Kyan on Teaching Karate

I continually find how interesting that so much that has been written is never discussed on the nets in today’s ‘enlightened’ world. Rereading “Motobu Choiki My Art” is just one example.  Consider how Kyan Chotoku described teaching karate on one Okinawan school, and then contrast that with modern karate practice. This is geared more towards beginner and beginning instruction. Clearly not so much what more advanced training would become.

 

From ‘Karate  Training & What to Know About Fighting” by Kyan Chotoku for the Okinawa-Prefectural School of Agriculture and Forestry. Translated into English by Patrick and Yuriko McCarthy (2001-2002)

From “Motobu Choiki Karate My Art” by Patrick and Yuriko McCarthy

 

What to Know About Training

 1.       Teaching should take place in the following order:

a.  It is important to explain what karate is and what karate is not.

b.   Then, what one should know about physical practice should follow this.

                        i.      Posturing,

                        ii.      Forward and backward foot movement should then come next/

                         iii.      Gradually evasiveness can be introduced.

                         iv.      Teaching how to use the clenched fists,

                         v.      Striking with the elbows,

 

                         vi.      And kicking with the feet

                         vii.      Along with deflection, trapping and blocking, follow this.

c. When these points are learned satisfactory, kata can then be taught.

d.   When one is proficient at kata sparring can be introduced.

 

2.       In the past, sparring was often dangerous because there was no protective equipment used.  Because of this, it has, therefore, become necessary to wear protection in key parts, of the body, like they do in bayonet training (Juken-jutsu). Using this kind of protection and rubber hand pads on the clenched first will help reduce potential injury associated with the practice

 

3.       Except for what I already mentioned above, and the use of a makiwra, there ‘s really no other special training equipment required to learn/teach karate. More ever, training partners and spacious facilities are not required, either. These are some of the advantages of learning/teaching karate.

 

For one thing the beginner faced far more training in karate technique prior to the commencement of kata training. And I would suspect those beginning studies were at greater depth into the art than what we would do today.

 

It is something to think about.