Test for Purple Belt 3rd Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the third stripe on the purple belt last night. The balance of the Wansu Kata will be taught in the next two weeks for the December testing cycle. I will take a couple of extra days off work to get in additional training cycles.

Two tips

In Wansu Kata when in the Chinese hidden foot stance be prepared to kick with the hidden leg. In other words, it is not weight barring (not setting up for a hane goshi).

Master Adams says to always watch the back side. To practice this in kata tighten both fist when you punch. Plant both feet in the stance. The full body is prepared not just the single weapon of focus.

The Eightfold Path

Research this website, The Eightfold Path. A home study course in Isshinryu Karate by Shihan Harry G. Smith, a direct student of the Founder of Isshinryu, Grand Master Tatsuo Shimabukuro.

Wansu Kata

Joslin's East West Karate—Wansu Kata Facts

What is Wansu Kata known for? The "Big Drop"
What technique do you get for the first time in Wansu Kata? The "Cross-body" punch
What is the new stance you learn in Wansu? Zen Kutsu Dachi
From which village in Okinawa did Wansu come from? Tomari
What is the principle of Wansu Kata? Changing distances
What does Isshinryu mean? One Heart Way
From whom did Master Shimabuku learn Wansu Kata? Chotoku Kyan
Which instructor taught Master Shimabuku Ippon kumite? Master Chokki Motobu

Shotokan practicioners call the Wansu Kata Empi which relates to the flight of the swallow. Master Funakoshi was probably reminded of the up and down movement of swallows in flight in the movement if the kata.

The kata comes from the Shorin-Ryu system and is named for a Chinese attaché. The attaché, some sources say, was shipwrecked while others say he was sent by the government about 1863 to Tomari, near Shuri. Master Wansu was known as the birdman and the Wansu art became known as Tomari Te (forerunners of Shorin-Ryu). Wansu is known as the dumping form and is also known for the hidden punch in the kata and for strong arm punches.

Bushi Matsumura taught the Kata to Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan, masters of Shimabuku.

—Isshin-Ryu Karate: The One Heart - One Mind Method
by Master Allen Wheeler

• Dojo cohort at home.
• Promotion demo at dojo.
  

Correct knife attack

Like most beginners, you don't know how to attack.

Test for Purple Belt 2nd Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the second stripe on the purple belt tonight. I need to work on maintaining a vertical center line.

Turns out the "big drop" in the kata is more a goshi as opposed to a katsugi.

Test for Purple Belt 1st Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the first stripe on the purple belt tonight. We did the exam after Mr. Coke's sparring half of his exam for Sankyu. I felt better prepared with this kata than I have with any other.

Open vs Closed Stance

I tend to use an "opened" stance because I do jujitsu and use both hands and knees to enter in on an opponent. Last night one of the black belts in Karate spoke about getting a sparring partner to open up their stance so that you have more options to attack.

A closed stance is turning one side toward the partner so that they don't have an open shot to your midline.

Work on ways to use your opponent to open up. As they open the door draft of the energy and attack.

Another black belt suggested I jump to the side and then do my mae gari attacks. This will cause uki to move and limit their options for a second.

Bruce Lee Quotes

"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless-like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend."

"All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns."

"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer."

More quotes at ThinkExist.com.

Fighting Kata

Tonight Sensei Bennati talked about Fighting Kata at the end of class. This was a new concept to me.

Normally I do what he terms Practice Kata, slow deliberate with attention to stance and details. But Fighting Kata is the other extreme; fast powerful as though you are in combat.

The mind must be in the moment, every strike, every kick, every step has purpose and is capable of ending the fight. One must not dwell on the moves already executed or think about what is coming up in the Kata. One must remain present without lingering mind.

Test for Yonkyu

Master Dave Joslin tested me on Naihanchi Kata tonight, for my purple belt. I am now a Yonkyu. Next step is Sankyu/brown.

As I learn finer and finer points about Isshinryu Karate they get applied back to the katas learned earlier and become new again.

1. Move foot
2. Catch
3. Step / set frame
   
4. Attack
5. Remain in Karate (zanshin)
   

Creative Carving

Musician talking about using a (glass) bottle neck to play the guitar.

"Then if you're ever forced into a reactive self defense creating carving situation..."

Naihanchi Kata detail

Tonight Mr. Oliver showed me the last few moves in Naihanchi Kata.

I was having trouble with the one leg balance when the stacked fists are moved to the other hip. Turns out it should not be a one leg balance at all but a quick foot lift to counter a foot sweep. The weight is 90-10 when the foot it lifted and it is put back down well before you fall over.

Green Belt 2nd stripe

Kyoshi Dave Joslin tested me for the second/last stripe on the Green Belt tonight. Green Belt we learn Naihanchi Kata.

It took me several months to train myself to point the toes, plantar flexion, when I lift me knee for a kick. I had to unlearn what Prof. Tom Ryan showed me, lift the toes first for a faster lift. Tonight Kyoshi reminded me that in Naihanchi Kata we lift the toe and then scrap the foot on the ground as it is pulled in and away from Uki's sweep.

Slide the post foot to close distance.

Kicking

Kioshi Dave Joslin talked about sliding the down foot toward uki when doing a kick. After sending a few standard kicks, with the post foot fixed to the ground, mix in a sliding kick. This disrupts uki's maia.

You don't want to skip or hop forward. Just unweight the down foot so that your forward momentum causes the foot to slip a few inches forward. Keep the post foot on the ground, NO weight on the heal, knees bent with the ball of the foot taking the weight and pivoting so the the heal comes forward of the ball during the slide.

Just adding four or six inches to your kicking range will kuzushi uki. You must train this technique so that it become effortless and natural. If they see it coming they will see it coming.

Naihanchi Kata Research

Naihanchi Kata is what is taught in our dojo to green belts. Part of Isshinryu Karate it came from the old Shuri-te style of Okinawan Karate (also one of the first kata taught in Shorin Ryu). The vibe I am picking up is that the students do not value it as much as the other Isshinryu Karate kata. "It is the shortest kata. It doesn't have any kicks. It if very difficult."

The Tallahassee Karate Club blog has a very interesting article on Naihanchi Shodan. The video clip of Shinzato Sensei doing Naihanchi Shodan is unreal. Granted this is not the exact same kata but it is the same. Can you say fa jing?

Quoting the blog.

Naihanchi is a deep kata that teaches the student most of the principles they will need to be able to apply in all their other kata. By tucking the koshi and feeling the connection between the waist and the lats, the student can begin to learn to make power without relying on the turning motion inherent in other kata.

...

We often practice Naihanchi very slowly, combined with circular hip and arm motions. To the outsider, this may look a little like Tai Chi and not karate. Practicing this way helps the student to analyze each movement in a critical way to understand where the power points occur, how to make a connection between the bottom half and the top half of their body, and how to improve their overall body dynamic. Then, when it is performed fast, with full power, the student can retain this wisdom in their performance and make power in all the right places.

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Sensei Don Bohan has a very informative page on Naihanchi Kata.

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There is a Ryuku Kempo site with a QuickTime video of Naihanchi Shoda. Compare this hard toughguy style to the spiral energy of Shinzato Sensei above. Shinzato Sensei is something special!

First Year in Karate

A year ago was my first promotion in Isshinryu Karate. Yesterday I took to camera to the dojo to record pictures of Mr. Oliver, our teacher, Ms. Bloom and myself.

Ms. Bloom and are climbing the ranks together. She is a shining example of someone following the principle taught at Joslin's East/West Karate.

I was just getting use to the physical conditioning (push-ups and sit-ups) when we go and get promoted out of the beginner class. There is a 50% increase in the number of conditioning exercises in the advanced classes. Ouh, ouh, ouh being it on!

Naihanchi Kata

This kata is of Shuri-te (Shorinryu) origin, the third kata taught at our dojo. The name means Iron Horse. Alternate meanings of the name are surreptitious steps, sideways fighting, and horse riding straddle stance.

The kata has 67 moves, against 4-8 attackers from the front and sides. Naihanchi Kata is easily recognized by the fact that all movements are on the lateral line, staying on a straight track as if against the edge of a cliff or wall. It takes 35 seconds to execute.

Here is an old film (1966) of Master Tatsuo Shimabuku performing the kata, 1966.

Joslin's East West Karate—Naihanchi Kata Facts

What is the nickname for the Naihanchi Stance? Iron Horse Stance
What type of attacker are we defending against? Chinese Martial Artist
What is this kata known for? Lateral movement
What part of the body is being developed? Lower body
In the Naihanchi stance the toes are pointed inward (pigeon-toed), how many degrees? Ten
Traditionally where might you be defending yourself? Rice paddy, foot-bridge or with back against the wall

Seiuchin Kata

This kata is of Goju Ryu origin, Master Miyagi, the second kata taught at our dojo. The name means War Kata. It may also be translated as the storm within the calm or the lull in the storm.

The kata has 126 moves, against 6 attackers but contains no kicks. It takes 55 seconds to execute.

The kata begins slowly with power and ibuki breathing from a horse stance. The floor pattern is a Y for the most part. After the intense opening the kata explodes into a full power fast kata.

Here is an old film (1966) of Master Tatsuo Shimabuku performing the kata.

Test for Gokyu

This week I tested for my next rank, Green Belt. Master Dave Joslin watched Ms. Bloom and I practicing the kata (we though we were practicing) and told Mr. Rypma to complete the paperwork for green.

As a green belt I now attend the intermediate classes with other green belts and the purple belts. The calisthenics are increased by 50% over the beginning classes.

The Gates

When on gate closes another opens.

Koyshi Dave Joslin talked about creating openings this evening. What is open now will be closed down by the time you get there so plan on going somewhere else. One must commit to an attack before uki will commit to the defense then you may choose a different target.

Most people, non-skilled fighters, block and guard with one hand only. Very easy to get them to commit and leave an opening.

There are three gates to the body; jodan, chudan, gedan. You can keep one or maybe two covered (closed) but it is unlikely that all three will be closed all the time. There is always a target of opportunity.

He started the lesson with a demonstration of Kiai Dori.

West Coast Karate Classic 2008

I competed in the West Coast Karate Classic 2008 today, my first Karate competition. (Held in the gym of Placer High School just down the street.)

It started with all the adult blackbelts doing Kata (forms) which took about two hours to get organized and executed. Then they did all the kids.

I competed in the Intermediate 35+ male Forms and Intermediate 35+ male Sparring contests. Technically I should have been in the Beginners section but I didn't feel right competing with guys with less then one year experience.

First we did the Forms where I performed Seisan Kata. There was a tie for third place so Dan and I had to perform our katas a second time. Dan placed third, I was forth.

As soon as all the guys demonstrate their forms the awards were handed out and the Sparing competition started on the same mat. In this event I also placed forth. I don't understand how that happened as I did win either of my two rounds.

The sparing rules are to pause the fight as soon as one of the competitors scores a point. The match is paused before a counter can be launched. Many of the people who "know how it is done" drop their guard and turn their back on the opponent as soon as they touch them or they are touched. This one guy actually jumps up and vaults in head first with his fist extended to score a point; it looks silly and leaves him off balance and open to all kinds of counter punches and kicks (that are not allowed under the rules.)

Shu, Ha, Ri

The concept of Shu-Ha-Ri was introduced in a software testing discussion group today. An engineer at work had questions about becoming a black belt and the promotion process.
The Aikido FAQ: Shu Ha Ri

Further Research


Cem Kaner recommends How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience and School, a book from National Academy of Sciences, 1999.

In this, I think we see an enormous difference between how people best learn skills that are primarily physical versus skills that are primarily cognitive. I think there is a good argument to be made that highly skilled martial arts are intensely cognitive, but there is also a very significant physical-skill aspect that is not present in software testing, mathematics, etc. Thus, training juniors in a way that works well for developing physical skills might be productive for martial arts and unproductive for mathematics (or software testing), even though the mental skills needed for MASTERY of either field might be equally sophisticated and complex.
-- Cem Kaner

Orange Belt, Fourth Stripe

I tested for the fourth stripe tonight. It was a little hesitant a couple of times in spots that haven't been a problem. The reason, my mind was distracted by the pulled calf muscle and not wanting to reinjure it (will this move stress the calf?).

One should not talk to or make comments to the judge during the kata demonstration.

Hit Pill really works

A week ago I pulled a muscle during the Saturday morning Karate class. Initially it felt like a cramp, the gastroc was balling up and I couldn't put any weight on the foot. It was a strain of the left medial insertion of the gastrocnemius.

Used a cold pack right away and watched the rest of class. When I got home I took a Hit Pill. I have had this pill around for a dozen years and this is the first time that I have had the occasion to use it (save the time last August when I got the same injury to the lateral gastroc insertion but forgot about the Hit Pill until days later).

Hit Pills are used for major injuries to muscle and sinew. Also called trauma pills they are a Traditions Chinese Medicine (TCM) that we use in the practice of Seifukujutsu. It promotes the flow of Qi and prevent the stagnation of blood. Use the first 24 hours after an injury. One must remove the protective wax coating before ingesting.

I could feel the effects of the Hit Pill:

• reduced swelling
• walking a day earlier
• little stagnation of Qi or blood
• reduced pain

I was walking normally four days later and using the muscle gingerly a week later. I think the healing is a couple of days ahead of the last time because I uses the Hit Pill. I now carry one in my gi bag along with the dit dar jau and hot sauce.

Three Ts of Sparring

Mr. Hill talked about the three "T"s of sparring on Tuesday.

• Timing
• Technique
• Trickery

Not necessarily in that order.

Effortlessly

Found a ten minute video on YouTube today of Fong Ha. Looks like he my be intending to post lessons for all of us who can't make it to Berkeley to train.

Check it out.

"Uncle Willie's" pushups

Last night while leading the conditioning exercises Mr. Rypma said that during the Uncle Willie's exercise one should contract the abdominal. If one were strong enough and performing this on ice the body would jack knife.

This exercise is performed by prone, the forearms on the mat and lifting the body up off the ground so that it is parallel to the floor, weight on the forearms and balls of the feet. It is named for Grand Master Willie Adams.

I use to think that this was an "easy" exercise and an opportunity to rest. Not any more, it's bleeding hard work to pull the elbows to the toes. Can you say isometric? How about dynamic tension?

Orange Belt, Third Stripe

Last week Koyshi Dave Joslin tested and awarded my 3rd green stripe on my orange belt.

The day before he pointed out that the quick down blocks on the arms of the Y need to knock a kick so that they go behind you. Strike with the two knuckles.

After class I asked him about Seiuchin Kata, does he have the kanji? First thought was to look in the book I am reading but it does not have any kanji :(. He will look for it. Yes, it does mean "empty mind", that is the concept/principle/strategy taught with Seiuchin Kata. Munen Muso.

Orange Belt, Second Stripe

Sensei Ashbee tested me for my second stripe on my Orange belt today.

I have been working on dynamic tension and he commented on how well I am starting to use it.

Last week Sensei Ashbee helped me with my Ishinryu fist, getting the finger all the way in to hide the nails. Today he pointed out that the thumb that is on top of the first index joint is actually a bit medial. Feels like instead of smashing the joint you are braced into it.

Now when I practice my kata I will focus on getting the fist position correct before pouring on the dynamic tension.

Dynamic Tension

Dynamic tension is a self-resistance exercise method which pits muscle against muscle. Similar to isometic exercise but with movement, you know, isokenetic.

"Dynamic-Tension" is a registered trademark of Charles Atlas, Ltd. Mr. Atlas watched a tiger stretching in the zoo and asked himself, "How does Mr. Tiger keep in physical condition? Did you ever see a tiger with a barbell?" He concluded that lions and tigers became strong by pitting muscle against muscle.

FYI, This principle was exemplified in the business concept of the balanced scorecard, pitting revenue against profit ratio in calculating sales commissions.

Mr. Oliver says that Grand Master Shimabuku wanted students to use dynamic tension to both develop strength and to focus on important movements. It is first introduced with Seiuchin Kate. This Gojo-Ryu kata uses dynamic tension to build strength and stamina through its ibuki breathing and strong muscular tension.

Example for legs. Do deep knee bends and flex hard your quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hips and even calves. Keep the tension hard and steady, it will take some practice to do it all together, but the incredible pump and muscle growth you will get from it will be well worth your while.