“Kata functions as the art of karate.” – Patrick McCarthy 9th dan Koryu Uchinadi . . “In karate, the most important thing is kata. Into the kata of Karate are woven every manner of attack and defense technique. Therefore, kata must be practiced properly, with a good understanding of their ‘bunkai’ meaning. . There may…
Tag: Self-Protection
There is only one opponent and he is in front of you.
“There is only one opponent and he is in front of you. Turning to face a new direction while performing the kata does not mean you are turning to face a new opponent.” ~ Seikichi Toguchi (1917-1998) . “The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in…
We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations.
“Traditional karate is what we learned from the time we started, traditional Okinawan karate. As did our elders. We learned karate that was to be used in real-life situations. If you don’t continue to train with that sense of there being a real opponent, you won’t be able to respond in that kind of…
BAD GUYS DON’T STAND STILL.
BAD GUYS DON’T STAND STILL. . When you first learn self-defense techniques, it’s natural to stand still to perform them. Static training give you and your partner time to understand what an attack feels like and allow you to coordinate your response. . However! That IS just the FIRST step. . If you believe the…
“In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods..”
“In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included.” ~ Gichin Funakoshi . Many students, and instructors, who stand toe-to-toe and exchange techniques, forget (or should that be neglect?) that at some point in a self-protection/self-defense scenario, you will undoubtably end up in a clinch….
Why karate kata are important.
Why karate kata are important. . “Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.” . This quote by Bruce Lee, I believe, means that those who refuse to change their beliefs in spite of the evidence, will never see the truth. You can show them facts and they’ll deny…
“Now use head for something other than target.”
“Now use head for something other than target.” ~ Nariyoshi Miyagi Miyago-do Karate . . When people don’t understand things, they often find it easier to create their own explanations rather than to actually find out the real explanation. We see this all the time, in every part of society. . To psychologists, this behavior…
“Every kata move is designed for use in combat.”
“Every kata move is designed for use in combat.” ~ Iain Abernethy 7th dan British Combat Association . . To some karate practitioners and instructors, karate consists of two separate things: kata or kumite. Dividing your karate into only “kumite” or only “kata”, is artificial and negative for your development as a complete karate-ka. ….
“The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood.”
“The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in the interpretation of kata movements. In extreme cases, it is sometimes heard that “this kata moves in 8 directions so it is designed for fighting 8 opponents” or some such nonsense.” . Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) founder of Shito-Ryu…
Karate does not have any one style.
“Recently, some Karate men have used funny and strange sounding names for their own styles of Karate. A Karate man of this kind does not have a real understanding or knowledge of the orthodox Karate or he has no confidence in his ability as a Karate man. He uses these funny sounding names for his…
Kata is not an alternative or substitute for two-man training.
“If you can prove that the techniques that you are teaching are realistic and valid, then your Bunkai will stand up to scrutiny, in other words if it don’t work then don’t teach it.” ~ John Johnson 8th dan – Adaptive Karate . . 形. Kata is not an ‘alternative’ or ‘substitute’ for two-man training;…
OKINAWAN KARATE. THE ORIGINAL MMA. . We are all human. Therefore, every style is limited to the same movements. The only difference is in the method of training. Karate originated on the island of Okinawa, a melting pot of combative knowledge. Combined with their native form of wrestling (Tegumi), Okinawan karate began as an effective…