André Bertel's Karate-Dō

This site is based on my daily practice of Shōtōkan Karate-Dō here in Ōita City, Japan. More than anything else, unlike the majority of other karate websites, this page is primarily dedicated to Budō Karate training itself; that is, Karate-Dō as a vehicle for holistic development.

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Do you think that you suck at karate?

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Do you ever feel that you can never really be good at karate (or any other endeavor—‘you are attempting to master’, even daily things in lif...

Wednesday, 2 February 2022

立て手刀中段構え (TATE SHUTO CHUDAN GAMAE)

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Before I begin, please note that tateshuto chudan gamae is exactly the same as 立て手刀中段受け (tateshuto chudan uke); moreover, that it is a fund...

Friday, 28 January 2022

平安二段 (HEIAN NIDAN)

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Classic image of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei leading Heian Nidan. A glimpse of 'kata evolution'. Introduction: With 26 movements—with ...

Monday, 24 January 2022

足刀横蹴蹴込 (Sokuto yoko-geri kekomi)

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Extension in yoko-geri kekomi is not to 'reach' but to 'go through' the respective target. 足刀横蹴蹴込 (Sokuto yoko-geri kekomi)...

Sunday, 23 January 2022

慈陰 (ジイン) JIIN

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Asai Sensei performing Meikyo which, along with Wankan and Jiin, constitutes the last three kata taught in Japan (from the standard 26 Shoto...

Monday, 17 January 2022

The 40 ‘standard kihonwaza’ tested in the mainstream Shotokan syllabus

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PART ONE — INTRODUCTION : Today I will address ‘the big 40 kihonwaza’—which is actually 80 (as they examined on both sides)—in standard/mai...

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Andre Bertel: Japan; André Bertel is a Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt) and A-Class International Instructor and Examiner in Shōtōkan Karate. He lives in the beautiful city of Ōita, Kyūshū, Japan. As a personal student of the legendary JKA Master, Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei, he is the Gijutsu-Chō (Technical Director) of the 国際空手道松濤館 (INTERNATIONAL KARATEDŌ SHŌTŌKAN—IKS). The IKS aims to pass on Traditional Budō/Bujutsu Karate in its purest form. He conducts a high-level instructor's program, and elite athletes training camp, in central Ōita City, which are both now world famous: due to the results achieved by participating renshusei/trainees. André Sensei has now trained for over 45 years and constantly in Japan since 1993. His daily self-training, firsthand learning from the very best instructors in the world, and overall experience is reflected on this blogsite. Welcome to André Bertel's Karate-Dō!

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