Training schedule updated

Kihon: (1) Chudan oi-zuki (fudo-dachi); (2) Jodan age-uke kara mawashi-geri, uraken yokomawashi uchi soshite chudan oi zuki; (3) Chudan soto-uke karate yori-ashi (kiba-dachi) yoko empi uchi, uraken yokomawashi uchi doji ni mae-ashi yoko-kekomi soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (4) Chudan shuto-uke (kokutsu-dachi) kara mae-ashi mae-geri soshite shihon nukite; (5) Chudan uchi-uke kara jodan kizami-zuki soshite chudan gyaku-zuki; (6) Chudan mae-ashi mae-geri kara jodan mae geri; (7) Chudan mae-ashi mawashi-geri kara jodan mawashi-geri; (8) Ushiro-geri kara uraken yokomawashi uchi soshite gyaku-zuki; (9) Yoko-kekomi ashi o kaete yoko keage (kiba-dachi); (10) Jodan shuto yokomawashi uchi kara jodan shuto uchimawashi uchi.

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KEY POINTS: - (a) Transfer of body weight especially in regards to keriwaza with the lead leg. (b) Natural as opposed to extreme shomen and hanmi (Asai Sensei style - i.e 10% lead hip forward in shomen & around 45% for hanmi). And (c) Leg/foot coordination.

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Kata: (Kihon-gata) A variety of Heian, Junro, Tekki & Kibaken; (Sentei-gata) Jion; (Shotokan ryu jiyu-gata) Unsu; and (Asai ryu koten-gata) Yokotawaru-tatsu &
Kakuyoku-sandan.

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Kumite

Special focus on sen no sen via uchikomi training. Recently much training in class, and in my private lessons/trainings has been specifically for jiyu-kumite. The key focus in this practice has been correct maai for "optimal effect" in the traditional sense.

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© André Bertel. New Zealand, 2010.

Karate is like language

The elements which make up karate can be compared to the main components of language. Consider phonology (sounds), morphology (words), syntax (sentences), semantics (the study of words and their meaning) and pragmatics (use).

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Phonology: Phonology is like the state of the body, control of breath and emotional control, posture and visual focus, all of which need to be fully applied if even the most fundamental technique is to be maximised.
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Morphology & syntax: The actual kihon-waza are like words, and renzokuwaza are like sentences. Taking this further, and if you string enough sentences together, you create paragraphs, and eventually essays and books. Needless to say, these are comparable to kata.
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Semantics (or the study of words and their meaning) runs parallel with our study of karate techniques and their respective meanings. We must therefore work to explore karate, searching for deeper understanding. Whilst being academic, this study, like semantics, is not only cognitive play, but rather "to do things better".
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And finally pragmatics which is how we use kihon and kata, how to apply it, which is expressed in kumite and goshin-jutsu (the methods of self-defence).

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Analysing karate in this way and we can see why we have "The Three K's" - Kihon, Kata & Kumite. Over the years I've heard about some people absurdly claiming to be kumite or kata specialists. This is fine, if people play karate as a sport, but is totally inadequate for those wishing to follow karate, as effective budo (martial arts). In many ways karate is now dead, and this is because most people either practice it watered-down, or simply the `parts they need' to win tournaments.

© André Bertel. New Zealand, 2010.

Distance & Body Power

Kicking at close range is an important skill just like punching from long range. This is because regardless of the maai (distance) in all cases `body power' must be maximised, not merely the striking limb.

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A very important tip for all karateka is to study how to best transfer bodyweight into a target via tai no shinshuku (contraction & expansion of the body), koshi no kaiten (hip rotation) and snap. Practice this by short and long range tehniques at various distances, and without compromising the full use of one's full body power.

© André Bertel. New Zealand, 2010.

Natsukashii desu

There were two seperate Matsuno JKA (Japan Karate Association) groups in New Zealand throughout the 1990's. One in Auckland under Abe Sensei, and my dojo in Christchurch under JKA Chief Instructor Tetsuhiko Asai. When I returned from Japan in 1993 there were already leadership issues & Asai Sensei didn't want me or my affiliated clubs to merge with the `Abe group'. It was a hard time for me as I was merely a young JKA 4th Dan.

This photo from 1990's was recently given to me and is from this time. It features a young Lyall Stone Sensei, now chief instructor of the CPIT Karate Club, and me without the grey hair, when I was the chief instructor of Asai Sensei's JKA New Zealand/Tetsubukan group.

Honto ni natsukashii desu!

PS - I was asked by members to put up a current photo of Lyall Sensei & me now. This is from instructor training last week and is courtesy of Song Gwang Hoon.

© André Bertel. New Zealand, 2010.