Shinsokai Spring Gasshuku

The Shinsokai Spring Gasshuku was held at the Kaizenkan dojo over the weekend of the 26th and 27th April, with Richard Barrett Sensei travelling over from Spain to the UK to provide tuition for its members.

The first session of the weekend consisted of going over the finer points of the strikes, blocks and stances of Goju Ryu.  The circular nature of the blocks was discussed in detail, which was then followed by stationary sandan gi renshu.  The intensity was gradually increased and the drill then flowed into how the use of kamae can limit the target areas available to the opponent.  With the uke then assuming chudan no kamae, the tori’s attacks were forced into being either jodan or gedan.  Time was spent around reacting to the opponents random attacks at multiple levels, and it became apparent that the circular nature of the blocks allowed for a variety of defensive blocks and parries to blend with the opponents attacks.  This led nicely into kakie practice where practitioners were then encouraged to lead their partners balance through the use of timing and subtle changes of pressure.  The whole time we were encouraged to look for the relationship between sandan gi, kakie, sanchin and bunkai.  It is through the correct blending of the various principles that each exercise employs that we are able to better understand the system of Goju Ryu.

Following this we moved onto the practice of Sanchin kata with Barrett Sensei discussing some of the advanced ideas behind the kata.

After a break for lunch we resumed with the classical kata of Goju Ryu, with each person demonstrating a kata of their choice which was then discussed in detail.  Bunkai practice followed with each person demonstrating various bunkai from their earlier chosen kata.  The bunkai was then discussed with much attention being paid to the principles and tactics employed in the Goju Ryu system, and how the bunkai should not deviate from these basic truths.

Day 2 began resumed with kata practice and the 2-person Gekisai kumite.  Topics such as maai, hyoshi, kazushi, mushin, zanshin, yoi and rei and their relationship to kata were discussed.  The remaining classical kata of the Goju Ryu were practiced and refined, and the day was brought to a close with hojo undo training and Sanchin kata.

I’m sure that all those who attended were able to come away with a lot to think about, and a better understanding of their art.  Our sincere thanks go to Richard Barrett Sensei.

The Shinsokai Gasshuku occur twice a year in April and October to coincide with the birth and death dates of Miyagi Chojun Sensei.  As a small group of practitioners we are committed to preserving and researching the teachings of Miyagi Chojun Sensei as passed on by Miyazato Eiichi Sensei.

Seminar with Patrick McCarthy Sensei

On Saturday I was privileged to attend a seminar delivered by noted researcher Patrick McCarthy Sensei.

It is largely due to McCarthy Sensei’s influence that I chose the path which I am travelling, having first read his translation of the Bubishi as a 15 year old boy.  It was reading the bubishi that strengthened my resolve to move away from the norm of militaristic group based training sessions revolving around repetitions of kihon waza, and begin looking towards the more authentic Okinawan schools.  Still being very young and unable to yet drive, I began reading more and more about the older methods of karatedo which were popular before the spread of a more Japanese influenced sport.  The system which interested me most was the Goju Ryu, and as soon as I was able to drive, I sought out Richard Barrett Sensei who has tried his best to guide me along the right path ever since. 

To supplementmy training and interest in the history and development of the art, I became a member of the International Ryukyu Research Society, headed by McCarthy Sensei.  This has always been an excellent source of knowledge for me, and has greatly assisted me with my studies of Goju Ryu.

Anyway, enough going on about it.  Suffice to say that McCarthy Sensei has been a big help to me over the years and I was eagerly awaiting meeting him in person again after so long.

After bowing in, McCarthy Sensei began the session by delivering a lecture on how the inflexible ideology of Japanese culture around the time of karate’s introduction to the mainland affected its subsequent practice and evolution from a jutsu into a do discipline.  In order to be accepted on the mainland,karate was required to adopt a standard training uniform, the kyu / dan ranking system, the changing of the kanji from to to kara, and to develop a means where practitioners could test their spirit by means of competition.  This would ultimately bring karate n line with arts such as judo and kendo where young men would develop their bodies and spirit with the aim of creating assets for the Japanese military.  This whole series of events would ultimately dictate the path which karatedo would travel over the coming years, moving away from its roots as a form of civilian self defence, to become more a form of physical fitness practiced in a militaristic manner with a do not ask questions attitude.

For karatedo to further develop as an art, and to understand the past from which it came from, it is important that practitioners continue to research throughout the entirety of their training.  It is only through the practice of bun bu ryo do (the combined study of the physical and the scholarly) that we can begin to understand the purpose of training in karatedo.

Following this lecture, McCarthy Sensei began to teach some of his two-person uke waza routine.  This was very similar in practice to the static sandan giexersise of the Goju Ryu, with the addition of arm bar techniques, counters, and responses to grabs and hook punches. 

After a short break for lunch, training resumed with a series of techniques taken from the Pinan kata developed by Itosu Ankoh Sensei.  This appeared to be warmly received by the predominantly Shotokan based attendees, and it was interesting to see McCarthy Sensei’s interpretation of moves from these kata.  An application which amused me greatly was for the posture in pinan sandan where you stand with the feet held together, and your fists resting on your hips.  I remember as a kid when I learnt this kata, this posture was explained to me as ‘you’ve just beaten a gang of attackers, now you stand with your hands on your hips in a position of arrogence’!  Seriously!  McCarthy Sensei’s arm bar application for this posture made more sense for me….

Once the seminar had finished I had a chance to speak with McCarthy Sensei and was lucky enough to be shown some of his ideas around the applications for the Tensho / Rokkishu movements.  Very interesting stuff, and I hope that I’ll have the chance to spend more time in the future picking his brains on that topic. 

With just enough time left to get my treasured copy of the bubishi signed by McCarthy Sensei, I said my goodbyes and returned home to reflect on a very productive and inspirational day of training.

 

The bushi of karatedo

One of the things that has always attracted me to the art of karatedo is the emphasis on the development of the character of its practitioners. 

Training in karatedo has always had a calming effect on my somewhat naturally aggressive nature, helping me to realise this flaw in myself and giving me a tool that I can use to try to fix this problem.

A few years ago I spent some time practising MMA, as well as having a number of boxing bouts.  Whilst this did a lot for my development regarding the practicality of my training, I found that my character changed significantly due to my focus on defeating my opponent.  Becoming soley concerned with this goal, my aggression began to affect other areas of my life in a negative manner.

All of this was happening of course without me even realising, and it wasn’t until I came away from that particular arena and spent some time thinking that I realised how far from the correct path I had drifted.

When I was in my early teens I was inspired greatly by an interview with Toguchi Sensei who mentioned about how the people of Naha would refer to Miyagi Chojun Sensei as a bushi.  The term bushi in Okinawa differs in meaning from that on the Japanese mainland in that in Okinawa, a bushi is expected to be more than a mere warrior.

A bushi is expected to display courtesy and humility at all times, remaining true to his principles and having the courage to stand alone and do what’s right.  A bushi in Okinawa was respected for his qualities as a person, more so then his physical abilities.

For karatedo to have value it is these very attributes that we should be seeking to develop and popularise so that karatedo can be of benefit to a modern society.  An empty art of punching and kicking, geared for sport, lacking in practicality and deficient in personal challenge has no use. 

Health benefits of Sanchin

Much has been written about how the incorrect practice of Sanchin kata can be harmful to your health, however the other side to this argument is not addressed as often.  Practiced correctly Sanchin can be very beneficial to your health and should leave you feeling invigorated and charged.

Sanchin achieves this by;

Developing good posture

Promoting deep breathing using the diaphragm

Generating good blood circulation and increases oxygen levels to the blood and brain

Exercising and invigorating the nerves, muscles, tendons and respiratory system

Lifting and massaging the internal organs and digestive system

Working to promote a clam state of mind

In order to do this, one must not use too much tension, force the breathing, or perform the movements too fast. 

More on grappling

I was recently contacted with some questions regarding my post about ground work in karate.  A recent popular publication on kata application claims that 5% of techniques in kata being ground fighting techniques.  I personally disagree with this and would ask which techniques are they talking about? 

Nowhere in any Goju kata do we put oursleves on the ground, and I disagree with people trying too hard to MAKE things fit ie; shiko dachi works well as a guard from lying on your back, etc. 

Karate, and in particular Goju Ryu is primarily a striking art.  In a self defence situation we use our strikes in order to create enough of a gap for us to effect our escape from the attacker.  If it happens to go to the ground we should be looking to inflict enough pain from a short distance (think ippon ken, nukite, gouging into the eyes, etc) in order to create the opportunity for us to get back on our feet quickly and run away.

 

I was also asked about how karate practitioners would train specifically in regards to grappling.  According to researchers such as Nagamine Shoshin and Hokama Tetsuhiro, tegumi was always a popular pastime for young Okinawans who would regularly hold village tournaments for entertainment and sport.  Much like Sumo in its practice, two competitors grasp eachother by the waistband and attempt to throw the other to the ground.

The popularity of this sport was much like youths playing soccer in England, or Basketball in the US.  Grappling was something that many Okinawans had some experience in, and so for most this was as much as they needed.  Some practitioners such as Miyazato Eiichi sensei also chose to study Judo.

Karatedo and ground fighting should not be confused.  For practitioners of karate the cold hard floor really isn’t somewhere you want to be.

Paying my respects to Higaonna Kanryo

Whilst reading through Hokama Tetsuhiro’s Timeline of Karate History (trans Charles Joe Swift) I noticed a photograph of the tomb of Kanryo Higaonna Sensei.  This came as quite a suprise to me!

I’m not sure why it never occured to me before that Higaonna Sensei’s tomb existed?  I’ve never heard it mentioned anywhere else before this, so I guess I assumed that it had been destroyed during the war and lost.

Now that I know it exists I hope that one day I might be able to visit Kanryo Sensei’s tomb to pay my respects and thank him for his hard work in promoting the art of Nahate.