Another look at Isshinryu Alignment Theory

 
One of the most profound things I was taught was Tai Chi Chaun Alignment Theory.  The thing is it is nothing but what you were originally taught, however it really is the why behind everything.

I learnt it as a part of my Tai Chi studies. It also explained how to literally increases your power for Karate, Aikido and every practice involving movement.

We all mostly unknowingly make small mistakes, that lower our effectiveness. This provides a methodology to correct them and increase our power.

This is one of the explanations I wrote about this.




https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2022/10/isshinryu-alignment.html
Thursday, October 6, 2022

Isshinryu Alignment

The issue of what's contained in different styles isn't a simple one, IMO. Sometimes they are similar and sometimes there may  only be a surface similarity.

Take Yang Tai Chi Chaun use of the vertical punch, I find it has an entirely different shape to the energy of release than Isshinryu's use of the vertical punch. Fitting a different reason to  my studies. But it is vertical all the same.

As for ways of looking at arts, I can only respond for myself and my own studies. I don't have enough real knowledge what others do with their Isshinryu. But you raise an important question, do I consider alignment different in my Tai Chi studies from my Isshinryu studies and instruction?

First I have to answer that it was my Tai Chi instructor, Ernest Rothrock,  after 15 ears of practice began to explain tai chi in terms of alignment.

In part I didn't train with him for 15 years, after the first several I was pretty much on my own practice and effort, with maybe annual or longer spaces between instruction. He took the time when he felt I had progressed to the point that alignment theory would fit where I was in training, to expound on it (and of course pull my technique apart in infinite detail). I'm quite sure if I had been able to train with him more closely over the years, the points, etc. would have come much faster.

Now, when I came to see what he was showing, I saw the obvious implications to my Isshinryu instruction, and at some level the arts became intertwined on alignment.

What I immediately realized was the theories behind correct alignment were nothing more than the way I was originally taught each art, but the principles re-enforced how to use it more effectively for a student or ones' self. But once understanding how power was lost or gained in a concrete way by better or worse body alignment, so many of the practices I had developed and was using made even more sense.

I didn't begin Tai Chi to affect my Karate. In fact I was interested in Tai Chi long before I began karate instruction. But when I began the practice (as a new Isshinryu sho-dan), I had the chance look at something I was long interested in, and a vague suspicion that it would be useful when I was much older. It was only after quite a few years of study I found that Tai Chi was helping me understand my Isshinryu technique much better.

I've never maintained Tai Chi practice is necessary for great Isshinryu in the least. Yet, I do feel long term study of Tai Chi can be a helpful tool, if one is really ready to pay the price and practice for decades. Believe it or not, your prerogative.

Now beginning to understand the use of alignment in power and execution, It was just another tool in the students developing Isshinryu as we teach it.

When we train students we don't bother them with terms and theories they can't put into practice. Instead we show them how to do it correctly, reinforce their right actions and help them understand their incorrect actions.

In time we can show them more, as they gain more control of their actions. But it is our understanding of alignment (theirs) that guides our teaching approach to them.

The difference is after Dan we more openly discuss how to develop alignment more fully.

Some consider Isshinryu a steady state universe, as is their right. Once you get it you've got it. Others consider Isshinryu an open, expanding universe, and I freely confess I see things this way. For example this is how my Tai Chi instructor taught me.

Teach them correctly, reinforce them correctly, and as their skills advance, eventually open the student to more knowledge about the process.

As in the case with my daughter last Sunday, trying to move her arms and legs in the right direction is enough, explaining the underlying theory of correct alignment would be useless. And as a student develops, it is the instructors experience how and when to explain more. You can give anybody anything, such as beginners starting with SunNuSu kata, but the knowledge to be successful with that information you can't give them, they have to earn it with long study.

Now the underlying principle of alignment exists in all motion. It's not particular to Isshinryu or Tai Chi Chaun.

By way of example, when I get really gifted students at advancing levels of training they begin to watch Gene Kelly dancing in the movies. Take "Singing in the Rain" where Gene dances with Donald O'Conner. Both were extremely gifted and skilled dancers. But watch Gene's use of his alignment and centering, his bearing of his hips and abdomen and you find a much more advanced skill set than O'Conner, even though he is hitting the same steps as Gene.

This is a long way of saying, as a student becomes more and more advanced,  their work on those small details that has greater and greater value. But in our instruction approach, each step from day one is on that same path. The student by their efforts controls when and where their progress comes.

And to really open things up, there is more than one potential alignment for any technique, depending on how you can choose to sell it. More of the expanding universe approach.

I could try and wrap words around how we approach this, but as in many things they would be meaningless. I can't give you a 1,2,3 and you've got it. I can't run a clinic and the point springs forth. It's many, many layers working towards a goal.

For example Sherman Harrill Sensei could and did show tons of information at his clinics. What and how one retains that information is an individual effort. One person will remember 10 applications, another will write an encyclopedia of them.

Postscript:  Along my studies I found parallel affirmation in a Tai Chi masters text, in a unique hand formation discussed by a Chinese senior instructor written in Inside Tai Chi, In an initial discussion by Jim Keenan of the "5 bows theory", in my study with Ernest Rothrock on the Wu Tai Chi Chaun Teaching Form and many other places, Of course now I knew what to look for, I knew what I was looking at.

This is something useful for advancing Dan students, instructors and those seeking the underlying nature of our arts.

Isshin - Concentration the Art: Ice Chi in Frosty Derry-Air

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2024/04/basic-energy-point-allignment-as-used.html

 

 

Gojukensha Karate-Do Kyohan - Ohtsuka Tadahiko

 12-17-2005

Over a year ago I had mentioned that I was going to scan in all 13 of the series of "Gojukensha Karate-Do Kyohan" magazines from Ohtsuka Tadahiko.


Gojukensha Karate Do Kyohan Vol 1                                      
Ohtsuka Tadahiko

 

Basics, Junbi Undo, Eight Section Brocade

 

Gojukensha Karate Do Kyohan - Vol 2

 

Gojukensha Karate Do Kyohan - Vol 3

I took a couple hours this weekend and got the 3rd issue
of Ohtsuka Tadahiko's Gojukensha Karate-do Kyohan scanned in for the group. I hope you guys enjoy. It contains the fairly unique

Gojukensha versions of Gekisai Dai and Gekisai Sho, similar to the more common Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni, respectively.

Gojukensha Karate Do Kyohan - Vol 4
 
Well, it's April, and it's been about a month since I last scanned in a volume of Ohtsuka Tadahiko's Gojukensha Karate Do Kyohan. Geesh, a month can go by in a flash...

Anyhow, I put Vol 4 up for you perusal...it contains Sanchin, Saifa, and Gojukensha's unique version of Sanseiru.

The full set is as follows:


Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 01    Basics – Junbi Undo?

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 02    Applied strikes – kicks - blocks

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 03    Geseki Sho – Dai  and apps – plus 3 other basic kata

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 04    Sanchin, Saifa, Sanseiryu

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 05    Tensho, Seiunchin, Shishoshin

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 06    Application Drills, Judging techniques

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 07    Drills, falls and throws, Seisan

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 08    Seipai

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 09    Kurunfa, Pressure Point studies

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 10    Suparinpe

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 11    Pinan – Naifanchi

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 12    Chinto, Wansu, Gojushiho, Jion,

Gojukensha Karate Do Koyan 13    Crane and other kata



Regards,

mario

                                                                    

Ever wonder why we are having a hard time finding “original” Chinese versions of our Kata?

 Dojo TokyoMushinkan 

Hello all:

Disclaimer: Massive speculation here, so do not take this as any kind of historical fact yet, until we find actual evidence of same.

Ever wonder why we are having a hard time finding “original” Chinese versions of our Kata? Even the ones that were “supposedly” introduced from China a little over half a century ago? (Yes, I'm looking at you, Uechi Kanbun)!

Perhaps, and there is a lot of speculation on my part, but just maybe we are looking in the wrong place.
We often assume, based on the verbal history, that the various Okinawan stalwarts who traveled to Fujian became students of famous masters of "private" systems such as Tiger or Crane boxing.

However, there may be a more plausible background. We know that the majority of people who traveled to China from Ryukyu were merchants, students and government officials and that they stayed in the Ryukyukan.

The Ryukyukan was administered and protected by the Chinese government. Military officers were stationed there as security, and as military officers they would have had official martial arts training.

Would it be too far of a fetch to say that maybe some of these Okinawans befriended the guards, and were taught some basic training forms that were created specifically for military training? And that, with the advent of military modernization in China, that these forms fell by the wayside as they were no longer necessary? It is entirely possible that the famed Kojo Dojo at the Ryukyukan employed some of these officers as instructors.

Now if only we could find some old military manuals of empty hand training routines used by the Green Standard Army, it might help answer a lot of questions. Wouldn’t that be interesting?

Thanksgiving 2024

One member of a flock of turkeys who would visit our

yard when we lived in Derry, Nh.

 

Once again it is Thanksgiving for another year.

The sun rises (whether we can see it or not).

As the day begins we take another step into that day, never knowing if other steps and days will follow. That is the mystery of life.

Our art continues, our thoughts go to our family and friends,

We work to move forward.

Give thanks for everything and everyone!

Victor


Past Thanksgiving memories

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2021/11/do-you-remember-when-we-had-adult-class.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2017/11/seeing-what-is-not-there.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2008/11/giving-thanks.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-giving-thanks.html

Advancing dan training

 

One of the largest challenges I found as an instructor was how to pass so much information to my adult students (average time training with me). Most of them stayed training with me over 25+ years, with the seniors training with me +35 years.

Realistically they were schooled in the possible usage of a single technique as Seisan kata's opening havine +100 uses. Only then did they progress into random application potentials for our other kata. They also were taught a few other kata to keep their minds fresh. They all had many seminars with my other instructors, Finally they had reached the 15 years point of training all of their Isshinryu kata (and their other kyu kata requirements. That meant they had sufficiently relaxed in their kata performance, their centers had automatically dropped and they were able to generate more power in technique execution.

(Note: These years stated were only an average for the sake of discussion. Some took less time, some required more time.)

They were at that point where they had to begin how to make their own choices on how to respond to an attack.

I knew by that time it was impossible for them to retain everything they had been taught. There was literally too much information for anyone to remember everything. (Of coure I am also in that position, If you have been following my blog you can see a partial glimpse of what I have been shown or worked out for myself.)

I would discuss with them the idea they should become unreadable, even by me.  They should train up a response or responses against every probable attack. And even if their attacker knew they were Isshinryu, no matter what the could anticipate a probable response, their actual response would be beyond the attacker's expectations.

At the same time they should also be entering intense training into another possible answer or answer(s).

Then after 2 years they should switch their responses to possible attacks.

Of course that means the cycle begins again, and again, and again for life. Working to become unreadable forever.

At the same time never neglecting study of everything you have gained (ie all the kata, etc.)

Of course this is the simple answer, the totality does not really lend itself to words. It is living the Isshin life. Embodying that no one can know your responses to attacks.

At the same time your response might simply be clean Isshinryu standard response. After all it is your choice.

And what do I know,  I just trained and trained you. It always was your decision how to use that training.

BTW: this is separate from those selected to become instructors. That is a different mission, yet instructors are yet 3rd dan's.  They also have this personal responsibility.

My Martial Autobiography By Yoshimura Jinzai

 10-23-2001


English Translation by Joe Swift

 

Even though I am writing my memoirs, this all happened 60 years ago, so I feel as if I am speaking of a far-off dreamland. Because of this, there are some things I recall very clearly, but other things are rather fuzzy. The details of that time are rather complicated, and it is unavoidable that I may have a hard time distinguishing some of them. Also when writing like this, feelings of nostalgia often come up, and one becomes lost as to where to begin and end. Therefore, I would like to ask the reader’s patience in this. I would now like to write a bit about myself and the martial arts.


I was born in the year 1866, on the 27th day of the 9th month on the old calendar, at Akahira in Shuri. My father’s name was Chomei. My mother was from the Sho family, born the eldest daughter of Prince Ie Choken. I was the second son. My elder brother, Choshin, was 3 years older than me.


At any rate, I was the second son of an influential family. I was raised in a large palace, surrounded by many servants. I lived a rather carefree life. On the other hand, my household had strict rules. I was grounded in the etiquette and academic studies as befitted by family’s status. My late father especially liked the martial arts. “The martial arts are first and foremost in a warrior’s education.” So when I became 11 or 12, I began to learn karate. My teacher was an old man of about 60 named Ishimine, who was in charge of our household accounting and many other affairs. Everyday I was dragged out into the garden and had the Naifuanchi and Passai kata drummed into me.


Of course, this was during the free time I had from my learning and studies, but sometimes I made excuses to get out of it. This went on for two full years. I recall that this was about the time that the feudal system was abolished and the modern prefectures were established.

Around age 17 or 18, I was accepted as a full-fledged man. Around that time, I began earnest training under Bushi Matsumura. I recall that at that time, Matsumura was already past the age of 70. He was the guard at Nan’en. I went there 5 or 6 times a month. I always trained with my brother Choshin, and another man named Tamagusuku, who was 1 or 2 years older than my brother. The main focus of the training was the kata Gojushiho, and I also learned Kusanku. It was about this time that my eyes were finally opened to Budo, and I practiced with fervor. I saw myself as a kind of fledgling warrior in training, and this became reflected in my body language and gait. This is an experience that I think everyone has when they are young and brash.


On the other hand, I also learned swordsmanship kata with a wooden sword from Matsumura. He learned Jigenryu swordsmanship from the famous sword master from Kagoshima, Ijuin.


At that time, in Naha, there was the karate expert Nagahama, and Higashionna was also becoming famous. In Shuri, besides Matsumura, there was also Master Itosu. Asato and Tawada were also known for their skills as students of Matsumura. The talk of the day was that Tawada was a bit stronger than Asato, but I do not know if it was true or not. In Goeku Palace, there was a strong man named Naga-kotaru. Just as his name suggests, he was quite tall. I do not know who his teacher was.


I entered the tutelage of Higashionna at age 22 or 23. I traveled 3 times a month. He had a firewood business on the beach (it has since been filled in and now is the site of a housing complex), across from Honganji Temple. Later, he began visiting our estate in Shuri to teach me. This lasted for a year. We practiced even on rainy and windy days. Practice started at 6:00 PM and lasted until 10:00 PM. Back then, unlike today, the only means of transportation was a palanquin. I recall being told that Higashionna always went home when there was nobody out and about on the streets.


From Higashionna, I learned the basics of Sanchin, and then learned Pechurin. Through this,                                                                             I learned that to master the secrets of the martial arts, one must make the 4 limbs and train the spirit.  There was probably some basis for this,  but in those days, people called the arts of  Matsumura   Uchinadi, whereas the arts of Higaonna were called “Toudi.” Everyone also said that Matsumura was a “born warrior” and that Ishimine was good at kata. Matsumura was physically strong and fast, and had the temperament of a warrior of old. It was often said that “the Bushi respected the speed of the gods.” Higaonna Sensei admonished against “jissen,” saying that “if you’re going to (fight) then do it with me.” That, I believe, was his noble martial arts spirit. Of course, it goes without saying that jissen means actually participating in a confrontation with someone, or in plainer terms, fighting. In other words, actually applying the martial arts one has learned in against an actual opponent."


The red-light districts were the most popular places for young men to engage in jissen. Therefore, the three entertainment areas of Tsuji, Tochi and Nakashio were the three most popular places for the so-called kake-dameshi, or challenge fights, every night. There were countless pair of young men fighting each night. These were fights in which they would test their skills with their fists, which they had trained on the makiwara, and can be compared to the sword duels on mainland Japan. I have just recalled a story about Matsumura, so I will recount it now. When Matsumura was about 20, and working as the assistant to King Sho Ko, it is said that he faced a wild bull on the orders of the King, and dropped the animal with a single punch. However, I am unable to confirm nor deny the truth of this story. Not only was Matsumura a great martial artist, but also an accomplished calligrapher as well.


My brother also studied karate from a master named Oyadomari when he was about 13 or 14 years old. I am not sure of his lineage, but it is said that he was the same age as Itosu, which would make him younger than Ishimine.


I also learned horsemanship. I actually began riding at the age of 10, so this was the first martial art I experienced. From the age of 19 until I was 23, I studied under the famous horseman Makiya. We had a wooden horse on our property, and after I had learned the basic forms, I went to the riding grounds at Shikina to ride real horses, about six times a month. I sometimes rode all the way to Yomitan.

I never had the chance to learn archery. However, I do recall being told stories of the mounted archery contests held at the Shikina riding grounds, as a child. If I had learned archery I could have tried that. I regret never learning how to fire a bow and arrow. All this happened around the year 1887.


As a youngster, I was very obstinate, and had to do everything that anyone else did. As a result, I ended up trying many different things. In addition to the martial arts, I also tried my hand at calligraphy, painting, singing, the shamisen, Chinese medicine, etc. However,  never really achieved very much even in these endeavors. In other words, I had too many desires. However, I do not regret trying these things at all, because I believe that these experiences all helped me to prepare my mind to meet challenges.


 Yoshimura Jinzai (real name Yoshimura Chogi) was the son of Yoshimura Udun Chomei, who is said to have been responsible for gaining young Higashionna Kanryo passage on a ship to Fujian Province. Chogi is believed to have been Higashionna’s first student upon his return to Ryukyu.

Once upon a time at Derryfest

 December 2004

When I was teaching in Derry, New Hampshire, I did not go for public demonstrations.  As the Boys and Girls Club always had a list of individuals who wanted to join our program I did not see the need to advertise.

But one year I decided to do something different, and asked the Club to arrange for us to do a demonstration at Derryfest. 

 

Derry fest was an annual town fail each fall, Various groups had booths to promote their services. A variety of different martial arts programs (mostly commercial ones) added to the fail providing demonstrations.   Personally for the most part what the demonstrated were not my cup of tea, but for friends, family and the general public they were entertaining.

 

In fact after seeing the variety of martial arts demonstrations the prior year it gave the incentive to put on myself.

Other organizations, bands and the like, also gave a variety of demonstrations.

I spent about a month preparing my students for the show.

Then just about the time we were to start, President George Bush in his helicopters (there were 3 of them )flew overhead. He was called back from his summer home in Maine to the White House (for some international problem). After they flew over and the noise abated, we began our demonstration.

I announced for our presentation. Everyone lined up and rei'd.  They went through various warmup exercises. Next a variety of advanced drills. They the demonstrated a variety of kata. Next they demonstrated a 2 person opposing kata drill. Finally they demonstrated how kata applications were used. When the demonstration concluded the group rei'd out.

All had a good time.

Commitment

When I was a beginner I began my study with Tom Lewis Sensei at his Salisbury Md Karate Barn. The dojo was custom built by one of his students on his property. It looked like a barn from the outside, but inside it was a custom built dojo.

The program was a club, and the dues fees for kyu students was just $15.00 a month. It was not run like a commercial school. And as modest as the fee was, I was able to clean the dojo once a week for my fee.

Then I moved to Scranton. Pa, The only local martial arts school that I could attend was Frank Trojanowicz was a commercial Tang Soo Do program that used contracts.

A year as a half later Charles Murray moved into the Scranton area to pastor a Church. With him I was able to return to my Isshinryu studies, we trained in the basement of his Church, he pushed me incredibly and there was no fee, just plenty of sweat equity.

While I paid very little for my Isshinryu instruction, what I received was incredible. And I learned how to be an instructor by watching how they taught me.

After Charles returned to the USAF, I was alone, Walking around Scranton at lunch time I observed the town was full of dance studios. Eventually I got an idea,
 

I approached the Scranton Boys Club and eventually they approved a karate program there.  Of course I was using it to keep myself in Isshinryu, but I quickly realized it was the thing to do sharing Isshinryu with the youth of the area. I charged no fee for the instruction, but the Club charged $5.00 a month to raise money to support the Club.
 

6 years later I moved to Derry, NH for work, Almost immediately I was approved to begin a program at the Derry Area Boys and Girls Club. Again I taught for free,and we did charge the kids a fee of $5.00 a month for the Boys and Girls Club, That fee remained constant for the next 35 years. It was the Clubs decision weather to waive the fee in individual cases,
 

Soon after I began the Derry youth program, I also began adult program. Again I taught for fee, There was a $5.00 a month fee for the adults.

I always worked to deliver the best karate I could for my students.  As my students aged between 7 to 55, while they all studied the same kyu program, their instruction need were geared for their individual needs.

I was not doing anything unusual, for that is how my original instuctors taught, before me.

For most of my first 10 years teaching in Scranton and later in Derry, I taught my classes myself. On occasion because of illness or work at times I had to cancel class. I had no choice but I was always uneasy doing so.

During kata time for class, I would move from student to student instructing them as necessary. I recall times in Derry when I was moving between 15 groups teaching various kata as required for those students. I had developed a unique focus on the Isshinryu kata to do so. I had not been taught to do so but I was also able to address each students actual needs.

Then when I began my adult program, even though the content between youth program and adult program was identical. I, however, approached the students as individuals with very different needs.. They were working to the same goals but at very different paces for instruction. Always addressing what was appropriate for each student.

Then there were how I addressed weather issues.

For example one evening there were very strong rain and wind storms beginning when I left the house. On the back road were I was traveling to the club, which had high banks where the farm field was beside the road on the left. Suddenly the rain became very intense to be blown across the road in sheets of rain. I did not turn back for class was scheduled, finally making in to the Club. Of course when I got there and went inside I heard it announced that the Club was closing because of the weather. I helped the kids there wait until their parents pick them up, then went back inside to go upstairs to train by myself. None of the adults, showing intelligent choice, showed up to train so I was on my own, I was there of course.

 

Another example would be the New Hampshire winters. Frequently snow storms would hit on Saturday's where I would have my adult classes at the Boys Club at 8am. I lived about 2 miles from the club and remember each time I would slowly drive the 2 miles to the club to be in time for class.
 

Of course no one showed up as they were too intelligent to go out in the snow (appropriately so) but I always went because someone might show up. The first 10 of so times when no one showed up I would then go inside and just work out myself.

But time after time over the years, I eventually would begin to wait for 20 minutes and then make my way home.   I even remember waiting there and moving my car when the snow plows would show up to clear the club parking lot.  At times even moving my car to allow the plows better access.

My commitment was always my students, should any of them show up.

Even when my disabilities arose I continued to make my way to the club, to then stand during class and directing it. Then in time I started to need a walker I would still teach, My walker was light weight and I could carry it up to the class, then even with the other instructors doing much of the teaching, I watched everything directing the class structure.

For the adult class I always ran everything, Though disabled when demonstrating various applications, I was still effective for the 1 foot range, My students never were happy when the felt what I was showing.

Then moving to Arizona, no students, my commitment to Isshinryu remains constant.  I still perform some kata as I can and work on my blog. I continue to work on new ways to utilize Isshinryu.

Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee,

 I just saw this Chinese kicking video on YouTube demonstrating a very unique kick, realizing I have seen it before in other arts and my own students abilities.

나비처럼 날아서 벌처럼 쏘랬더니 진짜 날아버리는 무술... | 고수를 찾아서 2024 신년특집
Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee, and you'll actually fly... | Finding the Master 2024 New Year Special  Chinese version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YB9nyFY-1o

 

I first saw it when I purchased the Draeger and Smith "Asian Fighting Arts"  (later titled "Comprehensive Fight Arts") early in 1973, years prior to beginning my own Isshinryu studies. I found it very interesting, especially the Burmese technique of running up an opponents body prior to kicking them.
Of course when I later studied Isshinryu this technique was not part of my studies.

Tris Sutrisno

Later I experienced this when Tristan Sutrisno used his own Indonesian version to jump me to then stand atop my shoulders to then jump off them and flip a kick to my head then land lightly before me with a grin on his face.
A number of years later when he was giving a clinic to my students he performed a version of this kick (abet somewhat differently), I immediately saw what he had done to me, abet I was a larger more stabler opponent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwVtKKd9L6c

When I read the translation of Itoman's book, his description of Triangle Flying made me think this could be an older Okinawan version.

Itoman's Triangle Flying ? Revisited

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2024/10/itomans-triangle-flying-revisited.html

One of my students, Young Lee, after viewing too many Kung Fu movies worked out his own version, later to teach it to one of my other students. At the time seeing his demonstration of the kick for the first time, I named it the Grin,  from the expression on his face.
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-grin.html

Of course using such techniques was always way beyond my capabilities. That did not mean I was defenseless, I always had myriad of possible responses. Still, if the situation allows it permits maximum unpredictability.

Self Defence Today

It is a very different world  from the one where I began my study of Isshinryu.  Vastly Different, especially as self defense is concerned.

I do not mean to imply that the techniques we  teach for potential self defense situations do not work.

Just the environment is vastly different.

Let us talk about just one situation - one case. That being the former Marine who defended a subway attacker, evidently from my point of view, someone who was extremely unstable.

He began to rant and attack as well as threaten other passengers on a subway car which was in motion. The ex-marine stepped in, ostensibly to protect other passengers and used a choke hold which he was trainer to use in the USMC.

With effort the deranged individual was restrained then to eventually died.

Leading to he ex-Marine being arrested and to be prosecuted in court for his actions.

No idea how the wheels of justice will eventually spin this case out.

However the point is that in today's world almost every action you take in self defense is likely to be filmed on camera's or other inividuals video phones. Opening many things that are likely not taught in a self defense class.

Are you explaining current self defense to your students. That while responding to an attacker may be the rational response to protect yourself.  However it may not seem that way to others.

The prevalence of camera's man open many other issues. For example a camera only shows one view. And from the angle the picture is shot it may possible may be interpreted in a different manner that from what you experienced.

You could be faced with criminal prosecution, depending on the local DA's opinion on the matter. Or family members could claim their family member's innocence and bring civis suit against you. Either of such cases could require expensive lawyer bills to defend you.

Of course your student wants to survive, however they also should know what that defense might lead to....

Then there are many, many other issues for contempary self defense. For simplicity I have only discussed one issue.   

 

The Middle Course

Learning Isshinryu is one thing, of course a lifetime journey.
However, there are many things about becoming an instructor that were never taught to you.


This was a part of my journey i never expected. A worked, cherished my family, only taught for free. But these are some of the things I experienced along my journey and just some of what happened in my first 25 years




8-4-2001

So much passion across the Isshinryu Lists.



If you accept  Concentration as a definition of  Isshin, and truly believe it, I’d like to ask you to listen to a tale or two I’ve lived and see if trying to follow the middle course between hate and love has a purpose.



Now I’m not a great fighter, neither incredibly strong of fast, and getting slower and weaker as time passes. In my day I’ve had to fight to practice my Isshinryu, on my own terms. No body gave me anything outside of my initial instruction and the great friendship of my instructors.



Work caused me to leave Salisbury, Md (and Mr. Lewis’ dojo) when I attained my green belt. I moved to Scranton, Pa. And there was no karate around of any sort.  What there was, was Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, a Korean art with forms paralleling those of Shotokan and Korean Kicking Technique.



Not wanting to leave the arts I began instruction in TSDMDK  (Tang Soo do Moo Duk Kwan) with Frank Trajanowizc.  He ran a hard, clean commercial program.  His training pushed my kicking and there was lots of sweat equity.  [Frank, BTW was the first instructor of Cindy Rothrock, but she was no longer in his program when I trained there.]  I continued to practice my Isshinryu on the side, visited Mr. Lewis during vacation the next summer, and that labor day Charles Murray moved to town to pastor a church.  Isshinryu came to me and I went for it.



I also continued to train in Tang Soo Do so I was working out 5 or 6 days a week.  In that following year Charles pushed the Isshinryu system into me and the following summer he wanted me to go up for my Sho Dan examination with Mr. Lewis.  Mr. Lewis chose to have him spend more time on my sparring and I found myself caught between two different forces. As I continued training in TSD, their no contact sparring was holding back my Issinryu sparring (medium to heavy body contact). I was at the same level in each art (1st Red and 1st Brown) but I realized I had to make a choice, and it was no choice for me. Sure on occasion I did make a mistake during sparring and KO my opponent, truly accidentally, which tended to give me the reputation of being wild, oooops that was from trying to survive sparring with Charles. Anyway, I discontinued my TSD and continued on my Isshinryu full time.  The following year I received my Sho-Dan.



Apparently my choosing to return to my original studies upset the TSD establishment.  That following year Charles returned to a career in the USAF.  



Independent of those actions, the two years before, the one TSD organization had been quietly working on a campaign to promote their art in Black Belt and its sister publications.  Being inside (abet at a very minor level) I became aware they were having their schools advertise in the magazine. Once they did so, every issue of those publications began to write articles about Tang Soo Do for the next several years.  I suppose it also helped at that time the Publisher of BB was Korean, too.



I remarked on that fact in a letter to Black Belt (sent before Charles left), and made some comments on the fact TSD was using Shotokan as its base, and the fact that although they claimed they were really a martial art they fully participated in sport karate, too (countering that they were different from Tae Kwon Do).  



Remember that letter it plays a big part later on.



Everything I wrote was true. Of course I did not realize the extremely strong feelings the Koreans had against anything Japanese (having suffered the extreme occupation of Japan for 50 years) I now realize how they could not give anything Japanese credence, even if it was true.  But that was not the major player in this drama.

 

That summer, one of the local TSD groups held an open tournament (at the YMCA where my wife worked).  As a new Sho-Dan I was assigned to judge in the children’s Black Belt Division (over 50 competitors).  All of the judges were 1st Dans (or Korean equivalents), and as the division wore down we were almost done. Suddenly a Korean in a leisure suit (remember them?) approached us, stopped our judging and began to criticize us that we didn’t know what we were doing, and he was going to have us re-judge the top 10 competitors to show us how we should have been judging them.



All of the other judges were cowed with no tournament experience. While I had not been a Dan before, I had never heard of anybody telling the judges how to judge in an Open tournament.  So I rose, politely approached him and told him this was incorrect and that we would have to go the head judges table. No I wasn’t the head judge, and the rest had no idea of what to do anyway.



When we got there, I calmly explained the situation and added I had never seen anyone instruct the judges to re-judge a division in Open competition. Throwing it in their laps, they began to discuss it (with the Koreans in Korean, too). Then I was instructed to return to the division and we should complete our judging. We did and that was that I thought.



I was also competing that day. I entered the Black Belt Kata division and discovered that individual in a leisure suit was one of the judges (Turned out he was the son-in-law of TSD’s founder Hwang Kee). When I did my kata I received a standing ovation from the crowd (of course they were all my wife’s students in the YMCA and truthfully I probably wasn’t that incredible but hey who am I to turn down a standing ovation!). Guess who gave me a score of “1”, and with an evil grin on his face….. Now I didn’t care for I truly had been taught all judges decisions were final and did and do believe it, regardless of their criteria. I’ll never forget that crowd reaction.  But throughout the day (for an OPEN tournament) nobody anywhere won who wasn’t TSD. Sound like a similar story anyone?. In my division George and Gary Michak (Nationally ranked competitors) likewise didn’t stand a chance. First place went to a gentleman with a wobble in his spin in their version of TSD Chinto.  I simply realized I was in very good company.



Later on they announced Sparring judges and I was being re-assigned to a White Belt division. As I made my way across the gym, my wife approached me. [Now Maureen, who had to deal with the TSD people teaching at the Y returned to her karate training just to knock them around in sparring later <grin>.]  She asked me what I had done wrong to the tournament promoter (a gentleman from a different local school I had never met or trained with) for she heard him discussing “We have to get rid of Victor Smith.”



Well I guess I began to go ballistic. I remember turning and charging  towards him across the gym floor when my wife reached out and grabbed the back of my gi collar, stopping me. She said, “You can’t, it would be my job.” Of course, I realized she was right, so I simply took a breath, restored my calm and went to my division.



That day ended calmly.



Months later, I had begun my youth program at the local Boys Club, and started being a karate gypsy. I was regularly training at Dave Brojack’s Kempo Goju school to have somebody to spar with.  One evening that Tang Soo Do instructor (I had never talked to) came in and approached Dave. Dave came over and explained he wanted to talk to me. About what I couldn’t imagine.”



So I went over to him and he began “You had no right!  You should have asked me if you had any questions!”



Not knowing what he was talking about I was standing there trying to figure out why he was there.



“You shouldn’t have written that letter to Black Belt. ……. And ranted on.



Now I slowly began to register a letter I had written 8 or 9 months before to Black Belt’s Editor was published (I didn’t realize it would have been, I thought I was writing a personal letter).  Heck I remembered writing it but no longer remembered exactly what I had written.



Anyway he went on that I was wrong to have written anything criticizing TSD, or commenting on the system without his permission.



So I began to reply, “First, I know I wrote that letter long ago and no longer even remember exactly what was in it. But this is a free country and I have the right to write whatever I wish without asking permission.”



We sort of went back and forth saying the same thing and it dawned on me that letter must have been published and he must have received a copy of BB (or belatedly realized his association turned the screws on him perhaps).



Finally he began stating, “You really aren’t very smart, Did you forget your wife works for the ‘Y’ where we have a big program, if you say anything else it will cost your wife’s…”



He didn’t finish the statement. I made my decision, he was standing before Dave’s plate glass window and once I heard him complete his threat to my wife’s job I was planning to put him through the window and settled into my stance ready to begin.



I guess he saw the look on my face (for I said nothing), he didn’t finish the statement, grew pale, turned and walked out.



Never talked to him again, or met him face to face.



The magazine came out. On Pennsylvania’s Open tournament circuit, Senior Instructors who never paid any attention to my existence (after all who does acknowledge other Sho Dan’s…grin) came over to congratulate me for my strong statements.



Then something new began to happen. Former training friends (in TSD) would approach me on the street and walk over to the other side. Then they came up and began to apologize. “Victor, I’m sorry but we were told if we didn’t write the letter we wouldn’t get promoted again.”



Two months later it all began to clear up.  Every letter published in Black Belt had the tenor “Who the F… is Victor Smith and why does he exist.”  Nationwide, Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan started a letter writing campaign about my letter.  Black Belt stated it was the strongest response they ever received from a letter.



Oooops, all for  little ol’e me.  Charles called me from Florida and wanted to know if he should come up to help me clean house. I explained to him none of them were worth the effort.



Heck some of the instructors would cross the street to stay away from me for years, I guess I had a really repellent personality !!!!!!



And none of this had any impact on my life or my karate, ever.



Eventually several TSD Korean instructors tried to explain that TSD’s forms paralled Shotokan’s forms because Hwang Kee and Funakoshi Ginchin were working on the same elevated plane of thought….  Yep, sure. Years later others made the same remarks on TSD’s borrowing Shotokan without similar response. Personally I fully accept why no Korean of Hwang Kee’s generation would ever acknowledge any Japanese influence in their life or art.   I am sorry for any pain the ‘truth’ I wrote may have caused, but being sorry that it caused pain would not be reason to write it anyway.  Sometimes our truths, the real ones, are painful for everyone.



Over the next few years, whenever they held a tournament I would always show up as a spectator, little devil that I am, and sit in the front row during the Black (blue in TSD) Belt competition.  But my art really never had further interaction with theirs after I left, anyway.



One day, I got a phone call at work.  “Victor, did you hear, that instructor who challenged you, just died, A young man, from complications of drinking.”



I went home that day, and a while later my wife returned home, “Victor, did you hear?”



“Yes, I did.”



“How does it feel?”



My response, “Great!!!!”



I was sorry that he left a wife and children to deal with his passing. I was sorry for his friends and family.



But for him, he who went out of his way to become my enemy, I who didn’t know him or had even met him personally, for him I discovered one of life’s greatest pleasures. There is nothing better than outliving your enemy.  Nothing else is as satisfying, especially if you had nothing to do with it, either his making you his enemy or his demise.  Life is truly the greatest revenge.



Then there is nothing, for he is no longer here.



Believe me, I’ve been there and done it.  Making much ado about nothing, stirring up passions for no return accomplishes so little.



And if you truly dislike somebody so much, simply live your life so you outlive them.



But, everyone would have had much more harmony if they simply worked on the middle path between hate and love, and put their energies into more productive matters.



Anyway lets return back to Isshin, concentration.



Years later I moved to Derry, NH and immediately began teaching at the Boys and Girls Club.



I had a competitive focus, for there was a local Goju School (with +300 students) and a large dan population (+75). They hosted one of the better Open tournaments in NE and trying to make my program (as small as it is) competitive with them was a private, internal goal. One I never uttered to another.



The head instructor wore his rank in the Red/White/Black obi with the Red/White side out, which I found ostentatious (similar to the candy cane controversy currently being bandied). I was also a founding member of an inter-system group in Penna. providing very high levels of training to its members. That organization voted to make me a ‘Renshi’ and wanted me to wear that same Red/White/Black obi.  I expressed my reservation about such for myself and they responded, it is fully appropriate to wear it with the Black Side out, so none but you are reminded of the responsibilities the obi entails.

 

In pride I chose to do it (at least in part) and I’m sure I wanted to make a statement by my actions to that instructor (he was a sort of rival) and I did so. Years later I formally un-renshi’d myself from that group (politics of course) but in my own school retained wearing that obi as the mark of the instructors burden. To this day I (and my other instructor) follow that course. Every time one don’s it causes us to remember its our duty, not reward to work as an instructor.



Now as the years went by, my small program stayed quite small, but I developed my Dan’s, who became quite skilled. Perhaps I provided some of that to augment their efforts, but the fact I always had them train with my various instructors and their own incredible skills, helped give them focus, too.



In time, my few senior Kyu’s and then Dan’s were technically more competent by far than that school with its hundred dan’s, and when they met in competition, the difference in skills being developed was apparent to everyone.



The day arrived, when I realized, my initial challenge to try and compete against that larger school was meaningless, we were exceeding their standards.  Using them as a goal wasn’t enough of a challenge, and over the next several years the entire focus of tournament competition began to leave us for a long variety of reasons.



Now that other school was a stones throw away from me. I did (and still do) visit once or twice a year and am always asked to teach.  When I began to move my focus in to the application of kata technique, I got no small satisfaction dropping by and showing them how to drop people with their own goju kata.  There is something satisfying about taking 75 dan’s and teaching them how to use their own system.



Of course this is a continual weakness of mine, Pride. I am sorry I’ve done this, and each time I do it in the future I will continue to be sorry for this.



As the wheel turns, that school shifted to Shorin-ryu from Goju-ryu. In the past 9 years a 6th dan in Goju has become a 9th Dan in his Shorin studies, and today teaches both arts (shades of Shito-ryu I guess, and yes he becam a 10th dan too).



Wonder what traditional Goju and Shorin stylists who didn’t change systems think about his progress? Well that’s not my business.



His schools have gotten much larger and the Dan skill levels have sunk. They’ve incorporate so many new kata into the system that they haven’t spent enough years to learn how to fully execute them at the level they used to execute their Goju studies.  Of course that’s just my opinion, but I follow their progress to understand what others are doing.



I have learned on thing, truly learned it, it isn’t the obi one wears (today he wears a white and black panel obi as a 9th dan – Hanshi), or the art one practices. It’s what you do with the little you have that is what is important.



It certainly isn’t that I’ve had several incredible students who’ve worked their backsides off to gain their skills. But that they and I have been able to pass our knowledge along in a structured way to develop others in the same kind.



My skills are diminishing, and so will or are yours. Perhaps my knowledge makes up for a little of that, Perhaps not. It doesn’t matter for our day too will pass, all of our days.



But I still don my tuti-fruit obi, black side out, each time remembering my duty, and have learned the lesson it really doesn’t matter what others do.



What matters is what I do, each and every time I teach, I write, I share.



A middle course between hate and love……



Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu