Thursday, May 16, 2024

An older discussion about the Worth of Kata study

 An open discussion from long ago regarding the worth of kata. Many point of view were discussed. In a sense this shows how open discussions were held about almost everything.

Such discussions allowed on to consider other views.

A very intelligent discussion of why to strike 22 different points/locations of the body comes very near to the end.

I always learned a great deal from such discussions about how others think,

 


 
Jeff Sullens
Quick question as many if you have trained longer than me. My student Mike who teaches Muay Thai and BJJ. He expressed today that he feels frustrated by Goju Ryu. He likes applications a great deal but kata and stances he does not get. Any advice on how to address his frustration?

Kevin Canan
Perform kata 1000 times and the answer will come to you.

James Panjiewicz  Keep training and researching - there's excellent stuff out there now

Kurt Huber He doesn't understand (or refuses to) the reasoning behind "standing still" in a stance or moving from one to the other and why. Kata is frustrating to him as he believes it serves "no purpose for fighting", am I correct in this assumption? When it came to stances, I was taught the half moon, in, together, half moon then root all the while keeping the head and shoulders perfectly level. If your student is watching the head, shoulders or chest he may be surprised as to how you can move in on him without him really noticing it, as well as the solid foundation, hip rotation and how just a turning in or out of the foot makes a drastic difference when executing a kick. It also teaches muscle memory.I have had many MMA guys laugh at me and then when I have trained with them they really changed their tune and low and behold they would wind up in a kiba dachi doing punches while trying to keep their shoulders level and it would frustrate them to no end why they couldn't do it which made them try even harder. Once they began learning the basics and struggled with them endlessly they would begin to respect karatedo more and more and it gave many of them a solid foundation as well as even more powerful kicks, punches and throws from just being fluid. As for kata, I hated it too when I was a kid and a pre teen. It really wasn't until I was well into my 20's that I really wished I had spent more time training in kata. Explain verbally then demonstrate the effectiveness of kata, chances are the history and lineage are of no importance to him. Take maybe the Pinan Nidan kata and tear it down for him and show him bunkai for it, he will open his eyes up and hopefully see with his mind too the purpose of kata. I could go on with a 5,000 word essay on this for you but these are just a few things I have had to do when training "fighters".

Kevin Cancan
Karate isn't for everyone, due to so much of it was and still is secret or some what hidden. It appears he wants instant answers, I have run into this myself in the past. Some people just don't get it, that's their problem and you can't fix it for them.

David Erier I'm sure as a beginner there are a lot of things that he doesn't get. That's why it is an education. He must train his stances to failure when he can hold for about three to five minutes then start to pressure his position. And check his root. The purpose if stance varies and they explaination does as well. In the way I was taught they teach you to be sure footed and able to hit hard be in moveable at times or take the lead thru faster footwork. Also the holding till failure teaches about pain. I can remember classes that Sensei taught that made hold stance until it was very difficult to stand to bow out of class and the next am I was unable to just get out of bed I had to so the stretching before I cloud swing my legs off my futan and stand up it would hurt to walk to the shower but fifteen minutes of hot water and your walkin funny. But the black belts that were really good would handle it. The nights that we did the iron body were brutal I would be black and blue for day from getting hit while standing in Form. It was bad form to "give" while being struck. But I'm glad I did it now. I have seen many a student that has no concept of why, but here is the funny thing that asked you to teach them and if they are puzzled by its purpose they have not learned it wisdom and seen its tooling that takes time. There is no magic bean you have to sweat and bleed to know

David Erier  The time of holding that I spoke if was just the start shodan should be able to hold a posture for a minimum of fifteen minutes and get kick or punched by one of the other students breathing is key and so is letting go in the mind

Cheyenne Walker Karate is kata. He needs to spend more time practicing to gain understanding. He couldn't pull off an armbar properly after one BJJ class, he shouldn't expect to learn karate overnight either.

Kurt Huber Also, try to instill the mindset that in order to fill his cup, he must first empty it! I have trained in Japanese karate and now in Okinawan karate. They aren't the same. There are many differences but to the novice it looks the same. If he is great in Muay Thai that is wonderful, but the execution of the punches and the kicks are much different. Once he is proficient in the execution of mae geri from zenkutsu dachi, move on to yoko geri all the while trying not to bob up and down, once he sees for himself that it is helping what he already thought he knew, he will (in my experience) become addicted to perfecting what he is being taught. Karatedo is not about fighting or seeing and proving who is tougher, it is an art, (do) = way. Just as a guy who bracket races may have a fast car and know the basics of the launch off of the line and keeping it between the lines, he gets beat every time. It is the finesse, the little things, the tweaks, the intricate knowledge of his entire car that will make him start winning. It looks easy but it never means that it is. Kata is the way he can begin start fine tuning himself, he should be able to feel if what he is doing it correctly.

Kevin Aldridge I haven't trained for as long as a lot of people on this page, but I do like to cross train a lot.

People like different things, people dislike things. He has shown you a great deal of respect by trying to learn Goju in addition to his MT and BJJ, don't turn around and say everything he knows is wrong or that he must do things the Goju way. Accept what he does as equal but different.

Try to focus on the similarities, and try to do things by principle rather than wrote style. If you run into something that is different, take a step back and ask yourself "why?". Chances are the difference is minor and comes from a change in assumptions rather than a difference in goals.

A lot of people here are going to treat him as a complete beginner, but this will be a good way to put him off Goju. There's no good reason he shouldn't be able to bring most of his MT/BJJ skills into Goju.

People tend to make kata something different than what it is. If you tell him it's technical shadow sparring, and that correct form is more important than correct pattern he might be a bit more comfortable.

David Oddy Seems to me that if someone likes the applications but not the kata then you need to figure out a better way to show and demonstrate how they work together as part of the same study.

Paul Enfield Well, kata's bullshit generally.

Ichi Ekolu  He's feeling competitive. Kata is competing against one's own perfection. No trophies for that.

Tim Bend a great deal of goju can be found in a blend of both of his other styles. The deflection and control of limbs from BJJ along with the close in powerful strikes with elbows, forearms, knees, and even shins found in muay thai can all be found in Goju. It's hard to give any kind of advice though, without being able to speak to him and try and get a gauge on what is frustrating him. Maybe have him work on a few kata, with the goal of finding the techniques of his other styles in them, and see if he can have an 'ah ha' moment. Otherwise, I have nothing to give Shaun Emery Kata was meant as a tool to pass along an art that was meant to defend oneself against an untrained attacker. Problem is most people use the application of said kata against a karate attack and it loses its meaning and usually looks ridiculous.

Brad Nickerson
Teach him to recognize opportunities as they arise, then the stances and bunkai will make sense.

Robert Rivers
Don't do goju.

Alex Schaub I'm probably going to be the voice of dissension here and argue that this student will continue to struggle with Goju-ryu so long as he considers it to supplement his current training regiment. As long as that is his training mindset, Muay Thai will be the base of his striking.

Applications are more universal across styles than movement patterns. For example, slipping to the outside of an opponent's straight punch and throwing a counter punch to the temple or to the liver is effective regardless of your style, but the way a karateka executes that punch will be different than how a Western boxer would.

Your style sets the foundation for how you move. Kata helps lay this foundation for a karateka. I advise people against cross training styles where there significant differences in fundamental movements for this reason. I myself have run into this. I train Isshinryu primarily. I know some excellent Muay Thai coaches and some excellent Western style Kickboxing coaches. I can't train with the Western style coaches because their footwork is so fundamentally different from my Isshinryu that I spend more time training against my foundation than learning the meat of a lesson. I can work with most Muay Thai coaches fine though because the differences only require minor adjustments (most of which can be situational anyway).

For your student in question, my gut feeling is that his real struggle is in the fundamental movement differences between Goju-ryu and Muay Thai, and that kata and kihon training are bringing these movement differences to the forefront.

For ways to bridge the gap for him, think of how movements in kata carryover to BJJ or MT. For example, front kick from cat stance trains kicking off the front leg with weight shifting to make it successful. The Muay Thai teep off the front leg uses the same basic weight shift, the cat stance is just how the Okinawans taught it to ingrain the weight shift. Or, the way most forms of karate turn the feet inward in Naihanchi Shodan for foundation is similar to how a BJJ practitioner chalks his feet to reinforce certain positions.

Hope this helps!

Robert Rivers Your friend is not going to be reprogrammed... It sounds like he is happy doing what he is doing.

Without sounding like a jerk, what he needs to do is spar with someone at Okinawan irikumi who does goju Ryu and get his bell rung a few times. Then he'll be able to ask how that happened and be inclined to want to learn the methodology. Otherwise, there's no point. Why study an art you don't enjoy. Why would he have to be convinced to study another art. Why would an Okinawan karate teacher bother with trying to persuade someone to do something they don't want to do. Emptying your cup does not mean "ok, I guess I'll try it..."

Garry Parker ^^^ What he said.

Shaun Emery Robert Rivers - well said.

Jim Alexander One doesn't study piano, and then complain it doesn't sound like a violin.

He wants to write a book, but doesn't want to learn the alphabet or grammar. Have the courage to tell him, he'd be better off being a success somewhere else. You'll be happier too.

Samuel  Saddia  If you remove the Katas from Karate, all you have is Techniques that'll hurt, maim, disable or kill the human Being and resorts you to a Brawler or Killer. Kata teaches and instills morality to use it when other methods of Resolution tried and failed before using Karate as the final Decision.

David Oddy Samuel - can you please explain how kata teaches morality?

Jim Alexander Because the practice of karate is as never-ending competition with the self; through hard work and long hours sweating in the dojo, the human spirit is refined and polished. Morality is character, which is refined in the dojo . The Worthy product of the practice of kata and,oyo and kata no bunkai, without it. It is just brutality techniques and ego.

Samuel  Saddiq David Oddy- Simple. Every kata (regardless of Style) starts off with a Block, Breaking Hold, Parry and so on to upset the Assailant's attack. Some Masters said these words "In Karate, there's no first attack." However, you have to know when to break that Rule when it comes to survival. Hope that explains it.

David Oddy Then how do you explain those who practice lots of kata and yet lack morality? I prefer to believe that talking about morality teaches morality...

Sinn Chew Great job; you actually got an accomplished MT and BJJ exponent appreciating Goju applications. There will be no way this student could learn to appreciate the art the normal way. Like someone already mentioned, loop Goju back to what he knows. If he does some reverse engineering from MT and BJJ techniques, he should see the use of stances and kata. Here are a few examples: (1) MT does a lot of shadow boxing, it’s their solo practice, testing technique, combinations, timing, breath management, etc. Well, Kata is TMA’s shadow boxing; same themes. (2) Show him how kata garuma (fireman’s carry), etc, maybe a product of gedan barai shikodachi, etc (3) Don’t sell shikodachi, zenkutsu dachi, etc as fighting stances, it is the transition which matters., etc….(4) Show him that Goju applications also have set-ups, positioning and diversions, etc…

Michael Harrison The answer is very simple...."kata and stances he does not get" , to the author of this post do not take this personally it goes much deeper and way back before you.. the reason he does not "get it" is "because those who came before never got it"... you cant pass on or give what you do not have!!!.. like I say the answer is simple but it does not point to you as being the fault. he has superior practical experience , my first introduction to organized martial arts came from the Marine Corps, then Shotocon.. the misspelling is on purpose for a reason.. I went through the same issue at 10 years into training under shoto "CON" and that's what it turned out to be a BS system founded by Funakoshi that evolved into something that was not real Koryu Karate, no one understood Kata its real meaning, or why we even did it, and bunkai is a joke, because of its missing element , it does not matter how much you analyze and break it down and try to make it work, your fishing in the dark.....you just had to if you wanted to advance in rank all the Bunkai turned out to be wrong and bullshit. it was not until I traced the history all the way back to Okinawa te or Ti , and broke it down did I find the truth. everything in that system had been purposely and knowing taught wrong.. and it was a little known documented historical fact,.. what I found is the Okinawans had the real karate, the Japanese had something else??? that look like karate, once I started junking shoto con and working it from the okinawan perspective, kata, stances and everything all made sense, and even the little bit of Thai Boxing I had learned was no different, nor the ground fighting.... it all boils down to what is taught in the U.S. is not what is taught in asia.. we have a non viable and non functional form passed down to us..... that why... how ever from the question I will have to assume you are not under the leadership of Sensei Mario Higaonna, or he would know and see the similarities very clearly... but it all boils down into there are two systems one real and combat efficient and the other not which fall under Do. so he is able to see the obvious faults discrepancies between Thai Boxing and its combat effectiveness and Karate Do which only mimics combat effectiveness.. hence kata and stances are a waste of time and effort

Samuel Saddiq David Oddy: Well, I'll give you this Reply. Morality supposed to be taught at home, but how Folks could learn it if the Society isn't that from the start?

Jim Alexander
Karate is a tool like a paint brush. It should illuminate the human condition with a new understanding of of the subject or ourselves.

But the best some people can do with a brush, is to paint a stick man and his dog.

To reach the art, one must know what you are ultimately teaching. and whether your student has what it takes to grasp it and master it. 

The idea of standards , and the opinion that everyone who wants to train has what it takes to be a blackbelt eventualy. is patantly false and irreconcilable in a great many cases. The result being a slew of really mediocre people purporting to be sensei, and feeling really insecure about themselves, because they know down deep, they don't stand in comparison to the real STUDENT of the dojo who carries his training out of the dojo into every endeavor of which he it's a part.everyone should be able to be excellent at something in life and someone had to have the dignity to show then enough respect to tell them karate isn't it for them. Not doing so is dishonest and a disservice to both parties.

Paul Enfield Jeff, what are Mike's goals in training Goju? Is he aware that all stances are to unbalance, trip, throw, break joints etc. is he aware that kata contains secrets that are only revealed after 10,000 hours of practice?

Michael Harrison @ Pauk Enfield I agree with you on most of what you said, however I question the 10,000 rule, those who were my teachers are just as still in the Dark and have three times the experience and time training, , but when I got to a certain point I found they knew very little about real karate, there is a difference between the two.... I totally agree with this statement up to the end point " stances are to unbalance, trip, throw, break joints etc. is he aware that kata contains secrets" and Real Karate does, Karate Do does not.. I had to learn this from Pat Nakata a student of Choki Motobu, he made me aware that what I had learned was not the real karate taught, he went so far as to explain that they look very diffrent and are..

Paul Enfield Michael, are you telling me that people spend years and years training kata without understanding its true meaning; why on earth would anybody do such a thing? That would be akin to someone attending culinary school for years, playing with all the utensils and appliances, chopping and mixing ingredients, adding in condiments and spices and then not only NOT being able to cook a single dish, but not even understanding what the dish should eventually look like. Now that just sounds absurd...doesn't it?

Christian Vaccese First of all Karate, as they say in Okinawa is to know Yourself and fight yourself, your fears your habits, and to learn how to become strong and with this concepts in mind then avoiding fighting. If your purpose for learning Martial Arts is to become a fighter well of course you will not be interested in katas. I think that Karate is not for everybody there's Spirit component there's an addiction for kime and the perfection of the positions!

Michael Harrison Paul with the exceptions of the Okinawan Schools that only Teach Okinawans or at least did at one time... YES!!! HELL YES!!!.. your culinary analogy took the words right out of my mouth!!!!!!!

Michael Harrison Katas are actually very badly copied Shaolin Forms from Chuan Fa, in them are hidden pressure points related to the hogan term chibudi what was later call Kyusho by Hohan Soken Sensei, also called Dian Xue in chinese, this was never passed on to those who were taught karate initially especially the Japanese with shoto con or any schools that descended form Anko Itosu, he was never taught real Te or Ti or Okinawa Te by Sokon Matsumura nor his second teacher, but given a form that amounted to nothing more than physical fitness routines, which was adopted by the Okinawan school system and changed and designed specifically for children.. not adults, it was not real combat effective karate... just a physical fitness regimen that became a sport, and hence was and is still spreading world wide, whereas the Okinawans kept the real to them selves and to a point still do.. so kata was basically a mnemonic to program into the subconscious mind the fighting maneuvers needed in combat so that they become automatic, and done without any thought just like a computer program...at all along with having learned the pressure points, wrist locks throws ect you had a system that was a badly copied form of shaolin gung fu, that the okinawans termed karate or Tang hand, which is totally different from karate do.. and no its not karate jitsu for those who who will want to split hairs, its real karate not that fake karate do shit that will get you killed...now it should be also mentioned that the okinawans had their own indigenous fighting system that was contained in what we would call a kata, but was actually both a folk dance and a fighting form or what they call hamachidori (spelling could be wrong) the hamachidori is the okinawan way of dancing and many are indistinguishable from karate katas.. ergo "Karate is kata "but without the keys( A continuous unbroken historical Oral and visual transmission of techniques, true interpretation, The Bubishi ect) and interpretations to the katas they are useless one is essentially fishing in the dark with bunkai and oyo and reverse engineering,.(The only exception would be Iain Abernethy ). people are firing your weapon blindly with your eyes closed, by trying to use them in combat without the real original meanings... btw none of the Pinan/heian have keys..Itosu did not even know the meaning of a lot of the movements in kata he taught.. hence they are a waste of time and effort, as to studying Goju ryu or Shito Ryu or Motobu Ryu, are some of the styles I would definitely study if I had the chance, , seeing that Chojun Miyagi Sensei did go back to China in order to find the missing pieces and repair the damage caused by Itosu so it is closer to real okinawan karate as is shito ryu with Mabuni Sensei also repaired the damage, and Motobu knew real Okinawan Karate and these schools are closer to the real deal and know the truth compared to any other modern style

Keyser Soze
See Taira Sensei.....

Rh Guttiez
first, I do not believe the stuff about secrets or kata as only a drills. Most people have never seen or studied basic science enough to understand Kata. Consider getting a copy of Frank Netter's Atlas of Human anatomy and begin to show him where you are striking and possibly where the strikes of the kata are meant to go then include the clinical implications of this. Michael Harrison could you please give a source for your idea?

Michael Harrison Re: Taira Masaji Sensei He is also adamant that the kata do not be changed to perform bunkai. . . . my point about combat effectiveness and why the subject of this thread prefers Thai boxing.. " It is important not to mistake his complete kata bunkai to mean that the entire kata needs to be performed. Any single technique can be used to finish a fight. The kata works as a template to prepare the student with entry and exit points for defensive and counter moves. With a complete knowledge of the system a practitioner should be able to response to almost any attack and have a start and end point from that attack." smash bang its over, .. the true meaning program the techniqe in it will automatically kick in and do its work if you get out of the way and the fight is over.... I like this guy... but even he has had to resort to research to find half the truth, that is kept secret and hidden from the rest of us or was lost in time or during the war.. but I like it along with Morio Higaonna. Goju Ryu karate. Bunkai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blYxIGHPYTQ everywhere he strikes is a dim mak point although its hard to see without knowing the points.. this is why kata without that key does not work..  

Michael Harrison One other reason why thai boxing over karate. look at the time and skill that have to be invested to even become proficient in the basics. whereas as a Thai Boxer all he need to is learn the basics and combine the following aspects of boxing and a few effective kicks and learn how to target the areas below to become lethal.. no complicated stances katas, breathing makso straight to the point... 

1. The bridge of the nose: In this book this term refers to the area between the eyebrows and extending down to the level of the eyes. This point is extremely important because if an opponent can injure it he can obstruct a boxer’s forward movement. The bridge of the nose can be hit using a downward jab of the elbow, a straight forward punch or a jab. Should an opponent pitch forward, it can also be struck with the knee. Many boxes have been defeated because of blows to the bridge of the nose.

2. Above the ear
: It was with a jab of the elbow to this spot, located just above the ears, that the famous Thai boxer Phromin Nawarat brought down  which has brought down many boxers– both Thai and international style – disaster. World Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Ali, or Cassius Clay, lost to the no-name Ken Norton because of a punch to the jaw. As for Thai boxers, on April 28, 1951 Prayudh Udomsak asked for a return match with Somdech Yontrakij. But Prayudh was KO’d in the last round by a lighting left to the jaw. Then, on September 4, 1953, at Rajadamnoen Boxing Stadiumm thaweechai Daenphanaa, whose fighting name was “Fierce Little Water Buffalo”, was knocked down for the count in the first round by Khunsueknoi Saw Bankhawlaem, who got him with a straight right to the jaw. The best ways of hitting an opponent in the jaw include a high kick downward to the jaw, a backward elbow jab to the jaw, delivered when the opponent’s guard is down, or a hook, swing or straight punch.

4. Philtrum: This point, roughly the area covered by the upper lip, is a prime spot for the boxer looking to knock out his opponent. Besides being a vulnerable spot from the point of view of the nervous system, like all points close to the nose, when struck it causes tears to flow, weakening the opponent.

5. The point of the chin
: Blows to this universally – known spot have been responsible for the defeat of many famous Thai boxers. Surachai Luksurin delivered a right to the chin of “The Jade Doll”, Kaarawek Saw Petchnoi and knocked him out. Prayudh Saw Udomsak took a lightning left to the chin from Somdech Yontrakich and went down for the count in the second round, and there are many other examples. The chin can be reached with a jumping knee kick a “floating” knee kick (the left foot is raised from the ground first, then the right knee kicked up powerfully to the opponents chin so that the entire body leaves the ground), or with an elbow jab, as Phudphaadnoi Worawth did when he won over Huatrai Sitthi-boonlert, at a point when no one thought he had the remotest chance of winning.

6. Adam’s Apple:
Besides being a vulnerable point which can disable an opponent if struck, the Adam’s Apple has another characteristic which makes it a useful target for the Thai boxer. The body has developed a reflexive mechanism for protecting this area the chin comes down automatically to cover it when it is threatened. Therefore, a punch aimed at it can easily become a knockout punch to the chin.

7. The Clavicle: This bone is brittle and easily broken, a fact which should always be kept in mind by the boxer. If it is broken, the shoulder will sag, as happened to the Thai boxer Chatraphetch Kiatkawkeo during his match with Kumanthong Lukprabaat on January 23 1978.

8. The Armpit: Failure to guard the armpits during a match can lead to defeat. A strong upward kick into the armpit can tear the shoulder tendons and ligaments and badly dislocate it.

9. The Solar Plexus
: Although this is not a point to which a single blow can bring a boxer down, repeated punches to the solar plexus can have a powerfully debilitating effect. Nikhom Knongphajon, “The Black Kangaroo of Mahasarakham”, connected with floating knee kicks to the solar plexus of Saamphop Phongsing three times, finally knocking him out during their match at Rajadamnoen Stadium. Since this point lies near the heart, it is especially dangerous. If it is hit very hard, ribs can be broken and driven into the heart, resulting in death.

10. Floating Ribs: The bottom ribs on both sides of the body are very fragile and easily broken, and are called floating ribs. If they are struck, whether by a kick with foot, a knee kick down from above, or a swinging knee kick around from the side, the result will be debilitating pain for the opponent. If the boxer delivering the blow kicks the floating ribs repeatedly, they may fracture.

11. The Abdomen: Another extremely vulnerable area which, if struck, can have a powerfully destructive effect.

12. The Groin: Even a light blow to this area can dangerously weaken a boxer. In the old days, 80 years or so ago, when fists were still bound with twine and no groin-guards were used, Thai boxers also fought without hard shields on the groin, and wore only kapok-stuffed triangular cushions under loin cloths. Subsequently, the great Thai boxing teacher Ae Muangdee introduced the use of metal shields from Singapore to be worn over the groin, so that it was safe even from hard kicks delivered with the foot or knee. In the opinion of the writer, anyone who is not prepared to protect this part of the body should not be a Thai boxer at all.

13. The Inner Wrist: This point can be dangerous both in delivering and receiving blows. In delivering a punch, if it is not done correctly, the wrist can be dislocated. Receiving a kick on the wrist can also dislocate it.

14. The Shins: It can be said that the shins are among the strongest parts of the body, but at the same time they are dangerously vulnerable. The bone at the center point on the front of the shins (as shown on the photograph) is brittle and easily fractured. A powerful blow to the shins can break them, as happened to inseelek Sitkriangkrai in his bout with Rungsiam Saw Walaiphawn. He kicked Rungsiam, who lifted his leg to take the kick with his shins. The impact against Rungsiam’s shins broke those of Inseelek.

15. Instep: Also a danger spot. If the tendon is hit had and damaged, the sole of the foot or ankle can be injured.

16. The Base of the Cerebellum: One of the most dangerously vulnerable of all the “lethal points”. A blow to the base of the cerebellum can cause instant unconsciousness. The neck should also be protected at all costs: repeated blows to it can lead to nervous disorders including sight loss or even blindness.

17. The Upper Back: One of the danger spots on the back part of the body; vulnerable because of the many nerves it contains.

18. The Kidneys: A blow to the kidney can be very painful and cause dangerous injuries.

19. The Coccyx: Repeated kicks or blows to this point at the base of the back can put a boxer out of action.

20. The Hollow of the Knee: Another point which, if not protected and exposed to repeated blows, can cause a boxer to lose a match. This is what happened to Kraisamut Chanthoraphit, when kicks to the hollow of the knee by Thanee Phayaksophon caused him to collapse in the middle of the third round.

21. The Calf: Frequent blows to the calf can cause it to cramp, a condition which is debilitating. Boxers should be sure that the calf is protected at all times.

22. The Achilles’ Heel: The crippling effects of damage to this tendon are well known. Even if it is not damaged, a strong blow to it is very painful. Besides the points listed above, there are many others. Every boxer or team leader should be familiar with the distribution of these spots on the body, as a through knowledge of them is an essential factor in mastering the art of Thai boxing.

Spirit Karate I think this is something that often happens with students who really enjoy the kumite side of M/A.... I personally went through the same thing in between 16 and 15. Some students make it through this time with a good balance at the Dojo and others move on. Don't try to stop a student from exploring their desires who knows he may become a great student and teacher in another M/A!!!

Michael Harrison Rh Gutierrez I was about to grab my book that I have written along with my cited and references and interviews, sources, when I saw this in your message and what you called an Idea. Just like you I have a Degree in the Medical Field and 2 Diplomas and...See More

Davide Cerrulo
just show him the purpose. stop practising stances and kata like fixed patterns and explain them their real meaning. To me it's the only way. I too grew sick and tired of stances, katas and puppet like work which is, frankly, totally useless. Only when I started researching the true meaning of movements, stances etcetera i gained a new respect for them and started to really love and enjoy them, so much that my way of teaching is based solely on that, without teaching actual katas before a student has good experience

Ciarán Boyle
A lot of guys from other martial arts see kata as a silly dance karate guys do. Teach the purpose not the kata and then teach the kata as a way of practicing the purpose in a solitary fashion.




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