Final Group Training for 2008

I thought I’d provide an overview of the final group lesson of 2008. For those of you who haven’t lived and trained here in Japan, hopefully it will provide some interesting reading, and perhaps some ideas, for your own karate practice.
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Kizami-zuki kara gyaku-zuki soshite... After warming up and the standard repetitions of stationary chudan gyaku-zuki, and kizami-zuki kara gyaku-zuki, Tachibana Shihan had us once again fire out kizami-zuki kara gyaku-zuki. However, this time, we continued on with a 180 degree turning gyaku-zuki. From this position, keeping the rear foot fixed, we had to stretch our stances for a very long kizami-zuki. To recover, contract the lead leg back into a ‘normal zenkutsu-dachi shomen’ simultaneously punching gyaku-zuki. From this position, the drill simply restarted.

Jiyu-kumite specific variation: After a brief ‘rehydration period’ we once again executed the drill, but this time from jiyu-kumite no kamae. The other major difference was to train the support/driving-leg in a ‘gymnastically superior’ fashion. This was to ensure maximum power is generated from the back leg and that the body weight is fully committed. Essentially this was achieved by taking three big ‘support leg hops’ for distance (whilst deeply compressing the springing leg) then exploding forward with a large scale gyaku-zuki.

Sen no sen (taking the initiative earlier): After ample practice we moved onto partner applications utilising the three hops as a means to train attacks with tobi-konde gyaku-zuki. Focus was twofold: Firstly, the connection between the support leg and the fist going ‘through the opponent’. And secondly, attacking from a very long distance. Initially we practiced moving directly in ‘on the line’, and later, going past the opponent whilst hitting. When ‘going past’ we were required to get our lead leg alongside the opponent’s rear leg. In both cases, this was supplemented by Asai-ryuha fundamental methods of ‘jamming’ and ‘freezing’ opponents with tate-shuto, seiryuto, and/or kake uke. Variations included: (a) Opening and unbalancing with kake uke namely to the inside and outside of the elbow joint; (b & c) Controlling the opponent by freezing/jamming either the front or rear shoulder joints with tate-shuto and seiryuto.

Go no sen (taking the initiative later): Shihan then demonstrated the above three karada no buki to neutralize incoming attacks with kizami-zuki and gyaku-zuki. He also briefly reviewed the basic ‘leg blocks’ to freeze the opponent’s stance, and also deflect/jam kicks (focusing on the hip, knee and ankle joints). The leg blocks Tachibana Shihan brilliantly demonstrated included uchi and soto ashikubi kake uke, sokuto and sokutei osae uke, amongst others.

Ashi-barai: Next it was on to inside and outside leg sweeps by following the same principles vigorously practiced in the previous drill. We initiated our attack with the same gyaku-zuki. From here we made three rearward ‘support leg hops’ coordinated with mae ashi-barai to sweep the opponent. Once again, like the initial gyaku-zuki, the key was not focusing the ‘action limb’, but rather, the commitment of full-body weight, via the support leg. The hops truly tested if you were doing this correctly, and as stated before, were gymnastically excellent for the training the supporting leg. In the case of the first ‘hop’ not downing your partner, Tachibana Shihan told us to hop again, and again, until the opponent is floored.

Kiba dachi de ashi barai: We practiced the classic inside and outside leg sweeps with kiba-dachi. This built up to ducking under a kizami-zuki then downing the opponent. In addition to ducking and entering, we also practiced rapidly switching the legs then pivoting in for the sweep. Kaiten-shinagara was not covered today.

Kata and kihon oyo kumite: To complete the lesson we executed Junro-shodan three times, Junro-nidan three times and Junro-sandan two times. After completing each of them we did the corresponding kihon oyo kumite. Tachibana Shihan emphasised that “The Junro kata were developed by Asai Shuseki-Shihan specifically for kumite”. So in addition to going through the standard applications, and some variations, each person had to demonstrate their own interpretation for different sequences within the kata. Overall a great way to end an excellent karate training session... Really speaking, more of a 'lesson' than merely a 'work out'.
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To conclude I’d like to say that I deeply appreciate the excellent tuition I’ve received this year from Tachibana Shihan (JKS 8th Dan). Domo arigato gozaimasu Shihan. Likewise, I’d like to thank the members of the Japan Karate Shotorenmei Oita Sohonbu for their camaraderie. I look forward to returning to group training with you all on January 10th.

OSU, André
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© André Bertel, Japan 2008

Loving karate

I’m really looking forward to the final group training of the year, being held at the dojo this Saturday. At last week’s group training we literally did both Bassai-dai then Kanku-dai ten times, in addition to jiyu (free-choice) kata to warm up the body. The hardest part of the session was surviving all of the Bassai and Kanku, after doing some really intensive kihon. Come on, you've gotta love it!!! I’ll give you a brief description (just below) of this practice, as I found it to be ‘particularly tough’, but typical of 'karate here in Japan'. I’m writing this in high anticipation for this weeks 'big' class, which really comes back to the title of this post 'loving karate'. Not teaching, thinking about, typing about, or anything else, but simply loving the sweat, and often blood loss, in hard karate-keiko.
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Junbi-undo (Preparatory exercises): The jiyu-kata training we did was literally straight after the junbi undo, so it was the easiest part of the session. I focused on Junro and Unsu. Actually Tachibana Shihan had not arrived at the dojo yet, so the senior present, Sumi san, told everyone to do jiyu-kata. About 15 minutes later, Shihan arrived, and immediately spotted that some of the younger black belts hadn’t reached a good sweat. He was infuriated, so after ‘roughing them up’, the training session really began!

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Kihon-keiko: The kihon we did was as follows: (1) Stationary chudan gyaku-zuki from tate-shuto kamae (I think 30 with each hand, if not, more); (2) Stationary jodan kizami zuki typically followed by chudan gyaku zuki as a renzokuwaza (100 times on both sides); (3) Stationary mae geri to the front followed by yoko kekomi to the side returning back to zenkutsu dachi shomen, without dropping the kicking foot (100 times each side). Then finally ‘the nails in the coffin’… (4) Stationary gyaku zuki, followed by yoko kekomi to the front, then jodan kizami zuki (50 times each side)... Hips, hips and more hips!

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Kata-keiko: After a ‘blink of an eye’ break, it was on to the kata portion of the class… Bassai-dai and Kanku-dai were the order of the day. Whether 16 or 60, everyone was already shattered at this point, so to execute 10 Bassai and 10 Kanku was particularly strenuous. We were lucky to get a couple of breaks (gasps of beautiful oxygen and muscle recovery in slack musubi dachi) during Kanku-dai when Tachibana Shihan demonstrated 'Asai Shuseki-Shihan like' applications for ura zuki/hiza geri followed by going to the ground. And the last section of the kata from tateshihon nukite/te osae uke onwards. This was the only kumite featured in this class.

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More kihon and the completion of keiko: To cover yoko keage, which was not included in the kihon practiced earlier, we also went through Heian-nidan and Heian-yondan. This training was related back to the various yoko keage found in Kanku-dai. To wind down the 2.5 hour practice we executed yoko keage, simultaneously with uraken yokomwashi uchi, about 30 to 50 times (consecutively on both sides). This was concluded by some well-needed partner stretches and ‘heavenly time’ in mokuso.
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Thanks to my teacher, Tetsuhiko Asai, 30 years down the track, I progressively love karate more and more, no matter how hard training is . Why? Because I train with the heart of a mukyu (total beginner), just as Sensei did throughout his life . Honestly following this 'karate way', has meant that my ego cannot restrict my submission to vigorous practice, and the harsh scrutiny required for ongoing development. For more information on my my 'practice philosophy' please read my March 16th article on shoshin wasuru bekaraku: http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2008/03/shoshin-wasuru-bekarazu.htmlebertel.blogspot.com/2008/03/shoshin-wasuru-bekarazu.html This is the biggest key of self-motivation and an ongoing/evolving passion for the art. Simply keep loving your 'karate training', and forget the rest!

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OSU

© André Bertel, Japan 2008

Asai Sensei's final international interview republished

As most of you will probably know, I conducted Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei’s final international interview, which appeared in Shotokan Karate Magazine, just a few months prior to his passing. The interview itself was conducted in Ohope, the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. It has just been republished on ‘The Shotokan Way’ online resource (www.theshotokanway.com).

"A few weeks ago we introduced an archive interview with T. Asai from a few years ago that had been conducted by the excellent Andre Bertel – Who kindly has allowed us to use another of his interviews with this legendary Master! Here in this Interview with T. Asai, Andre Bertel yet again poses questions to try and get to the source of this man’s unique approach to karate. I would like to say a huge thank you to Andre for being kind enough to allow us to use this superb interview!" – Shaun Banfield.

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Here is the direct link to the interview: http://www.theshotokanway.com/asaisenseiarchiveinterview2.html

© André Bertel, Japan 2008

Teaching Seminars in Hawaii

This 'new' video footage I've just uploaded tonight on Youtube was actually taken in early 2003 (in Honolulu, Hawaii). Asai Sensei had invited me to go to Hawaii for his seminars there, and used me as his demonstration assistant for most of the time.

Slightly off-topic, I introduced my student Matthew Brew, to Asai Sensei and Mrs. Asai at this seminar. Matt later became a student of Mrs. Asai in Tokyo, learning her Kiho-cise. Matt, if you read this, I've misplaced your contact details. Please fire me an email! andre.mizuho@hotmail.co.jp

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After the seminars with Asai Shuseki-Shihan, Charles Lee Sensei (Chief Instructor of JKS Hawaii & 'Technical Director' of Japan Karate Shotorenmei USA: http://www.jks-americas.com/) requested that I teach him and his students some new Asai-ryuha kata. Firstly I privately taught Charles Lee several times; then a small group of black belts at Edward Fujiwara Sensei's dojo; then finally taught a few sessions to Lee Sensei and his senior JKS Hawaii students (as seen in this footage) at both the JCC dojo, and the Waiau dojo.

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The new kata I taught them were Shotei-dai and Rakuyo (Asai Sensei recommended that I teach them these two kata , prior to his departure. He also ordered me to call him, immediately upon my return to New Zealand, to report how things went). Additionally, I corrected their Senka, which Lee Sensei and his black belts had learned incorrectly, from Asai Sensei's video tapes.

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A pat on the back or a set-up for a joke? Asai Sensei later congratulated me, when I telephoned him from New Zealand, telling me that I was the first instructor to introduce these kata ('Rakuyo and Shotei-dai') to the United States. But then said, "if wrong, Andre-kun, big trouble!" I now know he was joking, but in saying that at the time I didn't! Asai Sensei was very different to me in private training and in Japan (than when he taught open seminars, especially when he was outside of Japan). When he smiled and laughed (when teaching or examining students), it actually wasn't a good sign. Asai Sensei in private trainings, had no smiles, and was always very-very serious. I will discuss Japanese 'tate-mae' in a future article.

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So what's in the footage? Well, really speaking, nothing spectacular, as I'm mostly 'walking' the JKS Hawaii black belt members, and Sensei Lee (pictured next to me on the Youtube 'video thumbnail'), 'through the motions' of Shotei-dai and Rakuyo. In saying that, the footage is special to me because I was teaching karate in Hawaii, and it was interesting to see the technical standards of the black belts there.

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Click on the link if you wish to view the video: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oijw2xpzTU

© André Bertel, Japan 2008

New video of Asai Sensei on Youtube

I've just uploaded a clip on Youtube of Asai Sensei, slapping yours truly around with various open hand techniques. The emphasis in this clip is namely karada no buki (the weapons of the body): Karada no buki demonstrated include fundamental techniques with 'Shuto' (the sword hand); 'Tate-shuto' (the vertical sword hand); 'Seiryuto' (the ox jaw hand); 'Teisho' (the palm heel); 'Koko' (the tiger mouth); and 'Kakuto' (the bent wrist).

You can click here to check it out: http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=zGX6ty6jp-k

A big Oyasumi nasai from Kyushu, Japan.

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© André Bertel, Japan 2008

The NATURAL ELEMENT KATA

There are five formal exercises referred to as the ‘Shizen no kata’ (natural kata), nicknamed in English as ‘The Natural Element Kata’, by my late karate teacher, Asai Tetsuhiko.
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To state the obvious, only one, Unsu/Unshu, is amongst the ‘standard’ 26 Shotokan forms. However, Asai Sensei claimed that the other four kata, Kashu (Hi no te), Suishu (Mizu no te), Roshu (Nami no te) and Hushu (Kaze no te) were also koten (ancient/classical) kata. Other comments by Sensei suggested that Suishu, Hushu, Roshu and Kashu were actually ‘hybrid kata’ combining/recording a variety of koten-waza (ancient/classical techniques). I believe Asai Sensei did indeed engineer them based on numerous martial arts techniques, and strategies, not found within mainstream Shotokan. I personally think that these techniques came from a combination of Chinese Boxing, the karate of Okinawa, and Sensei's own kumite experimentation. Regardless of their origin, as a personal student of Asai Sensei, I didn’t concern myself with their history, only to improve my ability as a martial artist, based on his ‘karate way’.
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The reason Asai Sensei introduced the additional four ‘Natural Element Kata’: Sensei taught these kata to provide himself with a clear canvas to teach 'natural movement'. He said to me that “Unsu is enough, however, when teaching at courses, it is often difficult to correct peoples ‘use of energy’, they turn into robots * when you ask them to perform one of the famous Shotokan kata”. By teaching Kashu, Hushu, Suishu and/or Roshu, Asai Sensei could capture each students complete attention, (via their enthusiasm to learn something new, such as a fascinating kata) and therefore open up their minds to using ‘natural energy’.
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* Asai Sensei often said that "WKF karate kata is rubbish, it's gymnastics not fighting kata". He hated sports karate because he claimed it was invalidating karate as an effective martial art.

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Profiles of the natural element kata: Originally, when I started to compose this article, I thought of giving individual profiles of Unsu, Kashu, Suishu, Roshu and Hushu, based on what Asai Sensei told me candidly. However, I changed my mind, as that is not what Asai Sensei really emphasized. I know 100% that he would have preferred me to give a broader explanation based on 'natural movement', which is what these kata are primarily for. If I were to give descriptive explanations, based on what he said, I'm sure you'd be distracted by visualizations of calm rivers suddenly turning into rapids; the fluctuating energy of waves and tsunami's; typhoon's and tornado's; the unpredictable movements of forest fires; and the like. When Asai Sensei demonstrated movements, they really resembled these descriptions, and sadly, I cannot put these phenomenal displays of karate into words. Perhaps the best thing I can say, to anyone who reads this, is that Asai Sensei closely analyzed nature to develop his movement, and used the 'natural elements' as his own 'sensei'.

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For me personally, the practice of Kashu, Hushu, Roshu and Suishu has significantly enhanced my kata and kihon for effective fighting. Why? Because they have taught me that effectiveness is determined by natural movement. As Asai Sensei stressed about the forms he introduced; "There is no problem merely focusing on the famous Shotokan kata, but if you do, use natural energy. Don't perform kata just to look nice, do it for real fighting. Kata is more beautiful when it is bujutsu."

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OSU!

© André Bertel, Japan 2008

Wedding Anniversary

To celebrate our 2nd Wedding Anniversary we stayed in central Fukuoka at the beautiful Seahawk Hotel. We had to delay the celebration until the weekend (the 6th and 7th) as the anniversary fell on Wednesday, the 3rd of December.
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In addition to enjoying the luxury of the five star hotel, by recommendation from Hoshuyama Sensei, we had a very special dinner at Il Sogno (you can check out the their website here: http://www.ilsogno.jp/). Sensei and his wife celebrated their 30th Wedding Anniversary there, so we were very honored. Mizuho and I are very grateful for Hoshuyama Sensei's very kind recommendation (and even advice on directions to avoid the snow storm that hit Northern Kyushu). Domo arigato gozaimasu Hoshuyama Sensei!
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The five-course meal at Il Sogno was absolutely delicious, and the service was impeccable. I can only extend Hoshuyama Sensei's recommendation for this excellent Italian restaurant. If you are in Hakata, and enjoy high-class dining, Il Sogno is a must.

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I'd like to end by thanking my karate students who have sent us messages to commemorate our anniversary.
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André & Mizuho

© André Bertel, Japan 2008