Sure Footing

ktadmin Posted in Self-Defense, Technique, Training notes，Tags: , , ,
06 April 2021
0

Understanding Body Mechanics is a powerful thing.

Want to Impress Your Friends?

Next time you’re at a party, try this trick:

Have a person hold one arm straight out to the side, palm down, and instruct him to maintain this position.

Then place two fingers on his wrist and push down. They will resist and probably succeed.

Now have them put one foot on a surface that’s a half inch higher (a few magazines) and repeat. This time their arm will cave like a a house of cards!

By misaligning his hips, you’ve offset their spine. Your brain senses that the spine is vulnerable, so it shuts down the body’s ability to resist.

Understanding how our bodies work means we can manipulate their strengths and weaknesses.  It also means we can better protect ourselves from falling into a vulnerable state.

Train Hard, Train Often!

5 things you should never say or think…

ktadmin Posted in Karate, State of Mind, Training notes，Tags: , , , , , , ,
22 March 2015
0

We live in a sensitive world. That doesn’t make it right. Below are 5 things people say almost daily that most people find “acceptable”. That doesn’t make it right. I was raised in a sticks-and-stones household. I went to a sticks-and-stones high school. For some the term sticks-and-stones may be a foreign concept, that is sad. For you, it means that “sticks and stones” (and fists and feet) will hurt me. Words only have the power I assign to them. It means be a Man and get a thick skin, actions speak louder than words. It also means be truthful, honest and responsible or you will be called out.

Sadly this is a nearly dead culture in America today, I would guess in most of the world too. Still not understanding what I am getting at? Here are 5 things you should never say or think, but they are very prevalent in society today. If you are a Karate practitioner, you should be familiar with this list, if you aren’t your training may not be complete or your Sensei finds them acceptable.

“I can’t do that.”

If somebody had said this he would’ve found himself challenged and forced to the attempt and success. Unless a physical handicap is present, replace your “can” or “can’t,” with “will” or “won’t.” There’s always a way. Find it.

“Sorry I’m late.”

You don’t hear this in a culture of accountability because expectations are set, and if they’re not met then there are repercussions. Not to say that expectations don’t change, but it’s not for a lack of effort in fulfilling them.

“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

Seriously, Feelings? What’s that?

“I don’t know.”

While admitting uncertainty is perfectly fine, the statement alone leaves much to be desired. Instead, try saying “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out and get back to you.” This latter part is what demonstrates a proactive mindset and a willingness to work, rather than leaving your ambition open to interpretation.

“Let’s talk this out.”

stop-be-a-manThere is nothing like the camaraderie. Nothing else even comes close to paralleling the tight bond, unity and cohesion found amongst men you train with. Having said that, some people just need a good whoopin’ once in a while to keep egos in check, and fellow students and friends are no different. Confronting difficult issues and learning from them is what turns mediocrity into greatness.

Thanks to this article for giving me the basis for this post.

Women Only?!… Not Cool!

ktadmin Posted in Fitness, Training notes，Tags: , , , , ,
27 March 2014
0

I came across some new footwear from Nike, the Nike Studio Wrap.  See for yourself:

Nike-Studio-WrapsI know!  Perfect for martial arts training, in the sometime less then dirt free Dojo Floor!  Practical, has a cover you can wear on your way home.

Nike-Studio-Wrap-Pack-555173_004_C_PREM

I can do without the other accessories however they could be turned into non-obvious self-defense tools in a pinch… 😉  There is one really big problem…They are for Women Only!  What was Nike thinking, why are they discriminating against Men who practice Karate (or Yoga)?!  I’ve written Nike but I doubt I’ll get a response…

I wonder how you convert men’s sizes to women’s…?  …Nah…

Dislocated Shoulder

ktadmin Posted in Training notes，Tags: , , ,
24 March 2014
0

Let me tell you a dislocated shoulder hurts!  I wish I had a good story to go along with the dislocation but I don’t.  It is actually embarrassing, I sneezed.  Yup, you read right.  I am recovering from shoulder surgery and I sneezed, thereby dislocating my shoulder Friday afternoon.  Obviously things like always happen late on a Friday or just before a long weekend.  Why, because that is Murphy’s Law.

I decided to get some sleep and see how it felt in the morning.  In the morning the pain was the same and I had a nice egg on the top of my shoulder.  So what am I to do, my shoulder hurts a lot, constant pain, not the comes and goes variety.  If I go to the Emergency Room at the local hospital, I am probably going to wait a minimum of 18 hours, and that is if my arms was mostly severed and there was excessive bleeding.  With a dislocated shoulder I couldn’t imagine the wait.  I had a choice, I could:

  1. reset it myself,
  2. wait in pain until Monday or
  3. take my chances of at the ER and possible contract something worse during the gruelling wait.

Obviously I chose option 1 since I know a little about how my body goes together.  …I wedged myself in a wing back chair, had my wife pull the arm out while I bent and twisted it back into position.  She was not a willing participant but she knew I would find a way to do it myself.  I then iced the shoulder repeatedly through out the day. By Sunday morning the swelling was greatly reduced and the constant pain was gone.  By Monday morning the swelling and 80% of the pain was gone.  I headed to PT.  After looking at me like I was insane (for not going to the ER) they performed some further minor adjustments; during one of my exercises I experienced a sever, sharp sudden pain, which quickly dissipated. I left PT sore but feeling better.  While the dislocation seems to have temporarily pushed back my recovery a week or so things are looking up!

However, when possible go to the Emergency Room.

Fighting Rules

ktadmin Posted in Karate, Training notes，Tags: , , ,
12 March 2014
0

They really are this simple…

Hit-him-no-hit-you
However, some times easier said than done!

The 11 Motto’s of Mas Oyama

ktadmin Posted in Karate, Styles, Training notes，Tags: , , ,
10 March 2014
0

Sosai Masutatsu “Mas” Oyama summed up his entire Martial Arts philosophy in his Eleven Motto’s, known as the “Zayū no Mei Jūichi Kajō” 座右の銘十一個条, which are central to his teaching.  Many of these hold very practical application even today.

11 Motto’s

  1. The Martial Arts way begins and ends with courtesy. Therefore, be properly and genuinely courteous at all times.
  2. Following the Martial Way is like scaling a cliff – continue upwards without rest. It demands absolute and unfaltering devotion to the task at hand.
  3. Strive to seize the initiative in all things, all the time guarding against actions stemming from selfish animosity or thoughtlessness.
  4. Even for the Martial Artist, the place of money cannot be ignored. Yet one should be careful never to become attached to it.
  5. The Martial Way is centred on posture. Strive to maintain correct posture at all times.
  6. The Martial Way begins with one thousand days and is mastered after ten thousand days of training.
  7. In the Martial Arts, introspection begets wisdom. Always see contemplation on your actions as an opportunity to improve.
  8. The nature and purpose of the Martial Way is universal. All selfish desires should be roasted in the tempering fires of hard training.
  9. The Martial Arts begin with a point and end in a circle. Straight lines stem from this principal.
  10. The true essence of the Martial Way can only be realized through experience. Knowing this, learn never to fear its demand.
  11. Always remember: in the Martial Arts, the rewards of a confident and grateful heart are truly abundant.

Kyokushin Karate Defined

ktadmin Posted in Karate, Styles, Training notes，Tags: , , ,
06 March 2014
0

WHAT IS KYOKUSHIN KARATE?

Kyokushin Karate is a powerful style of Martial Art, founded by the legendary Karate master Masutatsu Oyama.  Kyokushin combines both traditional and freestyle training methods into a practical and effective self defence system that is suitable for men, women and children of all ages.  The biggest difference with other styles is that Kyokushin Karate focuses on full-contact power and real-world applicability.  Karate is both an art and philosophy; it is not a religion.  Kyokushin remains traditional in it’s training methods, protocol and beliefs, yet avoids rigid guidelines to allow its practitioners to grow and progress, in turn contributing to the evolution of Kyokushin.

Founder

Kyokushin was founded in 1953 by the late Grand Master Mas Oyama (7/23/1923-4/26/1994). After studying the Martial Arts for two decades, training in many different forms; from Korean to Chinese and Japanese styles as well as American boxing and self-defense tactics (see linage chart below).  Mas Oyama created Kyokushin from what he believed to be the essential elements of each style, and contributed his own practical methods for the application of the ancient forms to suit 21st century practitioners.  Mas Oyama toured the world performing incredible physical feats to demonstrate the virtues of his new style.  Prior to his death; Mas Oyama failed to leave a clear successor leading to the fracturing on the Kyokushin style into various sects with each claiming their rights.

Word Meaning: Kyokushin

KYOKUSHIN, (Pronounced: “Co-Koo-Shin”) means Ultimate Truth.  Founded in the Bushido way; Kyokushin practitioners must be prepared to do or give everything in every situation; typically waging an internal battle of ‘Self’ to achieve your goal.  Only with Iron discipline and the correct mentality is this possible to achieve.  Practitioners seek the ultimate truth by confronting their self contrasted with reality; without shortcuts or false props, through humility and clarity of mind we find our strength.  The journey of Kyokushin (Ultimate Truth) bears the fruits of self-esteem, confidence, calmness of mind and mastery of body.

The Strongest Karate

Kyokushin is known throughout the Martial Arts world as The Strongest Karate, not only for the reputation of it’s top fighters but also the rigorous and thorough training methods. Kyokushin famous for its powerful techniques leveraging physics derives its spectacular force from points and circles which create enormous strength.  It is this circular motion that distinguishes Kyokushin karate from other karate styles that rely on simple linear motion.

Kyokushin lineage chart:
kyokushin-lineage_sm

Benefits Practicing Kyokushinkai Karate

ktadmin Posted in Karate, Styles, Training notes，Tags: , , ,
05 March 2014
0

kyokushinkaiKyokushin Karate practice, provides a number of benefits that have a positive influence on the formation of character, and the strengthening of the personality.

In Kyokushin Karate students not only learn to respect elders, higher ranks, accept the corrections of his instructor; but also, gives the opportunity to the Karate practitioner to know their body, their motor skills, thereby develop and overcome their limitations.  The student will achieve self-discipline, since the instructor is just the guide, but the decision to change or not, is in every student.

There are cases that deserve Small soft corrections such as: channel excess energy, teaching concentration, self-control, and respect for others, or conversely, if you’re too shy, group work provides everything you need in terms of relationship with respect and discipline.  Kyokushin Karate contributes to the development of personality (self-esteem) and self-confidence; through physical work we achieve good muscle development, flexibility, reflexes; factors that significantly influence the correction of postural problems.

Kyokushin Karate is an excellent tool for children and youth to develop healthy, full, straight and enduring values; over time. courtesy, respect, discipline, physical development, self-confidence … Kyokushin is so much more than just a sport!!

These are some of the advantages provided by the practice of this discipline and unlike sports, in which the objective is to beat the opponent, the opponent in the Martial Arts is Self, the struggle is constant and restless, and the results can be seen in all areas of life.

Taikyoku 3 (San)

ktadmin Posted in Styles, Technique, Training notes，Tags: , , , ,
27 February 2014
0

Master Gichin Funakoshi (Shotokan) derived the three Taikyoku kata from northern Chinese kempo and Shorin Ryu, the Okinawan karate style based on Chinese Shaolin (i.e. “Shorin”) kempo. Mas Oyama in turn adapted these for Kyokushin as he trained under Master Funakoshi. The Taikyuko kata utilize long, powerful stances and strong blocks and strikes. The Taiyoku Kata set includes:

  • Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni and San

Meanings of Taikyoku is literally translated as “grand ultimate”, and in Chinese, the kanji characters are pronounced Tai Chi. The word Taikyoku can also mean overview or the whole point – seeing the whole rather than focusing on the individual parts, and keeping an open mind or beginner’s mind. The beginner’s mind is what is strived for during training and in life. The beginner’s mind does not hold prejudice and does not cling to a narrow view. The beginner’s mind is open to endless possibilities.

Taikyoku 3 (San) (the details):

Contains: 20 Movements
Should take: About 40 seconds to perform (Kata Speed)

These next two images to help you understand the movements of the kata:

taikyoku1sttaikyoku2nd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This next image shows the movement described below:
3-taiktoku-sandan

Step-by-Step Directions:
As always, begin the Kata in Attention Stance, with feet together, hands at your side and eyes forward. Every Kata begins and ends from this stance with a bow. This kata starts from a open stance after the bow with hands in ready position.

1. LEFT 90 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, CAT WALK MIDDLE BREAK.
2. STEP INTO A FORWARD STANCE, DO A MID THRUST
3. 180 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, CAT WALK MIDDLE BREAK.
4. STEP INTO A FORWARD STANCE, DO A MID THRUST.
5. LEFT 90 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
6. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
7. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
8. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST (KEI)
9. 270 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, CAT WALK MIDDLE BREAK.
10. STEP INTO A FORWARD STANCE, DO A MID THRUST.
11. 180 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, CAT WALK MIDDLE BREAK.
12. STEP INTO A FORWARD STANCE, DO A MID THRUST.
13. LEFT 90 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
14. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
15. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
16. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST (KEI)
17. 270 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, CAT WALK MIDDLE BREAK.
18. STEP INTO A FORWARD STANCE, DO A MID THRUST.
19. 180 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, CAT WALK MIDDLE BREAK.
20. STEP INTO A FORWARD STANCE, DO A MID THRUST (KEI).
CLOSE. BRING LEFT FOOT BACK AND BOW.

Still not sure…Here is a video to help you along:

Taikyoku 2 (Ni)

ktadmin Posted in Styles, Technique, Training notes，Tags: , , ,
26 February 2014
0

Master Gichin Funakoshi (Shotokan) derived the three Taikyoku kata from northern Chinese kempo and Shorin Ryu, the Okinawan karate style based on Chinese Shaolin (i.e. “Shorin”) kempo. Mas Oyama in turn adapted these for Kyokushin as he trained under Master Funakoshi. The Taikyuko kata utilize long, powerful stances and strong blocks and strikes. The Taiyoku Kata set includes:

  • Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni and San

Meanings of Taikyoku is literally translated as “grand ultimate”, and in Chinese, the kanji characters are pronounced Tai Chi. The word Taikyoku can also mean overview or the whole point – seeing the whole rather than focusing on the individual parts, and keeping an open mind or beginner’s mind. The beginner’s mind is what is strived for during training and in life. The beginner’s mind does not hold prejudice and does not cling to a narrow view. The beginner’s mind is open to endless possibilities.

Taikyoku 2 (the details):

Contains: 20 Movements
Should take: About 40 seconds to perform (Kata Speed)

These next two images to help you understand the movements of the kata:

taikyoku1sttaikyoku2nd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This next image shows the movement described below:
2-taikyoku-nidan

Step-by-Step Directions:
As always, begin the Kata in Attention Stance, with feet together, hands at your side and eyes forward. Every Kata begins and ends from this stance with a bow. This kata starts from a open stance after the bow with hands in ready position.

1. LEFT 90 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
2. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
3. 180 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK
4. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
5. LEFT 90 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
6. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
7. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
8. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST (KEI)
9. 270 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
10. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST.
11. 180 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
12. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
13. LEFT 90 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
14. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
15. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
16. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST (KEI)
17. 270 DEGREE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
18. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST
19. 180 DEGREE CLOCKWISE TURN, DO A LOW BLOCK.
20. STEP, DO A HIGH THRUST (KEI)
CLOSE. BRING LEFT FOOT BACK AND BOW.

Still not sure, here is a video to help:

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