Confused or Suspicious?

Great post about the use of titles over at Ryoho Goju Ryu blog:

http://toudijutsu.blogspot.ca/2012/07/titles-and-ranks.html

It got me thinking, however.  It would be safe to assume that most people using these terms do so on purpose, with some intention of proving themselves greater than they are.  "I am headmaster Grand Kancho of Watchamacallit Ryu."  Rarely, in my experience, does one with the goods have a need to proclaim it as such.  Somewhat suspicious...

On the other hand, I am sure I am guilty of using Japanese terms out of context or inappropriately.  I never thought that Sempai/Senpai was limited to a single student.  In our dojo, we have several Sempai and a few Kohai.  It is based on rank, partly, but also on sticking around and helping out and such.  I am sure this is not the intended or original use.  But like many terms in English, I wonder at which point modern usage overrides traditional use.  There are untold number of words that no longer have the same meaning.  Doom is one that comes to mind - look up the original meaning and you will be surprised.

Grading Preparation

I have been focusing my time and energy towards a fall grading.  I have been going in to the dojo about three times a week, for a total of eight hours a week.  I have been debating what additional training I can cram in before the grading.  I wanted to get together with an aikido friend of mine for a little cross training, but nothing has happened yet - conflicting schedules being a major cause.

Anyways, I have been reading and watching videos as usual, and have come across a nice little post on Sanzinsoo's blog.

http://yamada-san.blogspot.ca/2012/07/practice-karate-in-park.html

Seemed to fit my own ideas.  The moral of the story - don't wait for the perfect time - that time is now!  Just go out and practice.

QED

Knife Defenses in Karate

After my last post (more of a reference to another blog, really) I was asked about what knife fighting might mean in karate specifically.  I thought this was a good idea, and below are some of my thoughts, presented in my usual style - scattered and stream of conscious.

I titled this post Knife Defenses and not Knife Fighting as I believe there is a key difference.  Knives are not expressly dealt with within the karate curriculum (although some waza from the kata do seem to apply readily to knife defenses), and the weapon itself is not taught as it is in other systems.  As such fighting would seem to imply that the practitioner him/her-self would have proficiency and familiarity with the weapon and its application.

Some arts that come to mind are koryu that deal with shoto, and some jujutsu styles that deal with dagger usage and defense.  There are of course the many styles throughout Asia, particularly Eskrima/Kali, Silat, and Kalaripayattu.  These styles all include the use of and training in short bladed weaponry as a part of regular syllabus.  Karate does not feature this weapon - even if we are to include Ryukyu Kobudo into the mix, the closest karate comes is to the Timbe and Rochin, namely a short spear or primitive knife with a shield.  I should add that in my experience these latter weapons are not typical of most kobudo schools - usually karate kobudo consists of bo, tonfa, sai and maybe nunchaku and kama.  I know that in my school kobudo technically consists of bo, tonfa and sai.  Other styles are added to the weapons program for diversity.

My experience with the knife has been limited to a small amount of Eskrima many years ago, mainly in light use of the balisong, as well as knife defenses in my current dojo.  Our focus is on a dedicated attack. Once you are inside the danger zone of the knife, you need to finish the encounter and the opponent immediately and brutally.  It is the only way you can be sure you will have time to call the ambulance, as you will likely be injured.

The nature of karate, which in my opinion is aimed at striking to change maai to allow for a throw and finishing strike, presents a bit of a dilemma.  Closing in seems to me to be a poor choice of technique when facing a fast slicing or stabbing weapon of short range.

That all being said, I do believe that a karateka has options when working on knife defenses.  The first is the tool/technique tai sabaki, or evasive body movements.  This is often used in a sparring context but should not be underestimated as a tool for both offensive and defensive capability.  I think it goes without saying that being in the right place at the right time means the difference between a successful technique and a disastrous technique.  Primarily for a knife fighting situation I envision the need to avoid being "inside" the arms, that is between either limb, and rather outside or behind the attacker.  This puts one in the best position to control the weapon/limb as well as be in position for a counter attack.

Another piece of advice with regards to weapons comes from Gichin Funakoshi's book Karate-Do Kyohan, in which he states that the karateka should always imagine the opponents hands and feet as blades.  Any strike in training should be avoided and controlled, and in this manner does the karateka keep him/her-self safe from harm while allowing for optimal defense.  I think this concept readily applies to knife defenses from an unarmed perspective.  I would say, overall, that the basic karate axioms for dealing with any attack is:

1. Control the attack
2. Position for counter
3. Counter and set up for finish
4. Finish and get the hell home ;)

I think that we can safely breakdown #1 into a) defend against the specific attack (block, redirect, grab, etc) and b) counter strike to disorient or buy time or fill the gap between 1 and 2.

Finally, I did some searching for other's take on knife defenses from a karate point of view, and this is what I found:

Goju Ryu Knife Defenses

This first video shows a couple of defenses, but I think the first one best illustrates what I mean by breaking down #1 in a) and b).  You can see evasive body movement (pulling back the torso), blocking and grabbing with a scissoring wrist technique (juji uke) and countering with a head butt.

Similarly I can think of a technique from the kata Shisochin, specifically the namesake of the kata - the four gates or four monk postures.  Please see this video, around 0:28 mark until 0:34.

Goju Ryu Kata Shisochin

We can see a redirection of an incoming thrust, the hand then sliding inside the attackers arm/wrist as a mild sticky-hands sort of temporary control.  Simultaneous to this is the palm heel to the face to disorient, buying time for further control of the weapon (preferably trapping the hand with it).

I also found something that worried me greatly and I think is a great example of a really poor choice of technique in general.  Please see the below link, down towards the bottom of the page is a picture of a karateka dropping to the floor to execute a roundhouse kick to the opponent's abdomen.

Karate Techniques Against a Knife

I can't think of a more worrisome position for a karateka - on the ground within range of a person who knows who to use a knife, all for the minimal gain of perhaps injuring the ribs?  With no further defensive recourse?  Even running away has been eliminated as an option.  Not my first choice even in a situation without a weapon.

Finally, I have an interesting video of knife defenses from another art.  I find it fascinating to see how this weapon is used and dealt with in a vastly different art from my own.

Kalaripayattu - Unarmed vs Knife

I would draw everyone's attention to a few points in this video.  First the evasive body motions, second the control of the weapon and the limb through simultaneous blocking/striking, third improvisation of a tool to help engage the enemy, and fourth the closing of range in a manner beneficial only for the defender and disadvantageous for the attacker.  The finishing technique is part throw/take-down and finishing strike.  I like this clip as I see it as embodying the same principles as karate's approach to self defense.

As always, I look forward to other's comments.  I know my own insights are somewhat lacking due to my lack of training in knives as a weapon.

Knife Fighting in Karate?

I read a great article today over at the Prevail Training blog about Knife Fighting versus Knife Defense.  I have capitalized those words because in the article a very good point about how this is treated in martial arts circles is made.

Article here.

I got me thinking a bit about what a karate response to a knife attack would be.  Always more questions without answer, but I believe each one leads closer to the answer of what is the spirit of my practice.

The Grading Process

With a grading looming before year's end, I find myself delving deeply into the philosophy of the combative arts.  I have been thinking about the nature of grading and its importance in budo and the benefits that it brings.

Don't get me wrong - I don't have a thirst to grade.  I find it stressful to some degree (pun intended) but I have been thinking about the nature of grading and it is an important stress.  Before every grading, our Sensei starts focusing on us - our techniques, basics, applications, forms, partner drills, fitness.  And this is an opportunity to revisit everything that has built up since the last grading and put it under the microscope.

What I mean is that in the time between gradings, we are stewing and try to absorb different methods of power generation, different forms, stances, strikes, techniques and generally come to a different and more advanced level of body awareness.  Sometimes we develop distancing, another timing, and still others the more intangible aspects like go no sen just from watching someone's eyes.  But it is all just a matter of keeping the water boiling, adding ingredients to the pot, and seeing what comes of it.  You gain a certain level of comfort with what you have learned, tweaking it to suit, and developing some confidence.

Grading time is the painful process of realizing how little you know, how much more there is to learn, and admitting that you have bad habits that you need to break through sheer will.  Been doing the kata with a certain emphasis the whole time, and now you find out it has to change.  You need to correct yourself everytime you do it, and you don't want to slow down again, but you need to force yourself to do it.  Face your secret shame, defeat your ego, and start again.

You begin the process of breaking down everything you know down to an instinctual level, and re-build it in a new form, incorporating the new and the old into something greater than what it was.  I see it like a building, with additions and wings and balconies added on hodge-podge.  Now you take apart all the materials and build anew, with a different design in mind and incorporating all of the additions you will need.

To strain another metaphor, preparing is like forging a blade.  You take the raw materials and create a rough shape, constantly refining until it is where you want it.  Then the final period before it is finished, you are put under great pressure, heat and it must be done in a short time frame.  The blade serves well, but over time gathers nicks and changes that must be totally undone through reforging again.

Opportunity knocks.  I must answer.  But the couch is comfie. ;)