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Posts Tagged ‘isshin ryu’

This concept, that working Karate does not look like the Karate that students are taught in schools, is actually true throughout the martial arts. Shaolin done in real life does not look like wu shu taught in the kwoon. Forms Kung fu doesn’t resemble kung fu used for fighting, and so on.

The reason for this is that there is the art that pleases the eye, and then there is functional. A fellow teaches, or learns a martial art, and he usually learns something that looks good. Once one starts applying real world potentials to the problem of self defense, however, the technique must often change to work.

Take a look at the classical kung fu back stance. The stance is so low on the back leg that the ankle is unable to support the weight of most attacks. Thus, one must change the shape of the form in order to really make it work.

Or, take a look at the basic middle block as done in most Karate schools. It swings from the side and there is no real weight behind it. The correct way to do this block is to shoot it out from the center of the body, which would put structure behind the move.  Read more...

The very first move of Karate, as taken from the first Heian or Pinan form, is a step to the side with a low block. But Karate was not designed for blocking. Yes, there are blocks in the art, and it can be adapted to blocking and striking modes, but it was not designed for blocking except by the way.

Karate was designed to guard the ruler of the island of Okinawa. The Imperial bodyguards trained to use their art in a room filled with a variety of different warriors. Soldiers with different weapons and ways of fighting, while the Okinawans had no arms to rely on.

Thus, would you really block a samurai sword with a high block? Would you try to deflect a bullet with a shuto? Because these were the real weapons that the Imperial bodyguards had to confront.

Consider also that the first order given troops in such a situation, if they were to attempt to kidnap the king of Okinawa, would be to restrain the bodyguards. This means that samurai would step forward and grab wrists, perhaps preparatory to tying the hands of the bodyguards, or merely moving them from the throne room, or otherwise controlling them. And this means that the first defense of the bodyguards, as described by the first technique in karate training, would be to step in, dropping the weight and arm, thus escaping from the technique, and possibly head butting those who tried to grab them.  Read more...

If you are into the Martial Arts just to beat people up, to beer over the latest UFC results, this article is not for you. If, however, you think the martial arts are a vehicle to become not just physically and mentally stronger, but maybe even enable you to evolve as a human being, then this is the article for you. This is a straightforward and logical look at the three major steps necessary to evolution through the martial arts.

The first step of Karate, or whatever martial art you study, is the level of the body. This is nothing more than making sure your body parts are in relative working condition. To get started on the first level of the martial arts one need merely know that, on a body level, the martial arts are rather fantastic calisthenics.

To make if from the first level to the second level, however, one needs to accomplish a concept which I have taken the liberty of labeling CBM. In the past masters would refer to this concept as utilizing the body as one unit, which was correct, but not always accurate in description. CBM means Coordinated Body Motion, and it is when the body parts all work together in synchronized fashion.  Read more...