EVERYTHING IN KARATE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH TRAINING

Here are some images from my self-training today, which is always humbling in relation to the skills of my seniors here in Japan - both past and present. 

Of course, EVERYTHING IN KARATE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH TRAINING. Just as we bow, before and after Kihon, Kata and Kumite.

押忍！ アンドレ

©︎ André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2024).

The criticality of Impact Training (furthermore, their inclusion in both Kyu and Dan Exams)

Kizami mawashi-geri utilizing josokutei/koshi on the impact shield.

 While those who practice 武道空手 (Budo Karate) all practice ‘joint locks, attacks, holds and escapes’, ‘strangulation techniques’ and ‘takedowns, sweeps and throws’, it goes without saying that “…the ‘primary offensive techniques of karate are percussive blows’; namely, ‘uke—receptions’, ‘tsuki—thrusts’, ‘uchi—strikes’ and ‘keri—kicks’”.

Accordingly, “…to be able to impact with as much explosive power as possible is high on the agenda”. This is because this aspect largely determines the effectiveness of one’s karate.


Interestingly, for the most part (in the vast majority of Shotokan organizations), this capacity is not a part of examinations for Kyu nor Dan.


We rectified this in the 国際空手道松濤館 (“IKS” — International Karate Shotokan) Japan Grading Syllabus. Specific impact tests are conducted from 8th Kyu up to, and including, Nidan. This involves hitting a shield or sandbag with maximum power. Level One is 8th and 7th Kyu; Level Two is 6th, 5th, and 4th Kyu; Level Three is 3rd, 2nd and 1st Kyu; Level Four is Shodan; and Level Five is Nidan.


In this way, and like other aspects of the IKS Grading Syllabus, the requirements ‘direct our members to train karate correctly’ right from white belt; that is, Shotokan as actual Budo/Bujutsu. This is why impact training is a part of our daily kihon practice. We are ‘tempering the swords’ so to speak.


Think of solo kihon and kata as like practicing your ‘quick draw, positioning and aim’, whereas the impact training is like ‘firing at the target’ and ‘inflicting damage’. Do you have an ‘air-soft gun with plastic projectiles’ or a ‘.500 S&W Magnum with .500 S&W Magnum Cartridges’? While this is an analogy of extremes, it highlights that one must find where are ‘on the impact power spectrum’ and constantly seek to make one’s karate-waza as destructive as possible.

Otherwise, how can one’s karate truly be reliable?

It is obvious that karateka must constantly study and train to hit harder. Indeed, they must also be used to, and master, hitting with maximum force. Furthermore, when insufficient strength is found, one must address this by incorporating more strength training.

In actuality, solo form work must be coupled with impact training and an appropriate strength regime (specific for each individual). In the case of smaller and/or weaker karateka, this will inevitably require more work. Alternatively, in some cases, for those with more strength and/or mass, increasing speed might be of a greater focus.

Keep in mind, true karate cannot be developed by merely striking thin air; therefore, impact training and the assessment of impact power are inherently essential.

押忍！ 

アンドレ

Kaiten-uraken combination on the sandbag.

©︎ André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2024).

Kihon: The art of 'technical isolation' to correct and improve

If one is aiming to optimize their karate it is essential to constantly use KIHON (Fundamental) training to both eradicate weak points, superfluous actions and/or errors; furthermore, and obviously, to increase one's skill level.

Just mindlessly doing kihon over and over again, which people often get into a rut doing, is inadequate for achieving these goals.

Now, I am not saying that repetition is bad, of course it is absolutely necessary; however, repetition of correct actions (with targeted objectives) is utterly paramount. This means repeating things which, as outlined above, and I will repeat again here: either (a) eradicate weaknesses; (b) remove superfluous actions; (c) correct errors; (d) improve skill (form, speed, power, agility, smoothness, etcetera); or any combination of these.

This is especially important for higher Dan grades and is the only way in which they can achieve a truly high karate level and keep improving.

There is also another consideration in these regards: "...age, 'wear and tear', illness, and injuries." Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei particularly highlighted these points and expanded 'JKA Shotokan' with additional techniques and kata which are more natural and, thus, easier on the body. In this way, one's karate can continue to evolve and improve irrespective of age and bodily condition.

Nonetheless, only by adapting the aforementioned approach to kihon can one optimize both standard Shotokan, and the extensions of it, by Asai Sensei and, indeed, the other great karate masters. 

To conclude, keep in mind that kihon is ISOLATION TRAINING FOR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, therefore, "...it should be highly focused with decisive objectives to correct and/or improve your karate-waza". Accordingly, Kihon is your training time to inject increased quality into your Kata and Kumite.

Reviewing today's training: Sunday, November 10th, 2024.

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2024).

Trainee from New Zealand: Andrew Makin (Yondan)

 Andrew Makin (4th Dan JKA), originally from South Africa, came from New Zealand.

It was great to have him here as a RENSHUSEI in Oita at the dojo.

I worked with him on his Tekki Sandan, Nijushiho and Meikyo.

Also, corrections on Kihon and engagement in the various forms of kumite.

Overall, as a fellow dragon, 12 years older than me, he did very well through the trainings and clearly improved through them.

押忍 (OSU)!!

André 

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2024).

百聞は一見に如かず

百聞は一見に如かず (Hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu). This Japanese saying is the equivalent of 'picture is worth a thousand words' in English. While it is different it is understood in the same way. Accordingly, here are a few images from my self-training yesterday and today: November 1st, 2024.

These couple of days I went through all of IKS Exam Kihon (for Shodan and Nidan). Also, kata Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan and Yondan; Sochin; Kakuyoku Shodan and Nijushiho.

In all cases, the focus was on fine-detailed technical skills.

押忍!

アンドレ  バーテル

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2024).