federation of over 70 Karate Associations plus other Martial Arts Groups (16,000 members)

If you are a 3rd dan or above with a group of at least 100 members then join a truly democratic long established organisation but still retain your independence. Each Association has a representative on the Federation Council to form the Federation policy. You decide on the future direction of Karate within the Federation. You elect annually the Executive Committee for the day to day running of the Federation. Smaller groups also catered for.

No interference in running your own group - Freedom to conduct your own gradings - All grades recognised - Dan grades registered, recognised and certificated - All your training premises covered for £5,000,000 public liability - Full insurance cover for all registered members - Instructor/Coaching/Assessor qualifications - To be able to work within the law we have CRB Disclosure - NSPCC endorsed Child Protection policy document - National/International Refereeing courses and qualifications Junior & Senior National/International - National Children’s Championships - National Senior Championships - Plus local championships with member groups etc

Federation of Martial Arts. Many karate groups also train in other Martial Arts including Kick boxing, the FMA offers the above benefits to those members with membership to FEKO Int’l or direct membership to the FMA for non Karate groups

RED001/08

For further information contact Alan Carruthers FEKO Secretary 198 Meadow Road, Beeston, Nottingham, NG9 1JR Tel/Fax 0115 9250167 E-mail mail@feko.co.uk Web site www.feko.co.uk