Time for a change

I missed my Tuesday night workout with my friend Greg Gudson. So to try to fill that gap, I ran through some exercises at home, and did Sanchin Kata three times. The whole period lasted about thirty minutes.

I find that I cannot do as many repetitons as I used to. One, I don't have the desire to do a couple hundred kicks and punches. Two, my body can't take the incessant focus when I execute a full speed. My sinew strains. Last year while doing Seisan Kata, I executed a side block and tore my proximal tendon from its anchor. Its time to make an adjustment. Which brings be to Three, It' time to focus on a different aspect.

I've done my repetitions, I've trained my body to be a weapon. I know how to kick and punch. My new focus must be on the application of technique - to make the techniques work in any self-defense situation, against any opponent or number of opponents.

You might think - haven't you done that all along? Well, yes and no. I've been developing my body, my movement, my understanding of basics and kata. I've organized, and taught, and competed, and advanced, and explored, and strived to understand the art. I've immersed myself in the art in a variety of ways.

Now I desire to be firm in my application. You need a good partner for that; a peer. I've a few good partners over the years - Tom Laurent and Marty Dugan stand out as peers that have helped me take my practice to a higher level.

I think my friend Greg will help me do the same.

Isshinryu videos

I viewed some karate videos on youtube last night - a couple of Master Tatsuo Shimabuku from the 1966 Steve Armstrong visit (I presume), and a couple videos of two brothers demonstrating Isshinryu kata.

Without question, the display of the two young brothers was more dynamic. If I were a potential student, there would be little doubt about who I would rather take lessons from.

What is the value of a karate video? If you could learn from it, we'd all be doing kata as shown in the 1966 film. If it would attract students, the young brothers would be turning them away at the door. Put yourself on video, and you are open to criticism; someone always has an opinion.

I like to look at karate videos. I've dissected a few and asked quesitons: why does the foot face that direction, why is that punch low, why did the performer turn on angle? All viewed from MY perspective. Not one video ever changed the way I practice. I'm sure all of the performers can explain their movement, reasons, bunkai. So can I (most of the time). So what is the point of making or watching a video? Self-gratification - and there is nothing wrong with that. That is what makes TV, movies, internet, etc so successful. Oh, some people make money - God bless them.

Do you like to watch?

Trying Again

I've quit my job. I have time on my hands. Help me out. At least let me know you've visited. I've seen people struggle with Isshinryu Karate on the internet. The number of websites and posts are tremendous. Who's who? What is trash, and what is credible?

The Isshinryu community is on the brink of change. You are in on it. The old guard is passing the torch. How will the new leaders lead? Who are the new leaders. Does it matter?

Think about a human pyramid; one person had a great idea - they are at the top of the pyramid. The idea passed down through many people; most are at the bottom of the pyramid. They form the foundation. We want that foundation to remain strong and congruent with the whole structure - all the way back to the top.

deadly beauty

The deadly art of Isshinryu Karate is encased in beauty. The physical expressions that enable devastating power in self-defense are arranged in aesthetic patterns that contain a harmonious flow of movement and power.

Few potential students take up karate training with the thought present that they want to learn how to maim or kill other humans. Indeed, such a candidate would be very suspect to a responsible teacher. In most Isshinryu schools that I am familiar with, the lessons are structured to ascertain a student's character, then foster their development. A demented person would learn appropriate behavior, or leave the class out of fustration - before deadly skills were developed. But, sometimes people slip through the cracks.

I'm not saying anything that hasn't been said before. In Richard Kim's classic work, "Weaponless Warriors," he remarks that it is most difficult to convince people of the morality inherent in karate practice.

It falls on the shoulders of the instructor. What is his personal background, and his training background. There is the benefit of having good geneological history. It's the test of time. That is why the Okinawan masters are held in high esteem. The have endured to develop the skills and character worthy of samurai. The samurai placed equal value on developing deadly martial skills and learning to express beauty.

This represents the yin and yang of the human experience.

Being Exact

Exact. The pursuit of being exact instills the discipline required to execute effective karate technique.

Thats a mouthful. Read it again. Break it down into three parts. Look at it backwards - to execute effective karate - discipline is required - pursue exactness. Remember my story about the movie "The Magnificient Seven?" The knife thrower was exact. In karate, that can mean the difference between success and failure.

In Isshinryu Karate, exact training begins with basic karate technique; fifteen specific upper body techniques (strikes & blocks) and fifteen specific lower body techniques (kicks). Each of the techniques puts the body in a unique position to accomplish martial intent.

This is foundation. These are the building blocks. Every body part is placed in a specific position. It takes discipline - it takes patience - it takes determination - it takes perseverence. Do you begin to see a pattern here? If you succeed at acquiring the physical skills of karate, certainly you will have acquired the mental skills also.

But only through the pursuit of being exact!

The Workout

Okay, you go to karate class. You receive a lesson. You practice. What is it, exactly, that you do? Exact! That, is a key word to remember.

Isshinryu Karate emphasizes three areas of practice; basics, kata, and kumite. Therein lie the movements, techniques, and strategies, that define karate.

There are general exercises that help prepare a student to meet the unique physical demands of karate. All students progress at their rate, according to their own ability, and should be taught how to perform the exercises properly and safely.

Calesthetics, stretching, and strengthening exercises that you might find in a high school gym class are most popular: push-ups, running in place, squat jumps, yoga type flexing, twisting, bending, loosening the joints.

The routines may vary, but the exercises are performed in every class. The amount of time spent on the preliminary exercises usually lessens as fitness levels increase. This allows more time to be spent on the execution of karate; the stances, blocks, strikes, kicks, throws, takedowns, and manipulations. Developing theses skills thus becomes the workout. A student may begin with a 50/50 ratio of preliminary exercise to karate execution; then gradually evolve to 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, 10/90. Even the most skilled practicioners find it prudent to warm up before beginning their karate workout.