Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do Newsletter

Transcription

1 KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO December 2005 Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do Newsletter Inside this issue: Real Karate3 1 St. Lucia seminars 2 St. Lucia seminars 3 Discussion Points & Distance Learning Where have you been? & Seminars Order Form 6 Visit the USA Dojo in 2006 Why not think about coming to the USA next year to spend a few days training in the Honbu Dojo and taking time for sightseeing and shopping in New York & Philadelphia! Flights can be very inexpensive and if you wish you can live in the Dojo to save on expenses. Come as a group with friends & family - dojo members - we will be delighted to see you and you will find a warm welcome from all the Honbu Dojo members. There will also be a 3 day summer Camp in Ghent, scheduled for August 25th, 26th & 27th. This is always a terrific event for everyone, and a great opportunity to see a little of Europe. Finally, there will also be a USA Summer Camp, details to be announced later. 4 5 Real Karate As most readers will be aware, one of the strengths of Kissaki-Kai lies in the fact that - unlike many styles - the techniques which are taught as Kata Bunkai are not simply arrived at through a system of style-determined reverse engineering or ad-lib application of ill-conceived imagination. Indeed, the waza are arrived at through a consideration of the historical derivation, plus the integration of the Rules of Combat without which any technique runs the risk of being Dojo-centric rather than street appropriate. Further confirmation of the effectiveness of these Kata-derived defensive techniques can be judged from the responses from the many Law Enforcement Officers we have trained over a 12 year period. The country of Belgium has now changed the basic Officer Training Manual to incorporate methods and tactics which Kissaki s Officer Training arm (Law Enforcement Training Services Int.) introduced in its regular Police Academy Training under the direction of Inspector Peter Anken. Over the years, LETS has gained a considerable reputation with Police and Special Forces in different countries. We have, none-the-less, had our detractors. Recently, writing on a web journal which I am sure the writer did not know I had access to, a certain expert claimed that Kissaki techniques Did not work. A number of other calumnies accompanied this condemnation, but when - quite reasonably - asked by me to invite me to his Dojo so we could pursue the matter of what works or not, the expert declined, stating that anyway, he was more concerned with learning Bunkai for reasons aesthetic rather than pragmatic! Police Academy Training Unfortunately, there are many armchair warriors who feel secure at the keyboard but not face-to -face with the realities of life. More unfortunate is the fact that they have students who trust them and believe that what they purport to teach as karate is an effective self-defense. People like this do a disservice to all martial artists and give Karate a bad name! Another nail in the coffin of this gentleman s premise can be seen by the vast number of letters of appreciation and endorsement we have received over the years, including those from ex- White House advisors & Police Chiefs to Cops who have relied upon our train-

2 KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO December 2005 Page 2 ing to save their lives! I am proud to say that over the years Kissaki & LETS has been able to contribute in a small way towards making society safer, both for the Law Enforcement Agencies and for members of the public. In my opinion we are acting as serious martial artists should, in serving our fellow men as best we can & promoting Truth and Justice. Kissaki Kai students and teachers can rest assured, that, unlike some, it is vitally impor- Karate is a form of martial arts in which people who have had years and years of training can, using only their hands and feet, make some of the worst movies in the history of the world. Dave Barry You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do. Gichin Funakoshi "Follow not in the footsteps of the masters, but rather seek what they sought" Anon Only a warrior chooses Pacifism, others are condemned to it! Anon tant that our training really is firmly based upon the bedrock of reality, not the pseudo world of the wannabee! St. Lucia Training The following short article gives a brief insight into the real world where martial skills actually get used on a daily basis. Through our Hong Kong chief instructor Andrew Paul, LETS was approached by Mr. Anthony Bristol on the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia to provide a series of training classes for a number of the Island s Police and Security agencies, including Special Patrol Squad, Drug Enforcement Officers, Armored Car Personnel, regular Police Officers, Special Branch and Bodyguards. The large numbers involved required that as well as Vince, Andrew Paul came from Hong Kong and Steve Montgomery came from the USA. The week of training was also aided by support from local hoteliers in Castries, especially the Coco Palm who provided accommodation at subsidized rates for the instructors. The first thing to say is that the Island is beautiful with sub-tropical flora and fauna, and the people are very friendly. St. Lucia one of the Windward Isles Coming from a very cold and snowy New Jersey, the weather was not bad either! There was no time to enjoy the scenery, however, as we arrived Saturday evening and began at once visiting the security company to familiarize ourselves with weapons & procedures for the class on the Sunday. Each day following, we were presented with a different group of trainees, who, although having basic training in Police procedure, were seen by the public (& the authorities it has to be said) as relying too much upon the fact that they were always armed. There was a definite impression that they far too frequently were forced to deploy a deadly force weapon, because they lacked essential methods of unarmed control and arrest. The commissioner himself, Mr. Ausbert Regis who visited our training sessions, went on public television (we were the major featured segment on the Island s News) to confirm that they valued the training as it made officers more professional & confident and less likely to use weapons in inappropriate situations. The immediate problem when facing groups of professionals is overcoming initial cynicism, so we were at lengths to state that we were there to help not to tell them that they had to unlearn what they already did well. However, it was soon apparent that there was a lack of arrest and control skills in a variety of scenarios, and very soon they were fully aware of how quickly

3 KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO December 2005 Page 3 and effectively the techniques we taught could enforce compliance. Our particular methods always bear in mind the image of the Police Officer which is perceived by members of the public. Therefore, we concentrate on methods which gain immediate compliance but without appearing overly aggressive. Luckily, the classes invariably contained some very large, fit, bodybuilders, who had some of the group in awe by their very size and strength. These officers were like magnets to Vince, Steve & Andrew, and very shortly all the participants were convinced of the effectiveness of the techniques, even against such well-muscled assailants. The training began by establishing correct approach procedures which maintained a safe distance between the officer and suspect whilst always protecting the officer s firearm. It was continually necessary to emphasize that at close range, it was often unwise for the officer to rely upon his firearm as he or she would never have time to deploy it successfully before being assaulted. This is when empty hand skills are required, especially when the suspect may attempt to seize the officer s weapon. A variety of methods were taught, each of which re-enforced the principles of combat, starting from awareness & perception of the situation, correct distancing, threat recognition, and appropriate response on the Use of Force continuum. firearms practice with Anthony Bristol, who took them through their paces in the most beautiful outdoor range on the planet. Each passed the Police Standards shooting tests, with Steve Montgomery coming out top (he has longer arms & is therefore nearer to the target according to Vince) with Andrew a close second & Vince showing his great humility by electing to come last! Long-arm Steve The training was a great TV News success. The forthcoming Cricket World Cup will be focusing media attention on the Island, and without exception, each department voiced their appreciation and discussions are now proceeding to set up a series of return visits to train the trainers & select officers with a view to establishing LETS methods as part of the regular training for the Island s Law Enforcement Officers. Steve & one of the big guys. In addition, the three instructors took the opportunity to get in some A BIG thank you to all who helped in this venture!

4 Page 4 Discussion Point The translation of Sensei is usually given as Teacher and is a term redolent with respect. However, more literally it means One who has gone before it does not signify that every teacher automatically knows the answer to every question nor does he or she know every martial technique nor the meaning of every Kata movement and so on. There frequently comes a time when a student realizes that instructor - for one reason or another - is not knowledgeable or perhaps skilful enough in a specific area - to give the student what is necessary for continual progress. Master Funakoshi was lavish in his praise of his two main sensei (Masters Azato and Itosu) because they encouraged their young student to seek the help of other teachers who had more skill or expertise in particular areas of the martial arts. At the same time in his autobiography, Master Funakoshi condemns all sensei who refuse to allow their students to train with others; seeing this as a mark of inferior confidence and ability. In my own case, I was fortunate enough to be encouraged by Mr. Asano to train with other sensei, not simply within the style (i.e. Master Kanazawa, Ochi, Nagai, Enoeda, Takahashi, Mura et.al) but he sent me to train with others too (Master Kanetsuka of Aiki- Kai for example) and he supported the practice of training in other karate styles (with Master Keiji Tomiyama in Tani Ha Shito Ryu for example). Thus encouraged, I invited other foremost exponents to visit my Dojo and give instruction, frequently stepping out of style considerations, as for example, getting visits from such luminaries as Ticky Donovan, recognized as the world s foremost Sport Karate coach. Now, when a student begins to realize the limitations of the sensei KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO December 2005 in one or another areas, two things can happen. One beneficial to both parties, and the alternative detrimental. A good student in a good Dojo will be encouraged by the sensei to go out and learn from others, and then bring that knowledge back to the Dojo so that others can also benefit from the influx of information and techniques. This is truly a family group of martial artists, intent on continually raising the standard of their training. Conversely, a bad student will simply turn his or her back on the Sensei & Dojo which has brought them so far along the path and go to the next Dojo & sensei until the student feels that it is time to start being a sensei and teach his or her own students. Unfortunately, in my experience there are more of the latter students than the former, as Ego is a very effective motivator! Unless the sensei is the cause of the parting of the ways by an intransigent and egoistic attitude, it is seldom the case that students who break away are motivated by anything other than Ego. Most leave well before they have gained as much knowledge as the sensei has, and they lack humility and Giri (obligation - Duty) to the sensei and Dojo. If it is the case that the student breaking away knows less than the sensei, then this downward spiral of knowledge and skill will be perpetuated every step of the way, as in turn, he or she will be abandoned by the next discontented student, and so on. Naturally, we all have opinions, and we all have beliefs. However, rigidity in either is not the characteristic of an intelligent student. Both, I suggest, will change over time and with experience. Duty, however, is not something we put on and take off like a pair of socks! We have an obligation to consider others, and - at least in my opinion - Kissaki-Kai is very much family orientated, with each of us concerned with the welfare of other members. So, students, remember that all we sensei are just fallible human beings, who do not know everything. However we in turn have to remember to be honest with our students and encourage them to seek the knowledge that they require wherever it can be found. The old Zen adage that I am fond of quoting is very apt: If you meet Buddha on the path - Kill Him! Meaning, become knowledgeable enough to become your own Buddha (sensei). But that also implies assuming the responsibilities of a Buddha / sensei, and bring the knowledge back to pass on to others who are walking alongside you! Distance Learning We seldom have the opportunity of training with our Chief Sensei on a regular basis, yet we want to progress in and improve our techniques and not waste time going through them again because we have forgotten the material or are rusty at practicing it. Video is the answer you say. But if you have a video camera and are constantly behind the lens filming what is going on during the session, you will miss out on the training because you are concentrating on keeping the camera still. This means also spending valuable minutes picking up what you have just filmed, whilst everyone else managed to catch the details when they were shown live. If you don t worry about filming the session you will probably like me do a goldfish and have problems remembering the details from the minute you leave the dojo. What I found helpful here is simply writing the techniques down: Preferably in the break or at least after the session. The best thing is to get together with a friend who has also attended, (two brains are better than one!) and piece the session together on the way home. Don t quickly scribble punch, mawashi uke, kick as that will mean nothing to you after a few months. Describe the techniques in detail, for example: Attack: Right hand straight punch, Defence: Mawashi uke with tai sabaki to right, right leg kick mae geri to opponent s left leg above knee (Spleen 10). This of course can be abbreviated to something like: Att: RH straight punch. Def: Mawashi uke & tai sab to R, RL mae geri to opp s RL (SP10). Eva This saves time and is still just as specific (as long as you remember your own code/abbreviations). Also keep notes of generic advice like: keep supporting leg bent when kicking at the bottom of the page, separate from the rest. Reference your notes with the date and maybe a heading like Kata X bunkai. Next, you will have to keep your knowledge alive until the next session. For this I would suggest that you train the techniques at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 15 minutes. Keep this up for a number of weeks until you don t have to remember and relearn the combinations, bunkai or Kata. If your busy life keeps you from doing this month after month (as mine does only too often), you can start cramming a few weeks before your next session: I found it takes at least 2-3 weeks on a 3- times-a-week schedule to get back to a convincing standard. By now I have an entire folder full of notes and keep surprising myself with what I (should!) know, but am often able to re-create from the notes. It s worth it! Eva Bayerlein 3rd Dan Kissaki Kai Licenses Please note! There are big changes occurring in the governing body of UK karate & it is VITAL that ALL students & instructors have a current license & insurance cover!

5 Page 5 KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO Kissaki-Kai Karate Marlton Professional Arts Building 55 Route 70 East & Maple Ave Marlton, New Jersey USA Phone: Fax: kissaki@comcast.net "Learn as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow." -- Gandhi Forthcoming Seminars USA January 21st 2006 Bassai Karate Academy Contact: Jerry Bomay / Anna Paul: apaul@riverview.net 490 Quarterline SE Newaygo, MI phone (231) There will be a Black Belt test at the UK seminar to be held in February Details follow. Where have you been? The 1992 movie A League of Their Own was about the inception of women s professional baseball during World War II. The movie starred Tom Hanks as Manager Jimmy Duggan, a cynical former major leaguer, and Geena Davis as Dottie Hinson, the new league s best player. Near the end of the film, Dottie tells Jimmy that she is leaving the team. It just got too hard! she says. Jimmy squints at her and replies It s supposed to be hard. Hard is what makes it GREAT! If you re an active martial artist, you know just what Dottie meant. It IS hard being a martial artist. Two or three times a week you re either wolfing down a thrown-together dinner before class or eating after 10PM. You constantly have aches and pains to deal with and are forever explaining just what those multicolor bruises on your arms and legs are from. Then there s that comfy couch that temps you to doze off for the night instead of train. And all of those are compounded by demands of children and significant others, work responsibilities and other interests that we all have! But as Jimmy Duggan so eloquently stated, hard IS what makes it great! There s a camaraderie that you ve developed with the people that you train with, you fight with and you sweat with. There s the thrill of victory and an agony of defeat that you feel 25 times a night that makes you push just a little bit harder so that you feel more victories and fewer defeats. And each time a particular drill or Kata or match ends, you catch your breath and feel a rush that no stair climber or set of dumbbells can equal. At the end of the class you know that you ve left everything on the floor. You re tired but feeling great because you ve not only improved your health in ways nothing else can, but you ve also increased your knowledge, grew your self confidence and deepened friendships. Yes it is hard but yes it is great. And what about Dottie? Well, she did return to finish the season, but then retired to a farm. Years later, she returned for a ceremony to induct her and her fellow teammates into the Baseball Hall of Fame. As she sat there watching them all still play the game that she loved but gave up on, she realized just how much she missed it all even the hard parts. Don t let that be you! If you re not actively training, get back TODAY! You worked too hard to lose that great feeling! - Marty Birmingham 5th Dan Honbu Dojo USA Canada April 1st & 2nd Seminar in Montreal. Contact:Jean Frenette for details:phone: kokoro@videotron.ca Video Reviews Bassai Dai - The Kata & Essential Bunkai Further seminar information will be posted on the new web site which should be up and running again in the next couple of weeks. May we wish you all the very happiest of holidays, with time to share with family and friends. I just watched your new DVD, "Bassai-Dai". As usual, the only criticism I ever have about your tapes/dvds is that at some point it ends. I just wish it would go on for hours. It was great. My style, Shorin Ryu, does the Kata a little bit different than Shotokan, but close enough that I understood what was going on. The bunkai was fantastic. When I watch your stuff, it is like a veil removed from my eyes when I see realistic applications for the moves. (unsolicited testimonial from purchaser.)

6 Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do Newsletter December 2005 UK Address: Po Box 17, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 4BY Phone: USA Address: Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do, Marlton Professional Arts Bldg. Route 70 East & Maple Ave, Marlton NJ Phone Page 6 Order Form Books Videos & DVDs $/ No You can order by mail or by with a credit card. The amount will be deducted in US $ of items Zanshin Indispensible reading for all who want to integrate body & mind Kyusho Secrets II* Book Now 240 pages, extra chapters, Principles of combat, point charts, Kata bunkai etc Rules of Combat Book The development of Warrior Tactics! For all who need to really understand the basis for survival in combat! Videos & DVD s (* denotes DVD available) Bassai Dai Video/DVD Latest seminar showing major bunkai & principles of Bass Dai Nijushiho Video/DVD The new video/dvd showing the major bunkai from the Kata Extreme Self-Defense Paladin Video The video from Paladin - firearm & edged weapon defenses Empi video/dvd The major techniques of the Kata Hostage Defence video/dvd Covers firearm & Knife defences from hostage situation. Police Training Bunkai Sampler 5 Latest video, covers Flinch reflex, bunkai from Heians, Empi etc Kissaki-Kai Karate Introducing essential Kissaki concepts & bunkai training Seminar Sampler 1 Includes the truth about blocks, covers many of the Heian Kata Seminar Sampler 2 Background with examples from many Kata including Unsu, Gankaku etc Martial Mind video/dvd Deals with fear, increasing speed & power, the martial way, meditation Seminar Sampler 4 The Ura (secret) bunkai to Tekki (Naihanchi), Meikyo and others Cop Combat video/dvd The latest video from Police Academy - real combat training Kanku-Dai video/dvd Shows the Kata and the Ura bunkai to the major techniques Manstoppers video/dvd A collection of guaranteed manstopping techniques plus gun & knife defence Aragaki Seisan video The full Kata, bunkai and essential combat principles Rules of Combat video/dvd How adding the rules makes technique far more effective! TOTAL European orders payable to PBS. However they can also be ordered and paid for by credit card via the US kissaki@comcast.net. Payment deducted in US dollars. Most items posted from Europe. Rest of world via US. $/ Items Make Payable to: PBS (Euro.) Kissaki (USA) (add $3 / 2 P&P) Europe. UK - PBS. PO Box 17, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 4BY England USA - Kissaki-kai. 9 Brandywine Drive, Marlton, NJ USA Orders can be mailed to these addresses.