IDEA'S: Swords in the Karate Dojo?

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Why would I add in the use of swords in the karate dojo? Because, as eloquently presented by both Marc MacYoung and Dave Lowry the sword introduces an interesting mind-state to the practice when the sword is introduced into karate drills. This speaks to the need of karate-ka, for self-defense, to get into the less-novice driven kamae in self-defense by moving the entire body in lieu of say the arm for a block, etc. 

As these professionals might say, when you have a sword slicing down toward you and you merely shift, as in boxing or kumite sport competitions, the upper body while applying a strike that sword will miss the upper body for sure but when it meets the rooted lower half of the body a real sword will simply slice through the waist, torso and/or leg - wassup wit dat?

In most karate dojo they are taught how to apply a flurry of ineffective strikes, because that is how you get points and win, that are not real fighting expect in such contests of sport but will introduce the karate-ka to more effective moves, etc., for Self-defense. Such flurries may initially overwhelm an opponent but a dedicated, determined and street-savvy attacker, not so much. Such flurries are great for sport, they are nice because they look cool and they might just get you gravely hurt when you try to use them to stop a real threat. 

In my mind, I get the idea that body movement is far superior over other kind of rooted, stationary or set kamae, types of applications. Karate does teach you a lot of the physiokinetic principles and then goes on to circumvent or restrict those principles through teachings such as rooting. Don’t get me wrong, when you root appropriately with other principles you can get some awesome power and force. In a simplistic example if your attacker rushes you leaving you little time to move you can step back, root for stability and allow your application of a method such as a strike reach out to meet the attacker as they move their mass into your methodology, technique, etc. 

What is mostly taught, trained and applied in drills, etc., is the proverbial assuming a stance, kamae, where to root your feet to the ground then you apply some technique and use muscle strength to apply to the drill partner so they can block, etc. Not bad for a novice level training tool to teach methodologies through fundamental principles, etc., but not so hot for self-defense. 

Moving parts of the body are great enhancers overall but movement of the entire body is where one generates the kind of power and force necessary to apply to the attacker to stop that threat and damage. Now, don’t assume with this statement that you will HAVE to move the entire body because there are situations where you won’t be able to do so to stop a threat and damage but learning to move the body along with a lot of other methods and principles will give you the tools to overcome the place a dedicated predatory attacker will put you in to achieve their goals - a process or the attainment of some resource you have he wants!

Now, I am not advocating you get a bokken or shinai and just go at it because to utilize sword practice tools correctly, effectively and safely you have to have the knowledge and understanding of that tool. What I do recommend is you ask someone you know who is proficient in the sword or someone at a local dojo that teaches the sword to come by and provide you with demonstrations that show you how and why such movement must exist in the karate self-defense teachings. 

Ki-Ken-Tai: Ki is to give yourself permission in violent situations to attack with volition and determination and unrestrained commitment to do things that will end the threat and damage - both legally and socially moral ways. Ken is about properly applying the tools of the trade with ki, applying the fundamental principles toward the application of appropriate methodologies with the levels of force that meet the requirements of self-defense so that you are effective immediately and without hesitations from any sources. Tai is about specificity of physiokinetics, i.e., how to apply the body to get the job done encompassing things like balance, breathing, structure, posture and so on to maximize efficiently and proficiently those things ken that get-r-done. 

Dave Lowry writes, “Ki-ken-tai must be present (and in the order they’re listed) for an attack to be effective. Volition - the conscious will to strike - must come first (ki), followed by proper use of the weapon or fist (ken). The body and posture must back up all of the action (tai). Ki-ken-tai, the essentials for success.”

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p.s. Mr. MacYoung likes to demonstrate movement to karate guys by using a broadsword. I can see why, I have seen broadswords and considering the size, weight, and view when being swung at you I too would very quickly get the "Hell out of the way" if in the receiving end.