Please remember: none of videos and books can replace a practice in dôjô!
I provide the names of techniques as well as their numbers according to the book of Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 7. Jitte, Hangetsu, Empi". Kodansha International, 1985. If some other names are used, then the source is provided.
1. uhai tekubi chûdan osae uke, hidari ken hidari koshi - hips are in hanmi. This is a slow and powerful movement.
2. migi teishô gedan osae uke, hidari teishô chûdan oshi age uke - hips are in shomen. This is also a slow and powerful movement.
4. migi shô tekubi migi sokumen chûdan kake uke, hidari ken hidari koshi - slide to the right (yori ashi) while doing block.
5. migi teishô migi sokumen chûdan yoko uchi, hidari ken hidari koshi - don't move your left foot close to your right foot, but step half of the distance to the right, then step to kiba dachi. Remember bunkai in order to perform the steps correctly, you are moving out of the attack line. Don't turn your hips too early into kiba dachi.
6.-7. and 11.-13. General note: don't turn your hips too early into kiba dachi. Keep hips in shomen while stepping forward and make a power turn into kiba dachi.
15.-18. For a better understanding I would strongly recommend to take a partner with jô or bo or any suitable stick and try the techniques.
I will update this list further, adding some more notes. Please watch the announcement list above!
I sincerely hope that this will help you to perfect the kata further. Osu!
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Bassai Shô
Please remember: none of videos and books can replace a practice in dôjô!
Bassai Shô (抜塞小) - "Penetrating the Fortress - Small" ("Проникновение в крепость - малый вариант").
Many versions of Bassai kata are known: Matsumura Bassai, Ishimine Bassai, Tomari Bassai, and others. The original version is said to belong to Oyadomori Kokan (1827-1905).
Bassai Shô was derived from Bassai Dai by Itosu Yasutsune.
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Bassai Shô
Books:
Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 9. Bassai Shô, Kankû Shô, Chinte"
Hirokazu Kanazawa "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)"
Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt"
Internet:
THE SHOTOKAN WAY – The Online Shotokan Karate Magazine: Bassai Shô
Videos:
Yamaguchi (Iwaizumi) Toru Sensei in the "JKA 21 Shotokan Kata" film
Bassai Shô (抜塞小) - "Penetrating the Fortress - Small" ("Проникновение в крепость - малый вариант").
Many versions of Bassai kata are known: Matsumura Bassai, Ishimine Bassai, Tomari Bassai, and others. The original version is said to belong to Oyadomori Kokan (1827-1905).
Bassai Shô was derived from Bassai Dai by Itosu Yasutsune.
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Bassai Shô
Books:
Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 9. Bassai Shô, Kankû Shô, Chinte"
Hirokazu Kanazawa "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)"
Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt"
Internet:
THE SHOTOKAN WAY – The Online Shotokan Karate Magazine: Bassai Shô
Videos:
Yamaguchi (Iwaizumi) Toru Sensei in the "JKA 21 Shotokan Kata" film
Tuesday 29 March 2011
Training diaries
I have been writing my diaries since my first training in Shotokan karate on October 1st, 1991. In 1991-1999 these were the handwritten notes, since 1999 these are the electronic text files.
I have few different types of training diaries.
1. The detailed description of every training with comments on correct performance, important things, personal errors and ways of improvement.
The main advantage is that you can easily recall what you were doing some time (week, month, 10 years, etc.) ago. Of course, it takes some time to write everything down, but, while writing down, you can review the obtained experience and devise new training plans and strategies for yourself.
I have written down 99,9% of all training sessions I have ever did or taught. 0.1% falls out because I was too tired or too busy to write down. But never I was lazy to write!
2. Personal training plans: these are the plans for a week, month, year, etc.
If the previous one is "the past", then this one is "the future". I write down and constantly update my personal training goals, training schedules, etc. This is very helpful if you want to have your training in a systematic way.
I don't understand those people who simply come to train without analyzing why they do this or that. If you want to progress you have to set some goals. These goals can be global, like "I want to "improve my kata", or "I want to become nidan", or "I want to win this tournament". Having a global goal can be very inspiring, but in order to progress toward this goal you have to set smaller, local goals. Thus, "I want to improve my kata" leads to "I want to improve my Heian kata", then leading to "I want to improve my Heian Shodan", then leading to "I want to improve my gedan barai (or age uke or my balance in 270 degree turn, or ...)". A local goal is very explicit, specific and gives you a specific direction for a real improvement by regular training.
3. Separate files on specific topics.
These are the collections of information on those specific topics, which I am interested. Examples: notes on learning specific combination for kumite, detailed comments of my current tokui kata, etc.
If you would like to start writing your own training diary, then, as a first step, I would suggest to understand why would you want to do it. Writing a diary regularly requires either motivation or discipline, or both.
One of the possibilities to start is to simply write down a short (or detailed) description of the training session. But I would recommend to add your own notes to this description like important points, your errors, your successes.
Another possibility to start is to separately write down your errors and successes mentioned by your sensei during the recent class. But this list should not be a simple reflection of what has happened, like a historical record. Well, a historical record could be interesting to read later, but we are aiming on the progress, aren't we? Thus, this list of errors should become a basis for your self-training plan.
Also, as I suggested earlier, you could combine this list or errors/successes with a short (or detailed) description of the training session.
Speaking of training plans.. Writing down reasonable and realistic training plans requires some understanding of methodology, which comes with experience. But the steps for the correction of those errors, pointed out during the recent class, could be a good start. And of course you could ask your sensei to help you in devising such a training plan.
Osu!
P.S. As always this post can be updated in the future. I like to keep the information in one place. So, if there will be something else to say on the topic "training diaries" I will simply add it to this post. The announcement about an updated post will be given at the top of the page.
I have few different types of training diaries.
1. The detailed description of every training with comments on correct performance, important things, personal errors and ways of improvement.
The main advantage is that you can easily recall what you were doing some time (week, month, 10 years, etc.) ago. Of course, it takes some time to write everything down, but, while writing down, you can review the obtained experience and devise new training plans and strategies for yourself.
I have written down 99,9% of all training sessions I have ever did or taught. 0.1% falls out because I was too tired or too busy to write down. But never I was lazy to write!
2. Personal training plans: these are the plans for a week, month, year, etc.
If the previous one is "the past", then this one is "the future". I write down and constantly update my personal training goals, training schedules, etc. This is very helpful if you want to have your training in a systematic way.
I don't understand those people who simply come to train without analyzing why they do this or that. If you want to progress you have to set some goals. These goals can be global, like "I want to "improve my kata", or "I want to become nidan", or "I want to win this tournament". Having a global goal can be very inspiring, but in order to progress toward this goal you have to set smaller, local goals. Thus, "I want to improve my kata" leads to "I want to improve my Heian kata", then leading to "I want to improve my Heian Shodan", then leading to "I want to improve my gedan barai (or age uke or my balance in 270 degree turn, or ...)". A local goal is very explicit, specific and gives you a specific direction for a real improvement by regular training.
3. Separate files on specific topics.
These are the collections of information on those specific topics, which I am interested. Examples: notes on learning specific combination for kumite, detailed comments of my current tokui kata, etc.
If you would like to start writing your own training diary, then, as a first step, I would suggest to understand why would you want to do it. Writing a diary regularly requires either motivation or discipline, or both.
One of the possibilities to start is to simply write down a short (or detailed) description of the training session. But I would recommend to add your own notes to this description like important points, your errors, your successes.
Another possibility to start is to separately write down your errors and successes mentioned by your sensei during the recent class. But this list should not be a simple reflection of what has happened, like a historical record. Well, a historical record could be interesting to read later, but we are aiming on the progress, aren't we? Thus, this list of errors should become a basis for your self-training plan.
Also, as I suggested earlier, you could combine this list or errors/successes with a short (or detailed) description of the training session.
Speaking of training plans.. Writing down reasonable and realistic training plans requires some understanding of methodology, which comes with experience. But the steps for the correction of those errors, pointed out during the recent class, could be a good start. And of course you could ask your sensei to help you in devising such a training plan.
Osu!
P.S. As always this post can be updated in the future. I like to keep the information in one place. So, if there will be something else to say on the topic "training diaries" I will simply add it to this post. The announcement about an updated post will be given at the top of the page.
Saturday 26 March 2011
Kata Training am Freitag - Kata training on Friday - Тренировка по ката в пятницу: 01.04.2011, 20 Uhr, Freiburg dôjô (Merianschule)
Thema des Kata Training am Freitag, 01.04.2011, um 20 Uhr (Merianschule): Bassai Shô! Jeder, die Kata erinnern oder neu erlernen möchte, ist herzlich willkommen. Osu!
Topic of Kata training on Friday, 01.04.2011, at 20:00 (Merianschule): Bassai Shô! Everyone, who want to recall the kata or to learn it, is welcome. Osu!
Тема тренировки по ката в пятницу, 01.04.2011, в 20:00 (Merianschule): Bassai Shô! Приглашаю желающих вспомнить или выучить ката потренироваться вместе. Осу!
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Bassai Shô
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Bassai Shô
Topic of Kata training on Friday, 01.04.2011, at 20:00 (Merianschule): Bassai Shô! Everyone, who want to recall the kata or to learn it, is welcome. Osu!
Тема тренировки по ката в пятницу, 01.04.2011, в 20:00 (Merianschule): Bassai Shô! Приглашаю желающих вспомнить или выучить ката потренироваться вместе. Осу!
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Bassai Shô
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Bassai Shô
Thursday 24 March 2011
Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Jitte
Please remember: none of videos and books can replace a practice in dôjô!
Jitte (十手) - "Ten hands" ("10 рук"). There are several explanations of the name. 1) the techniques of the kata gives you a strength of ten men, 2) the techniques of the kata allows to fight again ten opponents, 3) the name of the kata comes from the name of the old weapon jitte (or jutte). Andre Bertel states in his blog that Asai Sensei said "the real meaning of Jitte is that there are ten practical fighting applications within this kata. But all of these use the body heavily but with the limbs light".
It is said that a Chinese castaway taught Jitte together with some other katas in the Tomari region on Okinawa. Funakoshi Sensei could possibly learn this kata from Itosu Anko Sensei.
The techniques of Jitte can be used again bo or jô (long staff or short staff). And, moreover, Jitte can be performed with bo or jô in your hands.
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Jitte
Books:
Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 7. Jitte, Hangetsu, Empi"
Hirokazu Kanazawa "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)"
Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt"
Internet:
"Hangetsu, Jitte & Gankaku" by Andre Bertel
Joe Swift "Roots Of Shotokan: Funakoshi's Original 15 Kata. Part 3 - Seisan, Wanshu, Chinto, Jitte & Jion Kata" - the article with interesting historical information!
Videos:
Jitte performed by Enoeda Keinosuke in the JKA kata film (1960)
Imura Takenori Sensei - Jitte with bunkai
Information about jitte (jutte) weapon:
Video about jitte weapon
Jitte (十手) - "Ten hands" ("10 рук"). There are several explanations of the name. 1) the techniques of the kata gives you a strength of ten men, 2) the techniques of the kata allows to fight again ten opponents, 3) the name of the kata comes from the name of the old weapon jitte (or jutte). Andre Bertel states in his blog that Asai Sensei said "the real meaning of Jitte is that there are ten practical fighting applications within this kata. But all of these use the body heavily but with the limbs light".
It is said that a Chinese castaway taught Jitte together with some other katas in the Tomari region on Okinawa. Funakoshi Sensei could possibly learn this kata from Itosu Anko Sensei.
The techniques of Jitte can be used again bo or jô (long staff or short staff). And, moreover, Jitte can be performed with bo or jô in your hands.
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Jitte
Books:
Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 7. Jitte, Hangetsu, Empi"
Hirokazu Kanazawa "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)"
Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt"
Internet:
"Hangetsu, Jitte & Gankaku" by Andre Bertel
Joe Swift "Roots Of Shotokan: Funakoshi's Original 15 Kata. Part 3 - Seisan, Wanshu, Chinto, Jitte & Jion Kata" - the article with interesting historical information!
Videos:
Jitte performed by Enoeda Keinosuke in the JKA kata film (1960)
Imura Takenori Sensei - Jitte with bunkai
Information about jitte (jutte) weapon:
Video about jitte weapon
Kata Training am Freitag - Kata training on Friday - Тренировка по ката в пятницу: 25.03.2011, 20 Uhr, Freiburg dôjô (Merianschule)
Thema des Kata Training am Freitag, 25.03.2011, um 20 Uhr (Merianschule): Jitte! Jeder, die Kata erinnern oder neu erlernen möchte, ist herzlich willkommen. Osu!
Topic of Kata training on Friday, 25.03.2011, at 20:00 (Merianschule): Jitte! Everyone, who want to recall the kata or to learn it, is welcome. Osu!
Тема тренировки по ката в пятницу, 25.03.2011, в 20:00 (Merianschule): Jitte! Приглашаю желающих вспомнить или выучить ката потренироваться вместе. Осу!
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Jitte
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Jitte
Topic of Kata training on Friday, 25.03.2011, at 20:00 (Merianschule): Jitte! Everyone, who want to recall the kata or to learn it, is welcome. Osu!
Тема тренировки по ката в пятницу, 25.03.2011, в 20:00 (Merianschule): Jitte! Приглашаю желающих вспомнить или выучить ката потренироваться вместе. Осу!
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Jitte
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Jitte
Some notes on Nijû Shi Ho
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Nijû Shi Ho
As I have promised here in blog and during the Friday kata keiko, here is a small list of important points and common errors in Nijû Shi Ho. I have highlighted all these moments during the Friday training, so it could be a kind of a reminder for those karatekas who attended the class. Thank you for your good work, guys! Osu!
I provide the names of techniques as well as their numbers according to the book of Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 10. Unsu, Sôchin, Nijû Shi Ho". Kodansha International, 1987. If some other names are used, then the source is provided.
1. hidari shô chûdan osae (step back to migi kôkutsu dachi): strong powerful movement, tension is increased.
5. migi mae sanchin dachi, ryô ken awase zuki: stay straight, hips are in shomen position, fists are on one vertical line, strong sanchin dachi, don't lock your knees, don't bend your knees too much.
7. ryô ken chûdan kakiwake: slow and powerful movement, pay attention to the correct position of fists (they are not horizontal, but inclined) and use the muscles of your back to pull arms to sides and down (try the block against a strong grip!)
8. hidari jôdan age uke: don't shift the weight to right leg before moving to left. "Sink down" with the block, strongly moving to the left.
10. migi chûdan kake shutô uke: don't shift all you weight to left leg before turning to the right. Again "sink down".
Another possible version: chûdan tate shutô uke. Can be seen in Hirokazu Kanazawa "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)", technique 9, or in Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt", Nijû Shi Ho, technique 9.
11. migi ken migi koshi, migi chûdan yoko kekomi: pay attention to the correct position of knee before and after the kick. Don't do chûdan yoko geri keage.
12. hidari chûdan zuki: this is gyaku zuki, not kagi zuki! Thus, an arm has to be straight. Turn your upper body, but don't turn your hips and don't break the stance. The stance has to be a solid kiba dachi. Don't forget strong hiki te.
16. migi tekubi chûdan makiotoshi, hidari teishô jôdan zuki: there is no chûdan gyaku tekubi kake uke before this technique in Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 10. Unsu, Sôchin, Nijû Shi Ho". You can see the absence of this technique in the video: Nijû Shi Ho performed by Asai Sensei in the JKA kata film (1960)
I have shown another possible version with chûdan gyaku tekubi kake uke. This version can be seen in Kanazawa Hirokazu "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)", technique 10B or in Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt", Nijû Shi Ho, technique 15.
But in any case, don't shift weight to the back leg when proceeding to this technique or doing directly the technique 16 from Nakayama's book. "Sink down" with the block.
17. migi jôdan haitô uchi, hidari gedan teishô uchi: again I have shown another version of the technique than in the Nakayama's book, gedan haitô uke. This version can be seen in Kanazawa Hirokazu "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)", technique 11 or in Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt", Nijû Shi Ho, technique 17. In Kanazawa's book this technique is not named explicitly, but the photo shows that the position of left hand is not teishô uchi, but haitô uke.
19. zenkutsu dachi, hidari shô gedan kokô sukui uke, migi shô gedan kokô tsukidashi: can be done in fûdo dachi.
I will update this list further, adding some more notes. Please watch the announcement list above!
I sincerely hope that this will help you to perfect the kata further. Osu!
As I have promised here in blog and during the Friday kata keiko, here is a small list of important points and common errors in Nijû Shi Ho. I have highlighted all these moments during the Friday training, so it could be a kind of a reminder for those karatekas who attended the class. Thank you for your good work, guys! Osu!
I provide the names of techniques as well as their numbers according to the book of Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 10. Unsu, Sôchin, Nijû Shi Ho". Kodansha International, 1987. If some other names are used, then the source is provided.
1. hidari shô chûdan osae (step back to migi kôkutsu dachi): strong powerful movement, tension is increased.
5. migi mae sanchin dachi, ryô ken awase zuki: stay straight, hips are in shomen position, fists are on one vertical line, strong sanchin dachi, don't lock your knees, don't bend your knees too much.
7. ryô ken chûdan kakiwake: slow and powerful movement, pay attention to the correct position of fists (they are not horizontal, but inclined) and use the muscles of your back to pull arms to sides and down (try the block against a strong grip!)
8. hidari jôdan age uke: don't shift the weight to right leg before moving to left. "Sink down" with the block, strongly moving to the left.
10. migi chûdan kake shutô uke: don't shift all you weight to left leg before turning to the right. Again "sink down".
Another possible version: chûdan tate shutô uke. Can be seen in Hirokazu Kanazawa "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)", technique 9, or in Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt", Nijû Shi Ho, technique 9.
11. migi ken migi koshi, migi chûdan yoko kekomi: pay attention to the correct position of knee before and after the kick. Don't do chûdan yoko geri keage.
12. hidari chûdan zuki: this is gyaku zuki, not kagi zuki! Thus, an arm has to be straight. Turn your upper body, but don't turn your hips and don't break the stance. The stance has to be a solid kiba dachi. Don't forget strong hiki te.
16. migi tekubi chûdan makiotoshi, hidari teishô jôdan zuki: there is no chûdan gyaku tekubi kake uke before this technique in Nakayama Masatoshi "Best Karate. Vol. 10. Unsu, Sôchin, Nijû Shi Ho". You can see the absence of this technique in the video: Nijû Shi Ho performed by Asai Sensei in the JKA kata film (1960)
I have shown another possible version with chûdan gyaku tekubi kake uke. This version can be seen in Kanazawa Hirokazu "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)", technique 10B or in Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt", Nijû Shi Ho, technique 15.
But in any case, don't shift weight to the back leg when proceeding to this technique or doing directly the technique 16 from Nakayama's book. "Sink down" with the block.
17. migi jôdan haitô uchi, hidari gedan teishô uchi: again I have shown another version of the technique than in the Nakayama's book, gedan haitô uke. This version can be seen in Kanazawa Hirokazu "Shotokan Karate International Kata (Vol. 2)", technique 11 or in Fiore Tartaglia "Shôtôkan-Kata ab dem Schwarzgurt", Nijû Shi Ho, technique 17. In Kanazawa's book this technique is not named explicitly, but the photo shows that the position of left hand is not teishô uchi, but haitô uke.
19. zenkutsu dachi, hidari shô gedan kokô sukui uke, migi shô gedan kokô tsukidashi: can be done in fûdo dachi.
I will update this list further, adding some more notes. Please watch the announcement list above!
I sincerely hope that this will help you to perfect the kata further. Osu!
Sunday 20 March 2011
Ryôzanpaku Tiger's recommended reading list is updated
The reading list is update with some books in German: Ryôzanpaku Tiger's recommended reading list
Thursday 17 March 2011
Special note for Freiburg karatekas: Friday kata training vote poll
Dear fellow Freiburg karatekas, I have added a poll for voting, where you can mark your preferences for Friday kata training. Till now I have been choosing katas according to my personal needs. Sooner or later we will go through all katas, but if some kata is of a special interest then we can practice it rather sooner than later. Please don't hesitate to tell me you preferences while seeing personally in dôjô. Osu!
Tuesday 15 March 2011
A reminder!!! Kata Training am Freitag - Kata training on Friday - Тренировка по ката в пятницу: 18.03.2011, 20 Uhr, Freiburg dôjô (Merianschule)
Thema des Kata Training am Freitag, 18.03.2011, um 20 Uhr (Merianschule): Nijû Shi Ho! Jeder, die Kata erinnern oder neu erlernen möchte, ist herzlich willkommen. Osu!
Topic of Kata training on Friday, 18.03.2011, at 20:00 (Merianschule): Nijû Shi Ho! Everyone, who want to recall the kata or to learn it, is welcome. Osu!
Тема тренировки по ката в пятницу, 18.03.2011, в 20:00 (Merianschule): Nijû Shi Ho! Приглашаю желающих вспомнить или выучить ката потренироваться вместе. Осу!
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Nijû Shi Ho
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Nijû Shi Ho
Topic of Kata training on Friday, 18.03.2011, at 20:00 (Merianschule): Nijû Shi Ho! Everyone, who want to recall the kata or to learn it, is welcome. Osu!
Тема тренировки по ката в пятницу, 18.03.2011, в 20:00 (Merianschule): Nijû Shi Ho! Приглашаю желающих вспомнить или выучить ката потренироваться вместе. Осу!
Tora Jo dôjô: Supplementary materials for kata training - дополнительные материалы для тренировки по ката: Nijû Shi Ho
Tora Jo dôjô: Some notes on Nijû Shi Ho
Friday 4 March 2011
Budovideos Online Shows: jiu-jitsu videos, live event streaming
Budovideos Online Shows - collection of jiu-jitsu videos. They also provide live event streaming including Jiu-jitsu World Championships, No Gi World Championships, and the Pan Jiu-jitsu Championships.
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