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| Asai Sensei targeting my carotid arteries with Migi kakuto (koken) jodan yokomawashi uchi mawashi-uchi. He was completely unpredictable as his karate was like a chameleon. |
A critical aspect of developing effective Budo techniques (which I find is often insufficiently trained in contemporary karate), is developing 'SPONTANEOUS ADAPTATIONS'.
What I mean by this is not just externally perfecting classical techniques (form, speed/power, and applications) but "...being able to instantly alter and/or change them immediately in any given moment and in accordance with the situation; moreover, to optimize their effectiveness".
A very simple example of this might be a kick changing angles to avoid the opponents changing guard and still hitting an effective target with sufficient impact power.
In fact, techniques (no matter how precise and sharp they may be) are not mastered without the ability to 'spontaneously adapt' in a freestyle context, whether that is dojo jiyu-kumite, shiai (competition) or self-defense.
I'd go as far to say that this is one of the biggest misconceptions in karate at this present time; hence, my opening statement in this article.
The reality is, that being able to master spontaneous adaptation with techniques, requires 'a lot of work'. Of course, this is an understatement. This is why different masters have their 'TOKUI-WAZA'. And no master, even the legends like my mentor Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei, could master everything. In fact, it is not uncommon for the best experts to be specialists in less than a handful of techniques or category of techniques. In the case of Asai Sensei, it was his muchiken (whip-fist techniques, which were not limited to the arms but also ashiwaza), tenshin (rotation) and evasive techniques (tai-sabaki, head movement/ducking etc...).
To clarify, 'Tokui-waza' is/are technique(s) which can be applied irrespective of what the opponent does and in any circumstance. This because they are technically mastered on all levels. This is one of the strongest points of boxing each technique is trained to adapt. There are only several types of punches but there are numerous ways to execute each of them.
Another such example is batting in baseball. Just being able to swing a bat strongly is certainly not enough, nor merely being able accurately hit the ball being pitched at high speed. There are offensive and defensive angles, and numerous other factors, which must be spontaneously adapted to by the hitter. Otherwise, their batting skills will not be consistently reliable.
Think of a mawashi-geri and the numerous angles it can be thrown. Certainly, this is critical in relation to you and your opponent's Maai (Meeting distance and positioning); Unsoku (Footwork); Kamae (Guard); Kogeki/ Hangeki (Attack and/or Counterattack); and so on. Also, must consider strategic lead-in's such as Shikake (Set ups) and Kenseiwaza (Feinting techniques).
To conclude, MASTERY OF TECHNIQUES not only means form, speed, power, distancing and accuracy. It requires SPONTANEOUS AND EFFECIVE ADAPTABILITY IN KUMITE in the dojo; shiai-jo; and indeed, in self-defense.
© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2025).
