Perfect practice makes perfect

Practice must be first and fore mostly based on perfecting the FOUNDATIONAL TECHNIQUES of Karate-Do. These `Kihon-waza' are like the foundation of a house with origins in the six basic kata, namely Heian-shodan to Tekki-shodan.
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My mentor Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei (10th Dan) also gave us the five Junro kata which help us to further study the foundational techniques http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2007/06/here-is-another-article-i-originally.htmloriginally.html. The standard Shotokan-ryu kihon-gata & Asai-ryu kihon-gata combined with Yakusoku-kumite if taught in the right way result in high level karate fundamentals.

Regardless of training, what matters is CORRECT PRACTICE & REPETITIONS OF CORRECT KARATE resulting in mastery of "the core basics". Many people say "there are no short cuts" but I prefer to say "do things right from the beginning and no time and effort is wasted". In karate this requires a good instructor, which is a rarity nowadays. I know of several people in existing Shotokan dojo here in Christchurch who are not satisfied by the low level of instruction that they are recieving. All of these individuals are welcome at my dojo TETSUBUKAN and the CPIT CITY DOJO run by Lyall Stone Sensei. However... They should be prepared to be corrected. Time wasting and passing on bad habits is not a part of the syllabus we teach.

© André Bertel. Christchurch, New Zealand (2011).

In transit at Changi Airport, Singapore

The trip back to Christchurch from Japan always means we transit at Changi Airport in Singapore.

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Waiting in transit gives me time to transfer my karate training notes to my laptop and produce some articles (to fill in the time). Anyway, here are just a couple of nice pictures Mizuho took at Changi of our aircraft, and one mid-flight from Fukuoka.

All the best, Andre.

© André Bertel (2011).

From Japan to Christchurch

After a month in Japan it is time to travel back to New Zealand. The training has been fantastic, and as always, I have a lot to share with the traditional karateka in Christchurch. Thanks to everyone for the kind messages since we've been away. - OSU! (Please note: To avoid confusion this post and some others have appeared late as I did not want to write them whilst in Japan through April and early May).

© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

Karate master? Puppet? Good?

So you are GOOD AT KARATE? You are a `Karate Master'? Some people have said that I've made such claims, which is something I never have done. I once said "I am above shihan, I'm Gohan" but if you understand Japanese, you know this is an 'oyaji gag'.

A Master? No! I've been interviewed on TV in newspapers etc..., and all sorts of weird stuff has been written and said about me by reporters, including being labelled a `Master'. In saying that, everyday I try my best to perfect or `master' my karate.

A Puppet? Yes! A few times I was even been TOLD WHAT TO SAY. For example I was told once to say "kara-tee" instead of karate by a reporter, as what I was saying was "not English"... Need I say more... In the Asai Sensei interview on New Zealand National Television, almost everything I said was what Asai Sensei told me to say... If you understand the Japanese 'Senpai-kohai' relationship, you will understand this. In addition to this I've been completely misquoted several times in newspapers!

Good at Karate? That's my constant aim. My goal is to one day be 'good at karate'. In saying that I am not afraid to openly demonstrate my technique with all of its flaws. Slightly off topic... Some people have accused my uploading of karate pics & videos as being arrogant but thankfully most people appreciate them and find that they add integrity to my posts. Funnily enough the odd person that says such things you'll never see demonstrating anything online, and when you do...

I'd like to wrap up by saying that I try my best and have done so for a few decades. I don't claim to be `Good' or a `Master' in the martial arts. My experience, personal relationships with senior karateka (especially Asai Sensei), dan, competitive record, qualifications, times training in Japan, & even this blog are all a sideshow in comparison to what really matters. And WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS ONE'S OWN KARATEDO TECHNIQUE & EFFECTIVENESS. Let's talk with our skills through rigorous training and let the politicians continue acquiring their titles, ranks and authority through lame karate practice and lots of big mouthing.

© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

Korezo Karate-Do!

Karate-Do is 'The Way of the Empty Hand' implying that one must constantly empty themselves mentally to self-reflect. I believe that is an ongoing process, and as one develops, higher refinements are made. Many of the JKA (Japan Karate Association) instructors in their youth got into all sorts of trouble, but as they matured as people and karateka, they became better human beings. Asai Sensei told me " I used to love getting drunk and fighting"... I've heard the same thing from other masters also!!!

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I used to enjoy drinking, the odd cigar and was happy to oblige trouble makers: Whilst I am by no means a 'karate master' as I've aged I've certainly mellowed down, especially in recent years. In saying that my determination to better my karate has remained fired up through daily keiko. When younger I had my share of scraps, and used to enjoy drinking and the odd cigar. Nowadays I rarely have any alcohol except at very special events, and never more than a glass or two. And I would never touch tabacco in any form. As far as fighting is concerned, before I didn't mind if someone had a go at me - I'd just deal with it as necessary, whereas now I'd be very disappointed if I had to resort to using my physical skills.

Asai Sensei at one seminar said "as you all grow older you will change, and if you don't you will stagnate as people". But he also said that "sometimes people need to experience certain things to get them out of their system".

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Regardless, the key is to keep 'mentally emptying' to optimally self-analyse. Applying this to training we can constantly improve, technically and as people... THIS IS KARATE-DO!
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© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

Present from Higashihama Sensei & Mrs Higashihama

I'd like to deeply thank Higashihama Sensei & Mrs. Higashihama who last week gave me a very-very special gift.

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I was presented with a very high class male kimono, which I will certainly treasure for the rest of my life. Needless to say, Mizuho and I were blown away by this extremely kind gesture.

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Domo arigato gozaimasu!

© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

Karate the Japanese Way

Practice last week in Oita-shi was particularly focused on leg training. This was initiated each time by hillside run around the Shikido area. After this intense 10-20 minute "warm-up" lunges were performed numerous times to undeniably ensure that the legs were like jelly (and your mental focus was painfully on them).

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The rest of practice was kihon, kihon and more kihon, and attention was firstly on "using the legs to initiate power", then secondly, the hips and the abdomen. Kata and kumite was merely just an extension of this, which theoretically may seem normal, but rarely is outside of Nippon (in the most strict sense). Whether it's gyaku-zuki, driving backwards to defend in the first movement of Gankaku kata, leaping up for kesa-geri etc what matters most is legs, hips and hara (the hara also including kokyu/breathing).

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The motto for the weeks training was "Don't learn by thinking". Rather "Make automatic by doing". This is Karate The Japanese Way.

© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

JAPAN KATA TRAINING: NIJUSHIHO

The two main jokyu (advanced) kata practiced in over the month in Japan have been Bassai-sho and Asai Sensei's tokui-kata from Shotokan-ryu, Nijushiho. Today I'd just like to briefly talk about Nijushiho.

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Study of this jiyu-gata besides its vast array of effective goshin-jutsu (self-defence techniques) and kihon (fundamentals) is a near-unbroken chain of actions. I find that Nijushiho really challenges me to my limits in this regard. It is easy to "power" this kata and turn it into "just another one in the bunch", which any athletic karateka can easily do. In reality, mastery is when its fluidity and seamless integration of various speeds and powers can be seen and applied. The perfect example of this is Asai Sensei's version, which is so far technically beyond everyone else, it is most probably unattainable by anyone.

Nijushiho kata really daunts me as seeing Asai Sensei do in real life was mind b
lowing. Nevertheless, training it intensively this time in Japan, and the fact that this August 15th marks the fifth year since Asai Sensei passed away has convinced me to once again return to it, to better my skills and in memory of my late teacher. Here's a quicky link to a former post on Nijushiho including an excellent article by Paul Kallender-Umezu: http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2010/09/nijushiho.html

© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

Oita

An off topic post... Here are just a couple of personal pictures (taken during the 2011 trip to Japan) in Oita-ken. Best wishes to all of my regular readers & students, Andre.

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© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.

Some stretching tips

These photos were taken prior to training in Oita City, Japan. Maintaining junansei (softness) is critical in karate for range of motion and speed/power, and for maintaining a youthful body. Many people ask me about my stretching method, including many senior shihan here. So I thought I'd share my method with you briefly today:

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(1) Warm up with light aerobic activity achieving a decent sweat, followed by joint rotations/articulations etc;

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(2) Use stance based floor stretches building up to full splits in three directions;

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(3) Leg swings (Dynamic stretches) to the front, side, rear, and both inside and outside crescent. Use the hands as targets. I also use Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei's special junansei-taiso (such as Kihoyuragiso sono ichi, sono ni...) which I've already described fully in the past.

FINAL TIPS: (a) My advice is to always reserve PNF and Isometric stretches for the end of class (if you are to do them) along with your strength work as they can hinder technical performance/awareness due to the inherent fatigue that result from their practice; (b) Monitor your progression; and (c) Don't rush - take your time and listen to your body as your body condition changes daily. Never over-push junansei-geiko.
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© André Bertel. Kyushu, Japan 2011.