This site is based on my daily practice of Shotokan Karate-Do here in Oita City, Japan. More than anything else, unlike the majority of other karate websites, this page is primarily dedicated to Budo Karate training itself; that is, Karate-Do as a vehicle for holistic development.
Tuesday 29 March 2011
Sunday 20 March 2011
TACIT KARATE
Of course other traditional karate styles such as Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Ryuei-ryu and Shorin-ryu also have these techniques, which are equally effective, but with slightly different form.
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The widespread use of double punches in all of the traditional styles is highly indicative of how much they were valued by the old masters and effectively employed in hand-to-hand combat. Therefore, double punches are an excellent of example of tacit karate knowledge handed down from the past. Needless to say, tacit knowledge in karate is tactit knowledge for a good reason!
Saturday 19 March 2011
What's your stance? (The Draft)
Thursday 17 March 2011
Taking a stance!
Keriwaza II: Form & strength first, flexibility second.
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Too much focus on flexibility: Personally I believe this is where many people go wrong. My advice is to first and fore mostly develop form and strength, and SLOWLY build up flexibility to increase range of motion. Aim to have perfect gedan and chudan traditional keriwaza in slow motion and with maximum speed. If effective TRADITIONAL jodan techniques are not possible, just forget them! What I mean by `traditional keriwaza’ are kicks which travel a high path and smash upward, downward or directly into/onto the opponent with effective weapons i.e. – mawashi-geri coming down with josokutei (the ball of the foot) or sune (the shin); ushiromawashi-geri with kakato (the heel) etc.
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If you are interested in actual stretching methods or ways to improve you kicks, please do some searches here on my blog via the search engine at the top left corner of the page.
© André Bertel, New Zealand 2011.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Keriwaza I
© André Bertel. Christchurch, New Zealand 2011.
Monday 14 March 2011
Jiyu kumite no kamae
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Sunday 13 March 2011
Techniques from any movement or position: The Unpredictability of Asai Karate
Saturday 12 March 2011
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE
KUMITE
Nakayama Sensei goes on to explain three broad categories of kumite. I will continue to directly quote him here: “Basic kumite, jiyu ippon kumite and jiyu-kumite are three types of kumite.Basic kumite
In this most elementary form of kumite, the opponents take a fixed distance from each other and the target is agreed on beforehand. They then alternately practice blocking and attacking. This may be done as a single block and attack–ippon kumite–or a series of five–gohon kumite.
Jiyu ippon kumite
The late Minoru Miyata was my classmate and a colleague of mine since the founding of the Japan Karate Association. From his long years of experience, he held a clearly defined view of jiyu ippon kumite and jiyu kumite. Since he was a man who capabilities were highly evaluated by others and one whom I had very great confidence. I would like to quote him on this subject. The method of jiyu ippon kumite is this. Both men take a kamae freely at an optional distance. Announcing the area he is aiming for, the attacker attacks decisively. Against this the blocker freely uses techniques he has mastered and counterattacks at once. This is a training method; the purpose is to put into actual practice the techniques of offense and defence. This is jissen (actual fighting) kumite.” - MASATOSHI NAKAYAMA `BEST KARATE 3 - KUMITE 1'. Nakayama Sensei doesn't mention Kaeshi ippon kumite in 'Best Karate' but for those who do not practice Shotokan, I believe it is best defined (in brief) as "a form of Jiyu ippon kumite which develops `attacking zanshin".
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© André Bertel. Christchurch, New Zealand 2011.
Thursday 10 March 2011
Christchurch Earthquake Update: Train harder!
All the aftershocks should make you train harder. OSU!!!
Wednesday 9 March 2011
OI-ZUKI
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In addition to these points, relaxation to achieve superior snap, and various timing is developed in relation to the punch and propulsion of the stance. This eventually takes the technique away from being `merely oi-zuki’ (I.e - a subtle change in timing can easily turn it into oi-komi gyaku-zuki etc). Keeping the hips in hanmi, only rotating strongly into shomen at the end (timed with the stance completion, hiki-te etc) is the most powerful method. However, timing 'the movement and the arm' is hardest to defend against. All types must be practiced and employed according to the situation.