Chinkuchi Elements (Lengthening the Line):

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• Intention of Zanshin. (Zanshin is a sub-principal of philosophy that manifests through the physical into a methodology useful for self defense; methodology useful for self defense;  a combination of “both awareness and experience”, etc.)
• Perfection of Technique (often related to technique based training models but actually one of the fundamental principles, “Technique,” that addresses all the subprinciples of “techniques vs. technique, equal rights, compliment, economical motion, active movement, positioning, angling, leading control, complex force, indirect pressure, live energy and dead energy, torsion and pinning, speed, timing, rhythm, balance, reactive control, natural and unnatural motion, weak link, non-telegraphing, extension and penetration, Uke. Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression.”)
• Fluid Movement (This one addresses tersely the sub-principles of the principle, “Physiokinetics, Breathing, posture, triangle guard, centerline, primary gate, spinal alignment, axis, minor axis, structure, heaviness, relaxation, wave energy, convergence, centeredness, triangulation point, the dynamic sphere, body-mind, void, centripetal force, centrifugal force, sequential locking and sequential relaxation, peripheral vision, tactile sensitivity, rooting, attack hubs, attack posture, possibly the chemical cocktail, Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression.)
• Speed of Movement (see fluid movement above)
• Power of Movement (see fluid movement above)
• Ki as an essential ingredient (a concept using sound and no sound to provide the mind-state enhancing abilities when coupled with breathing and other physiokinetic principles applied universally in karate and martial arts)
• Proper tensing (Physiokinetics: sequential locking and unlocking; centripetal and centrifugal forces; breathing; alignment, structure, haviness, centeredness; rooting; posture; body-mind; chemical cocktail)
• Proper breathing (Physiokinetic sub-principles)
• Accompanying of technique with mind-control (actually applying mind-set to accomplishing defense goals through application of principles toward manifestation of multiple methodologies, etc.)
• Being loose until the moment of contact (positive relaxation then applying physiokinetic sub-principles to achieve force and power in defense, etc.)
• Allowing your Ki to flow through the movement (Ki as in blood, etc., that make the body work along with proper application of physiokinetics to maximize energy flow to achieve power and force in a single moment for any given situation regardless of technique based applications)
• Exhalation makes the strike stronger (simplistic meme to convey complex actions where breathing coupled with other sub-principles of physiokinetics to achieve force and power in defense)
• Capability to stun your adversary (chinkuchi achieved by proper implementation of physiokinetics)
• Tighten abdominal muscles as you strike (chinkuchi achieved by proper implementation of physiokinetics)
• Kiai (chinkuchi achieved by proper implementation of physiokinetics through mind-state, thoughts and set verbally or non-verbally)
• Mind Control (What is mind-control as it applies to the practice of karate and martial arts? It is simply training the mind with knowledge, understanding and experience to control how we use our bodies to the degree where that movement and the triggers that drive the movement(s) becomes automatic and instinctual bypassing the human thinking brain and allowing the lizard brain to make it work. It is not magic and it is not mystical, it is a matter of hard work, sweat equity, reality based adrenal stress-conditioned exposure and a dedicated continuous endeavor to achieve master, efficiency and proficient application in self-defense.)
• Focused strength and power (chinkuchi achieved by proper implementation of physiokinetics through mind-state, thoughts and set verbally or non-verbally)

These few, no where near complete or comprehensive, provides the practitioner the knowledge to continue research toward a fuller depth and breadth of understanding as to the concept of chinkuchi. 

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There is always room for JELLO

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I have made a lot of statements and comments and OPINIONS about the various kinds of karate and martial arts there are but I have to say with a strong conviction that regardless of my thoughts, comments, statements or OPINIONS on those different types, “They all are great, they all serve a purpose and as long as they all meet the goals of their participants - IT IS A GOOD THING!

I may be of the mind that karate is a civil model and system for self-defense and I may not feel other models or systems do or do not meet that standard, which is my standard, but in truth and regardless of history, intent, essence, etc., Traditional, Classical, Modern, etc., Karate is all good, very very good.

In my rendition of the meaning behind Tatsuo-san’s statement of, “All bottles are good.” …  “All of them serve a purpose, to hold what they were intended for.” Applies to karate past, present and possible future. All bottles (forms, models and systems) of karate are good. All of them serve a purpose, to do what they were intended to do. There is no best bottle, karate, all bottles, karate, are good.

There is always room for karate, all kinds of karate and all kinds of martial arts. They server a purpose and just because they don’t match up with my view of karate does not diminish their purpose and benefits, we all benefit from such a wide range and variety of karate practices and martial arts practices, regardless. 

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Weight and Age

Read it at the Aging Blog, see the link to the right side of this blog, titled, 

"Martial Arts - Aging in Martial Arts"

The Gokui: breathing methods are either hard or soft

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Michael Clarke Sensei of the Shinseidokan Dojo blog provided the following quotes in his recent article, read it HERE, that inspired another view of the ken-po goku-i, in the old version stated as, “The manner drinking (inhaling) and spitting (exhaling is either hard or soft,” and my version, “breathing methods are either hard or soft,” have a new meaning I didn’t think of till his mentioning of inhaling and exhaling, etc., see the quote next:

“The learning of karate is at first a little like inhaling; everything new comes rushing in. At some point you have to exhale, to allow your karate to flow outward from inside. At that point you'll know if you have been breathing oxygen or stale air. The history of karate is fractured and imperfect, it contains fewer 'masters' than some would have you believe, and more heroes than you can imagine. The famous get noticed, the heroes...not so much. So, be particular about the past that you accept, or you may find yourself reading about the people who wrote history, but not the people who made it.” - Michael Clarke Sensei of Shinseidokan Dojo

When I think of inhaling I think of a soft or yin aspect but for this one I would make a stab at learning karate as hard and that to learn, like Clarke Sensei would insinuate, learning karate is hard but you have to take it in, wholeheartedly, to truly learn karate. As he often writes karate is also about what you put out as it is influenced through karate practice matters, exhaling as yang but rather a softer side when in reality it is a soft side or yin because once you achieve proficiency of your practice and training things become easier … BUT …

When I contemplate hard and soft, inhaling karate then exhaling experience, knowledge and understanding of karate while also contemplating the difficulty in teaching or passing along karate I see the dichotomy of yin-yang or hard-soft where both intertwine to make for the holistic wholehearted essence that is karate. 

One reason I advocate the study of the goku-i as well as other philosophical and theories such as yin-yang, zanshin and shu-ha-ri, etc., is that it is a mutual yet separate effort that makes for the one whole that is karate. It is how the yin-yang of principles applied to multiple methodologies that as yin are that which are hidden but crucial to the foundation of karate while karate itself is the outward manifestation, i.e., inhaling to the inner in learning while exhaling to the outer in practice, training and applications. 

In short, the concept provides another way to see your karate, to make it a deeper and wider study of a universe of possibilities derived through the study and practice of such an eclectic form of body, mind and spirit development. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

Kata can be Practiced for Years …

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The quote that inspired this article states, “Kata could be practiced for years and years, and the student would still be just scratching the surface.” This is said often by modern karateka but what I want to know is, “Do they truly believe this or is this just another meme used to promote some commercial like agenda by the teacher?” 

In essence kata can be practiced for an entire lifetime but the distinction explaining why are often not explained adequately to convey why a person would “WANT” to practice kata for a lifetime.

The reasons why kata can, should and would be accepted as a life long practice make for a belief as to its benefits and in modern times removing the boredom that can and does set in when one learns a pattern type physical movement that does not stimulate the mind, etc. In other words, to practice something over and over and over again without end modern humans, especially in the west, need some form of reasoning that stimulates the mind, to keep from boredom and to create new and innovative way to express kata and so on - make sense?

For me, kata serve a purpose and that purpose can be expressed in a variety of ways. Kata practice, in my mind, must be done and expressed in a way also explained by the concept of “shu-ha-ri and shin-gi-tai.” I practice kata for the following reasons:

1. To lean how to move.
2. To lean how to move and apply physiokinetic principles.
3. To learn how to move and lean how to apply principles using multiple methodologies.
4. To learn how to move fluidly, rhythmically and with varying patterns while adhering to the first three reasons.
5. To learn the four while subjecting myself to the principles of self-defense.
6. To learn the first five while subjecting myself to the adrenal stress-conditions of conflict and violence in training and through experience if possible safely and securely (as anyone can in reality).
7. To learn through the principles of theory, technique and philosophy in understanding principles, methodologies, and realty based trained experience through the practice of basics or kihon, kata and applied sparring under the first six efforts.

When you understand the use of kihon and kata and sparring as a basic learning tool then you can find those distinctions and reasons to practice because as can be seen in the above list there are variations of every one of those levels, the levels expressed by shu-ha-ri and shin-gi-tai that take you through the three levels of experience, efficiency and proficiency toward a mastery-like progression that can keep your practice of kata alive, constantly moving and changing while remaining fundamentally the same on the outside, and mind-stimulating mind-setting and mind-state development that brings benefits to you as you enter the summer, fall then winter years of life.

Now, take the health, fitness and aging benefits of karate and martial arts practices. Even when you move away from the more active and physically demanding practice that exposes you to possible injuries, etc., the movement, patterns, rhythms, etc., of kata practice keep you loose, pliable, moving, mobile, etc. that will be affected by our aging process. It provides a type of exercise that promotes a health and fitness state that keeps the effects of aging in abeyance for as long as nature allows. 

Its practice even when both sparring in a adrenal stress-conditioned reality based practice still stimulates the mind and body and spirit through continued experimentation with all the lists items above making for a whole body holistic health, fitness and well-being benefit that transcends self-defense needs while helping to maintain that ability to a degree as we age and therefore become a possible target to predators.

These and the reasons you can divine from your own practice as you progress will give you your list that when practiced and experimented can make kata a fun and beneficial element that requires nothing more than your effort and some open-space to move. 

I have practiced kata and kihon in a variety of ways for just shy of forty years and I am not bored and have never been bored with that practice, not even close. I believe with all the new knowledge and a huge list of variations on principles applied to methodologies makes for a long time to come practice of these fine and creative tools for karate. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

Is the Karate You Practice …

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Is the karate you practice the “Old Karate” or the “New Standardized Karate?” Before you venture forth in this article take a few moments to read the following fine articles written by Charles C. Goodin Sensei, A Karate Historian that discuss the old karate and the standardized karate.

Early Standardization - Two Forms of Karate

Early Criticisms of the New Standardized Karate

Criticisms of the Old Style Karate

Standardization of Kata/Kihon

I have theorized for a while now that what is practiced today as karate is the educational version or what Goodin Sensei refers to as the “New Standardized Karate.” As his articles describe the two it does become clear that in the early 1900’s those who were growing up in those years were mostly exposed to the educational standardized karate practices. It makes perfect sense to me that the ones creating this system who knew intimately the old karate would just assume anyone who achieves proficiency in the educational standardized way would then have the skills and attitude to seek out the old karate way. At least that was their hopes as my assumptions believe. 

Itosu Anko Sensei and his associates who created, implemented and trained the young adults through the educational system had no way of predicting that a good many of those taught in this system would make their own assumptions, i.e., they knew karate so they continued to practice that karate. It comes down to one of those issues we still suffer with today, when someone is taught in a fashion and model created for an educational system there is an assumption that when a student completes the subject requirement that ends the lessons there. When I finished a requires science subject and passes I, like many, left that behind for the other subjects required as one progresses in an educational system. It may be that the most important subject to be taught in the educational standardization karate was its continuous progess beyond the initially taught subject, etc.

I say this about the educational standardized karate because the way it was created was to fit an educational subject oriented model of teaching rather than a model taught in the old way with expectations of progress that is never ending and takes you through your entire life span. 

Since I have provided the articles from Goodin Sensei I will leave you with one quote from those articles that summerizes old karate vs. standardized karate.

“Generations of Karate students were raised on the new standardized form only and never had the opportunity to learn the old way.  Given enough time, the new standardized way became the only way, and eventually was considered to be the "old way."  If an 80 year old instructor practiced a form of Karate for his or her whole life, that form will seem like the "old" way, even if it was in fact the new standardized form of Karate back in 1900. And when such a student practiced the Kusanku or other "old" kata, they were done the new standardized way.  They were essentially just the pattern of the old kata with the new basics replacing the old varied and variable techniques. And that 80 year old would swear the he or she was practicing the kata exactly as he or she learned them -- thus they were the old, original forms!  In this, he or she would be correct -- they were the original forms that he or she learned.”

It can be a bit confusing and finding and validating to learn the old way may be most difficult. It is the reason I left behind the old karate, if I even knew it even a little, and go beyond the educational standardized karate to a form of karate more realistic in learning it and self-defense, i.e., “A Fundamental Principled Multiple Methodology Self-Defense” model of karate based on principles and defense methodologies rather than technique based teaching models while retaining basics, kata and forms of drills and so-called sparring. When you view the principles as I have come to use for training, practice and application you can see that the principles, i.e., theory, physiokinetic, technique (not what you think), philosophy, self-defense and chemical cocktail, are more appropriate to learning karate and will drive its study, practice and use in self-defense, as karate was meant to do in essence, for todays karateka.

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Multiple Methodologies

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I have written a bit on principles and I have also added in multiple methodologies as the goal for applied principles in self-defense. I then got a reminder that there are things not yet told but in need of telling from an article by Marc MacYoung, i.e., on hitting and generating power. There are a few references that spell out how one generates power but also on how to apply that power effectively and efficiently. A couple of those are as follows:

MacYoung, Marc. "In the Name of Self-Defense: What It Costs. When It’s Worth It." Marc MacYoung. 2014.

Miller, Rory Sgt. "Meditations of Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" YMAA Publishing. 2008.

Then there is the article I have read and find I need to review and reread time and again just like the two sources listed above (Oh, and my bibliography has a few more recommended references as well). 

Marc MacYoung has a web site titled, “No Nonsense Self-Defense,” and an article therein explains a bit more about those multiple methodologies. The one article in reference is, “Generating Power,” and about half way down the article, read the whole thing tho, you have the section titled, “Dr. PITTCo/CoD PITT.” 

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Liabilities in Teaching Martial Arts, Karate and Self-Defense as Instructors

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As I continue my studies of karate and martial arts for self-defense, sport, combatives, fighting, etc., it is becoming clearer and clearer that we as sensei, instructors and mentors need to take consideration as to our liabilities in the roles and disciplines we teach. 

Over the last forty or so years I have taught karate for sport and self-defense in a dojo. That dojo was actually sponsored by the Marines while I was on active duty and then by the Navy as a civilian teaching under the auspice of the MWR or Moral, Welfare and Recreation at a base where I lived. I never once took a look at the liabilities I might have incurred as either a Marine teaching Marines, Sailors and Dependents nor as a civilian teaching Navy, Dependents and Civil Service Civilians. Today, I wonder what would have happened if someone experienced grave injuries in training or grave bodily harm or death using what I taught in self-defense. 

As my understanding and knowledge have matured these last ten years or so I have come to believe that I lived, trained and taught under the protection of simply blind “LUCK.” I thought to myself, what would have happened as a Marine if someone was injured. I remembered how a Marine coming back from leave went to sick call for a severe sunburn. He was placed on no duty then light duty but when he turned the chit from the corpsman to the command First Sergeant he didn’t at that moment even consider he would be in trouble. He was, he received what the Marines called “office hours” and was fined and restricted to barracks for damaging government properly and the inability to perform his duties due to his malfeasance. If I had injured a Marine and under the governing of MWR, could I have been liable for making or contributing to a Marine being unable to perform his duties? Would the command allow leeway if it was under MWR? As to any dependents, would the civilian parent have the option of suing me and the Marines for negligence if injured, etc.? 

In truth, back in those times circa 70’s and early 80’s, I don’t think that would have happened unless it could be determined that I took training to an excessive level resulting in some catastrophe. I do believe the civilian dependent side could have taken that to some civil suit and even criminal charges and it was LUCK that took me through that time. 

I trained and taught as a civilian outside of the military and civil service umbrella through a dojo owned and operated by another civilian teaching Isshinryu in my local area. I never once during my time in that dojo even remotely considered whether he had a license or insurance to cover liabilities if something went awry. 

I found out that the guy running that dojo didn’t have a license, didn’t have a business sellers permit (California) and didn’t have any liability insurance to cover any situations and events that would have resulted in law suits and even criminal charges, etc. I firmly believe that he and the dojo would have suffered a great deal of economic ruin and even jail time if anyone experienced anything more than minor injuries in the dojo and the fact that none of them ever had to apply their self-defense in a real attack. 

I truly and wholeheartedly believe that instructors, sensei and mentors of karate, martial arts and especially self-defense are liable for any injuries, grave bodily harm and even death should they occur in the dojo, at competitive events and especially if they find a need to apply their self-defense - assuming what was taught as self-defense actually worked. Even that, if it failed to work, leaves an opening for the student to sue his sensei, instructor and/or mentor - oh, what a pisser.

I also believe sincerely and wholeheartedly that many martial artists, karateka and self-defense practitioners both teachers and students are not learning all that is critical to properly applying in a legal way self-defense and I also sincerely and wholeheartedly believe that they live, breath and participate in these endeavors with a huge amount of LUCK that seldom does a student encounter such extremes both in the dojo and on the streets except in very rare case. Cases often about folks who work and live in socially acceptable violent environments. 

Example: Student leans the deadly technique guaranteed to stop an attacker instantly. They frequent environments where alcohol and testerone are involved along with the ever fun monkey antics all that brings. They have an attitude that they can handle anything because their sensei told them so. He encounters an angry person who escalates it all the way up to that first overhand punch. The student didn’t try to avoid it, didn’t try to vocallly communicate the need to avoid violence and leave nor did he try to assess what level of force was acceptable to stop that attack. As a matter of fact, for this one example, he didn’t even try to defect the punch and he didn’t even see that his attacker was backing away to continue the monkey dance and he used his ultimate self-defense move. 

He punched the guy in the throat and followed up with a couple of blows to the head when the guy fell backward and slammed his head on the hard floor. He stopped moving instantly but the uber self-defense guy caught up in the adrenal rush and the monkey drive to finish him off kick him a few times in the ribs then head before others pulled him off. 

Without going into details, the way I described the situation and event if perceived and witnessed both by observers and their cell phone cameras this incident would likely end up in arrest and prosecution because it is not Self-defense - it is and was aggressive mutual fighting and that is illegal. The guy on the floor most likely is dead and that is going to be that. 

In short, I wonder when the luck of the industry is going to end. I see many events in today’s society that indicates it is only a matter of time before someone somewhere decides to sue or prosecute, etc., or demand that the industry be organized and governed by local, state and federal laws if not already so that we have more avenues to take people to task with the oscillating fan gets hit by whatever.

I like luck, it has its purpose and benefits but I don’t like or rely on luck for everything and anything. I like to have the knowledge, understanding and experiences along with all the requisite tools to get the job done with minimal liability, fuss and damage. It led me to drop trying to open a commercially viewed dojo for karate and self-defense, it is just too expensive and it is also, if you look, actually subject to a lot of restrictions. I suspect it has traveled under the radar all this time simply because of the LUCK involved.

Sigh!

Bibliography (Click the link)

Movement

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A rolling stone gathers no moss. There are a few terms used in karate and martial arts to describe types of movement important to the applications of those karate and martial arts disciplines. 

The most obvious term used is, “Tai Sabaki.” Tai sabaki (体捌き) is a term from Japanese martial arts and which relates to 'whole body movement', or repositioning. It can be translated as body-management. It is a term used widely in and very important in kendo, jujutsu, aikido, judo, karate and ninjutsu.

Then we must understand how movement applies to principles of multiple methodologies, i.e., how movement is influence by our breathing; how movement of the breathing process affects our posture and structure; how our movement also influences our axis, our centeredness, our heaviness and relaxation; how movement provides power and force by the very movement of our body mass and so on. 

We use movement to apply impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns, throws and the use of compression in moving our bodies while also moving the body of our adversary. 

We used body movement to achieve stances, positions and to apply centripetal and centrifugal force with power and force against our attackers. It is apparent that movement is of great importance. 

How we move in every day life sends signals that can achieve avoidance to conflict and violence. How our movement is perceived by others who may want to make us their victims. Our very movement makes an unspoken statement to others be they predators or our own tribal members. 

How we move when we are in physical contact with an adversary can either tell us how to overcome their presence as well as communicate our presence to an adversary. 

Movement in karate and martial arts takes on meaning far beyond the obvious such as stances assumed statically and in transition between stances while moving in combat or kata or drills, etc. Movement trains our minds and provides our instincts the feel for movement to remain balanced and structurally sound. 

Remaining in motion is another defense methodology that keeps the adversary following our movement so they cannot establish control and apply force and power against us - controlling movement, ours and theirs. 

Don’t become mired in the atomistic of movement through the kata patterns and static stances but allow the fluidity of movement that comes from proper use of fundamental principled multiple methodology necessary to achieve your goals in conflict, violence and self-defense. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

Sparring with New Students

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When students get to the stage where they start to learn how to apply the knowledge they acquired in the dojo it is often asked if the tori, in a tori-uke training model, should be rough on the uke in order to help them gain confidence, etc.?

Q: When sparring with new students, show them they need more work by roughing them up a bit. Is this an appropriate teaching method?

Q: When sparring with new students do you let them gain confidence by letting them get the upper hand on you at first then raise the difficulty level?

In order to answer this set of questions you have to find the goals of the student in taking up the study of karate or martial arts. What they intend to lean and apply are critically important in determine the methods of teaching simply because each student is unique and there are no “one way” teaching models that benefit toward what ever model they aim for such as sport vs. self-defense and so on.

Lets say for the sake of the questions and this article that all things are equal and the student is learning about the more traditional role of karate and martial arts but adjusted for modern society, i.e., self-defense. Then ask if sparring in the traditional sense is beneficial to teach a new student.

Next, what are you teaching the student in that sparring model? If you are focused on a technique based self-defense model then you are going to have to teach them thousands upon thousands of situational scenarios that would cover every aspect of conflict and violence - a really gargantuan task and pretty much doomed to failure. 

Basics, kata, kata drills (some actually use kata drills as kumite or sparring) and sparring (in its form of one-step, three-step and up to free style sparring). Basics, kata and all the other stuff should be about fundamental principles or a principled based teaching and training model. Note that this form is both extremely difficult for beginners yet very simple and easy all at the same time. 

You learn about structure, alignment, centeredness, centrifugal and centripetal forces and so on while teaching about those multiple methodologies of defense, i.e., “tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc”

Learning about the physiokinetics and methodologies brings down the quantity of necessary actions to defend from thousands and thousands of technique response to preset attack techniques (more often unrealistic to reality then realistic attacks) against set patterned attack techniques back to this hand full of methodologies that are trained to act against the attack and attacker rather than a perception of attack techniques, etc.

So, now that all that has been stated and we all know that this is not even close to a comprehensive and complete answer to this set of questions let alone about the subject of conflict and violence especially toward self-defense we can get a start on the question of how to spar with new students.

Sparring with new students: first, make sure the student has absorbed the fundamental principles both academically and physically and with tactile. Second, make sure they know the basics body moves taught in karate and martial arts not just the moves and patterns. Third, start slow teaching them principled based methodologies that will manifest fluidly from applying principles then start to add in a bit of chaos (chaos where the force and power are at levels the student can handle and learn from, i.e., sneaking in moves they have yet to experience but most important in a manner that allows them to have fun and no stress such as roughing them up, etc.). Note I: I have more extensive articles on how to teach self-defense using the tori-uke sparring model, just do a search of sparring, sensei, teaching, etc. on my blogs.

Remember about operant conditioning where fun can be a huge way to ingrain principles and methodologies. Fun being a key word because if they fear you and if they assume a techniques based model, etc. they will be learning things that may not be there when they need them. 

When they achieve a certain level of ability and proficient application of principles and methodologies then you introduce a more reality-based adrenal stress-conditioned training program. 

Note II: It must be understood that for karate and martial arts self-defense for conflict and violence cannot be broken down into just one thing, one model or one set of techniques, it takes a plethora of things to achieve a modicum of success in self-defense, karate and/or martial arts - there are no short cuts and there are no single right or wrong ways to get the job done.

Bibliography (Click the link)

Blocking, a Conundrum

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I feel strong that modern karate and even self-defense has a gapping chasm to what is a block and why it is or is not effective. I can only address this from my studies and perspective.

First, if you are blocking you are on the defensive and the odds are against you. 

Second, if you are blocking you are either in some socially driven monkey dance situation or you are competing in some sport oriented contest.

Third, if you are in a self-defense situation against an aggressive and committed attacker the physics involved mean you are at a huge disadvantage and are going to suffer grave bodily harm or possibly death. 

I am trying to convey my ideas, theories and limited experiences on blocking and self-defense through the use of fundamental principles toward defense methodologies (I use the word defense here because although defending is reacting over acting, etc. it still conveys my intent of self-defense rather than saying I use attack methodologies that insinuates I am being aggressive and so on.).

This is about being attacked by a predator who is either seeking a resource or is wanting to achieve some process while both are not in your best interest. In this instance blocking is the last thing I want to do because often in this type of situation you will have not opportunity to block not even a little. As to other socially driven monkey dancing situations you should have avoided this situation altogether because you are probably a participant in mutual aggressive fighting - can you say illegal. 

Note: You may be starting to get the idea that such atomistic study although beneficial in attaining knowledge and understanding still has no relevance except in narrow circumstances. 

Now, as to blocking, I am talking about the type of blocking that is taught, trained and applied from karate and martial arts. In my view I like to not use the term blocking and I don’t focus on things like, “Are blocks effective while backing up or moving backwards; all blocks should be LEANED forward moving and always counter (sounds like a competitive sport or social dance fight); and an assumption that you are doing something wrong by moving backward while blocking, etc. 

Blocking as it is often taught in karate, etc., is about taking a rooted stance, dynamically tensing the body and applying a side, upper or down block against an adversary who is attacking you in a karate like fashion, i.e., taking a rooted stance, dynamically tensing the body while throwing a strike or possibly kicking. When you observe this in person or on video’s of karate and martial arts practice there are notable issues occurring that violate the proper use of physiokinetics. 

Lets take just one simple example that is about that predatory committed attack requiring self-defense. I will do this by the numbers:

1. The attacker will most often come at you from behind or the side from behind totally surprising you long before you are able to attack. Even if they approach from the front it will possibly by in interview where the assess their success rate on attacking you. There is so much about this stuff this simplistic example only touches the very surface - everything always depends.

2. When you are attacked by a predator from behind he has already assessed you and found you vulnerable and he is pretty darn sure you are going down for the count. Like one other example in self-defense stated, “you are in the fight; you are being pummeled (you can assume they are experienced enough that you may have been hit with the first blow in that sweet spot just behind the ear, etc.); you are being crowded (most karate teaches the sport stuff where it becomes instinctual to act only when you have a sport oriented boxing like fighting distance with the adversary facing you, etc.) while the attacker has already disrupted your balance and totally destroyed your structure and is making sure with the pummeling you are in the OO bounce and getting damaged up to grave bodily harm so he can either take some resource from you or just get that tingling all over feeling by dominating you and feeling that feeling when causing you to get hurt, hurt really bad to the ER type hurt - if you are lucky.

3. In this instance even if you can block, so to speak, to create an opening so you can counter or run that block is not really a block but should be a form of deflection using principles and forces that don’t directly meet the oncoming force but allow protection while redirecting, etc. that also sounds like fighting, etc.

4. If you truly have an adversary hell bent on kicking your ass and if he truly is proficient in fighting then the simple block in karate described and taught by meeting the incoming force and power with a relatively static and stationary block is insufficient because that persons body mass is behind the attack and that body mass along with structure, alignment and other principles is going to plow right through that so-called traditional karate block like rock through paper. But if your body is moving in a circular pattern while the arm is moving to the applied attack and deflecting it off using the power, force and body mass momentum to carry the attacker past you then you are on the right track. 

This article is not comprehensive simply because self-defense, fighting (sport or the illegal versions), combatives, etc. are not such simple concepts and models. There is a book, a definitive basic introduction, on self-defense that spans around 400 pages and that is no where near all that is involved in conflict and violence. This is just a way to get you out of that mind set of blocking as it is currently taught in karate and martial arts. It goes way beyond what I am trying to write in this post. It should get you beyond the block and into a model or principles applied toward defensive methodologies so as to remain within the legal and social constrictions of conflict and violence. 

To really understand that the traditional blocking needs more to work than simply what is taught in kata and kumite. Take it this way, when did you last get into a real fight, social or asocial in nature, and even come close to using a block? I bet most often it was really a flurry of hands trying to stop some guys fists from pummeling you and none of those actions even remotely looked like a block. 

If I am attacked my goal is to stop the attack and limit the damage while finding a way to run to safety using appropriate levels of force, etc. If I see it coming and can’t avoid or deescalate the situation (by the way if I am here I failed in avoidance altogether and am trying to catch up - bad place to be) then I am going to use the principled based methodologies, i.e., “Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc., best for stopping a threat].”

Remember, in a fight for defense if you are catching up and need the blocks you may want to do a bit more research and make some changes to how you apply your karate or martial arts toward self-defense. 

Read also “Implied Movement” http://isshindo.blogspot.com/2016/01/implied-movement.html

Bibliography (Click the link)

The Allure of Kobudo

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

I have practiced and trained karate and kobudo for approximately forty years. I have often wondered why we are attracted to the practice of kobudo. I considered my own feelings toward it especially from the beginning and felt the only reason I took up kobudo is because it was a requirement to achieve a black belt. 

I also understood in those early years that to teach you needed to have a solid grounding and foundation in kobudo even tho we all were teaching karate or empty handed disciplines. Still, it appears that for most it is about how fast they can start learning about kobudo or weapons. It puzzles me even more when the weapons taught are ancient ones not really relevant or even useful in our modern times.

Yes, I have heard many arguments on the necessity of kobudo practice and training including the one where it is stated that weapons contribute to the applications of the empty hand in fighting, combatives and self-defense. 

I went with this for about two decades learning and practicing the Isshinryu kobudo kata, i.e., the bo, the sai, the tuifa and the kama (yes, some are not actually taught in traditional Isshinryu dojo). As with the empty hand kata there are eight kobudo kata and I could perform them all with a few extra but then I began to feel the practice of kobudo was not really contributing all that much to my practice of karate especially toward fighting, combatives and especially self-defense. Then again I didn’t truly understand the realm of self-defense until the last decade, I was actually practicing to fight and that as we now know is illegal.

Is the practice of kobudo actually about the flash and a natural instinct of humans to resort to weapons over any type of hand-to-hand combat? I think that is so or at least it may be a part of the whole reason why kobudo holds such a strong draw to karateka and martial arts. I remember how many would urgently learn the moves of kata required just so they could start on their first weapon and consider this to be one of many reasons why karate as to empty hands has fallen short of a full deck that has passed on and down to today’s inadequate practice of karate.

Why is kobudo taught as a part of karate? There are kobudo sensei and dojo that focus exclusively on weapons but I have yet, outside of my teaching, to observe any karate dojo that remain exclusive to empty handed practice, training and various applications be they sport, combative or defensive. Remember, I have limited exposure to the world and vast communities of karate and kobudo. 

I also believe that karate, martial arts and especially kobudo or weapons have caught the public’s eye due to those early movies from this wonder of Kung Fu, Bruce Lee. I remember how I wanted to learn about the nunchaku especially after seeing the speed, grace and fluidity of its application in his movies.

Yet, for me, it was his empty hands that really caught my attention and I have always felt that in all my years of training, practice and studies. I also consider the possibility that the early karateka, early 1900’s pre and post WWII, got it backwards by teaching weapons during or within karate when originally, or so I understand, karate or Ti were prerequisites to weapons training for combat. It became my understanding and belief that karate held only a state and status as a prerequisite to weapons, i.e., you had to learn how to control your body, mind and spirit before taking up the dangerous and deadly weapons that were NOT bo’s or sai’s but swords, halberds and bow-n-arrow or archery.  

I began to lose interest in the weapons and slowly dropped them from my practice with no discernible differences or changes except without the added weapons training my focus and learning curve on empty hands grew a bit more, faster and with more depth and breadth. This was the time I started to drop off all the kata and focused on one or two and sometimes a third empty hand kata vs. sixteen kata altogether. This was the time I felt the old adage that one could learn all they needed about karate from just one or two kata and it would take a lifetime to do so with that one or two kata. 

Then, a side story here, I came to realize that kata and technique based training and teaching models were inadequate and inefficient for a lot of reasons and then understood that the reason one kata could teach you all you need for self-defense were the fundamental principles underlying effective defense methodologies. Focus on those and it won’t really matter how many kata.

Back to the allure of kobudo, I suspect it is that instinctual need to put distance between humans because of the natural and natures instinct to do no real harm to our own species therefore moving away and extending our capabilities with weapons becomes more acceptable. 

In the Marines they spend a lot of time teaching us about weapons, all kinds, along with the bayonet on the end of a weapon, our rifles. Then the spent, at that time, just one day on actual empty handed fighting. It was easy to come to the realization that in the fight/combat one would only use hand-ot-hand if no other means were available, none - no weapons even a big stick by the side of the road so to speak.

The only reason I can see to require empty hand kata before kobudo is to learn about the body, mind and spirit through learning, understanding and apply principles and methodologies so that weapons can be studied, practiced and trained. Once that stage is hit then a total focus can be applied to kobudo but that is not what exists in most dojo and the only reason I can think of is, commercialism - earning more money and retaining students along with testing and so on. 

There is no allure of weapons for me, there are not needs, wants or desires. I don’t need to impress anyone and I don’t need the false sense of expertise and ability you might get from weapons training. Other than an aesthetic presentation I don’t consider kobudo a benefit toward modern combatives as a professional military person and no benefit toward the average citizen who may need to defend themselves in our society.

It does have benefit for a competitive endeavor also about aesthetics or presentation similar to the floor routines of gymnastics. 

Anyway, regardless of this article or any other the allure of kobudo still alludes me and a decent explanation. I guess that human nature and our need to test ourselves since our more combative natures are less necessary still holds sway over us as can be seen through our sports. There is nothing wrong with this but still …. I guess I kind of liken our allure to weapons like the industry that has sprung up about self-defense of guns and knives, etc., it is an industry and that means it is going to earn someone somewhere money even if what is being sold is just bullshit.

Bibliography (Click the link)

Empty hand then weapons :-)

Bone Density and Karate

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

For article emphasis example only, click for larger view.
Model/person depicted has nothing to do with this
article or my views, etc.

Not too long ago I read a posting on karate and bone density with a goal of body conditioning for the art of tameshiwara or breaking. As you can readily see there are some categories that one must know and understand to make body conditioning work and have benefits in the karate and martial arts world. More often than not it is about entertainment and drawing folks toward enrollment, etc.

Bone density and body conditioning for tameshiwara are important while not really being all that critical for someone to condition themselves for tameshiwara. In other words, if one trains in karada kitae or body hardening the very act and participation in karate and martial arts builds bone density.

Bone density is one of those things that are a natural byproduct of the discipline of karate and martial arts simply because if fulfills one of the important aspects of increasing bone density, exercise. And as can readily be seen in the below recommendations from a posting on yahoo answers all the needs for strong, healthy and denser bones comes from the interconnectedness of all the necessities.

There is no “one thing” a karateka and martial artist can do to increase bone density, i.e., similar to building muscle strength and volume through the isolation of that one body part you are aiming to strengthen and build. Since bone density is about density of the bones of the entire skeletal structure it is not necessary to focus on building bone density alone as if that act and goal would condition and build bones so they can stop breakage in tamashiwara.

In karate and martial arts one goal is the generation of force and power that invovles an efficient use of fundamental principles of martial defense systems or disciplines where physiokinetic sub-principles necessary to achieve that goal include, but not limited too, structure, balance, alignment, etc. and that means proper use of the skeletal structure. 

The bones in your body make up your skeletal frame, and that is what holds your body in the shape it is. Having strong dense bones is essential to good posture, strength and balance. Our actual structure and alignment, etc., also require the skeletal structure to assume a certain formation while being supported through the muscular system of muscles, tendons and ligaments. This is just touching on the surface of all that must coordinate and interconnect to achieve a goal of force and power. 

In truth, body conditioning for tameshiwara or breaking does not rely on bone density because no matter how dense the bones without other systems and factors those bones will still have physics to deal with where bones break with about 25 pounds or so dependent on other factors such as that bone density, the weakest point of the bones structure, the structure of the bone and the direction of force, etc. What actually provides more protection is our other body systems such as skin, muscles and other factors such as how we position our bodies and the direction the force of the blow is applied as already mentioned. 

Tameshiwara is an art form because it takes adequate knowledge along with body conditioning to achieve successful tameshiwara without damage beyond what you are conditioned for such as level of pain and whether the pain receptors on that part of the body are deadened enough, etc.

Add in the muscular strength and so on then you have a certain type and level of body armor that will protect you but know this one thing, although you can break a bat in a demonstration I can almost guarantee that a bat in a predatory attack will break that bone simply due to the chaos of battle and how and in what position, etc., our bodies are when the blow comes. 

A good example is a partner who had conditioned themselves for a hard body along with being strong and very good with dynamic isometric like body ability as seen in sanchin kata during a controlled bout failed to dynamically tension the body when a blow came and suffered broken ribs with strained cartilage, etc., while not feeling it until after due to adrenaline chemical reactions. 

As to a focus on bone density I recommend simply focusing on fundamental principles toward applying proper defense methodologies and a training regimen that will created a conditioned healthy fit body while taking along the following recommendations to achieve a byproduct of strong, healthy and dense bones. 

The recommendations of the Yahoo Answers on bone density:

Get Sunshine: Vitamin D plays a critical role in the preservation of bone health. Without sufficient Vitamin D, your body cannot absorb the calcium to build stronger bones. The best source of vitamin D is through exposure to direct sunlight. Three times a week for about 10 to 15 minutes is enough sunlight for an average adult. 

Eat green vegetables: Dark leaft greens not only give you calcium, but vitamin K, potassium, and other minerals you need to lay down bone. Vitamin K found in dark leafy greens is beneficial for bone strength, the immune system and blood. Dark green veggies like parsley, broccoli and spinach (palak) have a lot of calcium in them too. 

Drink milk daily: When you think of calcium-rich food, the first thing that should come to your mind is milk. Having a glass a day provides you with 300 mg of calcium. Although dairy products are high in calcium, they can also be high in fat so always prefer the one made from skimmed milk. For those who are lactose intolerant, you can have calcium fortified soy milk. 

Say No to caffeine: 4 or more cups of coffee per day can causes calcium to be excreted in the urine thus increasing the risk of fracture. If you drink more than this amount though, stick to decaffeinated coffee. 

No Soft Drinks: Most soft drinks or soda contains phosphoric acid which also removes calcium from bones. Some drinks also contain excessive amounts of caffeine which also affects the bone health. 

Cut back on Meat: Limit or avoid high-protein animal foods. When meat is consumed, it creates an acidic environment in your stomach. To balance that, minerals like calcium are drawn from your bones which results in weak and brittle bones. Replace some of your red meat with calcium-rich varieties of fish and seafood. 

Quit Smoking/Alcohol: Smoking weakens bones and can lead to osteoporosis. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can contribute to fracture. 

Calcium Supplements: If you are unable to get enough calcium from your diet, then calcium supplements are an alternative. Although they are not as good as natural sources and should be only used as supplements and not as a primary source. Calcium supplements are available in tablets, powders, liquids, and chewable chocolate. 

Reduce Stress: Cortisol is a hormone produced when your body is under stress and causes calcium to be pulled from the bones. Try meditation exercises to reduce stress from daily lives. 

Increase fruit intake: Bananas are extremely rich in potassium and calcium. Kiwis are another great fruit that helps your bones grow stronger. Dried plums or prunes increase calcium absorption and help in preventing common orthopedic problem. 

Add B-complex vitamins to your diet: Your body also uses a variety of B vitamins in bone building, particularly folate and vitamin B6. A recently published study showed that when serum (the clear liquid part of coagulated blood) levels of vitamin B6 and folate are low, bones change and become weak. The best sources are liver, eggs, lean meats, yeast, fish, asparagus, beans (like kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils), raw nuts, spinach, broccoli and bananas. 

Get exercise: You need to start regular exercise program. Exercises that put extra pressure on specific bones stimulate your bones and help keep them strong. This type of exercise not only includes lifting weights, but also anything that involves impact (bearing your own body weight) like running, walking, dancing, etc. If you have a health condition or are new to exercise, talk to your doctor and make sure the workout you choose is safe for you. 

https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100321035642AAWZuwk

Note: as to pressure in bone breakage it all depends on the bone as well because 25#’s minimum applies to some of the smaller bones. 

Note II: Actually, practice of tameshiwara with such as the makiwara along with structure, alignment and muscle strength through repetitive practice to develop calloused knuckles along with the physiokinetic conditioning experienced by the body through such training in combination and interconnectedness is the true way to body condition for tameshiwara, etc. That total of structural integrity is what makes for good breaking rather than any one aspect such as bone density. 

Bibliography (Click the link)

Click for large view.

It is noted that there are no examples of athletes bone density that would indicate bone density can achieve greater than normal status due to the athletes greater fitness levels. It would seem that the view of a normal bones density may be the limit. Further research is in order but until then the contributions body conditioning will provide as to bone density for karate and martial art is no more effective than other health and fitness programs, etc. and I would also assume the normal density would prevail as “normal” for all physical activities. 

To assume that body conditioning through tameshiwara and makiwara training to be unreliable or possibly false. It should also be noted as follows:

It can be seen that weight does make boned denser than normal but as stated next, except that once bones are at the normal density and as long as there are not other medical issues affecting bone density there is no indication that the higher density in athletes is from the program or sport they participate in and so on.  

Just because most athletes have higher bone density than ordinary people does not necessarily mean that the sports increased the bone density. Maybe the athletes had higher bone density to start with. How could you prove whether the exercise itself was improving the bone density and bone strength?

Addendum: There are instances recorded of humans with higher than normal bone density but this seems to be an anomaly. Read about that here:

The Worlds Densest Bones