New Asai Karate video on Youtube (Basic Muchiken)

I've uploaded some clips from the karate training sessions I taught in Shibuya, Tokyo at the end of January. The footage is courtesy of Paul and Yuko Kallender Umezu.
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The Asai karate featured in the video are some of the more basic muchiken (whip fist) techniques. My late sensei, Tetsuhiko Asai, taught many fundamentals & advanced maneuvers based on snap, relaxation and natural energy. To this day I still feel deeply honored to have been a private deshi of Asai Sensei, something which I can’t properly put into words.
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Beyond these, and the other basic techniques of Asai-ryuha Shotokan karate-do, there are numerous advanced techniques, and of course many koten-kata. However, the use of relaxation, snap and natural energy remains the same. I hope you enjoy the clip, please feel free to rate it, and make a comment if you wish. Best wishes from Oita, Japan. – André Bertel.
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To view the video please click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCz1f8ruhTM

© André Bertel, Japan (2010).

Karate practice in Miyazaki

I'd like to take this chance to thank Kennichi Fukamizu Shihan for hosting me in Takanabe-shi, Miyazaki. Also for inviting me to attend an interesting practice/lecture from Masaru Miura Shihan (9th Dan SKIF - Shotokan Karatedo International Federation).

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I caught up with Fukamizu Shihan through his personal student, and my good friend Morgan Dilks. He runs his own non-political organisation called USKU (Universal Shotokan Karate Union) and is also the head of the JKF (Japan Karatedo Federation) in Miyazaki.

On Saturday night after teaching at a few of his dojo, Fukamizu Shihan took me out for a nice evening of eating and drinking at his friends Izakiya in Takanabe-shi. We talked a lot about our memories in the Matsuno/Asai JKA. It was a wonderful time.

The next day I accompanied him to the airport to pick up Miura Shihan. The three of us had lunch together, then finally conducted the seminar/lecture, which was largely based on techniques without muscle power. Miura Shihan used me to demonstrate Asai karate (as he was Sensei's junior at Takushoku University). This clearly astounded/shocked all of the participants.

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I'd like to again thank Fukamizu Shihan for his kind hospitality. I had a really pleasant time, and enjoyed hanging out with him and Miura Shihan.

© André Bertel, Japan (2010).

The real value of jumping techniques

It is common knowledge about the major benefits of jump training such as plyometrics skipping, hopping etc. This is quite simply because jumping develops an athletes ability to recruit muscle fibres, enhance their explosive power and reactive strength. Including more jumping in your karate training will improve your ability to express power quickly, known as the RFD (Rate of Force Development).

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My late teacher Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei was noted for his jumping techniques and constantly advised me to practice them to develop my power. In the standard 26 Shotokan kata the most obvious jumping techniques include the juji uke in Heian-godan, the nidan geri in Kanku-Dai, the shuto uke in Empi, the nidan geri in Gankaku, both the shuto uke and mikazuki geri/ushiro geri in Kanku-Sho, the mikazuki geri/ushiro geri in Unsu and the sankaku tobi in Meikyo. In kihon, the traditional jumping techniques are tobi yoko geri, tobi mae geri and nidan geri. However, there are countless other variations. Asai Sensei 'taught me' (whack-crunch) that all techniques can be executed with/or from a jump. “Mr. Funakoshi knew what he doing when he added the additional jumping actions into the kata. This wisdom did not come from modern sports science but rather, a lifetime of karate training, and knowledge handed down from bushi (warriors) with actual combat experience.”

Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei wrote in Best Karate 3. “Tetsuhiko Asai’s ever-changing movements, sometimes resembling a dance performed in the air, leave spectators gaping with admiration. His inimitable talent has its source in training since youth, fostering powerful hips, a flexible body, deep technical skill, excellent reflexes and nerveless courage.” Much of this strength and skill Sensei attributed to his extensive practice of jumping techniques (also techniques from a seated position, something I’ll write more about in a future article).
“Jumping with kicks, more than application is very good (karate specific) strength training, especially for young people. When you get older you can reduce, or discontinue such training, if you find it too stressful on your body”.

A brief sample routine: After a comprehensive warm up... (a) Stationary and ido-kihon; (b) Some form of kumite/partner application training i.e. - goshin-jutsu/practical application from the kata; (c) Kata; (d) Impact work; (e) Strength work... I will expand on this. Here you can incorporate a jumping technique such as tobi yoko geri until failure. Note - the jumping exercises/strength component of training is based at the end of the practice, to avoid hindering the 3 k's (kihon, kata & kumite) via fatigue. Also this way you can give 100% of your remaining energy to leap more explosively, which means you will gain the most from your jump training. Conclude the session with a thorough warm down to speed up recovery for your next practice.

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I’d like to wrap up by saying that the most important kihon training is found in standard Shotokan, however, if one wishes to maximise their karate, as discussed in this article, jumping techniques in the strength portion of your training, are very beneficial. Like so many techniques in Japanese budo, actual application is often less important than the training (& perfection of mechanics) they provide for our bodies. As the power of karate comes primarily from the legs, waist and back, developing explosive spring from the legs is crucial not only for kicking but also punching, blocking and striking. Needless to say, by transferring the power, gained from jump training, to 'horizontal drive' in the core fundamentals, we can forge very deep/penetrating techniques. Whilst a jumping technique can be effective in application, I hope that this article clarifies that they have far greater value, than merely this novelty.

© André Bertel, Japan (2010).

Tokyo Training

Over the weekend visited and taught some karate lessons in Tokyo. I was kindly hosted by Paul and Yuko Kallender Umezu at their apartment in Shibuya, and had a wonderful time there! We did a couple of hours on both Saturday and Sunday focusing on Asai Sensei’s karate, namely using junansei (softness) and snap to generate power. We also worked on Asai-ryuha koten kata and their respective oyo-jutsu (applications). Besides catching up and training with Paul and Yuko, I also caught up with Nick Gardiner (who I haven’t seen for several years), Takane Konishi and Pieter Van Wyk who I met in 2006. I really appreciate all of these guys and are very thankful for their friendship and hospitality.
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In addition to the sessions I taught, it was also a great privilege to participate in a lesson taught by Ibusuke Sakae Sensei, one of the few living karateka who was taught by Gichin Funakoshi Sensei. I was happy that he seemed to like my karate (he emphasised that "he has no time for sports budo"), and was very thankful for the tips he kindly offered. An absolute gentleman and real character! After training we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Eatalia with him. I was deeply impressed by his vast experience, manner and great sense of humour!
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Another highlight for me was the delicious dinner at Nick and Takane’s apartment in Shoto. Again, absolutely wonderful! In Oita-ben "shinken oishi."
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Overall I’d like to thank Paul, Yuko, Nick, Takane, Pieter and Ibusuki Sensei for the great training and excellent time. Also to Scott for coming along to watch the lesson, even though he was injured. Such enthusiasm for karate always impresses me deeply.

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I sincerely hope you all enjoyed the sessions and that they further enhance your karate-do. You perfectly, in the technical sense, experienced Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei's Socho-geiko (morning training). Something that very few, even the most senior Japanese instructors have experienced.

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Again, thank you all for your kindness. I am very honoured to be your friend through karate-do.

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Osu, André

© André Bertel, Japan (2010).