Asai Wheelchair Karate

As many people well know, my late karate teacher Asai Tetsuhiko developed a series of 10 kurumaisu (wheelchair) kata and kurumaisu kumite. The kata include Shorin-dai, Nirin-dai, Sanrin-dai, Yonrin-dai, Gorin-dai, Shorin-sho, Nirin-sho, Sanrin-sho, Yonrin-sho and Gorin-sho. Sadly I was only taught the first three before sensei passed away in August of 2006.
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Is wheelchair karate only for the disabled? Sensei devised these kata and fighting applications not only for people who are disabled and the elderly, but also for people who are injured and/or unwell. However, lesser known is the fact that he also developed kurumaisu karate for able bodied people. He even created special training routines in which people practicing on wheelchairs and standing, could simultaneously follow together (often with people being seated on wheelchairs and standing alternately throughout the session). For example whilst the karateka in wheelchairs turned their chairs diagonally with jodan age-uke followed by uraken tatemawashi uchi, the standing karateka would pivot into kiba-dachi with the same techniques. Sensei proudly stated “Kurumaisu karate has been my biggest contribution to broader society, especially in regards to social inclusion. My dream is to see it in the paralympics.”

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Wheelchair karate competitions: A good point to mention here, is the fact that both able-bodied and disabled, are permitted to enter wheelchair karate competitions (they are not divided into separate categories). Asai Sensei’s explanation of this was “We do not regard kurumaisu karate as an inferior method of martial arts training. In many ways it is more difficult than standing karate as one must have superior junansei (softness) and shoulder snap if they are to be effective. Male and female, handicapped and not handicapped, everyone competes together, everyone is included.”
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The technical benefits of Asai Wheelchair Karate (The perfection of upper body joint snap): Asai Sensei explained that kurumaisu karate is for all karateka because it more effectively trains upper body snap. He stated “You have to master snapping the shoulders, elbows, and wrists, and using the waist and backbone without the drive of the legs. This requires softness. It is therefore isolation training.” He also emphasized his philosophy of seated, standing and jumping karate. “You must be able to do effective karate whilst seated and in an unstable position, and because a wheelchair rolls around, it is such a position.”
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I'd like to conclude by saying that I hope this article has furthered your understanding, of what Asai Wheelchair Karate is, and what motivated Asai Sensei to develop it.

© André Bertel, Japan (2009).