Inside this issue: The Honbu Dojo. KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO September 2007

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1 Inside this issue: Looking in from the outside - My first seminar with Vince Morris Sensei back it all up with theoretical knowledge and hands-on demonstrations. There s this old saying, be careful what you wish for, techniques. That particular day we worked with Kanku Dai (Kushanku). In the opening Vince Morris Seminar Denmark Report 1 Vince Morris Seminar Denmark 2 Sat-Nav KATA Bernie Heerey 3 Sat-Nav KATA Bernie Heerey 4 Internet Training - LETS Book Order Form 6 The Honbu Dojo The HQ Dojo holds regular daytime Kissaki Cardio Combat classes in addition to the regular Karate and Kobudo classes. The Dojo has an extra large training area, proper locker rooms with toilets and showers, a lounge area and also includes a large steam room for easing those aching bodies after training. Massage treatment facilities are also available. There is a children's room, lounge, viewing gallery, refreshment area and new office suites. Remember that the HQ Dojo will be delighted to welcome you for a visit & even stay in the Dojo to minimize expense. Just if you are interested in coming for a few days. We can usually meet you at Philly airport! Have a great family holiday here! 5 Saturday 15 th of September 2007, that s a day I will remember. That day I attended a seminar taught by Vince Morris sensei. I had read a couple of his books years ago, but not being a Shotokan student, and blinded by my own bigotry I decided that it was probably nothing to this guy. After all, he wasn t Japanese, and as we all know, if you don t have the right passport, your martial arts are rubbish But the years had passed, and finally I had learnt that knowledge and wisdom know no national boundaries. My years of dogma were finally over. So there I was, Saturday 15 th, not really knowing what to expect, but hoping to find someone who knew what he was talking about and could you may get it Well, I got it! Vince Morris sensei turned out to be a great martial artist and a great teacher. I could sense the maturity of his Karate, not just by what he taught, but mostly through his way of moving, smoothly and quickly, pushing against the floor, and his explosive and devastating movement of the kata, and its applications, he answered questions that had been poking at my mind for over 20 years. Every time I would ask my instructors about the opening movement of Kanku Dai. The answers would vary depending on the instructor. If he was Japanese, the answer would be kamae!, if he was

2 Page 2 a westerner, the answer would be: you are looking at the stars, or you are gathering Ki or something to that effect. Not this day. Not Saturday 15 th of September This day I was finally told that one recurring theme of Kanku Dai is unbalancing your opponent and positioning him where he can be hurt, and was shown how this ancient technique work. A wonderfully effective and devastating way of looking at the skies, don t you think? Time seemed to stop or to cease to exist. We worked intensively and with deep concentration. We were shown a sequence and paired off to try for ourselves, stopped for corrections, and paired off again, trapped in an exhilarating vortex of knowledge and energy. Makes you think! Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity. - Louis Pasteur I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use! - Galileo Galilei Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. - Martin Luther King Jr. A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both." - Dwight D. Eisenhower The unforgivable crime is soft hitting. Do not hit at all if it can be avoided; but never hit softly. ~ Theodore Roosevelt Opportunities multiply as they are seized. - Sun Tzu It was raw fun and motivating. Thanks to sensei, I had found my beginners mind again. After more than 20 years, the joy of discovering was rushing through my veins again. Within the frame of Kanku Dai, we worked with footwork, energy generation, controlling the opponent in such a way as to make him predictable (I definitely want to dig deeper on that one), distance or ma-ai, the use of stances, Kyusho Jutsu, mental attitude, etc. It was clear that a lifetime of studies was ahead of us, if we aspired to master these concepts. Another surprising thing was his age. I thought that Vince sensei was in his fifties. Everything about him spoke of martial maturity and physical ability, his physical appearance, the way he moved, etc. Imagine my astonishment when he said that he was 63 years old! That gave me something to think about. I have just turned forty, with all the anxiety that figure brings to us aging martial artists. Will I be able to keep up my training? Will my abilities start to diminish? Will I stop developing as a martial artist? Well let s put it this way. I would be very, very happy, if I could move at forty, the way Vince sensei moves at 63!! So from now on, my training is all about moving like a 63 year old! Jorge F. Garibaldi Ten Chi Jin Martial Arts Academy Århus, Denmark. Comment Jorge s remarks about why he hadn t attended any seminars before, are worth noting. It is quite common for students in a particular Ryu to develop the belief that their way is the best and that they can learn nothing from other systems or instructors. Indeed, some style groups and sensei even attempt to ban their students from attending seminars given by instructors from other groups. There is no valid reason for this arrogance! Master Funakoshi himself was at length to praise his teachers, masters Azato and Itosu for encouraging him to seek out instruction from acknowledged masters in order to enhance his knowledge and experience. In a free society, it is unacceptable that some sensei act like petty dictators. Students should actively seek out knowledge - not blindly - but with an open mind and the concomitant toolset of logic and common-sense. It can only benefit the school if some students advance their knowledge then, in turn, pass it on in their own Dojo.

3 Page 3 Kata The Sat Nav for Real Karate - Bernie Heerey 5th Dan Hi there fellow Karateka. Are you familiar with the current marvels of navigation technology? The Tomtom, the Garmin etc. Well I would like here to focus your attention on Real Karate s very own Sat Nav Kata. Kata in its various forms has always been an important part of the martial arts. Many of the original Kata have also been with us for a very long time now. They have been much used and miss-used for probably almost as long! At last though, the light of truth is beginning to brightly shine and illuminate the areas of uninformed darkness that Kata once resided in. Confusion unfortunately still lurks in the minds of some Martial artists however. Kata Bunkai is still being misunderstood, ignored or inefficiently interpreted, taught and applied. Perhaps it s through the lack of an accurate Kata Instruction manual. Confusion can very easily lead to misunderstanding or worse still Self-defence techniques being taught and practiced without the use of proven combat principles, resulting in inappropriate or even the ineffective application of Kata Bunkai and techniques R.I.P Responses - Instincts - Principles SELF PROTECTION CONTROL (AVOID OR ESCAPE THREAT OR ATTACK) THREAT AWARENESS LEVEL REACTION GAP RESPONSES ACTION REACTION INSTINCT BASED THE FENCE PREY INTO RESPONSES PREDATOR PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES TECHNIQUES TECHNIQUES CONCEPTS OF KATA BUNKAI

4 Page 4 Meet R.I.P. I love the use of Cryptic and double meaning symbolic words (acronyms) such as this one. I sometimes use R.I.P as my starting point in describing the basic navigation and understanding of Kata Bunkai and its relationship to real self-defence. Get self-defence wrong and R.I.P (Rest In Peace) is possibly where you could end up! THE CONCEPTS OF KATA BUNKAI In the context being used here however, it stands for Responses, Instincts and Principles. The flow chart shown is a sort of real karate self-defence Sat Nav, a map if you like. It provides an important starting point from which you can more easily achieve the required understanding necessary to decode and correctly apply Kata Bunkai and Martial arts for the real world. The instruction manual in fact! The chart illustrates the positions, routes and the relationships between the various vital key points. The elements in red are quite simply the essentials that I consider you need to fully understand if you are to end up with truly effective real self-defence, whatever your martial art may be. You will notice how the concepts of Kata Bunkai lay at the base of the chart. Kata Bunkai supports and contains everything that is shown in the chart above it. Clearly space here doesn t allow me to expand on each and every area and principle referred to in the chart, but it should help you to identify, define and clarify all the ingredients required to develop truly effective self-defence. You can clearly see the destinations and the journey through the various roads and landmarks that will lead you to real karate self-defence based on Kata that we all know and love! The Kata themselves are at the heart of what we do and will give you all you will ever need to develop a strong and effective martial art for the real world - Providing of course that you really do understand the language of Kata, its principles and its objective. Below I have listed my own Ten concepts of Kata Bunkai which serves as a very effective reference source to ensure I always arrive at consistent, appropriate and truly effective self-defence techniques from Kata Bunkai and my martial arts for the real world training. Ten Concepts of Kata Bunkai Each individual Kata is a complete self - defence system in its own right against The Common Acts of Civilian Violence (Know your enemy!). Kata Bunkai is always Fast, Simple & Effective (As defined in my article; The Principles of Self-Defence). Kata Bunkai always makes use of the natural instinctive Reaction responses (Flinch reflex) that we all possess (see The KatoTest - Trad Karate article). Kata Bunkai makes use of the five elements of combat Striking, Grappling, Throwing, Locking & Strangles. Kata Bunkai always has the potential to end any common civilian act of violence or threat instantly using the minimum number of techniques (a built in redundancy of techniques) Kata Bunkai always uses, and correctly applies The Rules of Combat (In Particular: Awareness, Control the Distance, Always Distract, and Unbalance & Control your attacker Kata Bunkai always uses the Vital Points of the body. Kata Bunkai understands, and uses, the Predictable responses of the body to its Individual Bunkai techniques (For example; Hit the lung 5 point correctly and the head automatically drops into the ideal position for the Kata Bunkai follow up technique). Kata Bunkai is always effective in Real situations (Non compliant! Pressure test all your self-defence techniques thoroughly). Each Individual Kata Bunkai Shape is flexible enough to be used effectively against a number of different common civilian acts of violence (The minimum number of techniques being able to deal with the maximum number of different attacks).

5 5 KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO Kissaki-Kai Karate Marlton Professional Arts Building 55 Route 70 East & Maple Ave Marlton, New Jersey USA Phone: Fax: When shall we live, if not now? -- Seneca Forthcoming Vince Morris Seminars Ireland Seminar 27 th and 28 th October 2007 Practical Karate for Self Protection and Kissakikai-Kai Karate Introduction with Sensei Vince Morris. (Chief Instr. From Hong Kong, Andrew Paul 7th Dan will also attend). Aileach Youth and Community Centre, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal, Ireland. NEW - COMING SOON - Personal Training with Sensei Vince by Internet! Later this year, registered Kissaki members will be able to sign up for monthly, downloadable, minute training videos. Students and Instructors alike will benefit from the clarity and detailed nature of the content, which will clearly show how the Rules of Combat, for example, should be applied to ensure effective techniques. All students should attend training seminars with Sensei Vince, but this will be an opportunity to watch him demonstrate principles and defensive waza, in great detail, over and over again so you can check each step of the way. This will be an inexpensive way to build up a collection of personal training sessions with Sensei. Each monthly video will be freshly shot and will cover a specific area of training in the 5 levels (Atemi-waza, Shime-waza, Ne-waza, Nagewaza & Kansetsu-waza) plus tips on training for speed and power, the Kansetsu-waza Kata and the counters, using the vital points, strength and stamina training. Now ALL Kissaki members can get regular access to some of the best training in the world! WATCH THIS SPACE! The NEW LETS Defensive Tactics Training Manual Details from Gerry Smullen or from the Kissaki web site: The new LETS Defensive Tactics Training Manual is now available! Designed as a workbook of a 5-day course for both students and trainers, the manual presents a series of scenarios and tactical responses to enhance officer protection and control. Covering armed aggression and hostage situations, this book is an invaluable asset to anyone - instructor and student alike! Based upon field-tested techniques and tactics! Order today - $35. ( 18, 25.) plus postage.

6 Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do Newsletter Item Description September 2007 Order form - Books and DVDs Page 6 No of items $ Total LETS Defensive Tactics Manual Kyusho Secrets II Book Rules of Combat Book Tekki Shodan DVD Course book for trainers and students in all aspects of control and defense 118 pages, coil bound. Now 240 pages, extra chapters, Principles of Combat, point charts, kata bunkai etc. The development of warrior tactics! For all those who need to really understand the basis of survival in combat! Filmed at seminars in the UK, Canada, and USA this video/dvd offers an insight into the powerful defensive kata Tekki Shodan Bassai Dai DVD Showing major bunkai & principles of the kata Nijushiho DVD Showing major bunkai & principles of the kata Empi DVD Showing major bunkai & principles of the kata Extreme Self-Defence - Paladin Video Focusing on firearm and edged weapon defenses. Only available in VHS video format Rules of Combat DVD How adding the rules makes techniques far more effective Kanku Dai DVD Showing major bunkai & principles of the kata Aragaki Seisan DVD The full kata, major bunkai & principles Manstoppers DVD A collection of guaranteed manstopping techniques plus gun & knife defense Cop Combat DVD The latest video from Police Academy - real combat training Hostage Defense DVD Covers firearm and knife defenses from hostage situation. Police training Martial Mind DVD Deals with fear, increasing speed & power, the martial way, meditation Bunkai Sampler 1&2 double DVD Bunkai Sampler 4&5 double DVD No1: The truth about blocks, covers many of the Heian kata. No2: More background with examples from Unsu, Gankaku etc. No4:The Ura (secret) bunkai to Tekki (Naihanshi), Meikyo and others. No5: Covers Flinch reflex, bunkai from Heians, Empi etc Thigh Pad x1 Thigh pads are essential for realistic training! Thigh Pads (pair) Buying a set will save you and your partner precious time Total Please add postage cost for postal/cheque orders only 2 $3 3 UK Address: Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do, c/o John Barker, 18 Victoria Street, South Normanton, DE55 2BX, info@kissaki-kai.com, UK Payment: By cheque (payable to PBS) or by credit card or PayPal account on our secure online shop at USA Address: Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do, 9 Brandywine Drive, Marlton, NJ 08053, info@kissaki-kai.com USA Payment: by check (payable to Kissaki Kai) or by credit card or PayPal account on our secure online shop at If not specified, we will send you a DVD. Please let us know if you wish to receive PAL or NTSC format, or a VHS tape instead. Due to the exchange rate $ prices have been adjusted and non - prices at the online shop may vary slightly in line with currency fluctuations. Your Address: