Derry NH to Buckeye AZ
Friday, June 30, 2017
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Using my time to work on a new idea.
Using my time to work on a new idea.
To start with I am using a variation
of a multiple striking drill I developed.
These drills are not intended to be
realistic fighting combinations, rather training tools to allow us to
understand how one movement can turn into a double of a triple strike. Each strike is done as real strike with power, but another strike
flows from the original. Originally I learned this which I believe may have
been an Indonesian principle applied to Shotokan training.
Then after several decades of
practice (and application use) I began to develop an Isshinryu version and
others. But there are always other potentials,
I have been fooling with these for a
while. More possibilities and the
training to realize their use. This is the basic series I developed.
Taking the open hand multiple
striking drill I developed and thinking about variations on the drill.
1.
Right spear hand strike to the solar plexus.
2.
Right back hand strike to the point between the eyes.
3.
Right descending knife hand strike on the inside of a striking arm.
4.
Right ascending base of thumb strike into the right side of the opponents neck.
5.
Right knife hand strike circles over the attacker’s head and strikes the knife
hand into left side of the opponents neck.
Or
1. Right spear hand
strike to the solar plexus.
2.
Right back hand strike to the point between the eyes.
3.
Right descending knife hand strike on the inside of a striking arm.
4.
Right ascending base of thumb strike into the right side of the opponents neck.
5.
Right ridge hand strike circles in front of the attacker’s head and strikes the
thumb side of the ridge hand into left side of the opponents neck.
Or
1. Right spear hand
strike to the solar plexus.
2.
Right back hand strike to the point between the eyes.
3.
Right descending knife hand strike on the inside of a striking arm.
4.
Right ascending knife hand strike into the right side of the opponents neck.
5.
Right ridge hand strike circles in front of the attacker’s head and strikes the
thumb side of the ridge hand into left side of the opponents neck.
Or
1. Right spear hand
strike to the solar plexus.
2.
Right back hand strike to the point between the eyes.
3.
Right descending knife hand strike on the inside of a striking arm.
4.
Right ascending knife hand strike into the right side of the opponents neck.
5. Right knife hand
strike circles over the attacker’s head and strikes the knife hand into left
side of the opponents neck.
There are so many other variations.
One strike might do what is necessary. This just offers the possibility that
one strike can be two strikes, etc.
Multiple Striking, layered striking
amd other possibilities.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
An ending, a beginning, everything changes.
There is much thought
put into the arts being classified, Internal or Externa. Or whether they are
Hard or Soft.
Having practiced Karate
and Yang Tai Chi for many years, I would like to offer an observation.
I don’t see
internal or external, just a totality most do not attempt to find. Neither Hard or Soft, totality. The internal should drive
the external without distinction to distract our action.
Whether the weather be fine,
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!
Or whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Or whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Moving, Disability and Right-Sizing my Kobudo Practice
The pod with our belongings moves out
today. We will be following in a week. It will have to be a quick trip, 4 of 4 ½
days at most, covering several thousand miles over the trip.
That and accepting the disabilities I
am dealing with makes decisions necessary.
1. Most of the Kobudo I
have studied and practice is beyond my capabilities.
2. I will no longer be instructing others.
2. I will no longer be instructing others.
3, There are limits to
the amount of things I can drag along with me.
4. The majority of my
personal kobudo gear had been bequeathed to Mike Cassidy to use with the
program as he sees fit. Other students
have been given other of my weapons. Hardest to put down were my bo’s and sai.
Sai being where my studies began with Charles Murray.
5. I have retained a
few things.
a. My knife collection goes with me. This also includes my
hand made Tecchu/Teko group. A single Tecchu/Teko will travel with me as well
as several small pocket knives.
b. My Tai Chi straight sword goes with me. Perhaps the most
difficult practice, with the many turns involved, but still I try.
c. The Mangi Sai Charles brought back from Okinawa is with
me.
d. The patterned rattan staff Cindy Robinson brought me
from Seattle.
e. A single wooden kama, created by a friend.
The Sai to hang on the
wall, my strength precludes any sai practice. The other weapons to use as I am
able.
My studies continue as
will whatever practice I can do. An example is I can see how to modify the kama
practice I created to a single kama and stick form. Something new. Various knife drills and several kata done
with tecchu/teko.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Once upon a time.
Back in the 1980s I studied many things
One of which was Nunchaku
However in time I put it aside,
Was not part of my Isshinryu.
And on the whole I did not care for the exercise.
Friday, June 16, 2017
When you only have one hand free
A favorite technique using only one arm for its execution.
I am being assisted by the late John Dinger.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Begining to End
It was 1985 when I began the program in Derry, NH.
I ceased teaching last year. The program is now run by Mike Cassidy and Young Lee.
But the last year I attended most classes helping when I could.
But all good things do come to an end,
Last night was my last night to attend class.
I am moving to Arizona come July.
It was way to hot and humid last night.
I was literally melting.
But here are a few photos of that night with students and fellow karate-ka.
So all good things come to an end.
And of course there is a new beginning.
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Kasumi-uchi The blinding attack
It is most useful to share further.
霞打ち（背手打ち）は本部御殿手でも使います。上原先生はよく「まず相手の目を狙え」と言っていました。霞打ちは取手とも親和性のある技ですね。
Kasumi-uchi
(Haishu-uchi) is also used in Motobu Udundi. Uehara sensei often used to say,
"Attack your opponent's eyes at first." Kasumi-uchi is a waza that
has an affinity for tuiti.
霞
is also used in the main palace of the headquarters. Dr. Uehara used to say " aim for the
opponent first. It is also a skill of 親和 and 取手.
Kasumi-uchi (Haishu-uchi) is also used in Motobu Udundi. Uehara sensei often used to say, "Attack your opponent's eyes at first." Kasumi-uchi is a waza that has an affinity for tuiti.
Kasumi-uchi (Haishu-uchi) is also used in Motobu Udundi. Uehara sensei often used to say, "Attack your opponent's eyes at first." Kasumi-uchi is a waza that has an affinity for tuiti.
Monday, June 12, 2017
Other Okinawan Traditions
When I have thought of
Okinawa as the home of Karate and Kobudo tradition, I have always relegated the
Okinawan people as not being part of the story. Karate did develop in the
aristocracy of the island for their own defense and as a class group practice.
Kobudo was found as
various village traditions, but the real weight of Okinawan existence was not
part of my thinking.
Recent photos I have
found suggest something else.
The Okinawan people
really did not have to go far to find individuals skilled in a variety of
practices, which would lend themselves for defense.
First were the variety
of local sumo (wrestling) traditions. They would have some use in self defense.
The other competitions between villages, boat races, rope pulling, etc. all
maintained traditions of keeping individuals fit and used to working together.
Then each home had
kama, the local tool for home gardening and readily available.
Where there were fishers, they were skilled at getting fish by spear. Personally I would think twice at facing such individuals.
Likewise there were a variety of tools used in agriculture which could also be used for self defense.
And not forget the bo, which seems was universally used for a variety of purposes.
Addition 2-7-2022
Chilly Wright
and the native predator the Habu snake in all it's variations . . . any critter having it's own museum on the island must have influenced the native powers of observation, the footwork, and the mindset over time. . . . . not to mention the tradition of powered habu venom - good for "push push"
Something to think about.