No, not that "kicking the bucket"...don't be so morbid!
I tried something I've been meaning to test for the last couple of years. I took an old bucket and a bungie cord down to the tennis courts last night and attached the cord and bucket to the fence in one of the corners creating a triangle with the bucket hanging freely. What I wanted was a way of working kicks with something that provided movement and feed back, but without weight like a heavy bag. The bungie cord stretched about five feet so the bucket would slide considerably depending on the area struck and the type of kick. I found it a great way to work on footwork, timing and distance - focusing solely on kicking and body shifting.
By using the fence I was able to adjust the height as well: for my front snap, side snap and roundhouse kicks I kept the bucket at my lower abdominal level. For working my side thrust kick I raised it to my chest level. Next time I'll place it knee level for practicing more self defense style kicks.
Another side benefit of using an empty bucket (all plastic) is it helps build reaction timing as well. When struck directly the bucket swings around 360 degrees, which means it will strike you back when stepping in after the kick. It's a great reminder to keep your hands up ready to block or deflect an incoming attack!
Well, that's all for now...
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
All You Need Is?
Well, love of course, but in this case, I'm writing about what largely defines how you perform your kata.
The answer is "Imagination". Not fanciful mental structuring of techniques which subdues your enemy and earns you style points, but a realistic interpretation of each techniques' intent: it's attack and defense strengths and weaknesses. For me each kata is a series of interchangeable techniques which can be combined in a myriad of ways. The original performance of the entire kata should always follow the ark of training under your predominant style, but I firmly believe each person must stamp each kata learned with his or her own personal interpretation, which is what solidifies their understanding of its intent in real world situations.
Like stated in many sports, vivid intentioned imagination of successful and interpretive (in the case of artistic sports) techniques, is what separates the champions from everyone else. But again, the techniques in karate and other martial endeavors, must have a legitimate, feasible purpose which quickly ends a self defense situation. Good kata is when these types of techniques are applied in a powerful and well balanced manner displaying the kata's intent in an artistic way.
For me, distance is the first thing I think of when analyzing a technique. Does it make more sense when applied in close, mid distance, or longer distance? What is each limbs purpose? Work through different potential applications mentally and arrive at two or three that seem reasonable for applying under stressful situations. Keep in mind each limb is most certainly actively engaged in completing a successful application of attack. Pushing, pulling; twisting, dropping; tripping, throwing; striking, kicking - all are alternatives when working out the applications of the kata. Some seem obvious, a punch is a punch, isn't it? Think! Consider! And learn so much more...
Well, that's all for now...
The answer is "Imagination". Not fanciful mental structuring of techniques which subdues your enemy and earns you style points, but a realistic interpretation of each techniques' intent: it's attack and defense strengths and weaknesses. For me each kata is a series of interchangeable techniques which can be combined in a myriad of ways. The original performance of the entire kata should always follow the ark of training under your predominant style, but I firmly believe each person must stamp each kata learned with his or her own personal interpretation, which is what solidifies their understanding of its intent in real world situations.
Like stated in many sports, vivid intentioned imagination of successful and interpretive (in the case of artistic sports) techniques, is what separates the champions from everyone else. But again, the techniques in karate and other martial endeavors, must have a legitimate, feasible purpose which quickly ends a self defense situation. Good kata is when these types of techniques are applied in a powerful and well balanced manner displaying the kata's intent in an artistic way.
For me, distance is the first thing I think of when analyzing a technique. Does it make more sense when applied in close, mid distance, or longer distance? What is each limbs purpose? Work through different potential applications mentally and arrive at two or three that seem reasonable for applying under stressful situations. Keep in mind each limb is most certainly actively engaged in completing a successful application of attack. Pushing, pulling; twisting, dropping; tripping, throwing; striking, kicking - all are alternatives when working out the applications of the kata. Some seem obvious, a punch is a punch, isn't it? Think! Consider! And learn so much more...
Well, that's all for now...
Friday, March 21, 2014
Heavy Bag Training Options
Along with kata training, heavy bag work is my other main training method for karate. I have two heavy bags: a hanging bag which can be filled with water and a standing heavy bag which can be height adjusted and has a "spring like" action.
Currently I use the hanging heavy bag for timing and distance work, since I don't fill it with water during cold weather training - it hangs outside from a balcony over the driveway. In warmer weather I'll partially fill it so it has some weight, but will still move freely when struck - this better allows me to approximate striking a living, moving target. The challenge when striking the empty bag is if it is struck too hard it swings wildly making follow up strikes impossible. My goal then is making light contact strikes which move the bag enough where I have to adjust my angle and/or distance for follow up strikes. This works particularly well with hand and elbow techniques, but less so with kicking techniques, since I don't like pulling my kicks too much, but it's doable. Typically I'll work a few different set of combinations each time I use the bag - boxing style combos, traditional karate combos and self-defense combos.
- Boxing combos typically are 1-2, 1-2-3 or 1-2-3-4 techniques starting from either hand using boxing style stances from both sides mixing different types of punches.
- Traditional karate combos are what is often practiced in the dojo as kihon, but moving into the bag rather than stepping back - rising forearm strike followed by a reverse punch for example.
- Self Defense combos are practiced with either hands at sides or up in a defensive "fence" position attacking more with open handed techniques. I may be facing the bag, half facing it, or with it at my back. The assumption is the attack is imminent so I must preempt the opponent's attack.
My heavy standing bag is what I use for hard striking and kicking. The model I have has a flexible rubber section built into the stand so it moves when struck, which helps build reflexes, timing and to a degree distance. I don't use heavy bag gloves, instead I use leather work gloves that you would buy at a home improvement store. I believe these give me a more realistic feel, while still protecting my hands from abrasions. My goal is a one to two inch penetration for my strikes - enough to know I've made solid and correct contact without moving the bag too much allowing for follow up techniques. If I'm just working my traditional Shotokan punches from a set stance then I'll shoot for an up to four inch penetration - I don't want to feel like I'm pushing the bag so I don't try to punch through it.
Kicking either bag is done wearing different types of foot gear: sneakers of different types, light style hiking shoes, sandals (Tevas) and even old leather loafers. The goal is to know how different foot gear affects pivoting and shock absorption when making contact.
Well, that's all for now...
Friday, March 14, 2014
One Beer Karate
Over the last year or so my philosophy pertaining to karate is to have a "one beer" mind. This is my personal Zen state, if that makes sense.
Occasionally when training in the garage I'll open a good craft beer and sip it through my hour or so work out. The slight alcohol induced relaxed feeling is what I'm referring to - it's a state of gentle relaxation with a slightly elevated level of self awareness. Certainly not enough to effect my performance, but it is felt and often causes me to pause and ponder a kata sequence for its logical real world application(s).
Another effect an occasional, casual consumption of a quality beer has during exercise (again not slamming it down, but a sip or two periodically over the course of an hour or so) is to relax the body. This is similar to the effects of performing techniques to exhaustion where the muscles reach such a relaxed state the technique becomes almost effortless. While I'm not advocating switching from repetition of techniques to drinking beer to improve one's karate, I am saying it has its place in my ongoing pursuit of learning Shotokan karate as I understand it.
Hope this makes sense. That's all for now...
Occasionally when training in the garage I'll open a good craft beer and sip it through my hour or so work out. The slight alcohol induced relaxed feeling is what I'm referring to - it's a state of gentle relaxation with a slightly elevated level of self awareness. Certainly not enough to effect my performance, but it is felt and often causes me to pause and ponder a kata sequence for its logical real world application(s).
Another effect an occasional, casual consumption of a quality beer has during exercise (again not slamming it down, but a sip or two periodically over the course of an hour or so) is to relax the body. This is similar to the effects of performing techniques to exhaustion where the muscles reach such a relaxed state the technique becomes almost effortless. While I'm not advocating switching from repetition of techniques to drinking beer to improve one's karate, I am saying it has its place in my ongoing pursuit of learning Shotokan karate as I understand it.
Hope this makes sense. That's all for now...
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Keep Your Distance!
Or should you?
There are many examples of bunkai for Shotokan kata on the web showing defensive then attacking moves from a traditional Shotokan distance. The question though is this really the optimal distance for correct kata "real world" application?
Since I only self train at this time I do a fair amount of online research relating to karate and other martial arts. One person who has had a tremendous influence on my interpretation of kata application is Iain Abernethy, who teaches that most kata applications can be thought of as being applied in a close-in situation. This opens up interpreting the "blocks" and pivots and being throwing or other take-down techniques. For me, as someone who stopped traditional training in the early 1980's after just 2 1/2 years, it's made understanding kata so much more enjoyable and relevant.
Considering that self defense situations which result in a physical altercation typically are within striking distance it makes sense to close the gap quickly and decisively with strikes, followed by throwing/disabling techniques then retreating. Obviously to throw/trip/break you need to be close to your opponent, so when interpreting kata techniques always keep these options and your distance in mind.
Well, that's all for now...
There are many examples of bunkai for Shotokan kata on the web showing defensive then attacking moves from a traditional Shotokan distance. The question though is this really the optimal distance for correct kata "real world" application?
Since I only self train at this time I do a fair amount of online research relating to karate and other martial arts. One person who has had a tremendous influence on my interpretation of kata application is Iain Abernethy, who teaches that most kata applications can be thought of as being applied in a close-in situation. This opens up interpreting the "blocks" and pivots and being throwing or other take-down techniques. For me, as someone who stopped traditional training in the early 1980's after just 2 1/2 years, it's made understanding kata so much more enjoyable and relevant.
Considering that self defense situations which result in a physical altercation typically are within striking distance it makes sense to close the gap quickly and decisively with strikes, followed by throwing/disabling techniques then retreating. Obviously to throw/trip/break you need to be close to your opponent, so when interpreting kata techniques always keep these options and your distance in mind.
Well, that's all for now...
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
To Kiai or Not to Kiai?
Ninjas don't kiai, so why should Shotokan practitioners?
Since the majority of my training is outdoors in local parks I don't kiai when practicing my kata. At the appropriate points in the kata I will internalize the kiai sometimes, or "grunt" kiai other times, but I tend to focus more on imagining the technique being effective, which means they are performed with sufficient force emanating from the core that a kiai isn't necessary (in my opinion).
I do believe though that a kiai/shout/yell/scream has it's place in a self defense situation. Anything which increases the "attack and self preservation" mode is certainly beneficial. It also has the added advantage of alerting those nearby that something bad is happening which hopefully will cause them to assist, or at least call the police.
For kata though is a kiai necessary? I think the answer really is the underlying intent of the kiai - to yell just for the sake of yelling like you see in some "extreme karate" kata is nonsense in my opinion. A kiai incorporated into a finishing technique makes perfect sense though. Since I view kata a a series of smaller interrelated techniques I will sometimes use an internal kiai when breaking the kata down into smaller sections as well, finding it helps punctuate the ending technique. I also "grunt kiai" sometimes working heavy bag combos - 1,2 - kiai/3!
A suggestion: practice your kata with the kiai added at different points. Does it reinforce that section of the kata as being an integrated series of techniques ending in a finishing blow? Don't overdo it though - you don't want to become one of those "extreme karate" practitioners!
Well, that's all for now...
Since the majority of my training is outdoors in local parks I don't kiai when practicing my kata. At the appropriate points in the kata I will internalize the kiai sometimes, or "grunt" kiai other times, but I tend to focus more on imagining the technique being effective, which means they are performed with sufficient force emanating from the core that a kiai isn't necessary (in my opinion).
I do believe though that a kiai/shout/yell/scream has it's place in a self defense situation. Anything which increases the "attack and self preservation" mode is certainly beneficial. It also has the added advantage of alerting those nearby that something bad is happening which hopefully will cause them to assist, or at least call the police.
For kata though is a kiai necessary? I think the answer really is the underlying intent of the kiai - to yell just for the sake of yelling like you see in some "extreme karate" kata is nonsense in my opinion. A kiai incorporated into a finishing technique makes perfect sense though. Since I view kata a a series of smaller interrelated techniques I will sometimes use an internal kiai when breaking the kata down into smaller sections as well, finding it helps punctuate the ending technique. I also "grunt kiai" sometimes working heavy bag combos - 1,2 - kiai/3!
A suggestion: practice your kata with the kiai added at different points. Does it reinforce that section of the kata as being an integrated series of techniques ending in a finishing blow? Don't overdo it though - you don't want to become one of those "extreme karate" practitioners!
Well, that's all for now...
Monday, January 20, 2014
Circuit Training with Karate
I was just reading an article by one of my favorite karate bloggers, Jesse Encamp, regarding weight training and karate.
http://www.karatebyjesse.com/karate-strength-training-and-conditioning/
I'm no expert, so I recommend you read his blog for tips and further research the proper methods to train with weights to improve your karate. What I will do though is share what I've been doing the last couple of years. I guess it's like circuit training in some ways: depending on the the day I'll work a particular kata and mix in some body weight training and light dumbbell exercises which work the major muscle groups. At the end I'll do some bag work as well.
Typical indoor winter training:
10 minutes of dynamic warm-ups
Weight training with dumbbells - right now I'm focusing on 50 reps using two 20lb. dumbbells doing a full squat into bicep curls, into overhead press. Weights are lowered slowly once brought back to the shoulders from the press to work the triceps somewhat.
Planks ( I do different plank poses for each circuit, or switch the poses x number of seconds during one circuit - typically 40 - 60 seconds total)
Kata training - right now I'm working a kata 15 reps one night, then 15 the opposite side the next)
Bag work for 10 -15 minutes working ideas from the current kata, plus focusing on one or two kicks
Planks are done after each five repetitions of kata, so a total of three times for 40 - 60 seconds each.
Outdoor training:
This past year, in warmer weather training outdoors at a local park, I would mix in planks and push-ups between my kata sets - maybe two kata, then 10 push-ups, or 5 kata then 30 second plank. I also added a 10 minute run at the end on some days. Once home (about 5 - 10 minutes from the park) I'd finish with some bag work and some days add some dumbbell exercises.
One thing I don't do is static stretching - either before or after exercising. I'm sure I'd be more flexible if I did, since I used to when I was younger, but it's just not "my cup of tea" at this point.
This year one of my goals is to more systematically incorporate weight training as part of my karate training, as opposed to just doing periodically.
That's all for now!
http://www.karatebyjesse.com/karate-strength-training-and-conditioning/
I'm no expert, so I recommend you read his blog for tips and further research the proper methods to train with weights to improve your karate. What I will do though is share what I've been doing the last couple of years. I guess it's like circuit training in some ways: depending on the the day I'll work a particular kata and mix in some body weight training and light dumbbell exercises which work the major muscle groups. At the end I'll do some bag work as well.
Typical indoor winter training:
10 minutes of dynamic warm-ups
Weight training with dumbbells - right now I'm focusing on 50 reps using two 20lb. dumbbells doing a full squat into bicep curls, into overhead press. Weights are lowered slowly once brought back to the shoulders from the press to work the triceps somewhat.
Planks ( I do different plank poses for each circuit, or switch the poses x number of seconds during one circuit - typically 40 - 60 seconds total)
Kata training - right now I'm working a kata 15 reps one night, then 15 the opposite side the next)
Bag work for 10 -15 minutes working ideas from the current kata, plus focusing on one or two kicks
Planks are done after each five repetitions of kata, so a total of three times for 40 - 60 seconds each.
Outdoor training:
This past year, in warmer weather training outdoors at a local park, I would mix in planks and push-ups between my kata sets - maybe two kata, then 10 push-ups, or 5 kata then 30 second plank. I also added a 10 minute run at the end on some days. Once home (about 5 - 10 minutes from the park) I'd finish with some bag work and some days add some dumbbell exercises.
One thing I don't do is static stretching - either before or after exercising. I'm sure I'd be more flexible if I did, since I used to when I was younger, but it's just not "my cup of tea" at this point.
This year one of my goals is to more systematically incorporate weight training as part of my karate training, as opposed to just doing periodically.
That's all for now!
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