Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Masters of Okinawan Karate - International Edition: Arcenio Advincula, Isshinryu Karate, Ryukonkai Kobudo

This episode is a little longer than the others, but at least it is in English - no subtitles to read! Great advice here, especially about telegraphing moves!





Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Old School Karate-Do

For your edification:






Okinawan Karate Masters, Vol. 6

"So dojos were all small, they were usually practicing in gardens."

Okinawan Karate Masters, Vol. 5







Tenshin

This is the San Dan (Black 3) test kata.  In the first video, the performers show far too much of the English homophone to the Japanese name of the kata - tension!  Maybe because this kata is done here by-the-count?  Anyway, the correct moves and sequences are all present:








Once again, her is Dr. Chitose's son Yasuhiro performing many Chito Ryu kata. The whole video is worth watching, but Tenshin starts at the 8:48 mark.

Shihohai

...is the second test kata for Green 2.  The video below is a group performing the kata 100 times as part of a fundraising challenge.  There are many experience levels here, and the camera moves around giving multiple angles of view.




Thursday, March 19, 2020

Kusanku

This is another very old kata which exists in many versions and in many styles.  Named after a Chinese Tang warrior, the idea behind this kata is attack and defense in the dark, or at night.  Handed down from Master Sakugawa, this kata was taught to Dr. Chitose by Kyan Chotoku.


Here is a link to the Mukashi School of Karate, part of the International Chito Ryu Karate Federation website where a good version of this kata is presented in two different angles.  Sorry, but this video is not available to be embedded:




Here is Kusanku performed by Dr Chitose's son, Yasuhiro:




Sanshiryu

Sanshiryu is a very old kata.  According to the USCK Black Belt Manual, "[m]any people have attempted to master this kata, but only a few have been successful."  I believe that applies to most katas, especially the very old ones.


Chito-ryu kata Sanshiryu at a tournament in Tochigi, Japan:




...Sanshiryu performed by Stéphane Joyal:



Terry Valentino, chief instructor at the Koshin-ha Yoseikan Karate Dojo in Marshall Twp PA demonstrates several applications from a signature movement in the Chito-ryu version of Sanshiryu kata:



Disclaimer: I do not know this kata nor the performers, but these videos appear legitimate.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

When Coronavirus closes the dojo...

While we who study Karate-do appreciate Chinese influence on our martial arts, we do not take so kindly to a Chinese virus that closes our dojos and forces us to train elsewhere!  For many of us, a closed dojo means we will have to suspend training altogether.  Of course, Jesse Enkamp has produced a short video to help keep your body, mind, and spirit going in the direction of the Karate way:







Kihon Kata San

Kihon katas are katas of basic techniques, of which there are three.  These are supposed to be taught at the "two" level, that is, Green II, Brown II, and Black II.


The link below goes to a page with video of kihon kata san, produced by the Mukashi School of Karate, which is apparently part of the International Chito Ryu Karate Federation.  I do not know anything about this particular dojo, but the USCK split from the ICKF back in the 1990s.  Unfortunately, I cannot embed the video here, but it is definitely a Chito Ryu kata.  The nice thing about this link is that the kata can be viewed from two different angles.





A big hint was dropped at the March clinic that kihon katas will be included in the testing before the national board in October.  Anyone testing for Ik Kyu should be familiar with the first two kihon katas, and I will try to find video to post for these.  The first two are certainly less complicated than the third.  



Monday, March 16, 2020

Kakatebiki, or "Kakiya"

While much of Karate practice is done in the air, a very important point to remember is that for your practice to be effective "you have to hit stuff."  Sometimes this is done with a partner, and sometimes this is done using training equipment such as a bag or makiwara.  Recently, I was made aware of a rather esoteric piece of equipment called kakatebiki, or more commonly, kakiya.  This is a counterweighted (or spring loaded) arm connected to a striking post similar to a makiwara: 





source:  https://www.chrisdenwood.com/blog/kakiya-the-okinawan-wooden-man


The idea is to perform a blocking/grasping/striking action against the lever arm and post.  This is a very Okinawan idea reflected in much of our intermediate and advanced kata, such as the three outside haito strikes and grasps in Seisan, the te hedoki grasp and punch into a "T" stance in Chinto, and the double hand grasp and kick in Passai, to name a few.


Most of the drawings of kakatebiki I have seen only have a wrapping for a strike below the lever arm.  This would indicate the importance of using leg and foot techniques.  As the wrapping is shown going around the entire lower portion of the post, it would stand to reason that the leg and foot techniques could be performed from any angle, suggesting a movement around the outside or to the inside of the opponent.  The leg/foot technique could be a strike or kick, or a trip or sweeping movement.


Many possibilities exist for using this piece of equipment, and it is unfortunate that it is not as common as the makiwara.