I started with my karate training in traditional shotokan club. Back then, karate was meant for self-defense, wherefore kata was principle method of training. Read more…
All posts tagged Shorin
Interview with sensei Hohan Soken, Mutsumura’s grandson – part II
Interviewer: Can you tell me some more about your kata?
Sensei: I teach the Matsumura kata. The kata that I teach now arepinan shodan, pinan nidan, naihanchi shodan, naihanchi nidan, patsai-sho and dai, chinto, gojushiho, kusanku, rohai ichi-ni-san, and last, the hakutsuru. Read more…
Dojo kun and old wisdoms
These are some basic proverb that you should keep in mind when practicing karate. Dojo kun means basic principles of karate school.
Kata, bunkai, tegumi… (1)
LETTER 1. – Kata & bunkai
In response to some of the post on bogus bunkai and some Okinawan instructors and dojo not having bunkai that seem to be anything but block/punch. Read more…
Kata, bunkai, tegumi… (2)
LETTER 2. – Kata & bunkai
I certainly did not mean in my post to give the indication that all Okinawan schools did not continue to practice bunkai as an integral part of their training. I wrote that there are schools in Okinawa just as any other place in the world that do not have the full curriculum that other schools have. I certainly would not mention those that I think do or don’t. I know Iha sensei’s background as well as his teachers are and were well grounded on bunkai of the kata. Read more…
Kata, bunkai, tegumi… (3)
LETTER 3. – Are there blocks in Okinawan kata?
I remember when this no block question in karate began in the mid 1980’s. As I recall it came about when people started being exposed to the Okinawan kata bunkai and finding out that not all blocks were for just blocking. Read more…
Kata, bunkai, tegumi… (4)
LETTER 4. – About Hakutsuru kata.
Michael , you are right about Matayoshi teaching a Hakutsuru kata. The name is Kakuken. Even though he reserved the kata for some of his senior kobudo students in that he did not teach karate at all in his dojo. Read more…
Kata, bunkai, tegumi… (5)
LETTER 5. – About kata practice.
It is hard to disagree with most of what has been written about this subject but I have a few comments that I hope will be helpful.
I agree with Shogiki’s comment about having “faith” in practicing the kata. Faith is defined as hope in what is not seen. Read more…
48 techniques (part I)
I spent several years studying ancient okinawan manuscript Bubishi. This article is part 1. of my interpretation and bunkai applications. At least it shows diversity of original okinawan self defense method that will later be famous under new name – “Karate”. Read more…
