Some small burnt offerings.

 

                Gonna answer a few questions I have gotten this past year that I have not put into a blog as of yet. These were ones that were kind of random and

 

What are your goals for 2022?

                Currently most of my goals for the new year center around my own training and that of my dojo. I am hoping to shake off the last two years of ups and downs and get back to training hard, pushing to grow the club and praying we don’t have anything else come up that would affect these plans. I want to do a few online training seminars with Sensei Don as well as dig a bit more deeply into some online training and get back to focusing on my own fitness and training.

 

Is Karate better than (XYZ)?

                No….and yes….and maybe.  I hate and love this question and get it very often online.  Most of the time its from those that train in the martial art in question and maybe are trying to trap me into explaining myself. First off, the art of Karate is only as good as the practitioner that is using in. but that’s the same thing you must say about ALL martial arts. The martial arts are much like any other art form or creative endeavour. The system or style is simply the tools one uses to develop skill and then express themselves through these tools.

 

Karate does not seem like it would work in real life?

                Not true, but having said that Karate works for those that can make it work. Guns are great weapons for those that need defense and need to use them, but if you don’t know how to use one…they are very dangerous paper weights.  Same with Karate…if you want to know how to use Karate in the streets you need to train for that, and be lucky enough to be good at it.

 

Why are our Gis’ white?

                I have been told lots of reasons, people roll out nice stories and they spew them around like they are truth…but the gods honest truth is that we wear white uniforms as that was what was available to Funakoshi at the time he was forming the style. I guess it could be worse, we could all be wearing Kilts!

 

What kind of goals would you suggest for Karate?

                Tough one.  First off I always say that Shogai is the main goal, or Karate for life. We all change our focus and we all change our approach as time goes on. When I started it was a way to get me out of my shell, get a kid in shape and find something I liked for activities.  Then It became my obsession and I started competing then moved to teaching, the goals were different each time.  The main focus should be on having a good time training and enjoying it for your whole life.

 

Is sport karate different than traditional Karate?

                Yes and no.  The rules are very different, which to some makes it very different. To others its just the same skills used with a different goal and different Essentially the biggest differences I see are actually the techniques.  Most Free kumite you see has some flashy stuff, but the main scoring waza are Gyakuzuki, Oi zuki/Kizami and mawashi geri in most tournaments. You may see a mae geri or yoko geri but most of the time its just really basic stuff. In sport things like ridge hands, hook kicks, flying punches and the like are used. The Goals and rules of the event dictate the waza used.  Having said that I am not against or for a single side here.  I do Traditional, I teach Traditional but I know that Karate is a rainbow of goals, focuses, reasons for training and sport is one of them.  I would however say that if you choose to do sport you need at least four years of solid study in Traditional to ground yourself and to build up your skills.  AND I don’t agree with students wearing blue and red belts only. Wear your rank!

 

Can you do both sport and traditional Karate?

                You can, its not easy and I have seen way to many students get confused as to what they are doing. To some extent its like doing two different arts, even though the tools are the same the confines of the rules are different and change the way you actually use them. Like I said before the sport aspect is flashy and dynamic but in reality, that kind of sparring is going to lead to lighter, faster moves…but despite what some people have told me…most sport fighters SUCK at real fighting. I have actually seen a sport guy “score a point” in the streets and then freeze up wondering why the attacker did not go down or stop because a point was scored. Its an old cliché that people drag out and a funny story but I can tell you its true.  Not all traditional guys will be able to fight but they have a better than average chance in a real fight with real world rules opposed to fancy Kumite that sport offers.

 

What kind of other training should you do to make your karate better?

                I used to say things like “weights” and “More Karate”, but my thinking has changed a lot over the years and I agree with my Sensei, Running is the single most important conditioning protocol you can do as a Karate person, next is stretching. Actually, I see them as being different one is conditioning and the other holds a special and unusual place. I also think if you are doing sports or get ready for an envent dynamics like plyometrics and other similar activities are super beneficial.

 

How old should you be when you start Karate training?

                Any age!  I think practicing Karate is a benefit for any age really! Youth and kids learn discipline, fitness and they enjoy things like sport and the challenges that brings.  Adults and kids alike can benefit from the fitness and destressing that Karate brings and older adults keep their fitness and bone density from Karate training. The kids however, if you are going to enter into Karate you need to be able to focus a bit to benefit or it is just baby sitting. I would say the youngest is about six years old for special kids and eight for the kids with focus issues.

 

Can an older person benefit from Karate?

                For sure! I have seen lots of older people look at Karate as a kids training program or option.  However, the older adults benefit from the mobility it creates, the flexibility it promotes and the bone density that comes from training. The benefits for an older adult are huge!

 

What is the best piece of advice you can give a new student starting karate?

                Take notes and work a little each day on basics.  It will help you remember what you guys did in class, what your instructor said in class and then working a bit each day between classes will cement it in your head.  That and MAKE IT FUN. If you put way to much pressure on yourself you will not get the benefits you should from training.

 

How has Karate helped you in your normal life?

                Immeasurably, I have a better stress management system, most of my life actually I did things to help me understand Karate better….University, collage, work, reading and research…and honestly it helped me understand Karate…but that understanding was universal…I started understanding myself and others, fitness and health and also how to research and study better. Its more a symbiotic relationship.

 

What are your goals in Karate?

                To train till I die.  I want to be one of those old instructors out on the floor working on ideas and movement when Im 75 years old and older who are putting their time in doing something they love.

 

What is the difference between TKD and Karate?

            Sometimes I think they are much more alike than we want to admit, but structurally its very different. TKD is a much more upright and stiff style. Having said that some people do Karate far to stiff as well. History shows us that TKD came basically from Shotokan Karate and that the Korean instructors change it to suit a more sport environment. Not saying that there is anything wrong with that however. Karate is more traditional, technically speaking, and the TKD is more sporty…again Technically speaking.

 

What other styles of Karate have you studied/martial arts?

                One of my most common questions! I have trained in Karate, Shotokan for the majority of my life now…by far! However during the early years I did some Judo, Kendo, Aikido, Jeet Kun Do, Kung Fu (hung gar) and boxing.  I have also studied Sambo, kick boxing and Krav Maga…however some of what I have studied was more personal study.

                To be honest the only things I studied “in a club” were Karate, Judo, Kendo, Aikido and Kung fu. I did kick boxing and boxing with friends, and the kick boxing with a buddy at the club he trained at…once and a bunch of times with him. I also took single classes or programs in Tae Chi, Chi Kung, Tae Kwon Do and did wrestling in my high school shortly.

 

Who are your idols in Karate?

                Dingman Sensei is always my answer. He was my “father figure” and mentor. If I was to say a name other than his it would be someone like Tanaka Sensei because he was a GOD to me. I have enjoyed and trained with some great men in my time, but idols….My instructor is basically the name that comes to mind when that question is asked.

 

Kicking or punching…which is better?

                The choice is not easy at all.  Both of them have their strengths and drawbacks. On the surface kicks are much more powerful, and have longer range…..But its also hard to maintain balance and because it is a longer limb harder to hide the kick unless you are very fast. Most fight I have seen in which kicks are used were not won buy the guy throwing the kicks.  Punches are faster, easier to hide and you can stay very balanced while throwing good punches, but they are not as powerful.

                From a sporting aspect, punches are also much easier to control and I have seen way to many people KO the opponent with a uncontrolled kick.

 

How do I get better at Karate?

                Practice, practice and yah…practice. Its an old and tired response but honestly other than taking good notes the only other secrets I would have is to get a good instructor who cares about you and then practice your butt off and work on both strong points and weak points.

 

Do you have a special kumite drill or combination you practice?

                I have a few actually, we do them in class from time to time.  Some are for mobility; some are for dynamics and some are straight up tactics that you can use to win matches that I have trained in over the years.  My favorite is the blitz because Im short but quick so the foot work and aggressive dynamic attack has always been my strategy, and it’s a hand-based tactic to help me stay on balanced while attacking like a ballistic missile.

 

What is your favorite Kata?

                The answer to that one is a moving target! It changes so often and honestly it has changed a lot since I was a kid. I used to love Bassai Dai and then a senior of mine told me to do Kanku dai and I became totally obsessed. For a while it was Jion and then chinte, we did Jiin once and I fell for it and then Wankan was a nice little Kata…most of the 15 were my special kata at one point or another. I love Kata because it’s a mental and physical test and exercise.

                Currently?  Im playing with Jitte and Jion a lot but to be honest I love Meikyo the most….right now.

 

Do you need to know Japanese to do Karate?

                Japanese is fun and I once thought about taking up the language as a focus on my training but its not necessary to know the language.  You should know the technical names of the movements and also some general terminology but you don’t have to be fluent in Japanese to learn Karate.

 

Who are your favorite instructors?

                Again, other than My instructor, Tanaka was one of my favorites.  Imura was pretty damn good too.  I liked Saeiki, Koyama, Takashina, Okizaki, Yaguchi and many more.  I am not sure how to pick my favorite out of the bunch however as they are all great.

 

Do you train with weapons?

                I have trained in Kendo and know roughly how to use a sword, I have also studied some Kobudo, but not enough to say I am proficient in the arts. I would love to take up some weapons training but currently I have a bit too much on my plate. I don’t think they are necessary; they can be a small addition to the training but honestly, I don’t see doing more weapons training vs some good Kumite training as being a good step forwards in your training. But….they are fun.

 

What benefit does weapons training have?

                Weapons training, when you do it right, have a lot of benefits. They encourage balance, proper form and technically they are extensions of your own limbs so you benefit from training with them by improving your hand eye coordination and general physical coordination. There are other benefits, but the reasons NOT to train with them, while few, are very important. By this I mean if you are a junior, so under black belt, you need to focus more close to home and build up your body. Focusing on a weapon becomes a distraction. Also, most people who train to soon with weapons get sloppy! You have to pick up the basics, polish them and make them your own through years and years of training then you can incorporate a weapon or another style to your training.

 

How much training is enough?

                All depends on your goals! If you want to get better at Karate home training every other day is essential. Three to four days of light home training is going to help out. At the club two times a week is plenty, if you want to do tournaments or are getting ready for a seminar/grading then more is always better. Don’t get obsessed however, I used to do Karate at the club six times a week, sometimes three classes a day and then at home. But I honestly burned out a lot and got little injuries from over training. Stick to the bit at home and twice at the club, three is not bad too.

 

 

How often have you gotten hurt training in Karate?

                Actually, much less than doing other sports and martial arts.  I would say that the number of times I have been hurt in Karate mostly boil down to some bumps and bruises and the odd bonk on the nose. I have however been hurt a lot doing other sports, Judo the most. If you are careful and have a good instructor you don’t get hurt very much.

 

 

                Im always open to answering questions, so if you have any email them to me or send them to me on Facebook. My answers are always open, honest and well researched if need be!