Martial Views

How To Be A 'Class A' Karate-ka

2012-01-12T00:21:00.009-05:00

Peter Urban (l.) vs. Don Nagle in an exhibition match, New York, 1962

One of the first books written on karate authored by an American was The Karate Dojo: Traditions and Tales of a Martial Art by Peter Urban. Urban studied Goju-ryu in Japan under Gogen Yamaguchi before establishing a school in Chinatown, New York.

First published in 1967, the reader should appreciate that this was an era of massive cultural upheaval in the US, some of it for the worse: crime and drug abuse were on the increase, in addition to an unprecedented "lack of respect for authority" as Urban saw it. One of his goals was to have authoritarians learn karate so they could command respect from their otherwise disrespectful charges.

The blackboard jungle that is all too common in American cities would cease to exist if teenagers knew that their teachers' knowledge encompassed more than history or mathematics, that they also had knowledge of the art of self-defense.

Urban also sought to have karate become an integral part of law enforcement training and to be taught in public schools. He felt that crime, neurosis and unhappiness would be reduced if society embraced the spiritual tenets of karate that fostered discipline, self-improvement and character.

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Aside from the guidance of a competent sensei, Urban's view was that trainees should be held responsible for their own progress. He is very stern about putting karate into a sincere and proper perspective. Throughout the book we find passages relating to fearlessness, forgoing the effects of pain and how "true Karatemen" should train while on the mat and behave when out and about.

The centerpiece of the book features a chart on self-examination utilizing attributes that fall into three basic classes: A, B and C. A is the stuff of black belts and masters. The B variety are hobbyists on a good day. C guys are losers or manic depressives or both.

(Click to expand)

In the same section a second chart dispenses with philosophy and focuses on the sparring and training habits of Class A "Lightweight", "Middleweight" and "Heavyweight" trainees.

The Karate Dojo, while not the best of its genre, is still a decent book and at 145 pages is a quick read. Peter Urban was karate pioneer in the US who truly sought to bring his art to become a mainstay of American culture and society.

The Way of Holmes

2011-12-30T00:10:00.010-05:00

Just viewed the new movie Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Highly recommended. Holmes' character, nicely portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. and originally penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is part sleuth, part whack job and all martial arts extraordinaire.

Holmes' "curse", as he calls it, is an all encompassing, all consuming sense of acute awareness that gives him surveillance of his surroundings with impeccable scrutiny and detail. His ninja-like methods of stealth includes cross-dressing and "urban camouflage", the latter of which allows him to blend in with anything from a bookcase to a sofa. The cinematic Holmes also possesses a form of strategic precognition that plays out in his consciousness how an altercation with one or more adversaries could likely happen. Similar to reenacting kata in your head, so to speak. Sans for his irrational fear of horses, Holmes is calm and steady regardless of circumstances.

Holmes' martial prowess, on screen played out with typical Hollywood flair, gets comparatively short shrift in the original written version. Doyle does mention on one occasion that Holmes is a practitioner of "baritsu [sic], a system of Japanese wrestling."

In truth, Bartitsu was developed in 1898 by E.W. Barton-Wright, a British judoka who combined elements of grappling, la canne (stick fighting suitable for a walking cane or an umbrella), fisticuffs, and any other nasty method of street fighting he picked up during his long travels abroad working as a civil engineer for railway and mining companies. Barton-Wright spent three years in Japan studying jiu-jitsu and then judo under Jigoro Kano. Kano-san would've been more than happy to give his English disciple a black belt with the promise of bringing judo back to the United Kingdom. But the promising student had other ideas.

Upon his return to England, Barton-Wright promptly established his "new art of self defense" and the popularity of Bartitsu quickly spread throughout London. Barton-Wright was interested in promoting his style as a combative system; he felt sports such as boxing were hampered by rules and favored attributes such as size and strength. As such Bartitsu was also marketed towards women's self defense.

The Bartitsu Club was also a haven for boxers, fencers, savateurs (French kickboxers) and grapplers of various systems including jiu-jitsu and schwingen, a style of Swiss wrestling. In addition to self-defense, Barton-Wright provided physical therapy at his venue.

By 1903 the apparent novelty of Bartitsu had lost its steam. In its place, jiu-jitsu and judo continued to thrive in England. Barton-Wright eventually resumed his physical therapy practice but continued to teach Bartitsu privately until about 1920.

In recent years there has been a revival in interest in Bartitsu, due in part I'm sure, to the relatively recent development of MMA, (the ancient Greek art of Pankration underwent a similar resurrection) and will likely get an even bigger surge from a pair of really cool Sherlock Holmes flicks. The "new art" of Bartitsu is new once again. It's elementary.

Don't Quit Your Day Job

2011-12-23T11:30:00.001-05:00

Somebody I know wants to open a karate school and devote himself to it full time. He says he's done plenty of research and introspection on the matter and believes he's up to the task. A lot of uncertainty here, I tell my friend, as the state of the economy and the current lack of popularity of traditional martial arts would be potential obstacles. Martial arts clubs come and go frequently, even when times are good.

I will say that the ones that do endure seem to be run by people that are doing it exclusively, full time. Maybe that's the secret.

I'll share another "secret" with you. If you want to stay in the martial arts game for the long haul you must consider teaching.

But is becoming a professional martial arts teacher an advisable career choice?

The average salary for a martial arts instructor where I live is at present $40K/yr. Now if you started at something like that it wouldn't be too bad. The cost of living is murder in Greater New York; forty grand won't get you too far here. Subsidizing your income with something else sounds like the ticket, but like I said, it's the full timers that seem to have the most success. One local guy who runs an American kenpo school has been at the same site for twenty-two years! That's extraordinary. He has a huge place with hundreds of students. Again, teaching martial arts is all he does.

When Tatsuo Shimabuku was commissioned by the US government to teach karate to Marines in the fifties he was paid $300/mo. for his services. Prior to that he was a farmer, but even after he got his teaching gig he still maintained a fortune telling business that he ran on the opposite side of his dojo under his real name, Shinkichi. Somebody who trained with him on Okinawa told me his fortune telling services were in high demand as his predictions were 97 percent accurate. Shimabuku's contemporaries must have seen him as a sell-out for teaching US servicemen karate for money (in due time many of them followed suit anyway) but Shimabuku correctly predicted he would be laughing all the way to the bank.

Abuse of Power

2011-12-12T11:58:00.002-05:00

Recently a karate school owner told me he picked up an entire family of students courtesy of abuse attributed to their former instructor. Apparently the young boy spilled water on the deck and was summarily back fisted in the chest by the burly sensei. Great marketing ploy. One wonders if this genius has a good attorney to counter these episodes. Sadly, stories of this ilk are fairly common. In fact this particular account is relatively tame.

The following comes from a news report concerning a judo club in Japan:

A Japanese court on Wednesday found a martial arts instructor guilty over the death of a six-year-old boy, a court official said, in the first criminal case over judo training in Japan.

It is the first criminal case filed by Japanese prosecutors against judo trainers, according to a victims' group, despite over 100 child deaths blamed on harsh training or hazing between 1983 and 2010.

The 36-year-old instructor, who owned a private judo club in Osaka, admitted he threw the boy excessively in training. The boy died in November last year from brain swelling, local reports said.

In Japan, judo hazing has a lengthy history and I suppose it was only a matter a time before this practice had a trickle-down effect to the kids' class.

Whenever there is a rigid hierarchy in place with passive or helpless bystanders there exists the propensity for anything from bullying to full blown physical abuse. We see this in institutions such as prisons, public schools, hospitals and nursing homes.

In 1971 the social psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment at Stanford University to simulate a prison environment using students as prisoners and guards. The "prisoners" were even picked up at home donning jail garb and brought to the basement of the school's psychology department to begin their "sentence." But the experiment had to be stopped after just six days as the behavior of the "guards" far exceeded the expectations of Zimbardo and his colleagues. Prisoners were subjected to being sprayed with fire extinguishers, cleaning toilets with their bare hands and performing pushups with the guards standing on their backs, among other things I'd rather not go into.

This sort of dehumanizing behavior can translate into the power structure of a martial arts school. Some sensei let their own sense of power get the better of them. As one blogger puts succinctly:

The instructor's ego is one of the most dangerous opponents the student will ever face. Sometimes it is obvious. Martial arts has a hierarchy and a power dynamic and in too many places competency is not tested and compassion is assumed. It is a sweet spot for bullies and predators. Where else can you hurt people and they pay you and say, "Thank you, Master." What bully wouldn't get off on that?

Indeed. The following illustrates thusly:

DISCLAIMER: explicitly violent

Enhance Your Kata

2011-11-24T12:05:00.001-05:00

If you believe that learning one new kata after another is the only way you'll advance in rank at your school you're right. You would also be right to conclude that knowing the full canon of kata your system offers as opposed to a few or even none will not make you a better practitioner. Thus, your assertion that kata has survived hitherto is likely due to their usage for promotions and as a handy way to kill class time is further proof of your astuteness. Congratulations, you've been cursed with the capacity for critical thinking.

Realize that learning kata just to get your next belt or trophy at the local tournament will not lead to any kind of enlightenment. Neither will churning out hackneyed renditions of kata day after day. Variations (henka) in training methods are key to applying and understanding combative principles. Plus, it's more fun learning that way.

Here are some useful ideas to jazz up your kata regimen. They'll work equally well with either the empty-handed or weapons (kobudo) variety:

Opposite side. This means just what it says. Everything is done as if it were a mirror image. If your form opens with a left middle-block followed by a right reverse punch, switch to a right middle-block followed by a left reverse punch, and so on. The late Glenn Morris, author of Martial Arts Madness opined that performing opposite side kata will help "open your meridians" or invisible energy channels in your body. For my black belt test (shodan) I was required to know the first five karate kata (of eight) on the opposite side. It was a pain to figure out, and no, I didn't feel my meridians open.

High speed. This method makes practical sense. Speed is essential in external styles such as karate. Besides, nobody is going to attack you at tournament kata speed anyway. The trick here is to not make the form look like a train wreck when you're trying to fly through it.

Low speed. Perform your kata like a tai chi form. Slowing down the form will bring a heightened awareness to whether you're executing your techniques properly and accurately. Here's an opportunity to take stock of important things like stance-depth and foot alignment which have the propensity to get glossed over during normal sessions of kata training.

Defend against attackers. I have heard that kata really began as two-person forms; only later did they become solo exercises. Can you perform your kata in its entirety against the arranged "attacks" found in the form? Performing the kata against two or more choreographed attackers is a great way to demonstrate what the functions of the whole kata is really all about. In Isshinryu karate Bo-bo kumite is a two-person form that simulates what a sparring session could look like featuring a pair of practitioners attacking and defending using 6-foot staffs. With a bit of tweaking this form can be made to look like real combat.

These are just a few suggestions to enhance your kata routine. In truth, I've never been a huge fan of kata. Still, I practice them religiously and I probably will as long as I'm able to. Have fun!

The Way of Spock

2011-11-05T11:40:00.007-05:00

Striking Thought's post on Captain Kirk's fighting prowess immediately conjured up images of his first officer's skill in Vulcan kyushu waza. Kirk was a hack compared to Mr. Spock.

Actually, there may be some real science to the Vulcan nerve pinch, applied exclusively to the base of the neck. The neck is home to the apex of the (cervical) spine which enters the medulla and a ganglia of neurons, synapses and baroreceptors which are responsible for blood flow to the brain via the carotid artery.*

A shuto to the side of the neck, delivered properly, will cause unconsciousness, but high level exponents can perform a variant of this rather neat trick with little effort. I've been assured by colleagues that Seiyu Oyata of Ryu-te karate has developed a variety of hand strikes that specifically target the carotid sinus on the neck that has put the lights out on enough uke to quiet naysayers and skeptics. (On a side note: Oyata is the real deal as his services for demonstrating bunkai [forms applications] were in high demand in my area at one time. High ranking people from various Okinawan karate styles turned out in droves at his workshops and then modified his tutorials to fit their syllabi. Alas, nobody could duplicate his deft touch-to-the-neck KO move.)

Now if I can just figure out this mind-meld thing Spock does I'm in business.

*Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder 2005. The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide to Deciphering Martial Applications. YMMA Publication Center.

Bizarre Self-Defense

2011-10-25T10:25:00.004-05:00

An email I received entitled "13 Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You" included a piece about one Val Glinka who teaches a peculiar self-defense tip at an Ohio public school. Apparently this story has been circulating for a couple of years but this is the first time I've seen it. Here's the gist of it:

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades.

It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out."

With a little research we find that this Val Glinka does exist and the story about insecticide as a crime deterrent may not be all hooey. There are, however, legal ramifications involving the use of a product controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for purposes other than its intended design. Interestingly, using a Louisville Slugger for purposes other than baseball doesn't bear exactly the same liability.

I'm not convinced bug spray would actually be more effective than pepper spray in a self-defense scenario such as a break-in. Actually, I have my doubts. Just keep your doors locked at night and keep that baseball bat handy.

Cultivating Wisdom

2011-10-23T23:15:00.002-05:00

The classic Chinese text, the Bubishi, was passed down through numerous generations of teachers to students of quanfa (kung fu) until it finally arrived in Okinawa in the mid-to-late 1800s where it had a profound impact on the development of karate. A diverse tome, the Bubishi covers an array of subjects on martial arts such as fighting techniques, healing methods, and philosophy.

I'm not an advocate of gleaning self-defense methods from a book, and traditional Chinese medicine is commonly viewed as snake oil by even modern Chinese physicians. But the following portion of this ancient text, ideas clearly inspired by Daoism, Confucianism and Zen, are timeless tenets to live by for anyone in any culture.

Laws of Wisdom

1. Let anger be your enemy.
2. Remember, an empty vessel makes the most noise.
3. Patience is the foundation upon which security and long life rest.
4. Know well your station in life.
5. Trustworthy reputations are only gained from virtuous merit.
6. Success is the fruit of the strong and wise.
7. Delay is the best remedy for anger.
8. Those who will be enlightened are the ones who live moderate lives, have simple tastes, consume natural foods, and pursue the wisdom of the sages.
9. Remain honest in your heart, true to your discipline, and refrain from overindulgence, and you will enjoy great rewards in life.
10. Mind your manners and your own business.
11. Discretion is the better part of valor.
12. The barriers of human achievement lie only in the mind.
13. An idle mind is a demon's workshop.
14. Justice exists for those who live according the Way, as these are one and the same.
15. Be happy without cause and make the best of what you have.
16. True friendship knows no boundaries.
17. It is a humble virtue to be wealthy and not affected by it.
18. Cause and effect are mutually consistent.
19. Despair is the conclusion of fools. Tomorrow's success is built upon yesterday's failures. Live in the here and now. Do not seek more but learn to enjoy less.

SOURCE: Patrick McCarthy 1995. The Bible of Karate: Bubishi. Tuttle Publishing.

Tale of Two Students

2011-10-13T16:00:00.000-05:00

The following accounts are true and happened this past week. Names have been changed for obvious reasons.

Marge has been training at our school for about three years. She works two jobs, has a young child and is occasionally harassed by her loutish ex-husband that she finally managed to get an order of protection from. Three nights ago this dumbass shows up at her apartment, drunk and feeling amorous, and grabs Marge by her wrists. Big mistake. I teach two counters for this maneuver. Marge used variation #2: hop back into neko-dachi and forward leg kick the assailant in the groin. Her ex drops like a sack of bricks, gets up, swings with a haymaker that barely misses and is greeted with a projectile glass pitcher to the head (not taught by me). The jerk runs out of her place bleeding from a nasty head wound while Marge goes to a neighbor to call the police. (Fortunately her youngster was with a relative while all of this was going down.) He's in jail now for a variety of charges and is recovering from a mild concussion. Marge showed me the glass pitcher she hurled at this guy. It never broke, the thing's huge and feels like it weighs about ten pounds. He should consider himself lucky to be alive. Marge is doing okay and attributes her training to her ability to survive and get through all of this.

Stan is another intermediate trainee with a few years under his belt. He's thirtysomething, single, and works in an office for a big company. Recently he was awarded with an "Employee of the Month" certificate that, among other things, entitles him to a reserved parking spot. A co-worker took it upon himself to steal Stan's hard-earned parking spot which is clearly marked for these kind of employees. Stan locates the guy and politely but firmly tells him not to do that again while that spot is reserved for him. The space-stealer apologizes profusely and hasn't done it since. One could say that Stan had an attachment to his reserved spot at work; that he felt entitled to it, which he was. But Stan saw this in a bigger and broader context. Before karate training Stan saw himself as non-confrontational and fearful of standoffs of any kind. Stan's ability to speak up for himself like this was unprecedented and the experience left him feeling liberated and at ease.

Stories like this are meaningful because they illustrate how valuable karate practice can be. Marge's case was extreme; her life was at risk and she had no choice but to resort to the jutsu or technical aspects of karate to protect herself. Thank god she's alright, and I've been given good reason to believe that this episode won't repeat itself for her.

Stan's story was far less dramatic - he was never in any physical danger - but his self-respect was at stake. He was not acquainted at all with the co-worker who took his parking spot and had no idea how confronting him would turn out. Given this uncertainty, Stan was nonetheless resolved to fix this problem and conducted himself admirably.

Both students exemplify the spirit of karate-do: The ability and willingness to take one's training outside the dojo with effective and positive results.

Master Ken Needs Your Help

2011-09-21T23:00:00.004-05:00

Master Ken wants people in the martial arts community to spread the word about his reality show which chronicles the most lethal martial art known to man: Ameri-Do-Te.

Actually he needs money to keep his series going.

I first saw one of these Enter The Dojo episodes at TDA Training. Aside from the fact that this parody of the martial arts has great comedic potential, it's at times a little close to home. Through the years I've met my share of Master Kens, and believe me, these characters in real life are not funny at all. I bristle to think how many "instructors" are woefully incompetent, think they're killing machines, and then devise their own systems of self-defense complete with contracts, camouflage belts and disdain for other styles.

Master Ken: Short on moolah. Long on chutzpah.

Getting Wasted

2011-09-05T21:34:00.005-05:00

Isshinryu karate founder Shimabuku used to say "All bottles are good." This is supposedly a reference to different styles or techniques found in the martial arts. Students tend to embellish and over-interpret everything the master says. Who knows, maybe he was just talking about various types of booze.

Speaking of alcohol, I've always been curious about Zui quan - the Drunken style. The story is that some kung fu guy gets hammered one night and spontaneously creates a new style via inebriation.

Here's a clip featuring a Drunken practitioner (in black) going up against somebody from Kyokushin karate. Kyokushin is a rough and tumble full-contact style. Zui quan attempts to use a convoluted, desynchronized approach to fighting.

Now you could argue that the Drunken guy is a poor exponent, that perhaps Zui quan relies more on its forms or that it has other aims besides combat effectiveness. But this Drunken fighter basically has no game plan that allows him to score anything at all or even ward off the efforts of the Kyokushin man. All bottles are good, but they're clearly not the same.

Breaking The Cycle of Violence

2011-08-22T00:05:00.004-05:00

Are we becoming more violent? Any casual observer of world news could conclude so: Arab Spring, the recent English riots and other events of this ilk are supposedly linked to social or cultural imbalance of one sort or another. Winston Churchill's definition of history being "one damn thing after another" seems to be prevailing these days.

Martial arts-related books bearing titles such as Meditations on Violence and The Little Black Book of Violence: What Every Young Man Needs to Know About Fighting are stark reminders of who and what we are as a species.

In Classical Budo we find Donn Draeger's view is that

Man has yet to prove that he is naturally endowed with enough flexibility of mind to permit him to eliminate completely prejudices against and distrust of his fellow man. He has not reduced his emphasis on the improvement of the first of his primitive technologies -- the making of weapons and combative systems used for the destruction of his own kind -- a fact that continues to urge him to dress his political and industrial institutions in a martial manner.

But take heart, says evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker. We're actually far less violent than our ancestors were.

I had posted an article on how I felt that the violence could be bred merely by witnessing it in various guises: internet, news reports, and violent-laden entertainment. Pinker asserts that violent tendencies in individuals lean more towards genetics than environment, however. Despite that, we still have an obligation to break the cycle of violence for future generations if we are to survive at all. As A.J. Muste once said, "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."

Kata: Theatrics vs. Function

2011-08-07T22:23:00.004-05:00

The Karate Thoughts Blog has a piece on tournament kata that caught my eye. While I agree that kata "is a rehearsal for an unfortunate, grave situation" I believe that there's more to these ancient forms and as a former competitor I'd like to offer my two cents.

Kata translates as "form" and on a certain level are artistic in nature. Aspects of aesthetic form includes maintaining correct stances throughout, proper foot alignment, looking before changing directions, and the execution of clean and precise techniques. In a good kata performance there should be a certain amount of gusto or passion evident but not so much that it becomes distracting or annoying. Most rulebooks on kata competition advise that judges should penalize competitors for trying to enhance kata with gymnastics or other crowd pleasing tricks such as too much or exaggerated kiai.

According to AAU karate rules, the kata must be performed with competence and must demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles it contains. Trying to convey a "clear understanding" of principles from swatting air seems like a tall order. How can anyone tell what the performer understands in the kata from a mere performance? Does an overly dramatic performance of kata necessarily imply that the practitioner is ignorant of the form's applications?

I'm generally in favor of tournament kata because it gives the practitioner the opportunity to perform and test out skills in an unfamiliar setting. But putting too much emphasis on trophies and even aesthetics can be an obstacle. Kata without an understanding of its self-defense applications (bunkai) are worthless. At any rate, when performing kata one should be engaged enough to convey a serious attitude sans the dramatics, while at the same time light enough to enjoy what you're doing. I see nothing wrong with that.

Judomaster!

2011-07-20T00:00:00.003-05:00

With the current trend of comic book superhero flicks (Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, with more to follow I'm sure) here's a character I'd like to see on the silver screen. Judomaster was put out by Charlton and DC Comics and had a brief run in the late 60s. I actually had a copy of this issue you see to the left that cost a cool twelve cents in June, 1967.

Judomaster's real life alter ego is Hadley "Rip" Jagger, a World War II US Army sergeant who learns judo from a Pacific island chieftain named Sensei. When Rip gets his judo down, Sensei rewards him with a colorful action suit so he can return to combat and win the war. Hardly molded in the image of Clark Kent, Sgt. Jagger is not your mild mannered type as he was previously schooled in boxing, hand-to-hand combat, weaponry and a myriad of martial arts. Sumo wrestlers, acrobats and ninjas were no match for the cross training Judomaster.

I did have the #95 issue -- I have no idea what it would be worth now or if it's even considered collectible. It disappeared about the same time my prized Hot Wheels collection vanished. Later, a female version of Judomaster made an appearance in comic books. Definitely more my speed. Looks like she's more of a ground fighter than her predecessor. Hey, if they do a movie they already have a sequel.

The Modern Bully

2011-07-14T09:45:00.003-05:00

Has anyone noticed the new War on Bullying? Bullying has been getting a lot of press and has become quite the catch phrase. Bullying or peer intimidation pervades many aspects of our daily existence: in the workplace, schools, and now especially, the internet. Facebook and other social networking services have been linked to a number of suicides committed by distraught teenagers being harassed online. Perceived psychological abuse has its way of being just as damaging as the physical kind. Of course bullies shaking down smaller and weaker kids for their lunch money still happens and the new anti-bullying legislation being proposed probably won't have much of an effect in public schools where "zero-tolerance" is already in force. I can't blame the school system for trying. It has been suggested that the Columbine High School massacre was carried out by a pair of chronic victims of classroom bullying that went unchecked.

The psychological profile of the modern bully has been updated to include characteristics of entitlement and narcissism from the classic version that depicts the bully as a self-loathing coward who may have been (or is) the victim of abuse, especially at home.

Children enrolled in martial arts are taught the virtues of respect and self-reliance in addition to self-defense. One wonders how many youngsters who start off as shy and awkward (perfect bully fodder) really manage to break out of their shell to lose their victim mentality. How many kids can honestly say that - thanks to karate or whatever - they now can ward off the neighborhood punk with panache? To say nothing of the internet and the effects of cyberbullying.

Karate Moves We Could Do Without

2011-06-26T10:30:00.006-05:00

Have you ever witnessed a technique that was touted as effective that you either felt to be unsuitable or could never work under almost any conditions?

Here's my short list:

Jump kick. Legend has it that the jump kick was devised by the Hwarang warriors of feudal Korea. The idea was that it enabled one to dismount a soldier from his horse with this airborne leg assault. Also, the tobi geri makes its appearance in numerous karate kata. They look great in demos and in the movies, but jump kicks are definitely not recommended for the street.

Spear hand. The nukite is a vertical hand technique utilizing the fingertips. Okinawan karateka would spend years hitting the makiwara (striking post, usually made of wicker) which eventually made the fingertips calloused and flat. Nice, but it might make typing blog posts on a keypad a bit of a chore.

Lunge punch. This is punching that corresponds with the same side stepping foot accentuated with a long stance. Sometimes called a "chasing" punch. Lots of instructors like to demonstrate a self-defense technique against a lunge punch (or a knife in lieu of a punch); the lunging posture puts uke in a compromising position conducive to an easy counter. For this reason, no fighter worth his salt punches or cuts using a lunging stance.

A number of inapplicable techniques continue to be taught because they're "part of the syllabus" that have been handed down through antiquity. Maybe it's time to remove some impractical filler. Modernity engenders the evolution of martial arts.

Deadly Targets

2011-06-16T10:00:00.003-05:00

In martial arts, especially karate, the concept of "one-strike-one-kill" probably was derived from earlier weapons systems. In Chinese lore dim mak is regarded as the death touch, not necessarily delivered with brute force but bad intentions. Historian and perennial karateka Patrick McCarthy catalogs a plethora of "forbidden" vital points in his research of a classic text in The Bible of Karate: Bubishi. The said vital points were actually discovered by acupuncturists during the Ming dynasty. Knowledge of these areas in time became the foundation for self-defense, intended for doctors and scholars.

Chinese martial arts eventually made their way to the island of Okinawa. Okinawan karate has distinct Chinese quan fa roots, and naturally karate has developed its own repertoire of vital strikes that are the stuff of legends. In Okinawan Karate: Teachers, styles and secret techniques, author Mark Bishop describes certain delayed-effect strikes that took their toll on many an overseas visiting trainee that failed to abide by dojo etiquette. Months or even years later these hapless victims would suffer from irreparable internal organ damage or some mysterious disease that could not be explained by Western medicine.

In self-defense courses geared towards women, the main target areas are eyes, throat, groin and knees. Supposedly if you kick or strike someone hard enough in the groin he'll pass out. One of Bruce Lee's favorite tricks was a finger jab to the eye, likely a setup for a finishing move. Of course all of this has spawned a market for instant gratification addicts who want to learn "the good stuff" right away without having to devote years to traditional martial arts training. Scores of books and courses found in magazines with titles like "Learn Deadly Strikes" intended to "protect you and your loved ones" have undoubtedly sold millions since the 60s. In the 70s it was the infamous Count Dante, the Deadliest Man Alive, who sold how-to guides on vital area striking methods. More on this particular topic can be found in my Retro Ads post that I wrote in 2006.

There is one area of the body that when targeted is a relatively safe peacemaker: the solar plexus. One guy I train with exploits this target area using a variant of Isshinryu's basic 14: step into zenkutsu dachi (long, forward stance) while executing a palm-heel followed by two consecutive roundhouse punches to the body. His version uses the palm heel to deflect an incoming strike, followed by just one - it's all that's needed - hooking ridge hand to the solar plexus. Game over.

Dealing With Multiple Attackers

2011-06-12T17:19:00.005-05:00

I visited a dojo recently that touts itself as traditional. Karate schools seem to do that more and more now with the influx of new styles, MMA and "reality" combat. After a few rounds of kata were performed the instructor had us sit down and asked everyone for their personal take on the ancient forms. One student opined that without kata, karate would just be a form of kickboxing. Another said that kata was a type of meditation.

I suggested that kata represents fighting more than one opponent.

Does anyone train how to defeat multiple assailants in a freestyle manner? Have you ever had to fight off more than one attacker? Realistically you can only deal with one adversary at a time, even if there are cohorts present to ensure a certain victory. Realize that bullies and jerks tend to travel in packs.

According to internal arts expert Bruce Frantzis, there is an upper limit to the number of attackers in a given assault.

Now many of you here probably never had to fight seven or eight or ten or fifteen people at once. So I'll speak personally on having done that on more than one occasion. Here's a simple fact: No more than eight people can come at you at once without them basically getting in each other's way. The only way they can do that is if they have long weapons (such as) spears.

With the increasing presence of gang violence, multiple gang member attacks on solitary non-gang affiliated victims is on the rise, even in suburbia. Many citizens have responded to this by claiming their right to bear arms, but naturally the bad guys are packing heat as well. Needless to say that being confronted by more than one attacker is a worst case scenario, even for a skilled fighter, no matter how well seasoned.

But what to do if this happens? One of Musashi's basic rules of strategy was to establish an escape route, even if facing but a single foe. So my advice for prevailing against a band of thugs? Forget kata, psychology or conflict resolution. Run like hell.

Something a Little Different

2011-04-23T19:09:00.009-05:00

Recently I watched a rather unique movie that, although could be best described as a crime-drama, has distinct martial arts undertones. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) is an artfully done film with an improbable theme: a professional assassin (Ghost Dog) who is the retainer of a Mafiosa who saved his life years earlier. Forest Whitaker plays the title character with aplomb, adhering to a samurai code laid out in Hagakure, a philosophical tome written in the eighteenth century that features anecdotes on Japanese warriorship and feudal etiquette, among other interesting topics. Ghost Dog recites from Hagakure throughout the story during critical impasses, but the book also offers some lessons that definitely falls outside the realm of martial arts in the normal sense. Here are a few snippets:

When embarking on a long journey it is best to keep lice out of one's underwear.

If you arrive home to find your wife committing adultery, kill the adulterer and make it look like he was a burglar. Then divorce your wife.

Even if one's head were to be completely cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty.

If philosophy is your thing and you're looking for something a little different I recommend both a reading of Hagakure and a viewing of Ghost Dog to fulfill your martial arts needs for enlightenment and entertainment.

Surviving a Home Invasion

2011-03-06T19:20:00.005-05:00

Has anyone taken measures to ward off the possibility of a home invasion? Certainly, the very thought of one should be horrifying. But what to do? Keep a bat or some other handy weapon in the closet or drawer? Is owning a gun and keeping it at home a good idea if you have young children?

Do you think your studies in a traditional martial art would fare well against an intruder after being awoken in the middle of the night?

I recently received a link to a home alarm systems guide which also includes a story about a woman who was robbed at home after a day of shopping. Fortunately the woman came out of it unscathed but understandably shaken. She offers the following tips:

1. Always keep your head up when walking outside, this lets people know you are paying attention.

2. Never wear headphones in both ears when outside. If you must wear them only use one ear bud so your other ear is free to listen to your surroundings.

3. Try not to carry your purse in your hand, keep it on your shoulder where it is secure and cannot easily be removed.

4. Never unlock your car door until you can clearly see the surrounding area and are sure there is no one waiting to jump into your car.

5. Car keys are an excellent weapon; they are sharp and can be used if someone is grabbing you. If they are poked with the key they will quickly become distracted long enough for you to run.

6. Never be afraid to scream; make the most of the voice given to you and let people know you are in trouble.

7. If someone grabs your arm and you can perform a distraction drill; this can involve many things including stepping on their foot, pinching their other arm with your free hand. When you do the distraction, pull your arm free. If you do not have a free hand, use your knee. You know where to hit!

8. If you cannot use your arms or your knee, head butting is always a great option. This will blur their vision and distract them. At that point you should free your arm and run for help.

9. If you have a free hand, gouge them in the eyes, this will cause their eyes to water and give you the opportunity to run. Punching someone in the nose will always create the eye watering effect.

10. Should you see someone standing suspiciously near or next to your car, do not approach it; walk back into the building you just came from and call for help!

The underlying theme here is awareness. Any additional suggestions would be appreciated.

MMA: Sport or Spectacle?

2011-02-12T23:09:00.007-05:00

A co-worker asked me recently if I thought mixed martial arts was a "sport." Sport as a word has a wide range. Badminton is a sport. So are billiards. I think what my friend was getting at, like many people, is twofold. First, it's the idea that MMA contests are seemingly devoid of any rules. Secondly, rules notwithstanding, anything that involves gore and violence of this kind shouldn't even be granted viewership, let alone be classified as sport. MMA is still banned in my home state of New York, much to the delight, I'm sure, of promoters in neighboring New Jersey where it is sanctioned and regulated.

Getting MMA on legally equal footing with boxing, kickboxing, etc., has been no easy task for its proponents, thanks to propaganda and bad press. Politicians such as John McCain railed against MMA in the 90s. Still, in spite of what appears to be gratuitous violence, MMA is no more dangerous to its competitors than other contact sports. A John Hopkins University School of Medicine study from 2006 verifies that...

Mixed Martial Arts competitions have changed dramatically since the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993. The overall injury rate in MMA competitions is now similar to other combat sports, including boxing. Knockout rates are lower in MMA competitions than in boxing. This suggests a reduced risk of TBI [traumatic brain injury] in MMA competitions when compared to other events involving striking.

Years later, McCain did recant somewhat on his earlier position by stating, "They have cleaned up the sport to the point, at least in my view, where it is not human cockfighting any more. I think they've made significant progress. They haven't made me a fan, but they have made progress."

Granted, I'm not a fan of MMA, either. At this point, "mixed martial arts" strikes me as a misnomer. If I was born a generation later my take on it would be different, I'm sure.

I don't think MMA should be banned, though. What do you think?

Karate Point Fighting

2011-01-24T16:25:00.006-05:00

In traditional karate bouts a point system is used to determine the winner. There are numerous ways for scoring point-matches in karate. A point (ippon) is called when the referee sees what s/he feels is a scored technique, i.e., one that makes solid contact delivered with good form and balance within the boundaries of the fighting perimeter (ring). Once the point is called the action is stopped (yame!), to which the ref quickly confers with the seated ring judges for full approval. Sometimes half-points are awarded, or none at all because the technique lacks conviction. The action is then resumed. Point values can vary, depending on the technique, e.g., kicks to the head outscore punches to the body.

Compared to MMA, Muay Thai and K-1 bouts, traditional karate matches seem rather tame. Because of the way points are awarded the dispositions of the fighters are to 'stay back', sometimes producing an unrealistic sense of ma'ai (range). As such, infighting and clinches are rarely seen in karate matches. Still, I've seen some serious damage done at these "traditional" events. Knockouts, knocked out teeth and broken bones do happen. I can still remember having to sign waivers that excluded the promoters and owners of the venue from any kind of liability that could result from mishaps, including death. Players are exhorted to punch or kick full-bore to the body, however, head shots must be delivered with "control" or a disqualification is in order. A disqualification can also be rendered if it's determined that a competitor is being unsportsmanlike in some way. Deliberately trying to hurt your opponent - or in the words of Mike Tyson, fighting with "bad intentions" - will get you thrown out of the ring.

The point system probably comes from the old idea that karate strikes are lethal. The whole notion of karate's one-strike-one-kill was the basis of one local promoter's idea to have a one-point match tournament! Could you picture people plunking down a $40 entry fee only to be counted out with a single shot? Imagine the arguments with (and among) judges that would ensue. Fortunately this idea never took flight, at least in my neck of the woods.

Most spectators would probably agree that a continuous sparring match would be more entertaining to watch, which was obviously what gave rise to full-contact karate or American-style kickboxing back in the early 70s. Many point-match karate competitors eventually went the route of kickboxing, such as Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis. In kickboxing (like regular boxing) the goal is to knockout your opponent, not win by points, even though that's what happens by default if the bout goes the distance.

Point fighting may seem like a glorified form of tag for some, but for most karate practitioners it's the best system there is to safely test one's abilities for sport.

Titles, Bowing and other Lunacy

2011-01-06T21:01:00.005-05:00

I called my first karate instructor by his first name, as did everyone else. Later, when I began traditional studies elsewhere, the Japanese title of sensei was conveyed. Sensei is an honorific term designated for instructors who hold the rank of at least sandan (3rd degree black belt), and this is the way it should be. Junior instructors should not be referred to as sensei, even if the top brass isn't around. But the lower ranked yudansha (black belt holders) have achieved something special, so they deserve some recognition. When addressed, Mister or Miss or simply "sir" gets the job done. I don't like the title of sensei to be thrown around.

One school I trained at had the annoying policy of calling anyone with a black belt sensei. I really hated that. As a young shodan (1st black belt) I had no inclination to teach and as such I didn't feel I should be afforded the title. Furthermore I felt this practice took away from the legit instructors that actually earned and deserved this distinction. But it gets worse. If said yudansha walked into the dojo during the course of a class, it was understood that everyone had to stop what they were doing - regardless of whatever that was - and perform a "courtesy bow" to the exhalted black belt "sensei." I kid you not. The first time this happened to me I actually turned around to see if some big shot was walking in behind me. Naturally I failed to bow back to the class, much to the chagrin of the chief instructor, but I respectfully protested. "Sir, why do you call all the black belts 'sensei'? I'm really not comfortable with that. 'Mr. Vesia' would be fine."

"No, no... we call the brown belts 'Mister.' It's all to show respect, Sensei John."

It didn't stop there. At the end of class we would all line up to bow to a portrait of Shimabuku (our founder) hanging on the wall. Then the most senior student present bows to the instructor. The whole class bows. All fine and good. This is the stock ritual most Isshinryu dojo are accustomed to. But this place took it further. Now the sempai (seniors) were then required to bow to the juniors uttering "skit skit kohai ni rei". And of course the newbies had to return the favor ("skit skit sempai ni rei"). I must've bowed 10,000 times during my brief stay at this school.

To top it all off, the chief instructor of said school who had been campaigning for a long awaited promotion to 5th dan ended up driving away almost all of his students when he began to exhibit bizarre behavior, culminating in a divorce, the closing of his school and other personal disasters I'd rather not go into. Becoming a shihan was the beginning of the end for this guy, who became so identified with his persona as a martial arts master that it drove him crazy. We sempai, kohai, sensei and even various renshi could only helplessly watch this onetime decent karate instructor completely lose it, both psychologically and professionally.

I think respect and titles are an important and even necessary feature in traditional martial arts. But when they become the pursuit of self-aggrandizement or to bolster the status of certain students it can only lead to trouble.

Vertical vs. Horizontal Punches

2010-11-21T15:04:00.017-05:00

In Isshinryu karate the vertical punch is considered a staple but it's hardly unique to the system. Supposedly at one time the standing fist was the predominant method of delivering a punch among Okinawan karateka; only later was the pronated variety introduced as a safety feature as it was considered weaker and less injurious for novices and kids.

Some points to consider:

The fist delivered in the standing fashion - especially with the thumb on top - allows for a strong wrist alignment. The horizontal fist has the propensity to fold upon impact.
Vertical punching allows the user to keep the elbow down, protecting the midsection through most of the range of motion. The twisting punch causes the forearm and elbow to naturally rise up and away from the body, allowing for a counter.
The standing fist is conducive for the anatomically advantageous top two knuckles to make contact. The vertical punch also has a slightly longer range than the horizontal punch.
The vertical punch is purported by many to be stronger (and faster) than the "corkscrew" punch. Conversely, some boxers claim that by adding the twist in a punch upon impact actually adds power. This technique has certainly been responsible for causing some serious cuts on a fighter's face.

The horizontal punch does make an appearance in the Isshinryu kata Seiuchin as a block/strike against a leg or knee assault. Apparently, the horizontal fist's target area (the quadriceps) is more disposed to being deflected with this technique than with the trademark vertical punch.

How do you punch? Does your style favor one type over another?

Making Time

2010-11-17T10:36:00.005-05:00

Eighty percent of success is showing up. - Woody Allen

A teacher once said to me that all competitors are winners no matter what happens. Just by showing up they've already proven themselves. Once while attending a dinner party for the fifteenth anniversary of a local karate school, a high ranking instructor stood up and remarked "Sometimes 'discipline' is just getting to the dojo." Training is tough at times, no doubt, but just making the appearance can be a daunting task.

Everyone has a busy life. If you have a family, a career, and various responsibilities, life can indeed be burdensome. It's easy to say "I don't have time to train with everything that's going on." And every time you let it go, it just gets easier and easier to say that. But if you can slip in just one training session a week, you'll be better off.

Admit it, you can make time for that!

Boxers Who Could've Been Martial Artists

2010-11-09T09:52:00.011-05:00

Dojo Rat's recent musings over Western boxing's influence on Asian martial arts got me thinking about some of history's greatest pugilists. DR claims that boxing doesn't really qualify as an art form, due to its lacking of a philosophical base. I tend to agree. You won't find a dojo kun hanging on the wall in a boxing gym, nobody bows before stepping into the ring, and respect is earned or imparted simply through fighting. Indeed, fighter is a common expression used to describe a practitioner of the "Sweet Science." I have to be honest, if I had to pick a winner in a street match between a run-of-the-mill martial arts exponent and an equivalent boxer, I'd go with the latter.

Boxing though has had its share of "bums". Equally, as historian Patrick McCarthy recently pointed out, there are karateka that come from "genuine" backgrounds and who can't punch their way out of a paper bag. Great boxers are defined by great opponents, but also by their temperament, in and out of the ring. A few of boxing's former world champions come to mind that had characteristics congruous to the model of a traditional martial artist.

Willie Pep

Featherweights as a rule of thumb don't have the mass appeal of the big bread winners - the heavyweights. Pep - a World War II era boxer - is regarded as the greatest 126-pounder of all time for his elusiveness. Really, if you think about it, the whole idea in the martial arts isn't hitting, it's about not getting hit, which was Pep's ace in the hole. Pep actually won a round on points once without throwing a single punch ! Head feints, foot work and lateral movement (can you say tai sabaki?) kept most of Pep's 241(!) opponents at bay. If anyone mastered the art of defense, it was Pep.

Alexis Arguello

Earlier I mentioned respect, and none earned it more than Arguello, in part, because he knew how to give respect. Always a consummate gentleman, Arguello would actually wish his opponent luck before a bout and never partook in the usual alpha-male hype and posturing found in sports figures today. Although intellectual, well-mannered and sincere, Arguello was truly a warrior who possessed devastating knockout power. After he retired from boxing in the 80s he became a soldier fighting government oppression in his native Nicaragua. Now that's a warrior.

Muhammad Ali

Ali (b. Cassius Clay) was generally seen as a buffoon when he first hit the boxing scene in the early 60s. Part bullying loudmouth, part lunatic, Ali for sure would've failed an interview with a master had he been vying for discipleship in a traditional dojo. But his brand of strategic pre-fight verbal jabbing and psychological warfare would've made Musashi proud. In spite of his rantings out of the ring, Ali could walk his talk. He had remarkable speed for a heavyweight ("I'm so fast, when I turn out the lights to go to sleep, I'm in bed before the room gets dark") and had enormous reserves of toughness (he once fought most of a bout with a broken jaw). He was a master strategist in the ring, at times allowing a bigger and more formidable opponent to "punch themselves out." His "dancing" foot movement is reputed to have been copied by Bruce Lee. In 1976, Ali fought Japanese grappler Antonio Inoki to a 15-round draw in a prototype match to what we now call Mixed Martial Arts.

----

The real difference between boxing and martial arts is longevity. Professional fighters must retire, and they usually don't retire well. Martial artists don't get older, they just get better.

Stylin'

2010-10-25T10:36:00.016-05:00

My first exposure to martial arts training was in an American hybrid style called Tai Zen which was billed as a cross between karate and jiu-jitsu. I was thirteen and was way into Bruce Lee flicks and the Kung Fu TV series. I had no concept of what style meant and really couldn't care less, but the Tai Zen place was down the block from my house so that's where I began. The 'karate' portion of the class was spent practicing kicks and strikes with plenty of free-style sparring, while the 'jiu-jitsu' techniques encompassed standup self-defense drills utilizing joint locks and some throws, but no ground stuff. We trained on mats, used no protective gear for fighting and paid as we went. At that time it was $4/class - no contracts. We didn't learn anything that resembled kata, nor were there any Japanese terms used. In fact nothing in the way of Japanese etiquette existed such as bowing or kneeling in seiza. The school advocated progressive resistance training and even had a small gym in the back with lots of free weights, benches and machines. It wasn't a traditional martial arts school, but that hardly mattered.

Like new religions, martial arts styles come and go. An Isshinryu karate instructor from my area that I briefly trained with (a 6th dan) actually created his own style (with his own name in the style's title), devised forms named after local towns (e.g., "Smithtown no kun" or something similar, no kidding) and promoted himself to 10th degree black belt. Due to lack of interest he eventually called it a day and returned to Isshinryu. Another guy opened an "American" Isshinryu dojo which, among other things, featured his modified version of the style's trademark vertical punch and a set of basic exercises that differed from the founder's.

In his book Okinawan Karate, Mark Bishop catalogues twenty-one recognized karate styles, a bit superfluous considering Okinawa is an island barely larger than Brooklyn. To say nothing of the karate that has been developed on mainland Japan and elsewhere. Even Aikido, which became codified after the Second World War per the teachings of but one man, now has about thirty distinct sects. Curiously, the art of Judo - the most senior of the gendai budo (modern Japanese martial arts) - never really branched off into the myriad of substyles that exists in other arts. Judo, for the most part, remains a single style unto itself, indeed a rare distinction.

Some of the newer, American systems are downright wacky. A while back I saw a clip on something called Combat Ki, a style purported to develop imperviousness to vital area strikes.

Haven't seen any of these guys in the UFC yet. I won't hold my breath waiting.

What's 'Your' Kata?

2010-10-05T09:52:00.007-05:00

When I used to go out to compete, I was also a spectator. Most competitors leave right after their matches, but I would stick around to get some ideas. The black belt kata competition would fascinate me, especially the advanced black belts (3rd and 4th dan). Some of the renditions of kata you'll see at this level can be very inspiring.

At some point we can figure out which kata we like to do. I had an instructor who would say, "there's white belt kata, there's black belt kata, and then there's your kata." But why do we like some forms and not others? Not that we should slack off on the kata that we think give us trouble (remember the Zen saying "the obstacle is the path"), but there's probably one you believe is best suited for you. This is true for a variety of reasons, including your level of athleticism and personality.

Here are my favorites:

Seiuchin. This is a powerful karate form that comes from Goju-ryu. Features wide and deep shiko-dachi stance with plenty of angles and forceful breathing techniques. This ancient kata finishes with a corkscrew punch - peculiar to the Isshinryu system.

Kusanku. An aesthetic, challenging and beautiful karate form. I never had the nerve to compete with Kusanku. The truth is, you really need to be a certain body type to pull it off, at least for a tournament. I've seen a couple of entries butcher this one. If you have a large frame or lack a degree of flexibility, the jumping crescent kick halfway through this form may lack the finesse the judges are looking for.

Chatan Yara no sai. The sai (tri-pronged truncheon) is probably the only weapon found in Okinawan kobudo that didn't originally start off as a farming implement. The sai appears to have been developed to counter larger weapons, like the bo (long staff) and especially the sword. One reason I like the sai is because some of the techniques mimic what the hands would do in karate. If you really like the sai I would recommend getting a quality pair (like Shureido) as they are well balanced and can be handled easily.

It used to be held that every kata was the distilled essence of a fighting system. Maybe this is why the old-time masters would spend months and even years drilling their charges on a single form. Certainly they had their preferences: Choki Motobu is always depicted performing Naihanchi. Chojun Miyagi (and many others) felt that the kata Sanchin was of utmost importance.

What kata do you feel personifies you? Why?

My Top Ten Reading List

2010-09-20T10:00:00.015-05:00

Reading is fundamental. I like the web, I'm a bit of an internet junkie, but when push comes to shove, I really prefer books as my main reading source for my martial arts material. Here's a list of what I consider essential information for the serious martial arts practitioner. I'm sure most of you will at least recognize some of these titles. I've arranged them in no particular order.

Book Of Five Rings - by Miyamoto Musashi

Many, many versions of this classic book are available. Some say translating it from the original Japanese leaves something to be desired. The copy I have was translated/interpreted by Steve Kaufman, a longtime instructor from New York. Musashi was a ronin (masterless samurai) that lived during Japan's feudal period. He was regarded as the kenshi (sword saint) of Japan, but by today's standards would be considered a sociopath. He killed his first man at age thirteen, was not above murdering children, despised bathing, supposedly had some wretched skin disease (probably from lack of bathing)... well, you get the idea. Five Rings is the martial arts classic treatise on strategy and psychological warfare.

The Way of Kata - by Lawrence A. Kane and Kris Wilder

I actually chanced upon this gem at a used book store. Although written from a Goju-ryu karate perspective, this is a useful primer for those interested in what I consider the real nuts and bolts of karate: kata (forms) and its applications. Includes guidelines for deciphering martial applications and gives some background on kata's history, strategy and tactics.

Zen In The Martial Arts - by Joe Hyams

Hyams was a celebrity Hollywood columnist from the fifties and sixties who was also a bit of a martial arts journeyman, training with the likes of Chuck Norris, Ed Parker and Bong Soo Han (who coached actor Tom Laughlin for his role in Billy Jack). Some interesting anecdotes to be found here, using Zen as a central theme. Overcoming everyday obstacles, difficulties in training and even how to deescalate a potentially violent altercation round out this reading.

My Journey With The Grandmaster - by Major Bill Hayes USMC (Ret.)

I've previously reviewed this work. Kyoshi Bill Hayes recounts his time spent on Okinawa during his hitch in The Corps training in the old-school way of traditional Shorin-ryu karate-do. Highly recommended. Copies of this future classic can be obtained directly from the author at oldstudent1@cox.net.

Martial Arts Madness - by Glenn Morris

Another previously reviewed selection. Cited as "field notes of an American ninja", Morris trained in a number of styles including Isshinryu karate with the late Sherman Harrill. If chi, psi abilities and psychic powers float your boat, this book is for you. A weird, fun read.

Classical Budo - by Donn Draeger

Budo - martial arts as a way of life - is Draeger's prescription for self-perfection and right living. The -do in Japanese budo can be equated with the Chinese Dao, or "path." Draeger starts with budo's historical settings in Japan, followed by its concept, rationale, and method. Many examples of the teacher-student relationship are exquisitely detailed.

Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters - by Shoshin Nagamine (translated by Patrick McCarthy)

Nagamine Sensei (1907 - 1997) was one of the most prolific authors on traditional karate and its history, in addition to being the founder of his Matsubayashi-ryu karate. Stories of character and courage are told concerning the lives of some of Okinawa's most famous karate men. Includes a section on tegumi, Okinawan wrestling.

On The Warrior's Path - by Daniele Bolelli

Bolelli, a Kung Fu San Soo practitioner, does a fine job describing warrior archetypes, Chinese tradition, and bridging martial arts philosophy with the advent of MMA. In particular the section on Internal Martial Arts - its history and certain misunderstandings which are clarified, make this a worthy read.

Living The Martial Way - by Forrest E. Morgan, Maj USAF

A must read for anyone thinking about embarking on the martial path. The author - relying on extensive experience both in the martial arts and military service - outlines the mindset and spirit necessary for the aspiring martial artist. Written with frankness and wisdom, Morgan maintains that training in the martial way is not for the hobbyist or those looking to rack up awards or titles. Sections include "The Secret of Personal Power" and "The Great Sham of Modern Martial Arts." Highly recommended.

Okinawan Karate: Teachers, styles and secret techniques - by Mark Bishop

Karateka and researcher Mark Bishop sheds light on all of the major Okinawan karate styles via interviews with select Okinawan masters. Historical tables, and a list of every Okinawan karate kata (and what styles they are affiliated with) can be found in the back of the book. The kanji that appears in the upper left-hand side of the book's cover can be seen in my sidebar.

I was a bit disheartened to see the section on Isshinryu karate lacking in depth, unfortunately due to a rather terse exchange between the author and Kichiro Shimabuku, 10th dan (the founder's son).

...but as he [Shimabuku] was a 'very busy man' he could spare me only a little of his 'precious time'; consequently my notes on Isshinryu may seem to be lacking. Kichiro Shimabuku, being short, plump and bald with an effeminate squeaky voice, is not what most people imagine a karate teacher to be like.

Ouch. I guess it's true: the pen is mightier than the sword.

- - - -

If anyone has a good title to add to this list, do share.

Cold Case of Brutality

2010-09-12T19:34:00.009-05:00

In my last post I discussed how easily lawsuits could be levied against reputable school owners, given certain conditions. Occasionally, however, legal action is warranted. Not everyone can or should run a martial arts club, but apparently that doesn't stop them.

The following is a clip that first appeared on the internet about a year ago, but it's actually footage taken from a Virginia karate school in 1984. The story is that a local man had become somewhat of a minor nuisance at the shopping mall where this school was located and eventually showed up at this dojo claiming that he had been sent by Jesus, or words to that effect. This doesn't end well, as the man - who is obviously deranged - is viciously beaten by one of the school's black belts.

Incredibly, to date neither the student who administered the beating nor the instructor (Billy Joe Blythe) have ever been charged. The identity of the victim and whatever became of him remains unknown. The tape, which supposedly was originally uploaded by Blythe himself, appears to be authentic. Very sad.

DISCLAIMER: explicitly violent after 4 minutes

Dealing With Lawsuits

2010-08-23T09:40:00.005-05:00

Every now and then I'll go down to train at a local school. This place does some cross training in other styles in addition to karate which I think gives this club a fresh perspective from a traditional dojo. I know one of the owners, he never charges me, so I don't wear out the welcome. I must confess though, one reason I like to drop in is to see what kind of clientele shows up. I don't know what it is, but this particular venue seems to be a magnet for some strange types now and then.

About three weeks ago some guy comes in who claims he's trained in every style from kenpo to praying mantis, but could never stay in one place too long because "nobody can handle me in sparring." He decried the belt system (need I say he's never acquired a single black belt in the myriad of styles he's allegedly taken?), kept calling me 'kid' (this guy looks like he's about forty), and seemed eager to display some of his kumite skills.

There were about ten of us there that night, mostly black belts, but my friend wisely decides to pair Jean-Claude up with "Joe", a likable seventeen-year-old brown belt who plays high school football and is built like a tree trunk. About ten seconds into the match, Joe lands a crushing reverse punch to the fighting master's ample breadbasket that folds him like an accordion in advance of a full collapse to the mat. Eventually he regained his breath and composure, at which point our visitor decides to sit out the remainder of the class while interjecting "advice" here and there. After he left we all had a good laugh and thought we would never see this character again. Then two days ago, the chief instructor of the aforementioned school receives a disturbing piece of mail. It seems the visiting warrior decides he'll try to cash in on his impromptu sparring defeat and lawyers up. That's right, he's suing for getting his butt properly and appropriately beat at the hands of a teenager.

Now mind you, this person didn't sustain the kind of injury that would prevent him from having kids or even going to work. I have no idea what kind of language is in this lawsuit or what it claims. One theory I have is that this guy has his attorney on speed dial and makes a career out of this. No wonder he's trained everywhere.

This isn't the first time I've experienced this sort of thing. About two years ago I received an email from someone who found my blog:

Dear Mr. Vesia,

I am an attorney defending a local (popular karate chain school) in ... against a claim by a woman who was injured during her first training session while doing a round kick. I am in need of someone well trained in karate to serve as an expert witness and render an opinion as to whether the dojo was negligent in its instruction techniques, preferably someone who has had experience as an instructor. Would you be interested in discussing this case with me? If so, please call me at the number listed below. Thank you for your time.

I declined, but it left me wondering how often this happens to schools. Injuries are par for the course in martial arts training, despite the presence and supervision of competent instructors. Not in the US, but in some countries if the plaintiff's lawsuit is unsuccessful, they must pony up at least part of the defendant's trial fees. Do you think if we had this law here, people would still be so sue-happy?

Getting Your Priorities Straight

2010-08-03T09:51:00.002-05:00

I find it interesting that karate teaches methods of mayhem alongside of social responsibility. At least that's what most schools strive for. Budo (martial ways) and bujutsu (martial methodology) are defined as having similar goals, but stressing different ones. The priorities that distinguish budo and bujutsu are laid out in Classical Budo:

Classical Bujutsu

combat
discipline
morals

Classical Budo

morals
discipline
aesthetic form

Note that 'combat' missed the top-three spot on the budo list. Apparently martial arts strictly as a combative system (bujutsu) give morals relatively short shrift. Being a moral person usually, but not necessarily, gives rise to other traits, such as politeness and humility as one karate blogger puts it. I agree these are desirable attributes to be found in the karateka.

This brings up a pertinent question: Is karate training really capable of transforming an otherwise brutish lout into a 'nice guy'? Traditionally, the master of a dojo would interview a prospective student to see where he was coming from. Drunkards, layabouts and alpha-male tough guys need not apply. The whole idea of learning self defense is to ward off these jerks in the first place.

I believe the "polite and unassuming" students one sees in the dojo likely started out that way before they ever stepped onto the mat. More than likely their training in a budo form accentuates already innate positive tendencies.

I've personally seen how transformative the martial arts can be. Those lacking in confidence, physical coordination and even social grace can make amazing progress in these areas as a result of dedicated training over a period of time.

But are traditional martial arts more about making good citizens or good fighters? I believe that budo - with its emphasis on morality and social responsibility - requires a combative core to make it all worthwhile. If a style or system gets too bogged down with philosophy or the "art" aspects to the detriment of realistic effectiveness, then it's simply not worth it. Equally, a style that lacks an understanding of right living is missing something very important.

Breath, Ki and Altered States

2010-07-19T23:48:00.014-05:00

Karate was once defined by a certain high level instructor I know as an endeavor that is both hard and painful - hard as in difficult, not the external or linear aspects. Painful is self-explanatory. Pain for me is not just getting walloped or incurring injuries but also a by-product of arduous training. Karate workouts tend to be very cardio/aerobic in nature. Speaking from experience, the feeling of fatigue brought on by oxygen debt is what, in the words of legendary football coach Vince Lombardi, "makes cowards of us all." Nothing pushes one's boundaries more than a brutal training session (shugyo). Shugyo "polishes the spirit" as Draeger puts it, and can even be undertaken solo sans a group setting, according to Forrest Morgan, author of the now classic Living The Martial Way.

The breath is closely related to the (controversial) concept of ki (chi/qi). Kiai (spirited shout) is a manifestation of this force that is not limited to karate. At a recent Japanese Spring festival I attended, a local kendo (sword way) school put on an exhibition match that featured players that liberally employed the kiai. I thought it was a bit much, but then I don't do kendo. Years ago, I took a jiu-jitsu seminar given by a renown Daito-ryu exponent who thought the kiai was "fake" if not downright silly. Shortly thereafter he went on to show a technique that was concurrent with a forceful exhalation. "Why exhale there?" I inquired. "It makes you stronger" was the response. A silent kiai, perhaps?

In karate, techniques that are performed with slow, deliberate muscular contractions are frequently executed alongside of forceful breathing. In Isshinryu the kata Seisan, Seiuchin and Sanchin use such methods. Sanchin is a unique form with no real bunkai (fighting applications) - at least none that I'm aware of - that dates back to antiquity. Supposedly it was Sanchin that the mytho-historical figure Bodhidharma brought from India to the Shaolin Temple in China to shock the lethargic monks out of meditative stupor. In reality, the Sanchin kata was probably a cognate of an earlier qigong form used to facilitate respiration and the circulation of blood.

One of my instructors would advise to "breathe through the heels" when performing Sanchin. Though not anymore, back in his day (the 60s) Sanchin was the last karate kata taught in Isshinryu. Naturally then, when testing for shodan (1st black belt) Sanchin was the last kata performed after numerous forms had been completed at full power and speed. The now heavily fatigued aspirant was then expected to fight everyone in the school! Talk about shugyo. And no uninspired renditions of kata for testing were allowed, as I once witnessed two candidates fail their 2nd dan promotions for not 'working up enough sweat' through a dozen or so forms. I must say, Sanchin produces a training effect like nothing else. A friend of mine that runs an Isshinryu school nearby does a version of Sanchin utilizing "Dragon Breathing" (i.e. very intense) that he says he learned from Advincula Sensei.

In early Chinese texts much is said about the power and magic of the breath. One Zhou dynasty (c. 500 BCE) inscription on the breath translates thus:

When transforming the breath, the inhalation must be full to gather the magic. To gather the magic, fullness must be extended. When it is extended it can penetrate downward. When it can penetrate downward it is magic. When it descends it becomes calm, solidifies, and is both strong and firm.

When novices are preparing for a test or tourney I advise them to take a slow, deep breath a moment before a point match or performance of kata. It has been long known that emotions affect the rate of breathing, but the opposite is also true: controlled breathing regulates the emotions. Stan Grof, a pioneer in transpersonal psychology and LSD research, has developed something called holotropic breathing that reportedly brings about altered states of consciousness. Thanks, no. If I want to achieve euphoria or pain-induced ecstasy I'll stick with good ol' martial arts training.

Some Thoughts About 'My Style'

2010-03-30T19:12:00.008-05:00

I'm the last person who will tout Isshinryu karate as a superior method of practical self-defense over others. As I have said here more than once, the style one learns is only as good as the quality of instruction. The following is a short list of some of the stock selling points of Isshinryu:

Techniques adhere to natural body movements.

Vertical punches are favored over rotating or "corkscrew" punches as the former are considered to be stronger, faster and more injurious to the receiver.

Strikes are almost always delivered in a snapping (as opposed to a thrusting or pushing) fashion for the same reasons as above.

These are the major features and realize - especially if the reader is an Isshinryu person - this list is hardly exhaustive. You can find this info anywhere online or hanging on the wall of most Isshinryu dojo. These tenets have existed in Okinawan karate in various guises dating back to about the eighteenth century, but the founder, Tatsuo Shimabuku, considered these particular ones paramount to his system.

Here's another list of items that sets Isshinryu karate aside from some of the other styles of "traditional" karate. These things are rarely mentioned, let alone advertised like the ones found on the first list:

There are a total of eight karate kata (pre-arranged forms) in the system. No empty-handed forms are taught after black belt, only weapons (kobudo), of which there are seven. This is a major departure from most karate styles that require students to learn literally dozens of forms, many of which are pinan (beginner) kata, none of which appear in Isshinryu.

Isshinryu does not endeavor to perfect the trainee's character or make her/him a good role model or citizen, per se. No lofty aims aside from prevailing in an unpleasant and possibly horrific altercation are sought.

Isshinryu techniques are not set in stone, but subject to innovation as needed. Shimabuku, taking a line from The Eight Precepts of The Fist ("Adapt to changing conditions"), sought to advance his art through effective modifications as the opportunities presented themselves.

I like the idea that there are only fifteen kata in Isshinryu. That's still an enormous catalogue of techniques. There's an old saying that it takes a lifetime to master a single kata. One style of Okinawan karate has over fifty forms in its kata canon. Somebody's wrong here, big time. At least Isshinryu found a middle ground.

None of this is an attempt to one-up another's karate style. Shimabuku would tell his students "All bottles are good; there is no 'best' bottle", a metaphor to express that there may be differences found in karate, but each serves their purpose in their own way.

My Journey With The Grandmaster

2010-01-26T09:01:00.009-05:00

Good resources on traditional martial arts, let alone Okinawan karate, are a hard find these days. With the influx of sportive and new fangled modern systems devised by self-appointed "masters" it seems the techniques and values of karatedo have been lost, or worse, misunderstood by one generation after another with the administering of so-called "improvements" leading to an aberration of the survival arts of Okinawa that have been passed down through antiquity.

In his book My Journey With The Grandmaster, retired Major Bill Hayes recounts his experiences in karate training while stationed on Okinawa as a US Marine following a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1966 - 67. There, at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, he encounters Eizo Shimabukuro, 10th dan in Shorin-ryu karate. Hayes Sensei describes in fascinating detail his metamorphosis from a slightly full-of-himself "jarhead" to a dedicated and humbled student under the Grandmaster. While he was awed by the unbelievable skill and deadly proficiency of his teacher, the OSensei nonetheless possesses the compassion and wisdom one would expect from a master of any stripe.

The book is filled with thought provoking, mystical, and at times amusing tales relating to the maturation process necessary for one to embark on the karate path. The author explains that an in-depth understanding of Okinawan culture and history is imperative to appreciate karate's original intent as a bugei system (combative or "life protection" art).

In summation, Journey's formula for karate mastery as a way of life requires nothing less than a strong moral character, duly recognized high skill level and optimal health through proper training and nutrition.

For Hayes Sensei, the way of the empty hand is a never ending path, as he still regards himself an "Old Student" under the Grandmaster.

*For those interested in purchasing a copy of "My Journey With The Grandmaster", kindly contact the author at oldstudent1@cox.net.

Fancy Kicks

2009-10-25T21:44:00.005-05:00

The other night while watching some MMA (something I rarely do) I noticed that the arsenal of some of these fighters contained low kicks to the thigh, a la Muay Thai. They don't look like much, but speaking from experience they're pretty brutal. I remember a seminar where the instructor showed some conditioning moves designed to prepare the legs/quadriceps in the event of a nasty low-kicking assault, similar to kotekitai (forearm toughening routine) that karate people employ. With the exception of Kyokushin practitioners, most karateka aren't accustomed to taking leg strikes (or head shots for that matter), so some desensitizing routines for the lower extremities isn't a bad idea. In most traditional Okinawan karate tourneys, low kicks are prohibited, yet high-target kicks are okay if delivered with control (i.e. without knocking out your opponent). You don't need a degree in kinesiology to figure out that a low-kick has a far higher success rate of being delivered with "control" than a haymaker crescent kick aimed upstairs. I've already posted my thoughts on low kicks and shooting high, so I'll move on.

When front and roundhouse kicks are taught the toes are curled up. This allows the ball of the foot to take the impact of the target. This is done for practical purposes and safety, but the curling of the toes becomes a moot point if you're on the street and wearing shoes. Many practitioners will round kick with the instep (wearing foot guards) to accentuate reach. Good, flexible kickers that rely on their natural gifts tend to break some toes through the years, probably more from wear and tear than poor kicking form. Chojun Miyagi, the famous founder of Goju-ryu, would puncture holes in kerosene cans at demonstrations utilizing a specialty of his: the toe-kick. Imagine the conditioning and training it took to do that.

In Okinawan karate there's not much flash in the kicking department. Personally I like to keep things simple. Here's what I find works for me:

Front kick
Forward leg side kick
Spin around hook kick

The last one you won't find in the kata of traditional karate, but most schools will show it to some degree. Although far from a stellar kicker, I can actually perform spin-kicks fairly decent, I believe, courtesy of a mild case of scoliosis (curvature of the spine) that actually allows me to rotate my body in an unconventional albeit advantageous manner conducive to this manner of kicking. Lucky me.

Striking Distance

2009-07-11T20:35:00.008-05:00

Middle-Aged Martial Artist recently penned a post about punching range, in particular how boxers use "reach" to their advantage. In the Sweet Science, having long arms is considered favorable as a skilled fighter can use them to keep an invasive opponent on the outside. The pugilist's jab or the karateka's forward leg front kick both work effectively to stop an aggressor in his tracks.

Still, if you don't possess the reach advantage, or even if you're not that good of a fighter on the outside, getting in that close range shot may be you're best bet. Short strikes such as hooks and uppercuts are fast, powerful and difficult to detect. It was fifties boxing contender Rocky Marciano that delivered a crushing right cross that traveled a mere six inches to knock the heavyweight crown right off Jersey Joe Walcott's head. Taken to its extreme, we have the controversial 1-inch punch that Bruce Lee demonstrates here in 1964:

I'm told that Lee's uke in this footage was in fact a judo player. Note that he's not braced in any kind of a fighting stance whatsoever when he gets hit. Also note that Lee's arm is nearly extended prior to punching. Maybe it's just me, but this looks more like a push than anything else.

Supposedly the trick to this little 1-inch miracle shot is to deliver the strike with a vertical fist and upon impact torque the still standing fist to protrude the bottom two knuckles (as opposed to the traditional method of striking with the top two knuckles). In this way ki-energy that already is flowing down the ulna of the forearm will be dispensed into the bottom portion of the fist and into the hapless opponent. This certainly wasn't Lee's explaination as he had some serious doubts about the existence of ki at all. Draeger believed in its presence but from a practical viewpoint, sans the "carnival hocus-pocus" seen in clips of George Dillman, Jack Hogan, et al.

One noteworthy theory of ki is that it begins in the lower extremities and then radiates to wherever you can get it to go. This idea holds up well alongside of the bio-mechanics involved with delivering any kind of strike. Proper foot alignment and rotation of hips are critical to executing maximum force to punches. Getting real power into short range strikes can be tricky - it might require a little magic - but definitely requires lots of practice.

Size Matters

2009-06-19T10:23:00.002-05:00

Yesterday while I was at work making a delivery in the parking lot of a busy village, I noticed a smattering of people heading towards a popular chain karate school. It was obvious they were students as they were already attired in gi-pants and t-shirts with the school logo. As I observed the class from the sidewalk there was a chief instructor barking commands while a couple of younger black belt sempai milled about and made corrections. It was a good mix of men and women at various stages of rank and fitness. Curiously, all the belts worn had a solid black stripe running down the middle. But what really caught my attention was the size of this adult class: about forty students! It was a sizable facility that could easily accommodate a large class. Most schools that I've trained in through the years weren't much bigger than a deli and I can fondly remember spirited sparring sessions where we would occasionally crash into neighboring matches.

Originally, martial-art teachings were transmitted one-on-one. Later, the idea of group "lessons" emerged. Today, some schools have gone the way of syndication, offering courses in MMA, karate and cardio-kickboxing, complete with contracts and TV ads (geared mostly toward kids) with the hopes of attracting a mass following.

Personally I like training in a decent-sized class where camaraderie can thrive - about a dozen people. More than that would likely dilute the quality of instruction, even if the sensei has helpers. If I'm running a class I make it a point to at least get everyone's name right. It seems to me that the bigger the class, the less personal it becomes for everyone.

Do you prefer to train in large groups or smaller settings?

The Art of Forgetting

2009-05-26T09:03:00.005-05:00

One of my favorite authors on the martial arts is Donn Draeger. I find his material to contain a wealth of information and has been a reliable source for a number of my articles. As a career military man, Draeger spent decades studying and teaching the martial arts in the US and abroad. Most of his formative training was done in Japan.

One of Draeger's themes that were repeated throughout his discourses was the development of the trainee. Now bear in mind that for Draeger, budo - the Japanese martial ways, were more like spiritual disciplines than systems of combat. He must have realized that getting the typical Western reader to really understand where he was coming from may have been difficult, as the bulk of his writings were done at a time when martial arts were fairly new in the West. Fudoshin and ki weren't exactly household terms in the sixties, so Draeger would deftly fall back on the power of metaphor to get some of his points across. Here, in Classical Budo, he uses the analogy of a typist to explain the mindset of the burgeoning student and the beginnings of martial mastery.

After sufficient experience in typing, the typist becomes a master touch-typist. He no longer needs to depend upon the mechanics of how to type, nor has to rely on memory to find the positions of the keys. He makes few errors if any, and has the speed and accuracy that give his typing the mark of the master. He knows typing, can type, and knows he can type: he is a master typist. Though he is a master he readily fails one test that a less trained typist can manage with ease. This is the keyboard recall test. The master cannot quickly recite the keyboard from memory, for he has forgotten the locations of the letters. But in spite of his "forgetting" we cannot truthfully say he cannot type, nor that he is not a master typist.

So "forgetting" in this sense means that we no longer have to rely on ordinary conscious thinking. This is the desired end-product of training. You simply do it and that's it. But that's not the same as being forgetful. Once I was showing a new student a basic form, one that I've done a thousand times. About midway through I was completely lost. Teaching is not the same as doing, as I found out, and it was this new perspective that threw me.

There's a story about the mystical Morihei Ueshiba. One day after finishing a particularly arduous training session, the master was out in his garden meditating when suddenly there was a flash of light, the ground began to shake, and he forgot every martial arts technique he ever learned. And thus, Aikido was born. Both Ueshiba and Draeger emphasized that through dedicated training, one forgoes or forgets the self - the ego, in order to become one with their art. This is the way to technical mastery.

Racist Bully Gets Thrashed

2009-04-30T11:19:00.002-05:00

A Canadian teenager was recently charged with assault after he punched a classmate from his school in the nose following racial taunts. The defendant, who emigrated from South Korea in 2004, has a black belt in an undisclosed martial-art style, and responded to being called a "f---ing Chinese" the best way he knew how.

The boy, a straight A student, was charged with assault after breaking his antagonist's nose and was immediately suspended from school. He may eventually be expelled. Meanwhile, hundreds of students skipped classes to rally against the treatment of the Korean youth. School administrators have yet to comment.

Are "fighting words" enough to make you lose it? Especially when a racial epithet is used, it must be excruciatingly difficult to back down. Fighting is fairly common amongst ninth-graders; have the school administrators gone too far in filing criminal charges? It could be argued the boy was acting in self defense. Sometimes, turning the other cheek is not the most appropriate action, but an invitation for more abuse.

Stay Hungry

2009-03-29T15:10:00.007-05:00

In the koryu (classical) martial arts, trophies and rank - with the exception of a teaching license - are decried as egoic trappings, or at the very least unnecessary. In modern martial arts, goals such as these are important only as catalysts. That is, achieving the goal, ultimately, pales in comparison to the rigor and spirit that is required to get you there in the first place. This is why the concept of -do, the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese Tao, is so important in the martial arts. Tao loosely translates as The Way, but another definition is path. When we're on the path, it's the journey that counts, not rushing to cross some preconceived finish line. This should be the mindset in training. Training is a means to improve, we train to maintain skills, but also training should be regarded as an end in itself.

What's best about competing is not coming home with a trophy that will barely fit into the backseat of your car. Just getting ready for a tournament is another matter. I've gone out to compete plenty of times, but I've lost more than I've won. Still, the preparation required for these events took my training to unprecedented levels.

In a recent article, Krista de Castella ponders the effects of grading on training. The day I received the rank of ikkyu, the possibilities of achieving that coveted black belt became a reality. For the next nineteen months I trained like a man possessed. It's often said that the first black belt simply marks a new frontier. So the real trick is to keep that passion after the big promotion. Holding onto that fire isn't easy, though.

What keeps your fire lit?

Hai Karate!

2009-03-14T22:10:00.007-05:00

Striking Thoughts' recent mention of Scotty Karate ale immediately brought back memories of another product hawking the karate monicker: Hai Karate aftershave and cologne. Touting to possess aphrodisiac-like qualities, wearers were advised to use caution when out and about and self-defense instructions on how to fend off frenzied women were included. Maybe this stuff had pheromones in it. Hai Karate debuted in the 60s, and I actually recall having a bottle or two of this around as a kid.

Isshinryu karateka please take note that the image of brandishing shuto hands that appeared on the package belonged to none other than Hanshi Ed McGrath. On the gift box set he's shown full view performing a flying side kick.

Check out this TV ad from 1967. Anybody from my generation remember this?

Discerning Self-Defense Techniques

2009-03-01T13:49:00.004-05:00

Rank doesn't mean anything, an instructor of mine once said. It's what you know that counts. Knowledge really is power. Making your knowledge work when it counts is the bottom line. But how do you know what you've been trained in "works"?

One of the big knocks against modern martial arts is that some of them have been debased with downright ineffective self defense moves that may seem plausible in the dojo, but would likely get you maimed or killed in an alley. Aside from the fact that most practitioners aren't trained or conditioned to be actual fighters, I'm referring to "techniques" that simply don't work. Personally I've spied on my share of adult instructors who - while they may seem sincere and well meaning - have no place teaching due to incompetence. If you're going to take the title of sensei, you really should be up to snuff with your skills. Kyoshi Bill Hayes of Shorin-ryu karate tells a story of a recent shopping trip where he witnessed "the winner of the 'Worst Demo I've seen in 47 Years of Training!' award." Realize how many people offer martial arts courses without being held accountable for rendering inept teachings.

A while back I posted a story about a magazine article touting The Ultimate Self-Defense Move. It was a bit of a stretch as most of my readers (myself included) had some doubts about the merit of this particular technique. Sometimes part of the problem with self-defense drills is having an uke (attacker) who's just going through the motions. Have you ever been guilty of this? Even if you're working viable, effective techniques, having a training partner who's not attacking with realistic intent (very important!) isn't going to help anyone. But if you feel that what you've been shown hasn't been proven effective or is below par, it may be time to move on.

Take A Stance

2009-02-14T12:30:00.004-05:00

For all the stances karate students are required to learn - and there are many - most trainees adopt only one or two for sparring. A real popular one is the side-stance (kiba-dachi) that positions you perpendicular to your opponent. This is favorable as it takes the body out of the direction of most strikes. The problem with this stance is that launching anything with the rear leg or reverse hand is compromised. The most common one I've seen (and use myself) is seisan-dachi 'to-the-oblique' or simply a general fighting stance. This is akin to what boxers use. One instructor I had used to teach an interesting way to get into one's natural fighting stance: jump in the air, turn the body slightly, and land with the corresponding foot forward. If that sounds a bit convoluted, just try standing feet shoulder width apart, and turn your body at about a 45 degree angle with one foot leading. Hold your hands at chin level with forearms vertical and bend your knees slightly, and you have a good fighting posture (kamae).

Some schools emphasize long, wide stances with chambered punches held at bay. Good for developing form and stamina and such, but for sparring these are not practical techniques to use. Shiko-dachi (wide parallel stance) works well in certain self-defense scenarios, but would be useless in a point-match. Koza-dachi (see photo) like some other "odd" stances are actually transitory maneuvers in a broader fighting scheme. According to Seiyu Oyata of Okinawan te lineage, the koza stance could actually be utilized as a leg trap for the opponent. This exemplifies how some of karate's applications have been lost or misunderstood through the years, especially when comparing close-quarter self defense moves against the longer range techniques of sparring.

In sparring you want to be grounded, yet mobile when necessary. A certain amount of movement is essential; not too much or the wrong kind, though. Some fighters like to bounce, and for the life of me I don't know how anyone can get anything off when you're hopping up and down like that. If you like gimmicks, you could always perfect the now-infamous one-legged Crane stance that Daniel-san used to save the day at the end of The Karate Kid. Otherwise, if you have a special stance or kamae that you like or feel that's useful, please share your knowledge.

Scare Tactics

2009-02-06T00:55:00.005-05:00

Joe Lewis, sport karate's first badass from the 60s, is said to have had the ability to detect kyo (weakness) in his opponents. Whether in mind, body or spirit, Lewis would own you. Likewise, heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston had developed a habit of scaring his opponents half to death before the fight even happened. He perfected a glowering presence when entering the ring, and would go so far as to stuff towels under his robe to enhance his already massive frame. Both Lewis and Liston always gave the impression that the match was personal and that they wanted to kill you.

In the animal kingdom, defense mechanisms rooted in illusion bear a similarity to the psych-out fight strategies found in athletes. For example, the common house cat (a natural predator) will arch its back and raise its hair to give the physical appearance of being far more formidable than it actually is. When Miyamoto Musashi advises to "make yourself larger than your opponent" this is not strictly a metaphor.

It's interesting that in Musashi's tome, The Book of Five Rings, very little is discussed in terms of actual technique. His forte was cunning and effective cheating or whatever else would get the job done. Musashi's real weapons were psychology, intimidation, and especially, intent, which could only be forged through severe training. By his estimation, of the sixty or so men he defeated in duels, many had superior technical skill, strength, or the advantage of youth, but lacked the moxie to gain the upper hand. Overcoming fear is an obstacle that any warrior must face sooner or later, but using your adversary's own fear can prove to be a viable way to level the playing field.

Tell It To The Marines

2009-01-18T16:50:00.029-05:00

The US Marines. The few and the proud. And what better icon than the Corps to infuse the ideologies of karate with? If you think about it, there are some striking similarities between Marine Corps life and certain aspects of karatedo: rank, title, warfare, elitism, etc.. It's ironic that the island that was so ravaged during the Pacific War (about half of Okinawa's population was wiped out) would later have its inhabitants teach the hitherto secrets of karate to the very forces that nearly destroyed them only a decade earlier. It took three months for the Allied powers to capture the tiny Okinawa in 1945, an island barely the size of two US counties. By the 1950s some of her indigenous karate masters began instructing American military in the art of self defense. At this point, karate was just a word. There was also a great deal of mystery and cynicism at the time regarding Asians, and in particular, the martial arts. When one young recruit wrote home to tell his fiancee that he was taking karate as part of his military hitch on Okinawa, his girl freaked. "Stop taking that stuff, it'll turn you into a killer!"

The time was right for Okinawans to teach karate to US troops. The mid-to-late 50s was a period of rare peace in American history. The martial ways tend to thrive during peacetime in many cultures because of its philosophical core values. American boys growing up during the 40s listened with rapt awe and admiration to the great battles that were waged for the sake of global freedom and justice. World War II was strongly depicted as the epic fight of good vs. evil. War is full of glamor and romance to the dreamy macho neophyte. So what is a young recruit to do during otherwise boring and unglamorous peacetime? Enter the martial arts.

Tatsuo Shimabuku was one of a handful of karate instructors contracted by the US government to teach Marines stationed on Okinawa. Okinawan sensei, most of them diminutive in stature, must have had their work cut out for them when they first started instructing these young bucks. At 5'2, 125 pounds, Shimabuku was hardly an imposing physical presence to the average 18 - 21 year old American Marine. More than once, karate's effectiveness was put to the test because some jarhead thought he could one-up the master. For Shimabuku, many techniques had to be instantly adjusted and modified to work with trainees that were nearly a foot taller than himself. All in a day's work, as he was compensated for his services with three-hundred American dollars per month starting in 1955. One could only imagine how that figure would translate into today's economy. Teaching karate to the Marines - not a bad gig for the retired farmer who survived one of the bloodiest battles in history.

A Work In Progress

2009-01-01T17:31:00.003-05:00

Pablo Casals, one of the great cellists of the twentieth century, never missed daily practice with his instrument for decades. One day someone asked him, "Señor Casals, you're ninety-three years old and you still practice everyday for three hours. Why do you do it?"

"Well," said the maestro, "I think I'm still seeing some improvement."

Has anyone considered the martial arts worthy as a lifetime pursuit? I don't mean in general or for the masses, but specifically for you. Everyone that I've known that's invested more than ten years in karate have done so mainly to teach. Without teaching, there's very little to motivate most people to train over the long haul. It is true that much can be learned from the teaching perspective, but it's not the same as training - as practice. The truth is, most instructors simply don't have time to train themselves.

So if you don't fancy yourself as a teacher, what do you do? You can still train on your own, but how can you gauge your own progress? You may think that the master can be the only reliable guide on the path of budo, but realize that the ultimate task of the true master is to transform the disciple into an equal.

Donn Draeger once said that the trainee should practice diligently, with heart-and-soul, but should never expect anything in return from training. Why train if I don't get anything out of it? Why bother training at all then?

We've all heard that saying, "Do what you love, love what you do." Certainly Pablo Casals couldn't have cared less about making improvements in his already masterful playing skill if he didn't have true passion for music in the first place. In this way the practice itself becomes the end, not the means. The way is in the training. Goal setting, while important conceptually, only begets more goals to acquire. But even that is a cryptic message. The real goal in martial arts advancement is to be process oriented. It's all here-and-now. And with that realization, all boundaries bust loose. As karate master Hohan Soken once noted, "Martial arts training has no limits."

Making The Kata-Kumite Connection

2008-12-26T11:37:00.006-05:00

The kata must always be practiced correctly. Real combat is another matter. - Gichin Funakoshi

Here's a pertinent question raised by Michele over at Just A Thought: What is the relationship between kata (pre-arranged practice forms) and jiyu-kumite (free-style sparring)? To expound on this, does the practice of kata necessarily translate into good fighting skills? Kata translates as form, so then this suggests that karate's form and function can be found in its kata. Kata is like a living textbook of karate's techniques and their precise execution. But principles alone don't win a fight. That is, knowing how to do something and actually doing it are not the same. Kata is a dry run; kumite is a bit more like actual combat.

I will say that most of the good kata people I've seen through the years are also pretty decent fighters. On the other hand, some of the other good fighters' renditions of kata have been less than inspiring.I've actually seen dan level promotions given to people based almost solely on their fighting prowess. With that said, should a black belt rank be given to a trainee who has mastered kata, comprehends the mechanics of kata, but can't really fight?

Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshinryu karate, offered kumite in his curriculum as an option. He had black belts who never sparred. Should we assume these same individuals were then held to extra high standards in regards to understanding kata and their martial applications?

Broadly speaking, I think certain elements of kata could present themselves in a fight. (Kata as a canon of self-defense techniques falls outside of the sparring/fighting paradigm that I'm referring to.) In naihanchi, for example, the entire form's movements are side-to-side. One explanation for this is that the defender has a wall or the edge of a cliff to the rear. Another interpretation implies the lateral movement (tai sabaki) necessary to keep an assailant off-balance, as retreating in a straight line from your opponent is a cardinal sin in sparring. Interestingly, naihanchi is the only kata seen performed in old photos of Choki Motobu, an early innovator of kumite on Okinawa.

While I strongly agree that the techniques used in kata should be of the same caliber as the ones used in sparring (and vice versa), it should be pointed out that the rehearsed movements of kata do little to prepare anyone for the spontaneity and chaos of a full blown attack.

What do you think?

Top Ten Most Annoying Things in the Martial Arts

2008-11-28T10:20:00.021-05:00

We all know the virtues of the martial arts and ways. But whether you're a newcomer or a longtime devotee there are undoubtedly some aspects of martial arts culture that gets under your skin. In the tradition of the Late Show with David Letterman I've compiled a "Top Ten" list of what I've found to be most annoying in the martial arts:

10. Learn-at-home DVD martial arts courses. Can't get to the dojo? No problem. Earn your black belt in the comfort of your living room. Really.

9. Extreme or Tricking martial arts. These are strictly demonstration arts devised as crowd pleasers. Competitors perform quasi-martial art routines based on acrobatics interspersed with enough karate shouts to give you a headache that'll last a week.

8. Far-fetched breaking routines. Breaking slabs of wood with a shuto (blade-hand) or kick can be a viable way to measure striking efficiency. Sometimes it gets to be a bit much. A friend of mine used to set bricks on fire before busting them apart with a hammer fist at demos. Nice. Once, I watched a competitor on TV attempt this same trick, but somehow some of the lighter fluid ended up on the floor, igniting the mats and setting the entire venue ablaze. Also, is being able to break a fifty inch-thick chunk of ice with your forehead indicative of any combative skill? Talk about headaches. Still, playing with ice is safer than fire.

7. Training uniforms that are so patched up they resemble a billboard. Some of these jiu-jitsu guys look more like race car drivers.

6. Camouflage belts. When colored belts were introduced in judo over a century ago, there were just white, brown, and black. Much later, more incremental colors were added to appease the masses. Not a bad idea. I can tolerate yellow, orange, etc., but camouflage? Come on.

5. The "my style and only my style is the ultimate fighting system" mantra. Please shut up already.

4. Gossip in the dojo. I don't care what Jane or anyone else does with their life. It's none of my business or yours. Few things are more damaging and hurtful (and cowardly) than malicious trash talk behind someone's back. Definitely shut up.

3. People who think they can develop as martial artists without hard work. Real martial arts are both an intellectual and physical pursuit. Deal with it.

2. Cheesy martial arts flicks, especially the American-made variety from the 80s. Check out this trailer from something called Gymkata:

1. Any pseudo-mystical, esoteric or metaphysical claims attributed to the martial arts. The following is one Jack Hogan of Ryukyu kempo putting the whammy on one of his students:

And there you have it. Granted, some of these items are more amusing than annoying. Did I leave anything out? Let me know.

Evolution

2008-11-15T17:50:00.013-05:00

Change is good. Or is it? Over the past several years we've seen a major shift in what people refer to as "martial arts." Currently, MMA is in vogue, and already there are thick boundaries drawn between what is considered nouveau and the time-honored traditional martial arts. It seems TMA are no longer fashionable, as heavy emphasis is being placed on the combat effectiveness of an art, quite often to the exclusion of all else. Asian martial arts in particular have always been shrouded in a little mystery. Chi/ki-energy, mind control, and superhuman abilities are the stuff of urban legends and hucksters. With the advent of reality fighting all bets are off. There are no secrets.

There's this place near my job that offers boxing, sambo, jiu-jitsu, the works. The area with mats is surrounded by a chain-link fence. In one corner of this school someone is working on a speed bag, while in another, basic self defense drills are taking place. This type of eclectic approach has become the norm, and I'm left wondering if becoming a jack of all trades is better than being a master of merely one. Is learning a hodgepodge of styles the direction that the martial arts are heading towards? Some of the old time masters forbade their students from cross-training in other styles, but the founders of many traditional systems did just that to develop their own curricula.

Previously, I mentioned TMA as being "time-honored" but truth be told, the majority of traditional styles are barely a century old. Tae kwon do, aikido and karate - while they have ancient roots - were all formally systemized in the twentieth century. Judo, which was created in 1882, actually negated the nasty martial applications found in jiu-jitsu so it could be taught to school children and the proletariat. Budo, the martial ways, flourished during Japanese peacetime as a dignified and ethical pursuit of warriorship. Today, we can watch bloody cage matches on TV or YouTube. So much for evolution. Change is not always good, but for sure it's inevitable.

Delinquency and Martial Arts

2008-10-27T09:21:00.006-05:00

There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking. - Father Edward Flanagan

The Jiu-Jitsu Sensei Blog had an interesting piece about gang members and their less-than-noble reasons for learning martial arts, particularly MMA. In the past, street kids from urban areas would take up boxing to sublimate their fighting tendencies. Indeed, many prize fighters in hindsight are grateful for boxing being their ticket out of what would have been juvenile delinquency, gangs and eventually prison.

Gangs are very different today from the ones that existed years ago. Current US gang activity more closely resembles those of organized crime than a bunch of teenagers protecting turf. Some well established gangs are nationally networked and are involved in drug trafficking, among other things. The gang leaders themselves aren't kids but hardened criminals that local youngsters admire, much like the glorified Mafiosi of the past. The attraction to gang membership in a ghetto setting is very seductive. Gangs provide a sense of security, belonging and identity that is sorely lacking in the life of a troubled youth.

In a recent study, researchers asked public middle-school teachers in an undisclosed large city to select a group of their most violent students. They were then divided into two categories; one a control group, the other the tested group that was required to attend a traditional martial arts course given at the school by an outsider. The course included self defense, kata practice and meditation. Using a number of variables to gauge the study, the treated group that attended the martial arts class made noticeable improvements in nearly all the areas that were measured, while the control group's antisocial behavior either remained the same or got worse.

Obviously this portrays the traditional martial arts in a very positive light. With its brutal matches and heavily tattooed players, it's easy to see why MMA would appeal to wannabe gang members and violent types. Adolescents are both impressionable and malleable. Could training in MMA redirect the future of a young potential criminal? The real point is whether MMA could adapt to a philosophy and similar core values found in traditional martial arts.

Feel The Power

2008-10-20T09:40:00.020-05:00

Recently I came across a good read that I thought could be relevant for martial study. Power vs. Force is a book that describes how power, as per author David Hawkins' definition, is of the authentic variety, whereas force belongs to the antiquated self-serving agenda which is typical of the egoic human condition. Low attractor fields manifesting in fear, including its offshoots such as shame, anger and even pride, will actually produce physical weakness. True empowerment emanating from high attractor fields will always produce the desired positive effect. I must warn you that Hawkins' views and research findings are not without controversy. Still, his work has some compelling implications for the martial arts. He writes:

The most highly developed martial arts clearly demonstrates how motive and principle are of ultimate importance... The most frequently heard admonition to trainees is "stop trying to use force." Schools devoted to these arts produce masters whose overriding concern is victory of the higher self over the lower self through control, training and commitment to goals aligned with true power. Alignment with these power attractor patterns is not limited to the exercise of the discipline itself but becomes an entire lifestyle.

"Victory of the higher self" is an oft quoted noble sentiment in the martial arts, but it's usually not a priority for beginning students. But beginners (and occassionaly their seniors) can be subject to these so-called lower attractor patterns. Emotions such as self-consciousness and especially stress have been known to produce catabolic hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These "fight or flight" agents certainly have their place, but too much can be health detrimental in the long term.

Here's an interesting test found in the book that will supposedly yield a valid answer to just about any kind of question. You need two people for this. Somebody poses a question, one that requires a concrete yes/no response. The test subject holds out one arm parallel to the floor while the second person presses down with two fingers on the wrist of the extended arm and says "resist." The subject then resists with all of her/his strength. If the answer is no the subject will go weak and the arm will descend. If the answer is yes the subject will remain strong and be able to resist the downward pressure. That's it. Check out these sample questions you could pose. Remember, you'll need a partner for this experiment.

Am I training in the right style? (Y/N?)
Is my instructor a true master? (Y/N?)
Do I deserve to be promoted? (Y/N?)
Will I be able to kick Joey's butt if I take karate? (Y/N?)

The possibilities are endless. Try this out at home and get back to me. In the meantime keep training!

Choose Your Weapons

2008-10-11T10:08:00.003-05:00

I've never been a huge fan of traditional Okinawan weapons (kobudo). After all, karate - the empty hand way - forgoes the need for anything besides relying on the human body as a means for self defense. Kobudo is a bona fide fighting system unto itself, so when it's taught alongside of karate (as it usually is) at least some of its techniques are going to get short shrift. Most schools simply don't devote the same time, energy and passion into this martial art when you already have your work cut out for you in the equally in-depth (and far more practical) system of karate.

For the kobudo practitioner, the trick is to not regard your weapons as something separate from yourself. There's really nothing mystical about becoming one with, or extending ki into your weapons. There's a story about jiu-jitsu master Sokaku Takeda breaking the ribs of a hooligan with the snap of a wet towel when he summoned ki-energy into his makeshift weapon. In medieval kenjutsu the sword was considered a sacred artifact that possessed a life force of its own.

Some karate styles offer a myriad of kobudo weapons. In Isshinryu karate the predominant weapons that are taught are bo (6 ft. staff) and sai (tri-pronged truncheon). I favor the sai because I feel the techniques are reasonably similar to what I've already learned in karate. I also like the idea that the sai was probably developed to counter larger and heavier weapons, such as the sword and bo. Since I've settled on my weapon of choice I decided it was time to spring for some quality sai. So this past July, I put in my order for a pair of Shureido sai, natural black. A Shureido rep told me this was a hot item and that it would take some time before a shipment came in. Three months to the day - on my birthday, no less - my sai finally arrived. It certainly wasn't planned that way, but I'm happy to say it was worth the wait. It was a sai of relief. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Think Big

2008-09-29T10:50:00.004-05:00

There's this guy from my area that runs a karate school out of his house. A basement dojo, I'm told, can be a rough place to train. At any rate, this particular fellow checks in at 6'8 and weighs 315 pounds. A friend of mine knows him from the old days. "Years ago he came to train with us because he heard good things about Isshinryu, plus he was killing everyone in sparring at his other school."

"Of course you gave him a warm welcome upon his arrival", I said with thinly veiled sarcasm. "Sure", said my friend. "We took him apart his first day there!"

In almost any physical activity, size and strength go a long way. In the martial arts, size and strength are almost met with contempt. That is, martial-art techniques were developed to down any opponent, regardless of size. If you look at most of the founders of Asian martial arts, you'll see that they were small men, typically just over five feet tall. This kind of shortcoming (pun intended) can seem like a liability for anyone who wants to learn the art of self-defense. But a liability - or as we perceive it as such - can be sublimated into a catalyst to accomplish big things. Napoleon complex is a term used to describe people who are physically short and in turn overcompensate for their so-called handicap.

The conventional belief is that the smaller man (less than 5'5) has a chip on his shoulder, but British researchers have revealed something else. In experiments that were conducted, it was found that it's the average-sized guy who is more likely to lose his temper.

"Make yourself larger than your opponent" advises Musashi. Not merely a mental ploy, what this really means is make your spirit larger. Somehow, this manifests into the physical. Good posture is generally equated with an air of confidence and a sense of well being. We've all seen the opposite: those who lack self esteem carry themselves poorly. They look down at the ground, slumped over, almost in an attempt to hide. We are what we think. And as long as we're thinking, says Donald Trump, think big and kick ass!

Striking vs. Grappling

2008-09-22T22:44:00.011-05:00

Do you train in karate or some related style? How often do you work ground techniques at your school? Most karate students train on a traditional wooden deck, so if some rolling or grappling moves are required, somebody is recruited to go into the back room to pull out some small cheesy mat to work out on. Some basic takedowns and rolls are shown and then the obligatory mat disappears for another three or four months. At least that's been my experience. Karate is simply not about ground techniques and never has been. Actually, this is surprising given the history of tegumi (Okinawan wrestling) which actually predates karate, yet never influenced karate's development.

In karate, certain techniques taken from kata do resemble jiu-jitsu moves, but you'll find none of that in a sportive karate match. From what I've seen karateka don't like to be grabbed in any way when sparring. Most people - including black belts - don't really respond properly to this maneuver, despite endless repetitions of bunkai or self-defense drills. Sport and reality tend to be mutually exclusive within the karate realm.

Longtime columnist Dave Lowry once suggested that karate techniques can never be practiced realistically. There's a certain amount of truth to this, as strikes, particularly to vital areas, are taught to be pulled without hurting the opponent. In arts such as judo, Lowry explains, a hip throw can be executed full force without splattering the other guy. In this way, the judoka can come to appreciate a realistic sense of close quarter combat that cannot be fully realized by the karate practitioner. This could be one reason grapplers usually prevailed against strikers in the early years of MMA matches. The following is an old clip featuring Royce Gracie of Brazilian jiu-jitsu against some hapless kung fu guy:

A couple of points to consider:

Ground techniques and multiple assailants don't mix.

Speaking from experience most street fights do not go to the ground.

I'm not suggesting that an altercation that goes to the ground is out of the question just because I don't want it to happen that way. The truth is that I've invested many years in karate, a standup style, and the prospect of learning the ground at this point doesn't sound too appealing. I do have a friend who holds black belt ranks in Isshinryu karate, jiu-jitsu and judo (acquired in that order) who confides that if ever assaulted he would be inclined to fall back on his jiu-jitsu/judo skills, but that's him. Again, karate does include a variety of grappling-like skills that are highly effective in a standup fashion.

Karate, like most martial arts, were developed on the premise that your assailant is most likely a brutish thug who has no idea how to fight. This is a pretty good bet, but if you run across some drunken smartass who fancies himself a grappler you may be in for a rough time. Or maybe not. Jim Advincula, who began his training in Isshinryu karate on Okinawa in 1958, tells a story of how someone stormed into his school one night demanding to know why grappling wasn't included in the curriculum. Only when the intruder received a hiza tsui (knee-strike) to the face after a failed attempt at a leg lunge attack did he understand. He was lucky, it could have been much worse. As the saying goes, God protects fools, drunks and children.

Kata: Doing It Right

2008-09-11T12:35:00.002-05:00

For anyone who has been a regular reader of this site, you may know that my views on kata (forms) training are somewhat divided. Kata has some uses which I'll state, but from much of what I've seen they've survived largely due to their convenience for belt promotions, tournaments and a way to use up class time.

On a more positive note, kata training brings to light something that is referred to in Zen as "monkey mind". This is actually the normal state of consciousness exhibited by most people. Let's say you're doing your strongest kata, one you've performed countless times. At some point you'll start running through this form on auto-pilot. Now this is potentially both good and bad. Ultimately, you want techniques to unfold naturally and without hesitation. On the other hand, if you're performing your kata strictly by rote the mind will tend to wander. You're just going through the motions and the mind becomes restless. Losing one's kime (focus) is a common problem for students at any level, so the trick is to become mindful of it and get back on course. This is the task of meditation, and the kata should be regarded as a moving meditation of sorts. If you're really concentrating on your form, bare-minded awareness (mushin) follows suit.

Real kata training should be done rigorously and with sincere effort, i.e. sweating bullets and heavy breathing by the time you're finished. No lollygagging. Any half-assed attempt at running through your forms is not only a waste of time but counterproductive. I once witnessed two candidates for nidan (2nd degree black belt) fail their tests because it was felt they didn't put enough gusto into their rendition of kata. Every strike within the form should be regarded as the finisher, or as Mike Tyson used to say, "thrown with bad intentions." Is your training good enough that it will allow you to perform every kata you know back-to-back with full power and speed without losing your lunch? We all appreciate the precision, grace and aesthetics of a master kata practitioner, but realize these artistic movements were built on a solid foundation of hard work over a long period of time.

As you practice your kata, envision your imaginary opponents as real and approximately your size. Look before you change direction within the form. Some beginners have a tendency to look down while in the midst of their kata which conveys an absence of confidence. Before you begin your kata take a single deep breath. This will clear out the mind and calm the nerves, especially when you're testing or competing.

Aside from gleaning its technical aspects and applications (bunkai), kata training should be approached with a strong will and proper spirit. The way is in the training, said Musashi.

Keep Going

2008-05-23T13:00:00.013-05:00

Once, a friend of mine asked me what I would do after I earned my shodan. "What is there after black belt - do you keep going?"

When you think you've reached the summit, you're not even halfway there!

Do not believe that
This is all there is.
More and more
Wonderful teachings exist -
The sword is unfathomable.

- Yamaoka Tesshu

Wanna Fight?

2008-05-17T21:19:00.023-05:00

Most people get into the martial arts simply to learn how to defend themselves. Indeed, self-defense is a common euphemism for traditional martial arts (as opposed to the competitive variety or MMA). Sports such as wrestling or boxing will draw a camp that have natural inclinations to do battle. The peculiarity of the martial arts is that its adherents are taught to walk away from trouble. But we all have met those who actually enjoy a good fight. As an ethnic group, the Irish are likened to having a propensity to fight. Donnybrook, Ireland was the site of a fair held for centuries until it was discontinued in 1855 due to massive brawling. Hence, a donnybrook came to be known as any group-like melee. The Irish-Americans that I know relish their fighting heritage, so I can't be accused of stereotyping. That's not my intention anyway.

Students that enjoy kumite (sparring) tend to progress well with this activity, irrespective of any athletic deficiencies. They like to fight, ergo they experiment and research various methods, perhaps more than the next trainee. Technical ability is great, but it still takes guts (hara) to fight. A fine instructor once told me that fighting was 20 percent technique, 80 percent nerve. For some, getting up nerve is a major problem. For others it's a veritable party.

If fighting really appeals to you, doesn't this make you a potential troublemaker? Isn't this antithetical to the spirit of budo? A bushi is a warrior, which implies that combat has some higher, loftier purpose than just someone who engages in contests. Choki Motobu would routinely field-test his fighting skills in his pursuit of Okinawan karate. Clearly this man liked to fight, but his reputation denied his admission to nearly every dojo on the island. As youths, Ed Parker and Bruce Lee actively sought out street matches to gauge their progress. Certainly, their contributions are undeniable.

In John Stevens' Invincible Warrior there are a series of old photos in the back of the book that depict Morihei Ueshiba performing something called "Smiling Technique Variations". Sure enough, we see the master beaming as he throws one of his poor disciples clear across the room. The author didn't elaborate, but it reminds me of something Winston Churchill once said: "I like a man who grins when he fights."

The American Way

2008-05-10T19:22:00.010-05:00

I used to have a gi with the American flag sewn on the sleeve. The caption read Martial Arts - USA as if this were some new paradigm. Maybe it is. Somewhere along the line the martial arts became a bona fide American institution, like baseball, apple pie and labor unions. But do American budoka measure up to their Asian originators? Has the US or anywhere in the West produced the likes of a Kano, Funakoshi or Shimabuku? Donn Draeger, who studied for many years under Japanese sensei, felt that for a classical martial system to be preserved justly, it must include the manners, customs and beliefs indigenous to that style's nation of origin.

So then what aspects of American culture influence our interpretation of the martial arts? Are we doing them any justice? Draeger had doubts about this, defining The American Way as ultimately "lazily convenient." We like to think we all train hard. And we're accustomed to the formal etiquette practiced in nearly all dojos, especially the all-important aspect of rei (respect). Respect is apparently lacking in our culture, certainly more now than in the past. One only has to witness the disrespect that is present in the workplace and public schools.

Gichin Funakoshi felt that a karateka should at all costs be a decent citizen and a role model for society. To that end most schools adhere to a special code of conduct called a dojo kun which outlines a list of goals and behavior a good practitioner should strive for. Here's two precepts from Chuck Norris' code taken from his chun kuk do system:

I will maintain respect for those in authority and demonstrate this respect at all times.
I will always remain loyal to God, my country, family and my friends.

Notice how religion and nationalism come into play in the second one. Should these icons be included within the context of martial arts training? When Okinawan karate first arrived in Japan around 1920 it became infused with Japanese ideologies, which included militarism, Zen, and yamato damashii - the "Japanese spirit". Some Okinawans were unhappy with these changes, but karate's move to mainland Japan was but a prelude to its worldwide acceptance and popularity. Equally, when the martial arts arrived here in the US they became Americanized to a degree. Did this necessarily devalue them? I don't believe so. If you're a sincere, committed student in the right school then coming to terms with these cultural infusions can be transcended, if they matter at all.

Cheap Shot

2008-05-01T01:30:00.007-05:00

This has got to be one of the most disgraceful moments in sport karate. Keep an eye on the referee, Isao Nakamura Fushiki, 7th dan. If this doesn't make your blood boil, nothing will:

Maturity

2008-04-25T21:27:00.015-05:00

I remember reading somewhere that the measure of one's character could be determined in the execution of a punch or kick. That sounds like a bit of a stretch, although early Chinese thought implies a correlation between chi and morality. At any rate, a certain amount of wisdom is expected to be developed alongside of one's advancement in their art. Dan denotes a black belt rank, but another definition suggests a coming of age, not only chronologically, but in maturation. Children hold black belts, but they are not yudansha nor should they be regarded as such. Most schools will actually retest young black belts for shodan when they arrive at a certain age, usually 16.

In his book Nature and the Human Soul, Bill Plotkin describes a social ill that he calls patho-adolescence: adults - especially those in a position of authority and power - who possess the mental and emotional acuity of teenagers. Think of certain political figures that have headlined the news recently. Are there any sensei or black belts that you've come across that could be labeled as immature? The consummate martial artist should have a developed sense of responsibilty and self-control. One instructor I knew told me that he doesn't spar with his students out of fear of killing someone. I suggested a career in Special Forces. He didn't get it.

When I speak of maturity in the martial arts, it's not stoical indifference to joy or grief - believe me, there's plenty of both to be found in the dojo - but rather integrating wholeness within the range of human emotions. Some high ranking instructors that I've met mix a good deal of humor into their lessons. "Sometimes you have to entertain your students" a colleague of mine once said. It's good to lighten up once in a while. Being childlike is not the same as being childish.

McDojo Classic

2008-04-19T14:30:00.018-05:00

This is the trailer for The Foot Fist Way, a comedy that's slated to be released in theaters May 30th. It's the tale of a tae kwon do instructor who would serve his community better if he were doing something other than teaching the martial arts. Watch, if you dare:

Getting Better

2008-04-13T17:35:00.009-05:00

Recently a student with about a year of training asked me if I thought he was making any real progress in karate. It's a fair question given that it's difficult to be truly objective about ourselves. Self-assessment always runs the risk of being filtered through certain biased tendencies, such as doubt, ego and denial. So then it's to be expected to look outside of ourselves for some genuine feedback. But even when approval from a qualified source is received there's occasionally some lingering doubts. Are we in a position to judge ourselves? Has anyone ever received a belt they feel they didn't deserve?

It can be a daunting task to examine yourself while you're actually performing that what's being observed. The following are some guidelines that I feel can help:

Videotape yourself. I can't recommend this enough. Whether you're interested in improving your sparring or rolling skills, a taped rendition of your performance on the mat will give you a fresh perspective. Prepare yourself to cringe at mistakes you had no idea you were making, while at the same time express surprise at how well you do certain things.
Keep a written log. When I started training I was given a manual with most of the techniques needed to advance through the ranks. Make it a point to note which ones need work and detail a routine to fix these deficiencies. If you're training primarily for fitness and health benefits, record the number of basics, pushups, and crunches you're able to do over a period of time.
Slow down. When I see somebody flying through kata at warp speed I suspect they're trying to conceal something, albeit unconsciously. The next time you work your form, slow it down as if you were performing tai chi movements. At some point actually stop midstream and look at what you're doing. Is your back straight? Are you bending your knees to their proper depth? Are your toes pointing in the same direction as the target of your hand strikes? It's the details that count.

While it's true that there are "advanced" techniques in any martial-art style, the real litmus test of expertise is to be found in how well a student performs the most basic exercise taught at the white belt level. Don't be so interested in learning something new - that will come in its own time. Rather perfect the techniques that you're covering right now, no matter how mundane or ordinary they may seem. Remember, the authentic expert is a master of the basics.

Take It Outside

2008-04-06T09:57:00.004-05:00

Today I took my Okinawan kobudo weapons outdoors and went to town. I know that's a bit of an oxymoron, but I'm just trying to make a point. There's just not too many schools that will structurally accommodate the swinging of a six foot bo. In my day I've come too close to breaking the overhead florescent bulbs (also six feet in length, ironically) wielding my weapon with reckless abandon. I like to feel free when I train.

Does your school ever conduct training outdoors? One summer day we took a class down to the beach for a two mile run followed by some basic drills done in the surf while drawing some spectators. Kicking in knee-high water provides a tough workout. Peter Urban, the legendary goju karate pioneer in the States, would occasionally have his uniform clad students run down the streets of New York outside his famous Chinatown dojo. I admit, Canal Street bears no semblance to a nature trail, but I'm sure a group of karate trainees jogging across busy Manhattan intersections was cheap advertising for Urban's school.

Most of the twentieth century founders favored rigorous outdoor training at some point. As a youth Gichin Funakoshi would practice kata during the midst of a raging typhoon to forge his spirit. Mas Oyama spent extended periods in the wilderness performing karate and Zen meditation under frigid waterfalls as part of his shugyo (austere training) regimen.

Fitness guru Jack LaLanne used to run these TV ads during the 70s for his health clubs with the promise of escaping the winter chill ("Baby it's cold outside!"). The classical dojo was not designed as a total haven from the elements - a departure from the insulated, air conditioned modern facilities. As historian Donn Draeger noted, the traditional training hall is "hot during summer, cold during winter; it has approximately the temperature of the environment beyond its walls." I really don't recommend training during extremely hot or cold conditions unless certain precautions are taken. Keeping yourself hydrated is a must during any strenuous activity, especially in the heat. Stretching and warming up the muscles and connective tissues is imperative prior to training, particularly when it's cold.

For me, martial arts training outdoors is ideal. There's nothing like it: fresh air, freedom, sunshine (when available) and if you live in the 'burbs like me you benefit from the surrounding oxygen-exuding plant life. Such is the symbiosis of living on our planet, for now, as long as we don't continue to ravage her natural resources.

Fighting Gear

2008-03-31T00:15:00.015-05:00

My earliest sparring sessions in karate were without the mandatory protective gear you see today. The only requirement was the groin protector; a mouthpiece was optional. By the 80s, foam head gear and hand guards had become compulsory for most schools per insurance purposes.

Probably the biggest argument against the use of protective gear is that it conditions the student to a kind of safety net that isn't always available. And yet despite this added precaution, the potential to get seriously hurt during a match still exists. In truth, the protective gear users may be instilled with a false sense of security and in turn feel that they have carte blanche to commit mayhem on one another. One article refers to this as risk compensation, which basically means we adjust our danger levels in accordance to so-called security measures.

The issue of protective fighting gear presents an interesting dichotomy. On one hand we have the time-honored body hardening techniques that are purported to forge our bodies into steel. I have my doubts, but you'd be hard pressed to find a Thai boxer who's heard of shin guards. Traditional karateka pound the makiwara (striking post) bare knuckled, yet Western boxers wrap their hands with gauze before lacing up a pair of 12 oz. gloves.

On Okinawa, karate fighters occassionally wear bogu, which is the protective armor used in kendo (sword-art). Bogu includes a chest protector and a full-face shield. Again, the idea is that players can go full tilt in matches without killing one another, try as they may.

Obviously, padded protection is an absolute must for children involved in any sportive striking-style martial art. Dojo Rat just wrote a piece on a Missouri school that teaches MMA to kids as young as six. Hopefully, safety will be stressed when showing these little tykes submission moves.

The next time you train, try sparring without your fighting gear. It will feel strange and uncomfortable, and you'll probably feel reticent about loading up on shots. At the very least, it'll provide you with an interesting reality check.

Victim Mentality

2008-03-17T00:58:00.012-05:00

I chanced upon this image on PostSecret, a site that features anonymous renderings depicted on postcards. Aside from the cartoon's graphic nature, the caption conveys a thought many practitioners may be carrying around but have been reluctant to admit. After years of dedicated martial arts training, there are those who feel they still haven't "got it".

Holding a certain rank does not necessarily translate into having real confidence. But if we do feel confident - for whatever reason - then it tends to show, in and out of the dojo. It's been long known that robbers and especially bullies find their victims through analysis. Non-verbal cues can affect perceptions about vulnerability and ease of exploitation by criminals and the like. Unsynchronized walking strides, poor posture and the inability to make eye contact are dead giveaways to the potential attacker.

So if you think you're fodder for an attack, your body language will likely communicate that notion. Conversely if you authentically feel good about yourself and your abilities, then that may be all that's needed to divert someone's intention to do you harm.

In the meantime, keep training!

Martial Law: Believe It or Not

2008-03-13T11:09:00.006-05:00

Here's part of an amusing list of prohibited martial art activities reminiscent of the puritanical blue laws that are still on the books in various US states. If you have any of your own that you feel should be passed, let me know and I'll make some phone calls. Enjoy!

Peshtigo, Wisconsin: Citizens are not allowed to practice karate on any city sidewalk.

Cotton, Minnesota: Pants with hip pockets may not be worn when working out in any of the martial arts. (A hip pocket is considered to be the perfect place to hide a pint of liquor.)

Corry, Pennsylvania: No female wearing a nightgown is allowed to practice martial arts. A woman of any age must always get fully dressed before she can legally work out.

Austin, Oregon: Men may not teach karate or any other martial art while on a boat on the Sabbath.

Wedgworth, Alabama: No single, widowed or divorced woman may participate in any of the martial arts on Sunday. Also, any unattached female who takes part in such outlandish activities can be arrested and given a jail term.

Wheeler, Mississippi: Citizens are allowed to practice martial arts but may not strike a friend in jest - unless you first tell him you are just kidding around.

Pattonsburg, Missouri: Citizens may not make silly and/or insulting faces at a man while he is practicing martial arts.

Acme, Louisiana: Citizens (children or adults) may not laugh out loud at a martial arts student going through their moves.

Boone, North Carolina: Martial artists may not practice on Sunday during the half-hour period before a church service.

Sutherland, Iowa: Playfully using a martial arts strike in a effort to remove a hat from the head of another is strictly prohibited.

Greenville, Delaware: No martial artists may place his arm around a woman without a good and lawful reason.

Bluff, Utah: Martial arts practitioners are banned from chewing tobacco while practicing.

Visions of Violence

2008-03-08T17:04:00.020-05:00

To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness. - Confucius

Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba is credited as the author of aphorisms taken from lectures and poems that would eventually be compiled into The Art of Peace. Ueshiba's message herein is that non-violence and compassion are the utimate hallmarks of the warrior. It's ironic that the O'Sensei took this stand, given his own teacher was a ruthless butcherer who would cut down anyone who crossed his path. Fortunately, he had the wisdom to not emulate his master and cultivated a different way.

Is it really conceivable to transcend violence when our culture is so immersed in it? Everyday we're bombarded with news reports of civil unrest, terrorism and otherwise ordinary people gone berserk. What's so unsettling is that these sort of grisly events have become the norm in the news. Worse still is how we as a society have become so desensitized to these things. Violence, bloodshed and mayhem exist not only in newscasts, but perversely in our entertainment outlets: graphic martial-art video games, rap music that espouses gang violence, and movies that depict torture scenes just to name a few.

Like Ueshiba, are we capable of seeing the folly to all of this, or do these gruesome images take their toll on us in some way? Research has shown that extended exposure to violence leads to brain activity patterns that may be characteristic for aggressive thoughts. Monkey see, monkey do so to speak. Not that we're incapable of separating fact from fiction or putting a horrific news report into its proper perspective on a conscious level, but rather that we are affected subliminally.

It seems nearly impossible to have any faith in concepts such as non-violence and compassion when we're force-fed a nonstop barrage of man's inhumanity to humanity. Should the media take more of an active role in not sensationalizing bad events? We too have the choice to not partake in a pop culture that glorifies violence and even murder. I'm not suggesting that we cut ourselves off from reality or view life through rose colored glasses, but we need to realize that the constant depiction of violence in our daily lives can have profound ramifications on us, and especially our children.

Dress Code

2008-03-01T23:10:00.008-05:00

Years ago I entered an "open" tournament. All the quasi karate styles were represented there: kung fu, kenpo, tae kwon do, you name it. I saw uniforms of every imaginable design on these competitors. Some wore hakama (garb originally worn by samurai) and a few were donning something similar to a Roman toga! Still another entrant wore just a T-shirt with his school logo embossed on it. I actually felt out of place with my plain white karate uniform.

The unadorned white gi (uniform) is generally regarded as part of martial arts tradition. Really, defining tradition here is an iffy undertaking given the fact that many systems of empty-handed combat were devised barely more than a century ago. And since the martial arts seem to be in a state of constant flux, what practitioners wear for training apparel has also been subjected to change. It was Judo's Jigoro Kano who introduced the white gi in 1907, but the idea didn't catch on with other styles until some time later. So the wearing of the gi is a relatively modern development in the martial arts. When Gichin Funakoshi demonstrated karate in Japan for the first time around 1920 he wore a judo gi and adopted judo's colored belt system in an effort to encourage Japanese participation.

Kano's original belt grades were just white and black. Later, brown was added to denote an intermediate level. The first school I trained in had white, yellow, green, brown and black belt levels, and for many years that's all there was. Eventually more were added, including orange, blue and purple. Now we also have camouflage belts, and before you know it we'll probably have mauve and chartreuse belts walking around.

Then there are the patches. Most schools require that you wear an organizational patch or one that symbolizes your style. I see nothing wrong with that, but as a rule of thumb less patches are better. Some of these new players, especially in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wear more emblems on their uniforms than you would find on most NASCAR stock cars. Longtime karateka Charles Goodin recently wrote a brief article on uniform patches whereas he feels that all of them are tawdry and unnecessary. Some of his points are well taken, but I feel that one or two on your gi is fine.

I usually have three of four karate gis at my disposal, if for no other reason just so I have a clean one to wear to every class. Always arrive wearing a washed and unwrinkled uniform if you want to remain in good standing at your school. I actually saw an adult student get sent home once because his gi was absolutely filthy (and he stunk to high heaven). When you buy a new uniform, make sure you hem the pants length before you come to class so you don't trip over the excess material while you're working out. Your uniform is an expression of you, so take good care of it and wear it proudly!

Martial Rx

2008-02-25T11:51:00.010-05:00

Injuries are part of the martial journey. Does your instructor know what to do when someone gets hurt or knocked out in your school? Most dojo that I've been in didn't even have a first aid kit handy.

At one time martial arts training was taught in conjunction with various versions of osteopathy and holistic medicine. Most of the traditional healing skills were given short shrift when the martial arts made their transition from East to West. That may be too bad, especially in light of the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical monstrosity known as the American drug industry. Where else can you find TV commercials imploring the public to "ask your doctor about such-and-such a pill"? It seems the healthcare bureaucrats want everybody to be on something.

Acupuncture, herbal remedies, bone setting (sekkotsu) and resuscitation skills (kappo) were areas of knowledge held by the old-time masters of combat. Through the investigation of physiology, martial artists not only had a better understanding of healing, but also how to disrupt certain areas through atemi (vital strikes). But skeptics question the authenticity of Eastern holistic ways, in particular Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Indeed, the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) claims that of the 46 medical journals published by the Chinese Medical Association, not one is devoted to acupuncture or other TCM practices.

Still, while hurting people is relatively easy, it's healing that requires perhaps a higher calling, whether its through conventional medicine, alternative methods, or a combined approach as proposed by Andrew Weil who has authored several books on his "integrative medicine" theories. But it was Ben Franklin who probably had the best advice of all: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The Tao of Lee

2008-02-21T11:16:00.004-05:00

For those of you who have ever been inspired by the legendary Bruce Lee here's a place where some interesting discourse is taking place. Put in your two cents!

Slow Motion Brick Chopper

2008-02-18T20:00:00.006-05:00

This is why I don't advocate breaking stuff. Check it out:

The Pros and Cons of Competing

2008-02-17T00:33:00.009-05:00

What's the first thing you see when you walk into almost any martial arts school? Trophies, of course. And usually lots of them. Is your dojo adorned with trophies? Do you feel that this image runs counter to what the martial arts are really about?

If your answer to this is yes, allow me to pose a question to you: Have you ever competed in a martial arts event?

Very few people get involved in the martial arts with tournaments in mind. Self defense, health and well being are the goals of most trainees. But I always encourage students to enter a tournament - even if it's just one - to see what it's like. Whether you place or not isn't really the issue. "You're already a winner just for showing up" an instructor of mine once said. It takes guts to bow into that tournament ring, believe me. Getting ready for this event will mean you'll have to kick your training up a notch or two. Preparing for a tournament is a great excuse to bring your skills and precision up to unprecedented levels.

Even if fighting isn't your game you could enter a kata (forms) division. Some of the most breathtaking and inspiring renditions of kata that I've seen have been on a tournament deck.

Right about now I can see the purists rolling their eyes. "The martial arts are not about sports!" they're yelling. I have to admit, I'm hard pressed to disagree with that statement. Sports are founded on rules. If there's one underlying rule to the martial arts, it's - there are no rules. So not only are martial contests not "real" martial arts, but in a certain respect the opposite of them because of the rules/no-rules dichotomy. To state the obvious, winning a point-match has absolutely nothing to do with how you'll prevail in a real altercation.

In spite of this schism I'm in favor of the sportive side of the martial arts. Every time you go out to compete you improve automatically. Not only through self-examination, but by checking out the other players. You're bound to see some new or different techniques that you may want to try out yourself.

Competing is a little scary because you're doing something the ego hates so much: facing the unknown. This is in contrast to the camp that insists that sportive martial arts is an ego-driven endeavor. For many it is, and winning can take its toll. Win or lose, you'll still be getting experience that really can't be acquired in the comfort of your school. In the end, you have only yourself to compete against.

Choosing The Right School

2008-02-10T14:01:00.003-05:00

"Which style is best?"

Recently someone interested in the martial arts asked me this now-timeworn question via email. He made mention of a catalogue of styles, almost implying that he should pursue more than one. I defined some very broad categories of martial arts: grappling, striking, competitive and so on. But the main idea I wanted to drive home was that he was asking the wrong question. How should I know what style is best suited for this young man? Really, a "style" is a theoretical construct. It's the school that should be the main focus of his query.

First and foremost the would-be aspirant has to do some investigating. Go out and visit some schools to get a feel for what it is you're looking for. Many people end up training at a particular venue because it's the closest one to home. The commute typically gets the highest priority. There's more to it than just that, and there are a confluence of other factors that need to be considered:

1. The reputation of the school.

Word-of-mouth is not only the best advertising, but fairly reliable. It's a good place to start. If you seek instruction for your child, talk to the parents from your community. Even if it's for yourself it behooves you to visit the school in question and watch a class in progress.

2. The instructor.

While you're observing a class, what kind of person do you see in charge? A style is only as good as the instructor who's presenting it. Not only someone who is technically proficient, but one who exudes the characteristics you would expect from a competent teacher: leadership, patience and empathy. A good teacher should be a source of motivation and inspiration. A sensei is one who has gone before on this journey, so (s)he should know what you're in for.

In the US, anyone can open a martial arts club, no questions asked. Realize that not everyone is qualified (or should be allowed) to teach.

3. The students.

A good school and its attendants should be like a surrogate family. How do these people behave? Would you want them as neighbors? How do the students interact with each other? Personality and even occupation play a factor in how you'll fit in at a particular school.

I've noticed that certain styles tend to attract specific classes of people. Intellectual, white-collar and artistic types seem drawn to internal styles such as tai chi and aikido. The young guys love MMA. The blue collar working class gravitate towards karate and kempo styles. Of course these are sweeping generalizations based on my observations.

4. Method of payment.

Avoid schools that offer contracts. You never know how things will work out, and once you put your signature on something it can be very binding and difficult to get out of. Look for a place that charges by the month. I used to train at a school that had a pay-as-you-go policy (I was paying $4 a class, although that was many years ago). These days corporate schools charge up to $150 per month and expect you to sign for 6 months to a year's worth of lessons. Payments are then automatically withdrawn from your checking account. Welcome to the wonderful world of McDojos.

This list is by no means exhaustive. My point is that your school, its attendants and especially your instructor(s) are far more important than whatever style you train in. Visit some schools you may be interested in, and listen to your intuition. Choose wisely.

Martial Arts Madness

2008-02-07T14:17:00.002-05:00

There are few books on the martial arts that could be considered classics. Most range from fairly competent to dry and dull. I've come across one that could be described as completely off the wall.

Martial Arts Madness has got to be the weirdest and most irreverent book of its genre; a primer that's filled with unusual martial arts subject matter (East and West) and covers topics such as strategy, psychopathology and intuition.

The author, Glenn Morris, has trained in a variety of styles, including togakure ryu ninpo, a school of Japanese ninjutsu established in the 12th century. Morris has also served as a consultant to companies and has taught at major universities. Part lunatic and part scholar, Dr. Morris explores the egoic pitfalls of the martial arts, cosmic revelations that he's endured and how to live one's life true to the spirit of budo.

Chapters that include "The Jean-Claude-Killing-Machine Syndrome" and "Martial Master as Sex Stud" are both informative and amusing. The book also offers guided meditations and some interesting dojo games to enhance realism in training.

Martial Arts Madness - strange, provocative, but always highly entertaining. Morris' unique and avant-garde writing style truly sets him apart from his contemporaries. A recommended read for the martial arts adventurer, but definitely not suitable for everyone.

Lean Karate Cuisine

2008-02-04T00:59:00.004-05:00

Right after my promotion to shodan years ago I realized somebody slipped up in the ordering department when I tied my new black belt around my waist. I've always taken a size 5. Maybe my instructor thought I would grow into the size 9 that was now dangling halfway down my shins. Fortunately he had a 5 on hand. "I hope it fits like a bow tie" he remarked. Funny guy. It didn't, and I'm happy to say it still fits just fine. I'm wondering how many masters have had to pick up longer belts through the years to accommodate an increase in midsection girth. It's a bit disheartening to see a 6th dan walking around with a build like Chris Farley.

Obesity has become the new disease for the modern age. At no other time in history have so many people been so overweight. Much of this begins during childhood, and legislation has already been passed to remove vending machines filled with "bad" snacks from public schools. Healthy treats such as low glycemic fruit juices and other fat free items are available. But overindulging in anything, even if it's touted to be good for you, defeats its original purpose.

I remember seeing an ad for a local martial arts school chain that displays the now trite before-and-after images of flab to firm washboard abs, courtesy of karate training. Almost every exercise gizmo on the infomercial market targets the stomach. You can do crunches and leg raises until you're blue in the face, but if you're taking in more calories than you can burn the excess gets stored as body fat. Nevertheless, working the midsection is imperative as it is the seat of the hara. Having strong abdominals also offsets the possibility of wrenching the lower back, another ailment of the masses.

In addition to the all-important diet, I strongly advocate some kind of progressive resistance training. Some myths regarding weight training don't die easily. One martial artist wrote online that he felt bodybuilding was detrimental because eventually the hard earned muscle could turn to fat! This isn't even remotely possible.

There's so much information available on proper diet that I won't bother getting into that here. I will say that certain faddish diets do more harm than good. Low carb or crash diets may cause a rapid decrease in weight, so much in fact that lean body weight (i.e. muscle) is sacrificed, thereby slowing one's metabolism. As such I don't believe in any type of radical dieting.

These height and weight charts that I've seen are speculative. If you're eating properly, training consistently and getting adequate rest you're doing good. Still, I like to cheat now and then. And who doesn't? Recently I indulged myself with something called a Frappuccino. Unbelievably good. Lots of caffeine, sugar and cream. Look, if you're going to be bad do it right!

Just One Of Those Days

2008-01-27T14:16:00.004-05:00

No matter how well balanced you think you are there will always be moments when you just want to break something. Hearing tired aphorisms such as "Smile, and the world smiles with you" only causes you more aggravation on days like this. Everyone gets pissed. Strictly speaking of course we all process our own problems. The real issue isn't whether your conflicts are due to internal or external events, it's how we display ourselves to those who come into contact with us. So if you come off like a bellicose tyrant, the other guy takes it personally and this sets off a domino effect of sullenness.

You don't want to express lousy behavior in the dojo. It's antithetical to the respect and etiquette (rei) that's inherent in the martial arts. Has anyone witnessed the lack of respect and decency in American sports in recent years? When baseball hall of famer Yogi Berra traveled to Japan in the 50s he was astonished at the level of good sportsmanship that existed there. In one instance when a Japanese pitcher hit a batter with a wild pitch he ran off the mound to apologize to the player. Could you imagine that happening here? Bench clearing brawls, vehement arguments with referees and drunken spectators attacking players have become expected happenstances in sports. A hockey fight is considered as much a part of the game as scoring a goal. I'm still waiting for a hockey game to break out during a karate match.

So you're having a bad day? Glad to hear it; misery enjoys company. I'm having a bad day too, but instead of showcasing my indignation on the deck I intend to train hard to transmute these feelings of ill will that seem so justified. In psychology, sublimation is the term used to describe how we can take a despicable quality or predicament - in this case having a bad day - and transform it into something appreciable and worthwhile. Regardless of how irritable I've felt at the beginning of a class, I've always found that my spirits have lifted significantly by its end. Martial arts training as a therapeutic tool does work. It beats conventional therapy and is certainly a lot cheaper.

Finding Balance

2008-01-18T15:00:00.005-05:00

There was a movie a while back called Gung Ho that comically depicts the high standards of the Japanese workforce. In reality, this intense work ethos may be what's responsible for the high suicide rate in Japan. A recent US survey reveals that the life expectancy for the average CEO after retirement is about thirty months. So even if your job doesn't kill you, not showing up for work doesn't fare so well either. Finding oneself without purpose after a lifetime of work and achievement must be akin to having the rug pulled out from under you.

I used to train with a woman with four young kids. Even after she earned her black belt she continued to train five times a week, teach on the same days and hold down another part time job. It was a bit much and her hectic lifestyle was palpable. Commitment is essential in the martial arts, but not when it morphs into fanaticism.

Do you consider yourself a devotee of the martial arts? What do you enjoy doing when you're not in the dojo? Do you have any hobbies besides your training? (My apologies to the devout budoka who may be offended by the notion that the martial arts are a "hobby".) When the medieval kenshi Miyamoto Musashi said "learn the ways of other men" he wasn't referring to different styles of combat. Judo founder Jigoro Kano and karate's Gichin Funakoshi were skilled in the art of calligraphy and poetry. Musashi made beautiful paintings, wood sculptures and hand guards for swords. These men set aside time for creative outlets as a way to counterbalance their considerable efforts invested in the martial arts. Training to the exclusion of all else leads to stagnation and craziness (kichigai). "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" said Jack Nicholson's character in The Shining. And we all know how Jack ends up.

The Ultimate Self-Defense Move?

2008-01-13T13:40:00.005-05:00

Image courtesy of USA Weekend

While browsing through my Sunday paper I chanced upon this interesting item. The attacker in theses series of photos is one Bas Rutten, a retired MMA competitor. At 6'2, 210 pounds, Rutten makes for a formidable adversary against the diminutive defender who checks in at 5'2 and 110 pounds. I've never seen this particular escape from a rear choke, but it seems to be heavily reliant upon a rather compliant uke. What do you think?

All In Good Time

2008-01-11T21:44:00.003-05:00

Recently an adult student at our school announced at the end of his very first class he wouldn't quit until he received a black belt. Immediately, the chief instructor removed his tattered obi and handed it to him. "Here you go, it was nice knowing you", he chided. I think the new guy got the point.

I was always leery of bringing up my specific goals in my first dojo. For example, you just don't ask when you're going to test. It's really bad etiquette, to say nothing of a possible reprisal in the form of some austere training session (shugyo) that might come your way. Supposedly in Japan they use premature rank promotions as a way to deflate those who are bent on flaunting their laurels. The idea behind this is to cause the aspirant to realize the folly to all this and to just get on with the business of training. As the Japanese have a decidedly different worldview than Westerners, such a practice would not have the desired effect on this side of the pond. As it is the art of self promotion among American sensei is not uncommon. Patience is a virtue. One of my instructors waited twelve years for his next dan (black belt grade). I was ikkyu (brown belt) nineteen months before I tested for my black belt. These days, McDojos dole out black belts to beginners in less time than that, and this only hurts the credibility of the school as well as the development of the student.

In truth, some students move up quickly for good reason. Joe Lewis, the kickboxing great from the 70s earned his black belt on Okinawa after only seven months of training in shobayashi-ryu karate. Don Nagle, the first karateka to teach Isshinryu in the US, left Okinawa after a fourteen month stay with a yondan (4th degree black belt) certificate hand written by his teacher Tatsuo Shimabuku. Shimabuku knew it would be years before he saw his charge again, and he wanted him to have credentials upon his return to the States. Nagle and Lewis were extraordinary karatemen in their day, but they still had to pay their dues with relentless training regimens, although in a short time to accommodate their brief military hitches.

There's an old story about a martial arts apprentice who desires mastery. "How long does it take to become an expert?" he asks. "Ten years", replies the master. "What if I train extra hard everyday, then how long?"

"Twenty years!"

Even at the age of eighty, Chosin Chibana, a shorin-ryu grandmaster, felt that he still had a "long way to go" in his perfection of karate. As the 17th century poet John Dryden once wrote, "Beware the fury of a patient man."

Cane Fighting

2008-01-05T01:19:00.019-05:00

A British martial arts instructor has been teaching senior citizens the art of the cane. Apparently his lessons have paid off when an elderly woman he teaches managed to fend off the attack of two muggers. "She went to the police station because she was worried about having hurt the boys," said instructor Kevin Garwood, who has been teaching traditional martial arts since the 70s in addition to his walking stick self defense class for about three years. The focus of Garwood's classes are awareness of one's surroundings, planning a route home, and skills that include simple choke holds, joint locks and throws that all incorporate the use of the walking stick. "Before you go out of the house, think about the route. Then even if you are walking slowly, if you are positive and your brain is engaged, you look less like a victim," said Garwood.

Because the elderly tend to be targets for crime, the walking stick makes for a convenient and convincing weapon without appearing too conspicuous. I've detailed some other handy weapons that are generally concealed. The cane as an effective fighting weapon is nothing new and has made appearances in a number of cultures. In Portugal, the fighting cane is called the jogo do pau. In France, savateurs train with la canne. Cannistes wear protective gear and fencing helmets in matches. A similar weapon in Japan is the jo, a wooden staff about four feet long.

At any rate, if you're planning to go out and about with your trusty walking stick in public, do so without any fanfare. As Teddy Roosevelt once advised, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

*See also: Way of the Short Staff by Michael P. Garofalo. Exhaustive research and links on cane fighting techniques, history and styles.

Reviving Karate's Credibility

2007-12-28T13:19:00.002-05:00

In a recent article, Shotokan karate expert Rob Redmond asks whether the self defense applications (bunkai) of kata (practice forms) have any real historical roots or if most of the ones taught today are just newfangled techniques that have been created to keep up with the current trend of reality fighting. Redmond maintains that there is at least a new and growing interest in the discovery and meaning of karate's kata applications.

One of the tenets of the traditional camp is that the essence of true karate is martial in nature. Karate's deadliest techniques are to be found in its bunkai, not on the tournament deck. "We can't use real karate in sport" rings true. On the other hand Musashi's sage advice "How you train is how it happens" is exemplified in stories of certain black belts getting walloped in street fights. Much of this has to do with training methods that have developed over long periods of time. As Forrest Morgan points out in Living the Martial Way, "...for all the hoopla about training and techniques, most martial artists can't really fight." Historian Donn Draeger once noted that the goal of training in the budo (martial ways) is to embark on a path to self-perfection. In this way, actual fighting prowess is acquired only as a "by-product." As I see it, most martial artists aren't really seeking something as lofty as self-perfection from their training. Self preservation is more like it, and that's where the bunkai of karate forms practice comes in. I think most of you would agree that there's a strong correlation between what's shown in bunkai and close quarter self defense.

So are karate students learning "ancient, hidden" techniques encrypted in kata that date back to antiquity? Many of karate's earliest pioneers in the West had only a pedestrian's understanding of kata and its applications, at least in the beginning. I've talked with a number of long time practitioners who swear that the level of bunkai and kata training available today far exceeds what was taught years ago. Whether this is in response to the immense popularity of mixed martial arts or other styles remains unclear. For now it seems we have the innovation of creative (and hopefully proficient) karateka who may be just trying to keep up with the Jones' as it were. I see nothing wrong with that. Innovative modern techniques presented within the context of traditional kata sounds like an idea whose time has come.

The No-Touch Knockout

2007-12-24T01:17:00.003-05:00

I was checking out some info on qigong (chi kung) when I came across this rather interesting albeit amusing footage of the no-touch KO trick. The real trick is finding willing participants who make the star of the show look like the real deal. There are all kinds of hucksters out there trying to sell their so-called ability to manipulate chi or ki at a distance. This clip features a top student of George Dillman performing the demo. Dillman's a big name in the martial arts world which gives these particular demonstrations far more credibility than they deserve.

The US government invested millions into researching "remote viewing" (clairvoyance) during the Cold War. Too bad the powers that be haven't seen this clip. I want to believe, but I just can't. You decide:

Boxing vs. Mixed Martial Arts

2007-12-13T01:03:00.005-05:00

Few people realize that boxing has a history that is as rich and varied as most Asian martial arts. Nineteenth century boxing actually resembled today's mixed martial arts (MMA). Prior to the Marquess of Queensberry charter that incorporates the now mandatory gloves, London Prize Rules boxing or fisticuffs allowed throws as well as punches. These bare-knuckled events were brutal, and quite often matches had to be held in secret, lest the intervention of local constables.

In the early twentieth century "open to all" tournaments in Japan were fairly common. One legend tells of a European prize fighter defeating one judoka after another when Okinawan karate virtuoso Choki Motobu stepped into the ring. "Maybe judo isn't the answer" proclaimed Motobu as he knocked out the boxer with a shuto (knife hand) to the temple in the second round.

In 1950 Helio Gracie, the famous founder of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, challenged then heavyweight boxing champ Joe Louis to a no-holds-barred match. Louis, who had nothing to gain and everything to lose with such an event, wisely declined. Two decades later Japanese grappler Antonio Inoki took on Muhammad Ali in a 15-rounder. Inoki was billed as a pro wrestler, but he previously defeated numerous martial art exponents in legit contests. The match was a bizarre one as Inoki spent almost the entire time on the ground in a futile attempt to kick or sweep out Ali's legs. The fight was declared a draw, but even Ali's typical pre-fight hyping tantrums couldn't save this hopeless spectacle.

When MMA bouts first made their appearance in the 90s there was some clamor as to whether a fading Mike Tyson would make an interesting opponent. How do you think Tyson would have fared against somebody like Royce Gracie? Gracie would've had his work cut out for him. Don't forget that Tyson was disqualified during a title fight when he tried to bite Evander Holyfield's ear off. It was a dark moment for boxing and Mike Tyson in time became his own worst enemy.

Unlike traditional martial arts, nobody ever seems to question the validity or street effectiveness of boxing. Indeed, boxing as a viable method of self defense is explored in this TDA Training article. Boxing is still one of the most dangerous sports as there have been a number of ring deaths through the years, to say nothing of the long term health risks involved with being a career fighter. Recently MMA suffered its first fatality as the result of a sanctioned match. Some proponents of MMA insist that it's safer than boxing, but the jury is still out on that verdict. Will MMA even be able to survive the way "The Sweet Science" has for so many years? Time will tell.

All Show and No Go

2007-11-29T14:26:00.003-05:00

Back in my younger years I had a friend who owned a 67 Chevelle. In those days the Chevelle was considered the muscle car, a real street machine. Just one small problem: my friend's car only had an inline-six cylinder engine under the hood. Those sixes were good on gas but pretty lousy in the horsepower department. Yet people were afraid to drag race with this guy. Why? Because he had cool looking Cragar wheels all around, a header exhaust for his measly 250 cu. inch motor (which gave it a formidable growl when he hit the throttle), and a badass hood scoop. But on the strip this car was in a league with a Volkswagen. So the perception was that this car was an all-out racer, but the reality was that it had the performance of a scooter. Looks can always be deceiving.

Has anyone ever seen these exhibitions of extreme or tricking martial arts on TV? I'm referring to the choreographed acrobatic stunts that masquerade as traditional forms or kata. Every time I see someone twirling a bo like a baton at a hundred miles an hour I think of my buddy's pseudo racing machine. On some level it's impressive, it may look good, but hardly any of it is useful in a combative sense. I'd like to see some bunkai (realistic applications) for some of these moves. Black Belt Mama's article on The Great Kata Debate was one of her finest, and it includes a video of a youngster performing kata that's interspersed with more kiai (spirit shouts) than you would find in most Bruce Lee flicks. Very annoying. His parents must be stocked up on earplugs when he's practicing at home. They should've bought this kid a set of drums instead of karate lessons.

Admittedly, some arts are more demonstrable than others. Tae kwon do certainly comes to mind with its flashy kicking arsenal. Africans enslaved in Brazil during the 17th century developed capoeira which today incorporates movements that resemble a cross between gymnastics and breakdancing. Mind you, I'm not knocking either one of these styles. They're difficult to learn and probably impossible to master unless you're a certain body type. Both systems began as combative arts, but modern tae kwon do has for the most part been relegated to sport. Capoeira routines are typically set to music and chanting. No-contact "matches" between capoeira practitioners are always a crowd pleaser, but generally don't arouse much interest from the traditional martial arts camp.

There's a memorable scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana Jones is accosted by a sword fighter. The would-be killer puts on a little show as he demonstrates his skill with some taunting air swipes only to be summarily blown away by Jones' trusty sidearm. Never bring a sword to a gunfight. As for my friend's prized Chevelle - he ended up wrecking it. Apparently he caved and tried racing somebody when he lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. Miraculously he wasn't hurt, but he learned a hard lesson: It doesn't pay to show off.

Got Energy?

2007-11-11T23:12:00.003-05:00

We all know the benefits of exercise, but on a broader level we all simply just want to feel good at the end of a martial arts session. Exercise of any kind is touted to give us more energy, yet a market exists that includes a large variety of "energy" (i.e. caffeinated) drinks. Hype, Kick And Reload are names of just a few of the products available. The industry leader, Red Bull, sold more than 3 billion cans worldwide in 2006. So caffeine has become the socially acceptable drug of choice for the masses. A recent report has shown that that an unprecedented 57% of American adults drink coffee on a daily basis. Years ago I downed a rather large serving of iced coffee en route to a morning aikido class to get me started after working an all-nighter. Big mistake. Chilled Mocha Joe on an empty stomach combined with an hour of forward and backward rolls is ill advised. To live is to learn.

Stimulants that are plant or herbal based generally have distinct Eastern origins. Ginseng and ma huang (ephedra) have been in use in Asia for millennia. Caffeine, though a reliable shot-in-the-arm, pales in comparison to the longer lasting and explosive power of ephedrine (ma huang's chemical derivative) which was legally obtainable in both capsule and drinkable form until 2004. Originally created to treat allergies and narcolepsy, ephedrine was eventually re-marketed as a thermogenic (fat burning) sports supplement/performance enhancer that quickly became a recreational cheap thrill. It was finally banned by the FDA after a number of deaths were attributed to its use.

With the immense popularity of the Starbucks coffee house chain comes Kick Butt Coffee, a martial arts themed coffee shop slated to open in Texas this December. Severs will wear kung fu garb and the beverages will have appropriately inspired names. I'll take the Flying Sidekick Latte, please. But never before my karate class, thank you.

Armed and Dangerous

2007-11-04T20:45:00.002-05:00

Bruce Lee was my first martial arts hero as he was for everyone else from my generation. Originally he appeared in the short lived The Green Hornet TV series, but when I think of Lee the image that really stands out in my mind is that Enter The Dragon movie poster with his dreaded nunchaku held out in a menacing pose. Of all the traditional weapons (kobudo) I'd have to say that the nunchaku are possibly the most potentially lethal, because of its whip-like action. Like its kobudo relatives, its original purpose was for farming; in this case to thresh grain in the fields. Pre-industrial farming was quite arduous, and it didn't take long for the oppressed but hardened Okinawans (who were banned from using conventional weapons by foreign rule) to figure out that these farming implements could be used as convincing deterrents against a variety of neighboring invaders.

Over the weekend a British lad was killed by some lunatic showcasing his nunchaku skills, and since this occurred at a youth party I'm guessing alcohol was involved. A few months ago a couple of martial-art "retail suppliers" from my area were busted for selling samurai swords, throwing stars and the like to minors. In my day, drug paraphernalia were the hot novelty items, not Asian weapons. Socrates' assertion that kids' behavior has never been worse is probably wrong, but they do seem to be more violent today than ever, especially as one witnesses the increase in use of armed security and metal detectors at public schools.

Somewhere I have a book with an old photo of Taira Shinken - the preeminent Okinawan kobudo master - training with a pair of sai (tri-pronged daggers) while donning some heavy full-body protective gear, possibly for some free-style action. Could you imagine sparring with these things? Supposedly it was US marines that trained in Isshinryu karate who created bo-bo kumite to simulate an actual battle between two bo (staff) wielders. It's a prearranged form, but with some tweaking and a little know-how it can be made to look like a real fight.

Although historically weapons came first in the martial arts, most schools won't introduce traditional weapons until the student approaches a brown belt grade. Karate is a way of life, but I'm not sure what kind of life skills can be gleaned from the practice of kobudo. Regardless, kobudo - like karate - represents a part of the culture, heritage, and history of Okinawa.

The Skillful Teacher

2007-10-21T17:32:00.002-05:00

We've all heard the saying, "Those that can, do; those that can't, teach." There's no guarantee that someone who's highly proficient in their subject matter can teach their skill. In fact, quite often it's gifted people that have trouble understanding why others don't have the same knack they do. I certainly don't believe the opposite is true: that incompetent slobs make qualified teachers. Mario McKenna has an interesting article in this vein which in part discusses the surprisingly wide spectrum of talent and ability that exists in karate instructors. While I don't think one has to be an expert to teach at some level, a fair degree of proficiency should be expected. At the very least, a good teacher should be a decent technician in their art and be able to explain every nuance with clarity.

So how good is your teacher? I don't mean as a sensei but as a practitioner? Aside from her/his ability to present the martial arts, are you at least reasonably convinced this person could handle themselves if they were actually attacked? Does your teacher spar with you? There's a perception of the martial arts master as an invincible warrior, no matter how old or wizened he is. Aikido's Morihei Ueshiba would offer a kaiden (teaching license) to any student who could even so much as catch him off guard at any time. Nobody ever succeeded, even when attempts were made when the master was supposedly sound asleep or even on the toilet! Now there was a Kodak moment if there ever was one.

Most instructors are highly skilled in some area, whether it's sparring, kata, or even fitness. In this day and age an out-of-shape teacher isn't very marketable, regardless of their level of proficiency. The best instructors tend to be multi-faceted so students can make their own adjustments as to what works best for them.

Flying Nuns

2007-10-13T01:21:00.003-05:00

Since 1991 the Sisters of Fraternity Notre Dame have operated a soup kitchen in New York. When they first arrived here from their native France they couldn't speak a word of English, but were still eager to help out in their new community. Aside from feeding up to 300 needy people a day at the kitchen's storefront in Spanish Harlem, the nuns dispense food in Times Square and care for AIDS patients at local hospitals.

Of course all this selfless altruism needs an outlet. In addition to singing in a gospel choir, some of the sisters partake in a tae kwon do program. Although one is likely to assume that this is strictly for self defense on the mean streets of New York, the Order insists it's mostly for recreation and fun. Sister Mary Chantel, probably the most formidable student (see photo), also has a black belt in judo. Not to mention a nice flying side kick! Tae Kwon Do Nuns. Only in New York.

Higher Education

2007-10-02T01:03:00.003-05:00

The more I see the less I know for sure. - John Lennon

In the late nineteenth century the general consensus among scientists was that science and technology had almost reached its apex. Knowledge had replaced spirit. Man in his intellectual smugness thought he had all the answers. But as the twentieth century progressed it became apparent that science could not unravel all of the mysteries. In fact if anything, the advent of scientific achievement only created more wonder and questions. The more so-called knowledge we acquired, the more we realized that we hadn't even scratched the surface.

Sound familiar?

When I first began training in the martial arts, I always asked questions. Alot of questions. The higher ranks didn't seem too perplexed with anything, I figured they already knew the material. But as I continued to train and research, I found the well to grow deeper and deeper which I found to be a bit disconcerting, if not downright annoying. "Technical shipwreck" was a term Draeger used to describe what happens when a student gets too bogged down with details. I've endured some brutally hard training sessions, but on more than one occasion I've left the dojo feeling like my brain was on fire.

I've noticed that smart people tend to do well in the martial arts. Kids that do very well in regular school are quite often the target of bullies, if for no other reason because they're such good students. But ultimately, brute force is no match for the intellect if you know how to play it right. Knowledge really is power. It is said that the great masters were always thinking about their art; imagining fight scenarios with one or more assailants, armed and unarmed. Has anyone ever practiced kata in their heads while at work or home? Einstein conceived many of his theories in physics using gedanken (thought) experiments, usually during reposeful moments. Meditation can work wonders for solving certain problems that seem insoluble.

Earning a black belt is often equated with getting a high school diploma. The analogy then is that the subsequent ranks (dan) become like college and post graduate degrees. A few high ranking instructors have actually taken the title of Professor, as opposed to the Japanese equivalents of Hanshi or Shihan. Even they still regard themselves as students. Learning never really ends. As Einstein once noted, knowledge is alright - it's discovery that's really fun.

The Need to Win

2007-09-09T20:54:00.005-05:00

The idea of winning is woven into the fabric of popular culture. Everybody loves a winner. "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" has not only become an American credo for sports, but suggests what's wrong with this type of competitive anti-spirit. The need to win is rooted in anxiety and fear; fear of failure, fear of looking bad, and the fear of being scorned round out this pathology.

A Taoist would say that winners and losers are two sides of the same coin, but the truth is that losing or setbacks are subjective. A short term loss could be seen as a long term gain. It's all a matter of perspective and what we can learn from the experience.

Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of modern karate in Japan, was strongly opposed to competition. Anyone who engaged in jiyu-kumite (free-style sparring) in his school was summarily thrown out. Funakoshi's karate techniques were based on bunkai (self-defense applications) which were unusable in sportive matches. Still, I believe sparring is essential for any stylist because it forces the student into a state of no-expectations. In tournaments you're dealing with total strangers. You don't know your opponents and they don't know you. Rules notwithstanding, anything can still happen. Embracing uncertainty is part of the martial way, something that cannot be acquired from practicing kata or pre-set drills. But vying for trophies to the exclusion of all else is ill-advised. Martial arts in their truest form are not games to be won.

A karate competitor I once knew was unbeatable on the tournament circuit. He won a number of grand championship titles for both kata and kumite. Then one day it happened: he lost. He never competed again.

The Need to Win

When an archer is shooting for nothing
He has all his skill.
If he shoots for a brass buckle
He is already nervous.
If he shoots for a prize of gold
He goes blind
Or sees two targets-
He is out of his mind!

His skill has not changed. But the prize
Divides him. He cares.
He thinks more of winning
Than of shooting -
And the need to win.

- Chuang Tzu

That's Entertainment!

2007-09-02T20:15:00.003-05:00

For the most part, the martial arts are divided into striking and grappling categories. Both of these major systems have been interwoven into the relatively new paradigm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). MMA contests often go quickly to the ground, and in this fashion players "tap out" to signal they've had enough, or they're simply rendered unconscious courtesy of a strangulating choke-hold and it's game over. But without launching into a debate about whether MMA are really martial arts, combat sports or whatever, I'd like to address their entertainment value. MMA are being touted as the next big thing in sports and have already become more popular than professional boxing. This is big news, since prizefighting has long held a solid position in worldwide culture, especially in the West. What it all comes down to is this: Would you rather see a standup fight, or a submission-style MMA match? Somehow an armbar, no matter how effective it is, doesn't quite measure up to the visual dazzle of somebody dropping an opponent with a crushing right cross or reverse punch delivered to the jaw.

Does anyone remember the John Wayne classic The Quiet Man? The Duke partakes in the most famous - and perhaps the longest - fistfight in cinematic history against Victor McLaglen's character. The last time I saw a real-life grappling match of similar epic proportions was when Royce Gracie defeated Dan Severn in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 4, 1994). Gracie, outweighed by eighty pounds and on his back for almost the entire bout, still managed to pull it out with a miraculous triangle choke-hold with his legs applied to the neck of the gigantic Severn. Truth be told, up until the very end, the history-making match was a snoozefest. While judo, jiu-jitsu et al, are considered to be "combat effective" arts, their matches are comparatively boring to watch.

During most of his career, Chuck Norris has had the Midas touch - until recently. His World Combat League (WCL), a team-based kickboxing federation, has received only modest cable TV ratings. While UFC pay-per-view events and the like are generating millions, Norris' WCL is barely able to pay the bills. Advisors to Norris are telling him that the heyday of standup martial arts are long over and that he should be glad for the small amount of viewership that he's getting.

So what we may have here is a generation gap in fighting culture. Old school adherents like to stand on their feet and knock out their foes while the new wave proponents are becoming skilled strikers and ground technicians. There does exist certain styles that utilize joint locks in a standup fashion that are highly effective that are discussed in this post by Dojo Rat, but I digress. At any rate, the martial arts continue to evolve along with the public perception of what is most interesting and entertaining about them.

Listen To Your Body

2007-08-26T21:23:00.002-05:00

In the martial arts, the concept of awareness should be all encompassing; not just in our surroundings, but in ourselves. In Isshinryu karate we say, The ears must listen in all directions. This could be a metaphor that includes listening to the inner workings of our thoughts and our body. How in tune are you with your body? Most of us know the difference between good and bad pain, and this tends to be more intuitive than physiological. Anything that can compromise our longevity - such as poor health - should be regarded as inimical as any adversary.

Even if we take care of ourselves; train regularly, take vitamins, and so on, we can still be at risk. In 1984, fitness guru Jim Fixx died at the age of 52 of a massive heart attack following his daily jog. Fixx was a seasoned runner who wrote a book on the subject and espoused a healthy lifestyle, but an inherited predisposition to coronary disease along with his earlier years of smoking and improper diet had finally taken their toll on him.

There was an instructor from my area who lived and breathed the martial arts. He'd give clinics and on occasion would show up at a couple of schools that I trained at. When it came to sparring he wasn't afraid to mix it up with anyone. An adept in a number of styles, he had a vast reserve of knowledge and I can personally attest to his fighting prowess. When he experienced chest pain he was told he needed surgery and then all should be well, but his days of heavy kumite and randori sessions would have to come to an end. Not fighting was unthinkable for this salty warrior and he failed to heed the doctor's stringent advice. One day he was invited to a ceremony at a renowned karate school to receive a lifetime achievement award for the martial arts in addition to an honorary black belt certificate. When the 46-year-old budoka stepped up to the podium to accept his citations he suddenly collapsed. The heart that served him so well in countless matches had given in. He was buried in his gi and black belt.

As we grow older we naturally become more susceptible to health issues. About once a month take a full-body check to explore the possibilities of lumps or other abnormalities. Every year, a physical examination is imperative and after a certain age you will be advised (based on your family medical history) what kind of special examinations you may need. But if you feel something is amiss right now, see your doctor immediately.

We all enjoy making and spending money, taking vacations, enjoying time with our families and practicing martial arts, but without our health what do we have?

Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside. - Albert Schweitzer, M.D.

Losing My Religion

2007-08-20T13:00:00.009-05:00

I've been reading some thought provoking articles concerning the curious mixing of Christianity and the martial arts. Patrick Parker's guest post at TDA Training was a response to Bob Patterson's original essay, and both provided good material. Now it's my turn, but instead of discussing Christian values' fusion with Asian combative systems and the advent of Christian martial-art organizations, I'll be taking a different slant: Devout Christians who are opposed to certain aspects of the martial arts, in particular Eastern thought's influence on them.

Recently I received an email from a reader (a Christian) who asked me to suggest a martial arts program for him, one that didn't include "Eastern religion" as part of the package. I obliged, explaining that while Taoism and Zen are the philosophical foundations that most Asian martial arts are built upon, they are not theistic religions as we understand them in the West. Bowing, meditation, and other forms of dojo etiquette could be misconstrued as paganism to an outsider, but they're just part of the stock ritual that exists at most schools.

A born-again Christian who I trained with years ago refused to wear the Isshinryu karate symbol of the mizu gami - the water goddess - on his uniform per a certain Biblical commandment. I explained that the Isshinryu patch or any other school emblem was not designed to usurp divine authority, but he wouldn't budge on the issue.

The non-Christian Asian view of an almighty omnipresence is somewhat vague. In Taoism, "The Way" itself is sometimes equated with God. Zen, a common metaphor for the martial arts (and vice versa), does not recognize a Supreme Being whatsoever. Shinto is a unique religion indigenous to Japan that has no founder or moral code, but features an array of deities (kami). Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba actually saw himself as a Shinto demigod, and stories of the O'Sensei disappearing in a flash of light to avoid bullets from marksmen only fostered his reputation as a mystic.

The martial arts should be presented as a secular discipline and are totally compatible with holding strong Christian views. Any references to the Buddha or Bodhidharma (the mytho-historical founder of Zen and martial arts in China) and the like are largely unnecessary and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Jesus' commitment to non-violence was not an open invitation for abuse, and I'd like to think that He wouldn't completely disapprove of the modern martial ways and their aims. Today, unfortunately, the martial arts god goes by a different name: money. But that's another story...

Hockey Fight Club

2007-08-16T00:51:00.002-05:00

A Canadian summer hockey camp has recently been set up to teach the "science" of ice hockey fighting for players between the ages of 12 and 18.

Hockey has had a long history of mayhem in the professional ranks. Fights that erupt between players are seen by many as an inevitable, even favorable part of the game. Naturally, these tendencies are picked up by impressionable youngsters in an attempt to emulate their heroes. With the high impact nature of the sport, along with its resident "goons" or "enforcers" who mete out punishment with on-ice fisticuffs, some kids are justifiably fearful of getting busted up during a game.

Enter Trevor Lakness, the general manager for Puckmasters, a hockey training center franchise, and Derek Boogaard, a professional player with the Minnesota Wild, to come up with the idea for a hockey fight camp. At 6'7 255 lbs., it's tough to imagine anyone giving Boogaard much of a challenge, on or off the ice. But supporters insist that the camp is really about instilling confidence in kids through teaching self defense techniques should a fight break out during a game.

Says Lakness: "It's no different than karate - why do people put their kids in karate? It's protection, it's an art."

The Art of Ice Hockey Fighting. You can't make this stuff up.

Low Kicks Rule

2007-08-12T20:59:00.003-05:00

Striking Thoughts' Bob Patterson got me thinking about the efficiency of low-target kicking versus the impressive albeit impractical high kicks of tae kwon do and other arts. "Sporting" kicks look nice, but the follow-up consequences can wreak havoc. Anytime you kick above the obi (belt) you leave yourself wide open for a serious counter. To further compound the problem, kicks that are aimed even at the midsection are typically met by your opponent's arms, where kicks can be blocked, redirected, or grabbed. Competitive practitioners have developed a plethora of moves to combat mid and high-section kicks, so depending on who you're playing with, it pays to watch out.

In a recent sparring match I executed a crescent kick to the head of my opponent only to be taken down unceremoniously. Granted, I really pulled the shot, so I ended up paying for playing nice. I wouldn't dream of trying that move outside the dojo anyway. Strictly speaking, high kicks are not, nor ever have been part of any traditional karate syllabus if you're using kata (practice forms) as a textbook. Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, the 70s full-contact karate high kick extraordinaire once said in an interview that kicks were never shown above the waist in the Shorin-ryu he trained in during his military hitch on Okinawa. Still, who would mind being able to kick like him?

Karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai and Savate all incorporate low-section kicks as core techniques. I really like that inverted rear-leg side kick to the knee that savateurs use, as it can be used at close range with virtually no adjustment in stance. In karate, blade kicks delivered to the knee and step-over stomp kicks are signature moves taken directly from kata.

High kicks require a certain degree of flexibility and athleticism that many practitioners lack. Low kicks are definitely recommended for the street, while I have my doubts about the former variety. If you're an avid high kicker, consider including low kicks into your regimen. Simply put, low kicks are relatively easy to learn and can be indispensable when you need them.

Human Weapon: Road to Okinawa

2007-08-04T01:47:00.004-05:00

Once again Human Weapon hosts Jason Chambers and Bill Duff take it on the road in their quest to train and scrap with some of the world's best martial artists. This is the episode we've been waiting for - Karate - the Okinawan art of empty-handed combat. As usual, our trusty guides are bemused, abused and amused by the rigorous training regimens they endure during their brief stay on the island of Okinawa.

Some of the training methods displayed on the show are rarely practiced anymore, especially in the West. True karate entails turning parts of the body into viable weapons, as some of the Okinawan masters demonstrated with board breaks utilizing nukite (fingertips strike) and an impressive baseball bat break using a special back-wrist technique. Also explained was kyoshu-jutsu - vital point striking which included a palm-heel technique delivered to the chest that is capable of stopping the heart.

I especially liked the segment on the traditional hojo undo karate equipment that many karate practitioners may have never seen or heard of: Kongo ken - oval metal weight. Tou - bamboo bundle used for nukite strikes. Nigiri game - gripping jars filled with sand or water (see photo). And of course, the makiwara - the striking post.

I've already written about some of karate's iron-body exercises, so I won't go into that here. But I had to laugh when Duff quipped that it was "hard to not hit back" when he was being struck about during a body toughening routine.

And speaking of tough guys, our man Duff went up against an Okinawan karate champ in the showdown. All I can say is that karateka are notorious for holding their hands way too low in kumite. Check it out:

Battle of the Sexes

2007-07-30T13:49:00.003-05:00

I've previously written about some of the reasons that attract women to the martial arts. It's their role in the dojo and interaction with men - both today and historically - that I'll briefly address in this installment.

Personally, I like the presence of women where I train. It seems to me that when they're around, an energy balance of sorts is created. Women seem to come to the martial arts out of fear of men. Men also fear other men, whether they want to admit it or not. Still, men and women from the same school will routinely spar with one another, although in sanctioned matches there is no mixing of gender. This wasn't always the case, however.

In the nineteenth century, male kendoists (sword artists that use bamboo shinai) would have spirited matches against women armed with the naginata - a staff with a mock blade attached the end. Competitions such as these were not uncommon in Japan, and locals were charged admission for these events. I seriously doubt the proceeds were evenly split, but I'm sure the naginata women took their fighting skills to unprecedented levels in doing battle with the kendo crew.

Some years back, female practitioners of judo were forced to wear an obi which featured a prominent white stripe running the length of the belt. Eventually, this practice was discarded, probably along with the ones who came up with this asinine idea.

In my experience, women seem to learn the technical and psychological aspects of an art quicker than their male counterparts, as the size and power that men enjoy are not at their disposal. With that said, the true combative aspects of bunkai (self defense applications) and strategy (heiho) become their special talent.

The Art of Killing

2007-07-22T16:36:00.003-05:00

At one time mortal combat was an accepted way of life. Sadly, it still is in some parts of the world. Humans are a violent breed. These days, we just want to get a parking spot or walk down the street without crossing the path of some nut. But at what point in an altercation do we decide that lethal force is the only viable means of ensuring our safety? Some so-called self defense techniques are decidedly offensive in nature, if for no other reason the alternative is our own demise. Certain techniques do have humane intentions but can go awry. For example, applying pressure to the carotid arteries located on the sides of the neck via a submission style choke-hold will induce unconsciousness, but this same maneuver can prove to be fatal in the hands of a novice. In the heat of the moment, anything can happen.

A while back, I posted a story about a tourist who killed a would-be robber with a crushing headlock. It may not have been his intention to kill, per se, but it just goes to show what can happen given the right (or wrong) set of circumstances.

Recently, I observed a knife-disarming technique that I found interesting. It concluded with the defender removing the weapon from the attacker and then using it against him.

ME: You just killed that guy - with his own knife?

INSTRUCTOR: You bet.

ME: Isn't that murder?

INSTRUCTOR: No, it's self defense.

Realize that the chances of any witnesses being present during this rather unlikely scenario are about zip. Coupled with the fact that your fingerprints are now on the weapon, you have some major explaining to do. When Shakespeare wrote, "let's kill all the lawyers", he never could've imagined this. Even Bernie Goetz, the hapless New York commuter who shot and maimed a quartet of subway riders back in the 80s because he believed they were about to rob him, did time for his deed. Whether he acted recklessly or appropriately is highly debatable. There have been cases similar to Goetz' where the victims who turned the tables were justfied in their actions and eventually cleared. Better to be tried by twelve than carried off by six.

Human Weapon

2007-07-15T01:27:00.003-05:00

Finally, a reality TV show worth watching: Two guys travel the globe in search of martial-art masters to train with, learn their traditions and secretive ways, and then take what they've supposedly learned to challenge them in an actual fight! I kid you not. Human Weapon airs every Friday night on The History Channel and sounds like a winner.

Mixed martial arts fighter Jason Chambers will team up with former wrestler and bodyguard Bill Duff as the two men delve into the back alleys and rural villages of faraway exotic lands to find time honored training halls that teach some of the world renowned classical disciplines. In addition to judo and karate, Chambers and Duff will explore the history and legends behind Escrima stick-fighting (Philippines), Savate (France), Pankration (Greece), and Krav Maga (Israel - see clip below), just to name a few.

Don't forget that each episode concludes with our hosts squaring off against the best from each style. Viewer discretion is probably advised. Enjoy!