Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei: overcoming size will skill and fighting spirit

 One skill I learned a lot about, from my late mentor Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei, was to draw the opponent: then take them out on the way in. This takes not only technical skill, timing and explosiveness, but also courage (KIHAKU - 'Fighting Spirit'). Over the years this skill helped me out in 'many kumite domains'.

In sum, these points epitomize GO NO SEN and the optimal use of DEAIWAZA.

Kanazawa Hirokazu Sensei referred to my teacher as a 'speedy technician'. Shotokan's greatest trainer, Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei, in his 'Best Karate' publications went further by saying "He probably has no equals".

Mastering this ability in both Jiyu Kumite and in Jissen-Kumite is absolutely essential for smaller karateka. He always stressed to me "GO IN" and "DON'T GO BACK". At only 'Five Feet Nine' and '165 Pounds', all of that certainly applied to me: in any form of fighting, dojo and otherwise.

The following sequence from competition in the early 1960s shows Asai Sensei's prowess, in these regards, At the time he was in his late 20s. And, yes, he was much physically smaller than me. Yet, with such a small stature, he still became the JKA All-Japan Champion.

A karate LEGEND in the truest sense.

OSU

André

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