UPDATE OF KATA REQUIREMENTS: 07-07-2021

At the dojo earlier today, July 7th, 2021. Tekki Sandan Kata, now permissible for the Shodan Exam,

UPDATED IKS 国際空手道松濤館 (INTERNATIONAL KARATE SHOTOKAN) KATA REQUIREMENTS FOR DAN EXAMINATIONS 

(ENGLISH VERSION)

After a long period of evaluations for the betterment of karateka and their technical potentialities these requirements came into effect, here in Japan today: July 7th, 2021.

SHODAN

1. Free choice kata from Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion, Jitte, Gankaku or Hangetsu.

2. Free choice kata from Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan, Heian Godan, Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan or Tekki Sandan.

 

 NIDAN

1. Free choice kata from Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan, Tekki Sandan, Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion, Jitte, Gankaku, Hangetsu, Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Chinte, Unsu, Sochin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho Dai, Gojushiho Sho, Wankan, Jiin and Meikyo.

2. Free choice kata from Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion, Jitte, Gankaku or Hangetsu.

 

 SANDAN, YONDAN, GODAN

1. Free choice kata from Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan, Tekki Sandan, Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Enpi, Jion, Jitte, Gankaku, Hangetsu, Bassai Sho, Kanku Sho, Chinte, Unsu, Sochin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho Dai, Gojushiho Sho, Wankan, Jiin, Meikyo or Hyakuhappo.

2. Free choice kata from Meikyo Nidan, Meikyo Sandan, Kyakusen, Seiryu, Ransetsu, Hachimon, Senka, Rakuyo, Kakuyoku Shodan, Kakuyoku Nidan, Kakuyoku Sandan, Kashu, Suishu, Roshu, Hushu, Ansan, Sensho, Shote Dai, Shote Sho, Kibaken, Maizuru Dai, Maizuru Sho, Raiko or Hakaishu.

3. Second free choice 'standard Shotokan kata'.

* The examinee must also demonstrate 3-5 effective oyo (applications).

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).

PLEASE STRETCH LIGHTLY AND SEE THE RESULTS OVER TIME WITHOUT INJURY.

 

The biggest secret of flexibility is not depth of stretching, nor height/depth of kicking but, rather, knowing one's own body and not hurting oneself - whilst maximizing range of motion. We must BUILD UP STEP BY STEP from our beginning times of karate training.

THIS IS PHASE ONE!

The next phase is LONGIVITY. That is, to keep your health/not damage your body. This is the way I approach training in all respects, and was influenced by Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei.

This phase, PHASE TWO, is the big one. It requires deep self awareness and non-competitivity. We must drop the ego and simply concentrate on self-maximization.

PLEASE STRETCH LIGHTLY AND SEE THE RESULTS OVER TIME WITHOUT INJURY.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).

鉄騎三段 (Tekki Sandan): Part Two

Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei performing Tekki Sandan Kata (Jitsugi Karate, 1978).

As you will know if you read my last post, I wrote a little about the Tekki kata, and concluded with a generic listing of all 36 movements in Tekki Sandan; hence, the title of the article. Today, as ‘Part Two’, I’d like to offer a handful of points about this kata.

 

Point One:

The first combination of movements one 左中段内受 and two 右中段内受同時に左下段受 is the same as Heian Sandan kata. Allegedly Itosu Sensei extracted this from Naifanchi for the Pinan (Heian) series. The application of these waza is defense in the chambering and impacting with the uke. Note the use of gravity and simultaneous evasiveness in movement one, in the movement leading to forming the kiba-dachi, and maximize these points.

 

Point Two:

In the third movement 左前腕中段押え受同時に右前腕中段内落し impact and/or trap with the forearm and elbow. The palm of the right fist should ideally be facing upwards and diagonally to the right (but most people can't do this, so the palm facing towards the body is the norm); furthermore, the right elbow should be touching the top of the left forearm and centralized  (the left arm is formed like kagi-zuki / hidari suigetsu-gamae). This waza, as I wrote in Japanese above, is in fact a simultaneous action of hidari zenwan chudan osae-uke and migi zenwan chudan uchiotoshi.

 

Point Three:

In movement eight 顔右向同時に右前腕ひねり(Kao migi muke doji ni migi zenwan hineri) do not use muscular force; thus, do not draw the arm but rather twist/rotate the joint naturally. Please also consider this in relation to the physical mechanics of Kanku Sho kata. However, unlike the basic release of Kanku Sho, this waza has two specific ‘classical tegumi applications’ both are which are highly effective: the first an arm lock and the second a strangulation.

Point Four:

Movement 11 is 右前腕右側面下段振捨 (Migi zenwan migi sokumen gedan-furisute). This requires a large circular action. In fact, this should be a `muchiken-waza’. The bunkai (analysis)—when learning the kata—is against a kick. This is great “…to perfect the correct action and positioning's when learning Tekki Sandan (like other ‘bunkai’)”. This is what Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei taught to help people do the movements correctly. Nevertheless, like all the other kata, the bunkai is not the real application; that is, not the ‘OYO’. The ‘oyo’ of this waza is consistent with ‘Point Three’ functioning as a variation of the arm lock and choke, which can be alternatively applied if the first waza (singular or plural) fail(s).

Point Five:

Keep in mind what fumikomi into kiba-dachi always represents! You are attacking with 足刀 (Sokuto)—the sword foot. This is why in kiba-dachi we must not only aim to have both feet parallel but, rather, inverted. Just as when we make a yoko-geri keage or yoko-geri kekomi (the foot is not straight as we have the heel higher than the toes of the kicking foot). While this is a very basic point, it is essential to understand and apply this when doing fumikomi into kiba-dachi.

 

 It’s always great to go back to the basics so 'Point Five' makes for a nice conclusion for today. Indeed, application is critical in Budo/Bujutsu-Karate; however—without sufficient precision, speed and power in the kihonwaza—one will be unable to apply their techniques irrespective of 'application knowledge' against strong opponents. This brings to mind the need for ‘balance in training’! Osu and greetings from Oita Prefecture – AB.

                                     © André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).

鉄騎三段 (Tekki Sandan): Part One

                                       鉄騎三段

Tekki Sandan

Practice of the three Tekki Kata consecutively on the spot. Shotokan's seika-tanden training.

The name Tekki: 鉄 means ‘iron’, whilst 騎 translates as a ‘cavalry horse’, which describes the extensive use of kiba-dachi. Some translate this kata as ‘Iron Horse’; however, the second kanji is not a regular horse 馬 (uma), it is war-horse. If you look at the kanji you can see ‘uma’ on the left and on the right side of it, additional elements. Please compare and contrast: 馬 and 騎

Origins of the kata and its renaming: Originally developed in China it became known in the Ryukyu Kingdom as Naifanchi. Needless to say, like many of the other kata, it was Funakoshi Gichin Sensei who named them as Tekki. I personally think that Funakoshi Sensei's poetics, even in his signatory  name 松濤 really made him 'the best man for the job' of renaming the kata.

It is said by some of my seniors that both Tekki Nidan and Sandan were developed by Itosu Anko Sensei and based on Naifanchi (Shodan). However, others claim that “…these three kata were originally one long formal exercise comprising of 79 movements”. Allegedly at that time, “the conclusive kamae (at the end of Tekki Shodan) was not done after movement 29 but, rather, after movement 36 (of the ‘Sandan section’)”. While this is not important, it implies the training of all three in succession, which is a common practice.

The purpose of Tekki: Each of the three Tekki primarily work on in-fighting skills ideal for practical self-defense. Their applications focus on a mix of percussive blows, locks, throws and strangulation techniques. A unique aspect of Tekki is that the movements can also be exclusively for grappling with an opponent.

Tekki Sandan kata at the Renshinkan Dojo, Nakatsu-Shi, Oita.

Command count and placement of the kiai: Tekki Sandan has a command count 36 movements with the kiai on movements 16 and 36 respectively.

 

Musubi-dachi (Rei).

Yoi: Hachiji-dachi, Ryoken-daitai mae.

 

Movement One:

Hidari chudan uchi-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Two:

Migi chudan uchi-uke doji ni hidari gedan-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Three:

Hidari zenwan chudan osae-uke doji ni migi zenwan chudan uchiotsohi (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Four:

Migi haiwan jodan uchinagashi-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Five:

Migi uraken jodan-uchi (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Six:

Uken migi koshi doji ni sasho uken-ue (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Seven:

Uken chudan-zuki doji ni hidari-te migi hiji-yoko (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Eight:

Migi zenwan hineri doji ni kao migi-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Nine:

Hidari ashi mae-kosa (Kiba-dachi).

Movement Ten:

Migi zenwan sokumen gedan-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Eleven:

Migi zenwan migi sokumen gedan-furisute (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twelve:

Uken migi koshi doji ni sasho uken-ue—kao shomen-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirteen:

Uken chudan-zuki doji ni hidari te koko migi hiji-yoko (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Fourteen:

Migi chudan uchi-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Fifteen:

Hidari chudan uchi-uke doji ni migi gedan-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Sixteen:
Hidari haiwan uchinagashi-uke kara hidari uraken jodan-uchi doji ni migi zenwan mune mae suihei kamae (Kiba-dachi) (KIAI).

 

Movement Seventeen:

Kao hidari-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Eighteen:

Migi ashi mae-kosa.

 

Movement Nineteen:

Hidari ashi-fumikomi—kao shomen-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty:

Hidari zenwan chudan uchiotoshi (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-One:

Hidari haiwan jodan uchinagashi-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Two:

Hidari uraken jodan-uchi (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Three:

Saken hidari-koshi doji ni uken sasho-ue (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Four:

Saken chudan-zuki doji ni migi te koko hidari hiji-yoko (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Five:

Hidari zenwan-hineri doji ni kao hidari-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Six:

Migi ashi mae-kosa.

 

Movement Twenty-Seven:

Hidari zenwan hidari sokumen gedan-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Eight:

Hidari zenwan hidari sokumen gedan-furisute (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Twenty-Nine:

Saken hidari-koshi doji ni usho saken-ue—Kao shomen-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirty:

Saken chudan-zuki doji ni migi te koko hidari hiji-yoko (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirty-One:

Migi sokumen migi chudan tsukami-uke doji ni saken hidari koshi—Kao migi muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirty-Two:

Uken migi koshi doji ni saken kagi-zuki (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirty-Three:

Hidari ashi mae-kosa.

 

Movement Thirty-Four:

Migi ashi-fumikomi doji ni hidari chudan uchi-uke—Kao shomen-muke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirty-Five:

Migi chudan uchi-uke doji ni hidari gedan-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

Movement Thirty-Six:

Migi jodan uchinagashi-uke kara migi uraken jodan-uchi doji ni hidari zenwan mune mae suihei kamae (Kiba-dachi) (KIAI).

 

Naore: Hachiji-dachi, Ryoken-daitai mae.

 

Musubi-dachi (Rei).

 

From kata we can improvise; thereby, make instinctive actions. Maximizing the informal via the formal.

 © André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).

14th Anniversary of this Blog

IKS Renshusei-geiko: Don Walker Sensei (Western Australia, originally from Scotland) at Ryozenji.

Today is the 14th Anniversary of this Blog. It still stuns me that so many people have visited it—over these years. The reason I say this is that THIS SITE IS SO SPECIFIC. It’s like going to a site to get a product, which virtually no one knows about.

Here are three narrowing points of specificity…

 

Firstly, this site is about TRADITIONAL KARATE ONLY.

 

Secondly, even though I deeply respect the other styles of karate (and fighting arts in general)—in order to dig deeper—this site is focused on SHOTOKAN style karate ONLY.

 

Thirdly, and even more specifically, this site is ONLY about Shotokan karate practiced as BUDO/BUJUTSU.

This specific focus makes this blog very unique; that is, THE FOCUS OF ITS CONTENT IS EXTREMELY NARROW. Still, it is sought out by people across the world seeking Shotokan 'bujutsu knowledge' as opposed to the mainstream.

押忍 and 感謝

(Osu and Kansha/Appreciation)

André 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).

十手 (JITTE)

十手

Today I will list each movement of 十手 (JITTE) or ‘Ten Hands’, which is one of ‘THE SEVEN CORE KATA’ of Shotokan-Ryu. I've also included a couple of notes here and there, which will hopefully help those doing this kata. It has 24 movements with the kiai on movements 13 and 24.

Greetings from Oita City, AB.

REI                  MUSUBI-DACHI.

 

YOI     HEISOKU-DACHI – Sasho uken shita ago mae.

MOVEMENT ONE: 

Migi shuhai tekubi chudan osae-uke (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).

MOVEMENT TWO:

Migi teisho chudan oshisage-uke doji ni hidari teisho chudan oshiage-uke (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi). Note – this waza can also be an impact and ude-gatame.

 

MOVEMENT THREE:

Sasho chudan osae-uke.

 

MOVEMENT FOUR:

Migi shuhai tekubi mige sokumen chudan kake-uke (Yori-ashi, Kiba-dachi). Note – the yori-ashi here is directly sideward; however, make a large circle with the right leg (ashi-gake). This waza is also haito uchimawashi uchi.

 

MOVEMENT FIVE:

Migi teisho migi sokumen chudan yoko-uke (Kiba-dachi). Note 1– body/hip and waza together. The elbow is slightly bent and the waza is an arc (the same as Jion and Jiin). Note 2 – hit the spleen.

 

MOVEMENT SIX:

Hidari teisho hidari sokumen chudan yoko-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT SEVEN:

Migi teisho migi sokumen chudan yoko-uke (Kiba-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT EIGHT:

Ryoken jodan juji-uke (Migi ashi mae kosa-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT NINE:

Ryoken ryo gawa gedan uchiharai (Yori-ashi, Kiba-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT TEN:

Yama-gamae (Yori-ashi, Kiba-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT ELEVEN:

Hidari zenwan hidari sokumen jodan-uchiharai (Hidari ashi fumikomi, Kiba-dachi). Note – this waza uses the same unsoku and hip action of Heian Sandan and Jitte (in addition to other kata). Keep the hip and shoulders back until the tsumasaki transitional stage.

 

MOVEMENT TWELVE:

Migi zenwan mgii sokumen jodan-uchiharai (Migi ashi fumikomi, Kiba-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT THIRTEEN:

Hidari zenwan hidari sokumen jodan-uchiharai (Hidari ashi fumikomi, Kiba-dachi)—KIAI.

 

MOVEMENT FOURTEEN:

Ryoken ryogawa gedan kakiwake (Hachiji-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT FIFTEEN:

Migi chudan tsukami-uke, Saken hidari koshi (Migi zenkutsu-dachi). Note – this waza is targeted directly in front of the lead shoulder. Capture the opponent’s bo from where they are in their initial kamae.

 

MOVEMENT SIXTEEN:

Ryote bo tsukami-uke (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT SEVENTEEN:

Bo tori-age kara bo oshimodochi (Migi ashi dachi kara Yori-ashi Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT EIGHTEEN:

Bo tori-age kara bo oshimodochi (Hidari ashi dachi kara Yori-ashi Migi zenkutsu-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT NINETEEN:

Migi sokumen jodan uchi-uke doji ni hidari sokumen gedan-uke (Migi kokutsu-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT TWENTY:

Hidari sokumen jodan uchi-uke doji ni migi sokumen gedan-uke (Hidari kokutsu-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT TWENTY-ONE:

Hidari jodan age-uke (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi). Note – reserve and fully utilize the hips to the extreme via the relationship between tsumasaki, kakato and the johanshin.

MOVEMENT TWENTY-TWO:

Migi jodan age-uke (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).

 

MOVEMENT TWENTY-THREE:

Hidari jodan age-uke (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi). Note – the rhythm of movements 22 and 23 is continuous but not too much.

 

MOVEMENT TWENTY-FOUR:

Migi jodan age-uke (Yori-ashi, Migi zenkutsu-dachi)—KIAI.

 

NAORE          HEISOKU-DACHI – Sasho uken shita ago mae.

 

REI                  MUSUBI-DACHI. 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021). 

"TO MOVE NICELY IS NOT KARATE, TO MOVE WELL AGAINST A DANGEROUS OPPONENT IS, AND VALIDATES ONE'S NICE MOVE(MENT)." - Asai Tetsuhiko.

 

I first came to Japan to study karate 'at the source' 28 years ago. Since then, I have trained daily here  for close to 15 years, thus, more than half of this total time. Next week this blog reaches its 14th Anniversary.

This year in August I reach the mark of 40 years practice. However, the years are less important than quality training and hours each day. Moreover, literally having the best mentors in the world technically guiding my karate path. I never met nor trained under  Nakayama Sensei, yet I feel I have through so much time with his best students here.

Living here in Japan, training and learning has been imperative in this process: as both a technician and as a teacher of karate.

"TO MOVE NICELY IS NOT KARATE, TO MOVE WELL AGAINST A DANGEROUS OPPONENT IS, AND VALIDATES ONE'S NICE MOVE(MENT)." - Asai Tetsuhiko.

All karateka who have studied intensively here in Japan FULLY UNDERSTAND Asai Sensei's aforementioned statement.

押忍！

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).

未来は明るい

There are 17 ‘waza’ or techniques in the first two Heian Kata, which as you will know were reversed in order by Funakoshi Gichin Sensei. Asai Sensei, Nakamura Sensei, Osaka Sensei et al., have explained to me about ‘the switch of order’; and accordingly, I thought I’d share a little bit about this today. First note below, there are eight ukewaza (receptions); four tsukiwaza (thrusts); three uchiwaza (strikes); and two keriwaza (kicks). I will leave stances and footwork for today to make things clear. But firstly though, look at these WAZA… The brackets are used in the case of double techniques; thus, separating the categories in order to accurate each technique.

 

                  UKEWAZA

1.     Gedan-barai

2.     Jodan age-uke

3.     Chudan shuto-uke

4.     Haiwan sokumen jodan yoko-uke (doji ni zenwan hitai mae yoko-kamae)

5.     Jodan sotonagashi-uke (doji ni kentsui sokumen sotomawashi-uchi)

6.     Sasho chudan osae-uke (doji ni chudan tateshihon-nukite)

7.     Chudan uchi-uke: Gyaku-hanmi

8.     Chudan morote-zuki

 

TSUKIWAZA

1.     Chudan oi-zuki

2.     Sokumen chudan-zuki

3.     (Sasho chudan osae-uke doji ni) Chudan tateshihon-nukite

4.     Chudan gyaku-zuki

 

UCHIWAZA

1.     Kentsui tatemawashi-uchi

2.     (Jodan sotonagashi-uke doji ni) Kentsui sokumen sotomawashi-uchi

3.     Uraken jodan yokomawashi-uchi (doji ni sokuto chudan yoko-geri keage)

 

KERIWAZA

1.     (Uraken jodan yokomawashi-uchi doji ni) Sokuto chudan yoko-geri keage

2.     Chudan mae-geri keage

 

 

Of course, I could have written further and completed the whole Heian series and perhaps Tekki Shodan also (to analyze all six ‘standard’ SHITEI-GATA; nonetheless, that would be less effective in explaining you what I am trying to clarify.

 

My point is, these 17 initial waza are what Itosu Sensei really stressed at the start of training for young people. So what? Based on this, you can see that these kihonwaza are very easy to apply and are highly effective in self-defense.

 

This naturally brings me to Itosu Sensei’s student, the founder of what is now known as 松濤館流 (SHOTOKAN-RYU): Funakoshi Gichin Sensei. Yes, he changed the order Pinan Shodan and Nidan, and significantly modified these kata technically. But still, for the most part, they remained same formal exercises… But…

 

HE MADE THESE KIHON-GATA FAR BETTER! MORE ECONOMICAL FOR APPLICATION IN SELF-DEFENSE than what his teacher taught! Yes, he improved his teacher’s karate. Not only improved, but the made the Shotokan ‘Heian Kata’ superior.

 

Some may contest that his modifications were to ‘sportify’; however, this assumption is false as Funakoshi Sensei was actually against ‘competition karate’. For him, on a technical level, karate was a martial art for self-defense. Moreover, only to be used in the most dangerous circumstances. This theme can be found throughout his publications. Accordingly, the modifications to the kata were improvements for increased effectiveness in this regard.

 

With this in mind, Funakoshi Sensei also changed the kata to increase difficulty; thus, also increase effectiveness in application when one utilizes more natural movements. This is why Shotokan kata is particularly disadvantaged in competition nowadays. The stances are more for training the body, balance, and so forth; thus, great for those focused on kata for fighting—but not advantageous for those wanting to ‘perform precisely’ in competition. This is why Shotokan Kata, when done properly looks like a fight. Examples, Osaka Sensei’s Sochin (actually, let’s face it, almost every kata); Kagawa Masao Sensei’s Bassai-Dai, Bassai Sho and Sochin; Yahara Sensei’s Bassai-Dai, Kanku-Sho, Unsu; Asai Sensei’s Nijushiho, Tekki Nidan, Kakuyoku, Hushu, etcetera.

 

And while I never feel I can be as good as the aforementioned senpai (seniors) I remain inspired by their skill: and this helps to drive me forward in my own training.

 

I haven’t detailed why I didn’t explain the waza in the first two Heian kata for ‘real fight application’. However, I don’t need to for anyone who is an experienced street fighter, or full contact fighter. They understand. Low kick, high tsuki/uchi, choke and break.

 

Furthermore, within these limited waza there are a vast array of standing grappling waza and, yes, newaza (ground fighting techniques) encrypted as well.

 

In sum, when Shotokan is practiced properly, as BUJUTSU, it is second to none. Unfortunately, the overemphasis of winning competitions has resulted the dilution of effectiveness: especially in regard to development of destructive fundamental techniques.

WITH CORRECT TRAINING THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT. 押忍！

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2021).