KARATE DO: A POWERFUL MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING RESIILIENCE

I am now reviewing the five Heian kata with special focus on fine points of fundamental technique (kihonwaza) and, in particular, the removal of superfluous actions. For example, wind ups for ukewaza such as morote-uke, seiken juji-uke etcetera; and completion of techniques within the correct range of action, such as kihon tsukiwaza (namely, jun-zuki and gyaku-zuki). This approach is also being taken in my kihon training and includes a tighter control over nukite and gyaku-zuki following keriwaza (i.e. – shuto-uke kara kizami mae-geri soshite nukite, mae-geri kara yoko-kekomi, mawashi-geri soshite gyaku-zuki and so forth).

Yet again, repeating the maxim I constantly stress on this site, “kihon is everything”. Accordingly, this is because it offers the ultimate challenge, as via its complete and utter `rawness’. Kihon, the fundamental kata, and yaksuoku-kumite show us how little we “really know”: and “know” in karate (and all other physical disciplines for that matter) is determined by what we have “programmed into our bodies”. Where do YOU come unstuck in this regard…? There are certainly plenty of places in my case: especially when I am fatigued during a taxing class. Needless to say, this is the ultimate challenge of karate—it gives us the necessary taste of `humble flavoured pie’; moreover, it elucidates how physical training can benefit us mentally and spiritually.

My understanding is that many people eventually quit training because of this point—the feeling of never getting the fundamental techniques to the level that they have in their minds/aspirations. This is definitely the wrong reason to quit and it misses what karate-do is… Karate-do is not a destination of perfection; rather, it is a road towards it—a road towards an `unattainable yet motivational goal’. Striving to get the most basic techniques right is a lesson that never ends, and I am very thankful for this point.

Pushing through this challenge is a POWERFUL MECHANISM FOR DEVELOPING RESIILIENCE: that is, the ability to bounce back in life. Resilience is a quality that everyone should have and need to maximise their lives. We shouldn’t be vain and think that we want to be the best—this is a dangerous trap, which leads to self-defeat… Instead, just think that we want to better ourselves and humbly strive towards this goal. By following this `way’ one will become the best they can be.

All the best from Nippon, André.

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013).

Power from within

Harnessing “power from within” in karate-do requires that the limbs are not the centre of one’s energy. This means that power (energy) is sourced from the seika tanden, the hara, the hips; that is, the centre of one’s body in accordance with natural kokyu (breathing), which facilitates higher awareness (and immensely increased physical effectiveness). Of course, as mentioned, kokyu is also at the centre: and kokyu centres the mind helping to control emotions such as anger and fear.

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This is probably one of the reasons why `chudan waza’ are so predominant (in the kihon and kata of karate-do): because they facilitate `power centralisation’ and an innate understanding of the chushin (centre line)—in the most comprehensive way. Moreover, this benefits the daily lives of traditional karate-do practitioners as it can result in greater concentration and a more peaceful life.

 

Returning to the training of waza (techniques) in karate-do, common sense quickly reveals that `jodan waza’ i.e. – jodan age-uke, jodan gyaku-zuki etcetera add additional challenges (in particular, higher level shoulder joint control) and; because of that, they increase the number of `critical focus points’ whilst practicing. Irrespective of one’s thoughts on these matters, centralisation of power and concentration on the chushin are utterly imperative.  

Most obviously this point elucidates the need for the limbs to not `leave from the body’ but, rather, “come from and are transported by the body”.  Examples of this are tight and high chambering of keriwaza, not letting the elbows of `blocking arms’ keep the fundamental rule of being  `one’ to `one and a half’ fist widths from the head/torso, and so on…

Always remember, the traditional karate-do technique is never born from the limbs: just as "the pen is mightier than the sword". Kindest regards from Aso-San, André.


© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013). 

 
 

Over 1,200,000 visitors



I didn't notice that this blog has now had over 1,200,000 visitors! I would like to thank everyone who has supported the site since I started it in 2007.

It is a great honour. Thank you all very much! After 32 years of practicing karate-do I still dream of one day having good karate. While I may never attain this goal, seeing step-by-step improvement through daily practice has still been rewarding.

More than technique, my hope is to continue to develop my character through Karate-Do Keiko and, in doing so, contribute more to society as a whole. I think this is the essence of true Karate-Do. 

Kindest regards and thanks, André Bertel.

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto, Japan (2013).

二十四歩

Today I enjoyed training in central Oita-shi. Following my current training regime the main focus was on Nijushiho （二十四歩）kata, three of the grading syllabus ido-kihonwaza and various timing in kumite (with tsukiwaza). Interestingly, here is an article from Japan (2011) at the same dojo and ironically about Nijushiho!!! Certainly a case of Deja Vu (you can click here to read the article: http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2011/04/japan-kata-training-nijushiho.html). Anyway, for the time being I will leave you with some stills from todays socho-geiko (morning training).

 

Kindest regards and all the very best from Nippon, André

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013).

Breakthrough

Whilst for the most part maintaining my current self-training routine, I have slightly altered my approach to kihon, and amended my kata practice. Kumite training has remained completely unchanged…With these points in mind, as opposed to describing the routine in full again, I will only write about the amended aspects of my routine. Moreover, below, I will explain why this has occurred…

 

Kihon routine changes/amendments: Typically I am now working two or three of the prescribed kihon techniques (please refer to my previous training if you wish to see what these waza are). For example, (1) `Kizami-zuki kara sanbon ren-zuki’; (2) `Shuto-uke kara kizami mae-geri soshite nukite’; and (3) `Mae-geri kara yoko-kekomi, mawashi-geri soshite gyaku-zuki’. I am practicing these renzokuwaza many-many times over. In sum,  I am hoping to reap benefits from this training methodology that will lift my overall gains.

Nijushiho Kata: Kata-wise I have made significant changes as I’ve adopted Nijushiho supplemented by two other kata for variety (one other jiyu-gata and one from the 10 shitei-gata/sentei-gata: i..e  - Nijushiho,+ Kanku-sho & Heian Yondan). Like my kihon, I am working on Nijushiho with high repetitions; however, in contrast, the additional two kata I am only doing a couple of times each. Why Nijushiho? Well, fundamentally because it tests one’s transitions to the maximum.

To conclude, I’ve just had a major technical breakthrough, which prompted the above amendments to my self-training regime. I won’t go into this here, except to say that a long-term vision has been achieved, and now I must seek a higher plateau. In this way, I hope to one day have `OK karate’, perhaps even dare to have `good karate’. Irrespective of achieving such seemingly impossible aspirations I am one step closer to achieving them. This is what long-term training and planning is all about. Furthermore, it underpins the motivation to continue training. Osu, André

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013).

KIHON, KATA AND KUMITE ARE ONE

Here are seven tips for training. I have written them based on "the more typical questions" (synthesised) I've received since returning to Japan via my email account: andrebertelono@gmail.com.

 

While a lot of these answers will be obvious, there still may be something of value for someone out there. I personally can't get enough of such basic points, which I constantly have to go back to in my own training.

 

Lastly, these are just my views... I do not claim to be a good karateka and certainly do not claim to know everything. These are just my views addressing recent questions sent to me based on my training and understanding of karate-do. Best wishes, osu, André.

KIHON

TIP 1: Tighten up your techniques. That is, be careful about over extension! Look at say jodan age-uke, chudan soto-uke or shuto-uke. The elbow of the blocking arm should be one fist width away from the torso or head. Likewise with gyaku-zuki and jun-zuki (oi-zuki) the chest should be square—you must not reach with the arm… Of course there are exceptions but exceptions should never dominant your practice.

TIP 2: `Knees up Mother Brown’… Whenever you kick raise your knee high! Don’t be a lazy duffer and kick with your lower leg. A good way to learn about raising your knees is from practicing kizami-geri i.e. – the grading combination with shuto-uke and nukite or say Junro-shodan kata. While this is common sense and well known, it is often physically neglected.

TIP 3: Tachikata: Stances can be warped into oddball positions if they are too short, too long, too narrow, too wide, too deep or too shallow. Practice `the right stance for your body’ (and attributes), which allows you to optimise your techniques.

KATA

TIP 4: Select at least one kata and really work with it. This kata should be the best kata for you! Therefore, best for your personal attributes and body, and not a kata that you necessarily like. You should physically know it forward and reverse, leftward and rightward, its oyo (applications), and practice applying its techniques on the heavy bag, makiwara, in yakusoku-kumite training etc. If you are sane you will hate this kata as you do it so much, but—I assure you—it will be your trustworthy friend and very useful.

TIP 5: One more note, don’t fall into the trap of choosing a `popular kata’ i.e. – Sochin, Unsu, Gankaku, Gojushiho Sho etc… While these are all fine, if Wankan or Meikyo suit you more, do them. You can always do these other kata simply for your enjoyment.  In this regard, when I am at a grading or tournament and a karateka performs one of the less commonly seen kata, it gets my full attention. If they do it very well, it often turns out to be the technical highlight of the event.

KUMITE

TIP 6: When practicing jiyu-kumite don’t cheat yourself. Always fully express your techniques from kihon. That is full-hip action and full trajectories. All of your techniques should apply full body power, even when sparring lightly. If your jiyu kumite is just playing around, it is better to drop it out of your training regime: as it is actually eroding your skills developed in kihon and kata. Always remember kihon, kata and kumite are one… I will say that that again: KIHON, KATA & KUMITE ARE ONE, not separate arts.

TIP 7: Lastly, never waste your techniques. Whether in Gohon kumite, Kihon ippon kumite, Jiyu ippon kumite, Jiyu kumite, etcetera.., only launch techniques when you are in the correct distance. Maai must be correct when employing your attacks or counterattacks. Think of a sniper who shoots at his/her enemies from a high point. They do not fire their weapon until the bullet can reach the target. The range of their rifle is limited. But as soon as the target is in range, they immediately pull the trigger. Kumite is the same… Don’t waste your bullets, and don’t hesitate when the distance is closed or made. Attack with the hips not the limbs...

Aso Jinja, Aso-shi, Kumamoto.

©André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013).

Understanding

This week I have increased the intensity of my training to a higher level. I'm very pleased about this as my body has had to adjust from the New Zealand winter to the Japan summer... Moreover, I had a major injury in New Zealand just before travelling to Japan. My ankle was nearly broken; nevertheless, the injury while still uncomfortable is finally recovering.

Injuries are excuses not to train... But we can always work around them. I never stop training because of an injury: nor should anyone.

Anyway here are some photos and stills from my self-training today. It was a tough training but very enjoyable. I am so humbled by all of my flaws... I have to push myself harder... So much to work on.

Understanding karate is not understanding karate.

Kindest regards from Aso-shi, Kumamoto.
André

 

 

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013).

A change from Gankaku to Sochin...

While my aforementioned training regime continues I have altered my kata training. While I am still working on Bassai-sho, I have switched Gankaku with Sochin; furthermore, I’ve added a random kata every practice to spice things up a little. However, unlike Sochin and Bassai-sho, I’m only doing this additional kata twice—once walking through it and once at regular speed. Today, the kata was Heian-shodan to complement Sochin insofar as waza no kankyu and chikara no kyojaku are concerned.
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My (technical) rationale behind this has been to focus more vigorously on my hand/body shifting timing. Whilst this could obviously be done with Gankaku, for me, Sochin is a kata which I find particularly challenging: so I decided to further push myself by utilising it.

Gojushiho-Sho... Todays additional kata. `Natural hip position'...

Karate-Do is always a humbling experience as while we develop, more glitches appear… For me this is a greatest motivation and presents a massive opportunity. This opportunity, if harnessed well, can not only lead to increased technical development but also to foster humility and inner strength.

While I never expect to achieve `good karate’ the dream of achieving this target remains; moreover, as I improve my character through training—and this comes out in my daily life—I further understand what Karate-Do is.  

Sometimes facing one’s own weaknesses can be done by simply choosing a kata, which doesn’t suit oneself; what is more, this can transcend the physical benefits of making such decisions.

Kindest regards and best wishes from Japan, André.

Relaxing with Ryan in Oita: Sept. 8th, 2013.

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto. Japan (2013).

My updated self-training regime

Here is my updated training regime. While my karate is not so good, I am constantly seeking to improve it - and of course - diligent training is the only way!

On the news front, I am looking forward to meeting up with a couple of very well-known instructors in the coming month... More about this later...

All the very best from Aso-shi, Kumamoto-ken, Japan.

Osu, André

KIHON

Stationary kihon –

1. Chudan choku-zuki (Hachinoji-dachi de tate-shuto no kamae); 2. Chudan jun-zuki (Hachinoji-dachi de tate-shuto no kamae: alternately advancing into zenkutsu-dachi then return to hachinoji-dachi); 3/4. Jodan kizami-zuki kara chudan gyaku-zuki (Hidari to migi zenkutsu-dachi de gyaku-zuki no kamae); 5. Chudan mae-geri (Heisoku-dachi de gedan kakiwake no kamae); 6/7. Chudan mae-geri (Hidari to migi zenkutsu-dachi de gedan kakiwake no kamae); & 8. Chudan yoko-keage (Heisoku-dachi de gedan kakiwake no kamae).

·        30-50 repetitions of each (not including a slow warm-up of 10 repetitions).

 Ido-kihon –

1. Chudan jun-zuki; 2. Sambon ren-zuki; 3. Mae-geri kara jun-zuki; 4. Yoko-kekomi kara gyaku-zuki; 5. Mawashi-geri kara gyaku-zuki; 6. Yoko-keage ashi o kaete yoko-kekomi; 7. Ippo sagatte jodan age-uke kara mawashi-geri, yoko uraken-uchi soshite chudan jun-zuki; 8. Chudan soto-uke kara yoko-empi, yoko uraken-uchi soshite gyaku-zuki; 9. Chudan uchi-uke (kokutsu-dachi) kara kizami-zuki soshite gyaku-zuki; 10. Chudan shuto-uke (kokutsu-dachi) kara kizami mae-geri soshite shihon nukite; 11. Ippo sagatte gedan braai kara chudan jun-zuki soshite chudan jun-zuki; & 12. Renzoku-geri: Mae-geri kara yoko-kekomi, mawashi-geri soshite gyaku-zuki.

·        20-30 repetitions of each (not including a slow warm-up of 5-10 repetitions).

·        Please note: the stance in ido-kihon is zenkutsu-dachi unless otherwise noted.

 

KUMITE

Uchikomi practice: In addition to the `standard waza’ this month I am focusing on `legs followed by hands’ i.e. – mawashi-geri kara gyaku-zuki; mae-geri kara jun-zuki etcetera. My emphasis is on attacking with a strong penetrating keriwaza (with high knee action and full body power/body weight committed) then mixing up the timing my hand attacks. For example, landing the punches `kihon style’ with stance completion; before landing; and after landing—with a defence being focused during my kicking attacks (i.e. – as in kaeshi ippon kumite).

·        30 times for each variation at maximum speed; varying timing between each rep.

KATA

Bassai-Sho & Gankaku
 

·        Eight repetitions of each (alternately slow then fast) changing direction each time i.e. two times to the north, then south, east and west.

·        Primarily focusing on relaxation `on the launch’ of techniques and full use of the hips.

·        Secondly, on moderation of tachikata.

© André Bertel. Kumamoto, Japan (2013).

 

 

 

 

Mushi atsui desu ne...

Following are some pictures from my self-training today. I won't go into detail as I am too busy, but all I can say is that it was "defined" by sweat, blisters and the extreme `mushi atsui' aspect of the Japan summer; nevertheless, since I have been coming to Japan since 1993 for training, also living here in the past, thankfully, I am very accustomed to it.

Anyway, my target besides my own technical development is to help others in karate, and also benefit the young people of Japan - to build their jisshin and waza.

Thanks to everyone from around the world for you messages. I really appreciate it! OSU, André

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto-ken, Japan (2013).