The Masters Speak! (podcast) | Iain Abernethy

Here is a podcast by Iain Abernethy on different quotes from the Karate pioneers on their views and development of the ancient Okinawan art.
The Masters Speak! (podcast) | Iain Abernethy

Context! Context! Context! (podcast) | Iain Abernethy

Here is a Podcast by Iain Abernethy explaining on the context in Martial Arts. What is the purpose of a particular fighting discipline and so forth. 
Context! Context! Context! (podcast) | Iain Abernethy

“The Reverse Influence” An Obsolete Training Method?

Most of us as Martial Arts instructors more specifically Karate have become too much modernize, especially those who had the program passed down to them. We got too caught up into the 20^th century format of Karate. For the price for our flaws in making the changes we need to have, students began to lose interest because of the limited amount of information given to them. Other Martial Artists from other disciplines are being critical on Karate saying that Kata training is useless; the “style” is not that effective for the modern age and other criticisms.

What we fail to do is to look back at our roots, the History of our discipline, then make the certain changes. Or we know the History, but we are unwilling to adopt the principles. Do I see a generation of thinking people coming along? Do I see a generation of open minded people coming along? It is a maybe. The origin of the unarmed combat system originated in the Ryukyu kingdom (Okinawan Prefecture). In the 1920’s the art known as Karate was introduced into Japan. Karate was changed into a sport for competition to compete against equally skilled opponents and adopting a belt ranking system. Its origins were meant for personal self protection against an unskilled opponent. Kata has many effective self-defense moves called bunkai or practical analysis that was passed down from teacher to student. In the early 1900’s a Karate master by the name Anko Itosu introduced Karate into the elementary school system. In order to avoid any accidents amongst the young school children, he did away with practical application/analysis and focus on teaching the children only kata, inventing 5 Pinan/Heian forms. After the second World War, westerners learned the contemporary format of Karate in addition to other Japanese and Korean Martial Arts. The Westerners have adopted the modern format of Karate from static, linear basics to kata with no practical bunkai.

The result was that the program that was adopted was obsolete for self protection. I quote Hanshi Patrick McCarthy, “The Reverse Influence”. That’s what it is, is it obsolete? If it is for sport, if it is to increase self-confidence, spiritual growth, self-esteem, etc., no, but if it is to understand the science, the principles, and the practical intricacies of the art yes the reverse influence is obsolete. The rigid traditional doctrines were being taught and learned are out of sequence, confined by the 3K training method, Kihon (Basics), Kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring). If you end up learning things backwards, you will most likely get confused and it has nothing to do with learning disabilities or differences, but the human mind while nurturing combative systems is designed to be taught in order to gain more sense in understanding the principles. Humans are animals, if you travel to Africa, go to the zoo, or visit a local Pet store you will see cubs or even kittens wrestling each other, therefore animals are designed to utilize fighting techniques by working with a partner instead of throwing a bunch of moves in thin air. The ancients developed grappling systems, boxing, and weaponry systems and passed on to other countries around the time that African people were moving throughout the Diaspora in the Prehistoric age.

While we get to Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate (formally called Tode), the order of learning the combative systems were passed down to the natives. The natives developed the fighting art into two-person drills, and then in order to store the effective fighting techniques or principles in their memory banks, they have recorded the techniques into dance and into prearranged set patterns called forms; in Japanese it is called kata. Kata are templates. Kata names such as Saifa, Passai/Bassai, Kushanku/Kanku, Naihanchi/Tekki, Seiyunchin, are templates of effective techniques that neutralizes the Habitual Acts of Physical Violence. Kata are not a set of moves to fight multiple opponents that is a big misconception to the Western people who adopted the modern Asian Martial Arts, specifically Karate. Hanshi McCarthy’s 36 Habitual Acts of Physical Violence have attack scenarios such as hook punches, bear hugs, full-nelson etc. where the defender needs to get out of. The unfortunate thing is that students do not appreciate kata training. It is not the fault of the students; it is the fault of the instructors for failing to upgrade their learning and not teaching them practical bunkai. Kata is used in the modern era of Martial Arts for gradings to give students a new belt rank, almost doing away of studying the practical applications/analysis, to these templates. Furthermore, the teaching structure is out of order. You will get questions of why do we do this? Why are you so picky on these stances? What does this do and that do? But don’t tell them specifically or withhold information until they reach a certain level. This is in my humble opinion, most of us these days are following the narrow dogmatic view of belt rank levels. The reverse influence of training is incompatible to the human body while training in a combative discipline. The development of Okinawan Karate had no belt ranks and training uniforms until its introduction to mainland Japan in the 20^th century called the dan/kyu belt ranking system. In my belief, an adult novice should be able to learn two-person drills may it be from one point sparring to the practical bunkai and reality-base role playing scenarios, do not hold back in teaching these things, teach the student to your heart’s content. There are no boundaries between what is basic and what is advance. True, certain self-defense moves can be confusing to the beginner, but that is no different from learning how to execute a low block on the very first day at the dojo, practice over and over to get better with it. Personally, I do not fully believe to say this self-defense move is reserved for blue belt level, if I feel it is too advance for the student, I won’t bother putting it in a grading, since more practice is needed. I’ll put more focus on the more simplistic self-defenses, the others are bonuses. Learning bunkai from a variety of templates to a novice can be a step above than an individual learning a Green belt kata, but haven’t gotten the bunkai yet.

 Times have changed and many people needed a crash course in personal self-protection than just getting trophies and belt ranks, and it should be catered first instead of Kihon and kata to all ages. When it comes to kids, joint-locks, pressure points (kyusho), knife and firearm self-defense is too much for them and they lack control while doing these things in the dojo increasing the chances of injury, self-defense from grabs and Ne-waza (ground technique) is good enough. Every student in all ages shall appreciate the entire training curriculum of classical Karate, with no dislikes in any part of their training. Every student who wants to learn self-defense from bullies, thieves, rapists and killers would benefit greatly from training from a more comprehensive program. Karate students has a diverse range of individuals coming from different occupations, such as Law enforcement, military personnel, grocery clerks, bank clerks, and students  needed self-defense strategies during these perilous times since physical confrontations can happen anywhere. The human mind has always been designed to learn two-person enactment then break off to solo enactment or the recording period to refine the techniques and understand the principles better. Learning two-person enactment at the start of training can help the student to react out of instinct instead of thinking, since thinking about technique too much can be the enemy. Altogether they will gain some knowledge in understanding what the blocks, strikes, and stances against the acts of physical violence to off balance, disable, and maim an attacker who is threatening your life before breaking off into Kihon and Kata.

   Belt Ranks is a modern concept. The problem is that many instructors are too focused on the narrow dogmatic view of belt ranks and the ideal time periods they are supposed to grade for. I say that I care less about time when a student should get from yellow belt to orange belt. Keep in mind that every individual has learning style differences. Some people can soak things up like a sponge, while some pick things up slowly. For slow learners I believe that the proper order of training these individuals should not be change over to the reverse influence 3K training. Coordination will be decent if beginners learned two-person enactment before single person drills. Slow learners should be patient in getting things and fast learners should be patient in learning new things, since so many things need to be sharpened up, and to fully understand the principles.                

Training in Karate can bring about self-confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline, holistic well being, etc., these are byproducts. Students in all ages should be able to grasp some practical bunkai for self-defenses and then learn Kihon and Kata, that way they can understand what these moves do to a certain level. Instructors in all titles should not be too focused on holding things back for self-defense drills, if you want to teach the novice ippon kumite, joint-locking techniques, grappling, knife self-defense based on katas they have never learned yet, go ahead and do that, do not worry if they forget most of it, as long as they are interested and understand the waza (techniques). Do not focus too much on belt ranks, on what they should learn in self-defenses, show them many things, and then give the important ones they need to know for their upcoming test along with their required kata(s). Kata shall in time be more appreciated to students. Knowledge is power; do not take it for granted.

                                                                                                              Hotep,

                                                                                                              Jonathan Bynoe

Study Guide of Goju-ryu Karate

Translations:

Geri      -    Kicks                                                    Dachi - Stances

Mae Geri – Front Kick                                          Heisoku Dachi – Attention Stance

Yoko Geri – Side Kick                                          Heiko Dachi – Natural Stance

Ushiro Geri – Back Kick                                       Kiba Dachi – Straddle Stance

Mawashi Geri – Roundhouse Kick                       Zenkutsu Dachi – Forward Leaning Stance

Mikazuki Geri – Crescent Kick                            Kokutsu Dachi – Back Stance

Fumikomi Geri – Stompin Kick                           Neko Aishi Dachi – Cat Stance

Kinsetsu Geri – Joint Kick                         Sanchin Dachi – Three Battle Stance/Hourglass Stance

Mae Tobi Geri – Flying Front Kick                      Shiko Dachi – Sumo Stance

Yoko Tobi Geri – Flying Side Kick                     Musubi Dachi – Formal Attention Stance

Nami Aishi – Inside Snapping Kick

Ashi Barai – Foot Sweep

Hiza Geri – Knee Kick

Miscellaneous

Sensei – Teacher                                         Kiyotsuke - Attention

Sempai – Senior                                          Yoi - Ready

Karate-do – Way of the Empty Hand          Hajime – Go/Begin

Karate-Jutsu – Art of the Empty Hand        Kime - Focus

Rei – Bow                                           Dojo- Place of the Way/Training Hall/Place of Enlightment

Seiza – Kneel                                                Makiwara – Punching Board

Mukso – Meditate                                        Kiai – Shouting Spirit

Yame – Stop                                                Obi - Belt  

Gi – Karate/Judo Uniform                                                 Zuki - Strikes

Ippon – One point                                                         Oi Zuki – Lunge Punch

Karateka – Karate (Empty Hand) Student                     Gyaku Zuki – Reverse Punch

Kihon Kumite – Basic Sparring                                    Morte Zuki – Two Handed Punch

Kata – Forms                                                                  Seiken Zuki – Fore Fist Straight Punch

Jiyu Kumite – Free Sparring                                          Ura Ken - Backfist

Ryu – School/Style                                                        Tetsui – Hammer Fist

Ippon Kumite – One Point Sparring                              Kazama Zuki - Jab

Goju – Hard/Soft                                                            Mawashi Zuki – Roundhouse Punch

   Uke - Blocks                                                               Nukite – Spear Hand

  Jodan Uke – High Block                                            Teisho Zuki – Palm Heel Strike

 Uchi Uke/Chudan Uke – Inside Middle Block            Haito Zuki – Ridge Hand Strike

Gedan Barai – Downward Sweeping Block                 Shuto Zuki – Knife Hand Strike

Soto Uke – Outside Middle Block                                 Empi Zuki – Elbow Strike

Mawashi Uke – Circular Block

Kake Uke – Hooking Block

Counting in Japanese

Ichi – One            Ku - Nine

Ni – Two             Ju - Ten

San – Three

Shi – Four

Go – Five

Roku – Six

Shichi – Seven

Hachi – Eight

Kata Training

Kata – generally translates as form, is a predetermined series of fighting techniques against an imaginary opponent. Kata are templates responding to the Habitual Acts of Physical Violence (HAPV-Theory). Kata is a summarization of effective self-defense techniques to neutralize the acts of physical violence. In these templates in what is called kata, they have blocks, strikes, takedowns, throws, joint-locks, Ne-waza (ground techniques).

The Kata allow the student to fully express the four basic tenants of Karate: Speed, Strength, Beauty, and Technique.

The Six Areas of Kata:

Eyes

Pace

Technique

Breathing

Kiai

Kime

The Kiai points in Kata usually fall on a finishing technique.

To understand and appreciate the solo enactment called kata, one must learn some two-person drills such as self-defense, Bunkai-applications, Ippon Kumite, and flow-drills first.

Basic Drills

Goju-roku Aishi Sabaki-Tai Sabaki – 56 Foot Movements

Sandan Gi – Third Level Training

Goju-ryu Kata Translations

Taikyouku Gedan – First Course Lower

Taikyouku Chudan – First Course Middle

Taikyouku Jodan – First Course Upper

Taikyouku Mawashi-uke – First Course Circular Block

Taikyouku Kake-uke – First Course Hooking Block

Gekisai Dai Ichi – Attack & Smash One

Gekisai Dai Ni – Attack & Smash Two

Sanchin – Three Battles/Conflicts

Tensho – Rotating Hands

Saifa – Smash & Tear/Destroy & Defeat

Seiyunchin – Attack, Conquer & Suppress

Shisoshin – 27 Hands

Sanseiru – 36 Hands

Seisan – 13 Hands

Seipai – 18 Hands

Kururunfa – Holding on Long and Striking Suddenly

Suparimpei – 108 Hands

Karate Titles:

Kyu – Boy/Intiate

Dan – Man

Sempai – Senior

Dai-Sempai – Great Senior

Sensei – Teacher

Dai-Sensei/O’Sensei – Great Teacher or Highest Respected Teacher

Shihan – Master or Expert Teacher

Seito Deshi – a student or disciple of Martial Arts

Uchi Deshi – a personal student who lives and trains with the Sensei or Master of Martial Arts

Renshi – Skilled Expert

Kyoshi – Master Teacher

Hanshi – Model Expert

Kancho – a title given to the head of a dojo or organization

Soke – founder of a system or a style

Meijin – Martial Arts Master

The Five Major Styles of Karate
Goju-ryu - Hard/Soft school
Shito-ryu - Higaonna/Itosu school
Shotokan - House of Waving Pines
Wado-ryu - Way of Harmony School
Kyokushin-kai - Ultimate Truth
General Translations/Definitions

Bunkai – Applications/analysis found in kata (templates) generally thought of as the most commonly attributed fighting techniques for any given movement

Oyo Bunkai – are most commonly viewed as the application principles upon which a technique is based on. Oyo is usually performed as a set of prearranged applications done between partners in a flow drill. It may differ from the single person drill (kata)

Okuden Waza – Secret techniques that have been intentionally concealed in kata. Most of the truly dangerous advanced techniques are deliberately concealed.

(from p.14 of The Way of Kata by Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder)

The animal that represents the Goju-ryu system is the dragon
The five Karate animals: Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, Monkey

4 Possessions of the Samurai – 1) Integrity 2) Honour 3) Time 4) Loyalty

*Time is more important because once you lose time, you cannot get it back!

The Kanji symbol for our dojo means Integrity or non-corruptive

Karate is the expansion and contraction of the human body, while in motion, in a state of total harmony with the universe to produce maximum destructive power while at the same time neutralizing incoming aggression with the least amount of energy, obtained through hard, physical training to unify the mind, body and spirit for the purpose of self-enlightment and to promote world peace. –Hanshi Christopher Diliberto

Mushin – No mind or detached mind

Fudoshin – Immovable mind

Zanshin – the remaining mind or the mind with no remainder

Mizu no Kokoro – mind like water

Tenets of Goju-ryu

1.      We are proud to study the spirit of Goju

2.      We shall practice courtesy

3.      We shall be quick to seize opportunity

4.      We shall always practice patience

5.      We shall always keep the fighting spirit of Karate-do

History of Goju-ryu Karate

http://www.heritagemartialarts.com/about/history-of-goju-ryu-karate/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goju-ryu

Recommended Reading

An Introduction to Applied Karate by Iain Abernethy (ebook) available at http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk

Jissen Magazine available at http://www.jissenmag.com

Comprehensive Karate by Michael Rosenbaum (ebook) made available at http://iainabernethy.co.uk/news/free-comprehensive-karate-e-book-back-online

                          

                                                                                                                          Jonathan Bynoe

Martial Arts View: S4:E4: TSW: Sensei Patrick McCarthy

Here is a documentary on Hanshi Patrick McCarthy from Martial Arts view.
Martial Arts View: S4:E4: TSW: Sensei Patrick McCarthy

Jonathan

Understanding the Do (way) in our Lives

I have watched Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith a number of times. I remember this scene where Anakin Skywalker was in the meditation room with Yoda. Yoda asked him, “Premonitions? What premonitions do you have?” Anakin responded, “They are about pain and suffering.” Yoda asked, “Someone close to you?” Anakin replied, “Yes.”  Then Yoda said, “Be careful when sensing the future Anakin, the shadow of greed is the path of the darkside.” The Star Wars prequels have a message that simply says about fearing about losing everything. That fear, greed and attachments can lead to the darkside of the force. That leads to the development of dysfunctional families, and disastrous relationships. After reading this and grabbing this, you will say to yourself, “Hey, I got to improve myself in my everyday life.” The message I want to share with you is called Understanding the Do in our lives. I dedicate this message for all my classmates, past and present.

When we grow and develop, we are always faced with challenges. In the Martial Arts world we naturally strive to meet our goals and face challenges. Everytime you earn a new rank, it will get harder. In the real world we are faced with challenges, while going to school, getting a new job, going to a job, going into a relationship, starting a family, starting a business, etc. We evolve and change with the times. I’m not going to pick sides or be shovenistic. I’m here to speak my point of view. Training in the Martial Arts is not just a hobby or a job for those who run their own dojos/schools, it is a way of life and many of us in the Western world are missing it, not understanding that the Martial Arts are a part of your life. Many people that I have trained with are now gone simply because their personal problems and their busy lives caught up with them. In my personal opinion if you have personal problems, don’t quit on what you love to do because of certain excuses, just keep doing what you are doing, it’s ok to take time off, but don’t quit. The training is part of your life that’s the essence of the warrior spirit. Many western Martial Artists are far removed from grasping the concept of Do or the way. Every Martial Artist should balance their life between their busy life and their Martial life. You must persevere through your burdens in life if you love training in the Martial Arts.

One problem I can think of is the burden of relationships both in courtship and marriage. Now I’m not some sort of love Doctor or specialist or a marriage counselor, but I see that the problem lies in the lack of understanding and the perception of neglect. For me, I don’t have a big load to carry outside of the dojo. I am single with no kids, enjoying my training and other duties until it lasts. I must admit that I felt bad for others that had busy lives catching up to them. One thing that most of us both kids and adults don’t get is that Martial Arts training takes a lot of commitment and devotion, of course it depends if you are training in a legitimate dojo and not an over commercialized dojo. Furthermore, if you want to go to black belt level, you have to make sacrifices if you wanted it that bad. There are certain requirements that have to be made before grading for 4 or 5 hours. It is important to have support for your family and friends, it is important to have support from your spouse or significant others. If your girlfriend or boyfriend lacks that support and complains about spending quality time, call it quits in that relationship. I’m not playing, call it quits. Individuals in Martial Arts got the choice to decide; it has to be one or the other that is being emotionally attached. If your significant other is not understanding and unable to control attachments emotionally, then you must let go. Like Yoda said in that movie Revenge of the Sith to Anakin, “Train yourself to let go of everything you are about to lose.” Let me transliterate that, Yoda means that you must be prepared and accept to let go of the things and the people you love, if you are not prepared for things to come, you will be emotionally scarred. The choice is left for all of you, there are so many choices, so many paths in life, but in my humble opinion I find it silly to give up the things that are part of your life completely for a demanding boyfriend or girlfriend. We have been called by the spirit of our warriors ancestors that dwell within the cosmos to do a service in developing the Montu (Martial) Arts, and to do a service for the community. Don’t forsake your passion. Everytime I have the chance to talk to the young kids and teenagers in tournaments and seminars and connected with them. Telling them to keep doing what you’re doing, and keep up the great work, you can do whatever that makes you happy.  

As a kid I have two older siblings, a sister and a brother being 13 and 14 years older than me. By the time they had graduated college and go out into the real world. They were hardly home, and before all that changed, I have spent lots of fun times with my siblings, and then I have almost felt I was the only child, and I began to miss them everytime. I was still in elementary school at the time. But overtime I was used to them not being home much, and began to understand that they are working to make a living. We are not prepared to let go of our attachments and accept the changes of our lives of us and the people we love. Or maybe we don’t like change, we like to keep things the way they are plain and simple. Iain Abernethy said, “If you keep doing the same easy things, then you are not challenging yourself, you are not progressing.” I felt for Iain, for all the years of work he has done for the Martial Arts community, he had recently went through a divorce.  The man had obstacles, but it didn’t stop him completely for doing what he loves most. That is the “Do”, the way of Martial Arts training. I love the man’s works. The world can be cruel place, but if you work hard and put your mind to it, you can get rewards, not only financially, but spiritually, for spirituality is your highest savior. People who are reading this message may not do nothing to change the way they think and keep doing the same old thing. You folks sitting there would say, man, Sempai Jonathan is deep, woah buddy, brother Jonathan can drop a load of knowledge on us, and then don’t follow through to change things, and move along with times. Number 4 of the 8 Poems of the Fist from the Bubishi says, “Act in accordance with time and change.” How can we be so ignorant? How can we miss that train? We fail to understand that Martial Arts such as Karate-do should help improve our lives not only in the training halls but outside of it as well. If you graduate from high school or college, your life is going to change and you cannot fight it.

On the first day I walked into the dojo, I was an introverted young man, wondering if Martial Arts was for me, despite enjoying watching Martial Arts action movies and becoming a fan of Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly, Jason David Frank, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Wesley Snipes. Progressing in your Martial Arts training is no different than progressing in your life, going through school, getting a job, living on your own and raising a family. The journey is difficult, faced with setbacks, but little by little you make the effort to improve. I prefer to take baby steps instead of huge steps instead of rushing in head first to expect to let things happen overnight. As a wise man told me, “Small changes makes big differences.” After succeeding in earning my black belt, being in that rank is a hard life. I have to change from being a student only to a leadership role and a student at the same time. I had to admit that teaching children was not my biggest thing, but I believed that I have made improvements little by little everyday. The Do in Karate helped improve my life, my self-confidence and self-esteem, my social and communication skills had also improved. All this didn’t happen overnight, it took me time and work to make my life more productive. In the Martial Arts, patience is important, don’t worry about trying to be like this guy or that crowd, worry about improving yourself and don’t expect to possess an improved life overnight or to master some self-defense moves overnight. Remember, do the training for you and not for the other guy or that crowd.

In the name of the brotherhood of the Montu Arts, we must open our eyes and realize that Martial Arts training should be a part of our lives and let nothing stop you. That is the big problem we are facing in the Western world. We must keep in mind to balance our Martial Arts training to our lives outside of it and to have productive relationships and many other things in your life. We must expect to be faced with obstacles and overcome them to improve ourselves. We are warriors chosen by our warrior ancestors for we shall feel them working through us. We must come to the light of right knowledge in understanding the Do in our lives, know what is right inside you and let nobody dictate your life.   

                                                                                                                           Hotep,

                                                                                                                                Jonathan

A Brief History of Kata | Iain Abernethy

In addition to the Study Guide I have posted, here is an article written by Iain Abernethy called A brief History of Kata.
A Brief History of Kata | Iain Abernethy

Sempai Jonathan

Study Guide on the History of Karate

This study guide that I have compiled includes page references from Hanshi Patrick McCarthy’s translation of the Bubishi: The Manual of Classical Combat.

Martial Arts definition & etymological study – Martial represents militaristic combat, military science, military strategy, warfare tactics or anything dealing with war. Martial comes from the word Mars. In Greco-Roman mythology, Mars is the Roman god of war. Martial Art is deifying the Roman God of war. Therefore, it is a European terminology.

 Establishment of Okinawa and its fighting arts (references from the Bubishi)

-          place of origin for the fighting system was the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawan Prefecture)

-          outside influences of the fighting arts of Okinawa are Southern China, Kyushu (province of Japan), Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines due to open trade routes and military invasions

Hanshi Patrick McCarthy’s theories of how Karate developed in Okinawa

There are four common theories explaining the development of Karate (p. 78)

-          The unarmed fighting traditions were developed by peasants

-          The second claims the Okinawan fighting arts were primarily influenced by Chinese arts that were taught by the 36 families

-          The third theory concerns the 1507 weapons ban by King Sho-Shin, which led to an increased need by wealthy landowners for an effective means of defending themselves and their property

-          The fourth theory claims that the arts were developed primarily by domestic security and law enforcement personnel who were not allowed to carry weapons after the 1609 invasion of Okinawa by the Satsuma Clan

-          In 1368CE Hong Wu liberated the Ryukyu kingdom from Mongol occupation, that brought the collapse of the Mongol Empire being the Yuan Dynasty, its last  Mongolian Dynasty

-          Emperor Hong Wu founded the Ming Dynasty in 1372CE and opened trading relationships with the Ryukyu Kingdom

-          In 1393CE the 36 families migrated from Southern China to Kuninda, Naha (Kume Village, Naha, Okinawa)

-          Important to note: Ryukyu Kingdom was split into three rival kingdoms Hokuzan (northern Kingdom), Chuzan (central Kingdom), Nanzan (southern Kingdom), until 1429CE King Sho-Hashi united the three kingdoms into one called at that time Ryukyu Kingdom

-          King Sho-shin came to power in 1477CE, in 1507CE King Sho-shin banned private ownership of weapons

-          In 1609 the Satsuma invasion (83-84)

-          The ban of weapons resumed and the art of Kobujutsu/kobudo further developed

-          Ryukyu Kingdom was oppressed by the Satsuma and constantly attacked

-          The invasion has caused the ban of Toudi (Karate) however the Okinawan combative system was practiced in secrecy

Evolution of Karate (89-95)

-          Karate was formally called Te trans. Hand Okinawan (Hogen dialect) spelling: Ti

-          Other names over the periods of time was called To-de Okinawan spelling Toudi trans. China Hand

-          In the 1800’s and 1900’s Toudi was split into three distinct systems named after the three Okinawan cities Shuri, Tomari and Naha they were called Naha-Te, Shuri-Te and Tomari-Te

-          During the turn of the century, Toudi-jutsu was being modernized

-          In 1868 Japan was westernized, abandoning feudalism and embracing democracy

-          Japan was growing into an imperial power right into the 20^th century

-          The Ryukyu Kingdom was renamed the Okinawan Prefecture or Okinawa and that kingdom is now a regional province of Japan

-          At the turn of the century Toudi-jutsu was going to be put into the school system, this marked the modernization of Okinawa’s fighting art

-          Anko Itosu, a school teacher introduced Karate to the school children in the early 1900’s

-          However, seeing the art was too deadly and hazardous for school children, Itosu did away with the HAPV-theory (Habitual Acts of Physical Violence) and practical analysis to use as self-defense (bunkai) for only school children and made the art more of an activity to develop confidence, health, self-esteem etc.

-          He (Itosu) invented the first basic kata series designed to teach children called Pinan series there are 5 Pinan katas

-          The techniques are based off of various advanced templates such as Passai, Kushanku, Wanshu, Chinto to name a few Shorin discipline katas

-          In October of 1908, Itosu written the 10 Precepts (94-95) *also sited in Okinawan Karate by Mark Bishop and Comprehensive Karate by Michael Rosenbaum

-          Itosu’s student Gichin Funakoshi was the most fundamental for the modernization of Karate

-          It was Funakoshi who made the changes

-          Funakoshi introduced the dan/kyu ranking system along with a training uniform (Gi) influenced by Judo founder Jigoro Kano (88-89)

-          Note: belt ranking system did not exist in Okinawa when Karate was developing; the natives trained in loin cloth, T-shirt and pants or shorts.

-          Many of the Japanese Martial Arts were changing from battle effective arts to sport Martial Arts

-          ie Jujutsu, Akijutsu, Iaijutsu, Kobujutsu, Kenjutsu, Karate-jutsu the suffix jutsu trans. As art or science

-          The suffix for their fighting systems were changed to “Do” ie. Judo Aikido, Iaido, Kobudo, Kendo, Karate-do etc. the suffix Do trans. As way or path in order to make the Japanese Martial Arts a sport

-            In the 1920’s Karate was introduced to mainland Japan, the most influential person to ever propagate Karate to Japan was Gichin Funakoshi

-          In order to accept Karate into Japan he went about other changes in term of kata names

Okinawan                                 Japanese

              Pinan                                         Heian

             Niseishi                                     Nijushiho

            Kushanku                                 Kanku (Dai/Sho)

            Okinawan                               Japanese

            Passai                                     Bassai (Dai/Sho)

            Useishi                                  Gojushiho (Dai/Sho)

           Wanshu                                     Enpi

            Rohai                                       Meikyo

           Chinto                                      Gankaku

-          These changes were made because the Japanese are prejudiced against the Chinese people, anything about China, their culture and so forth

-          The katas that developed in the Okinawan Prefecture were either in the Okinawan dialect (Hogen) or the kata name was named after a Chinese person (ie, Kushanku, Wanshu, Chinto etc.) were eventually changed over in a different name in Japanese yet the versions of these templates are similar from one another to suit Japanese society

-          The saying for the Okinawan system had been changed from Toudi or Te to Karate in order to abolish any Chinese resemblance or influence to the  art that was being introduced to mainland Japan

-          Toudi trans. As China Hand, Karate trans. As empty hand

-          Etymological break down: Kara trans. Empty, nothingness and Te trans. hand

-          Another change was the 3K teaching structure

-          In order to have Karate-do become a sport like Judo and Kendo, the teaching structure was geared more to the student preparing for competition than the streets

-          The Order is: Kihon, Kata, Kumite,

-          The older ways of teaching Karate to students stood the test of time more than the Japanese and westernized format

-          Based on the research from Patrick McCarthy, Iain Abernethy and Michael Rosenbaum I have modified the teaching/training concepts of Martial Arts to make it more comprehensive for all ages and also brought those concepts to the Afrocentric level

The Jonathan Bynoe Teaching/training Structure Concept

A)    Two-Person Drills

-          Self-defense/analysis/applications, flow drills, grappling, kumite/sparring

B)    Single Person Drills (recording the self-defense techniques)

-          Kihon/Basics/exercise drills, dance rituals, kata/forms, shadow boxing, bag work

-          Four main Karate systems Goju-ryu (Hard-soft school), Wado-ryu (Way of Harmony school), Shotokan (House of Waving Pines), and Shito-ryu (Higaonna-Itosu school) have developed in Okinawa and exported into mainland Japan in between the 1920’s and 1930’s

-          Goju-ryu was founded by Chojun Miyagi

-          Gogen Yamaguchi opened a Goju-ryu school in Japan in 1930 and in 1933 it was the first Karate system registered into the Dai-Nippon Butoku-kai

-          Shotokan was founded by Gichin Funakoshi

-          Wado-ryu was founded by Hironori Ohtsuka

-          Shito-ryu was founded by Kenwa Mabuni

-          The other three Karate systems followed along being registered in DNBK

-          Karate was changed into a sport, implemented as a tournament bounded by rules

-          The embusen rule was heavily implemented, mainly in Shotokan

-          Modern Karate was influenced by Western boxing

-          Gogen Yamaguchi invented Jiyu Kumite (free sparring), it becomes to this day a popular division in Karate tournaments

-          The Gekisai/Fukyu katas were invented by Chojun Miyagi of Goju-ryu and Shoshin Nagamine of Matsubayashi-ryu in 1940 meant to teach basic katas to kids and beginners

-           The Taikyouku katas were invented by Gichin Funakoshi of Shotokan and there are different variations of Taikyouku Katas taught in various Karate systems basic katas to teach to beginner and kids in a more simplistic way

-          The Pinan/Heian, Gekisai katas, and the Taikyouku katas are non-traditional katas, they are basic katas to introduce the beginner to simplistic katas
-    After World War II, American forces who were stationed in Okinawa and mainland Japan trained in Karate, Judo and other Japanese Martial Art systems
-    Somtime in between the 1950's (during the Korean War) and the 1960's Karate and other Asian Martial Arts made it's way into the U.S. and later to Canada and Mexico.
-   This marked the golden age for Karate when tournaments were booming in the US in the 60's and 70's

Recommended Reading

The Bubishi: The Manual of Classical Combat Trans. Patrick McCarthy

Comprehensive Karate by Michael Rosenbaum (e-book)

Okinawan Karate by Mark Bishop

                                                                                                                          Jonathan Bynoe           

The Corrupt Business of Martial Arts

I would like to speak to you at the matter at hand for a moment, the many years of Martial Arts schools and organizations have been the cancer for the development and growth of the Martial Arts. What I am about to share with you is a continuation of a previous blog called Egotism: Our own Worst Enemy. This blog is mostly geared to high ranking instructors in their own respected system(s) of Martial Arts. Instructors should open their eyes to understand what they’re doing is wrong. Students should open their eyes and realize that this particular place is bad and finding someplace else to stay is a must. This message is what got so many of us messed up. Throughout my eight years of Martial Arts training, I have heard about the whole fiasco filled with backstabbers, scammers, and liars that can do anything to make themselves rich off of a business where you teach students to build self-confidence, self-defense, self-esteem, improving health, and many spiritual benefits abroad. Therefore there are certain individuals that care only about the business than just helping others improve their needs. I earned the title of Sempai in August 2011. At first it wasn’t a big deal for me, but down the road it sunk in. The reason was that I have done so much work and commitment for the Martial Arts community. I believed that I am great on the tournament floor, on the judging rows, in the dojo training, and on the dojo floor teaching. One thing is that a part of me says this is a burden; a heavy load to carry, but despite that, I love what I do. If I don’t, then I would have left it all behind. I would never forget what my dad said, “Everyone has their own cross to bear.” Although the saying is more to the religious mind, it can in many ways be symbolic to the reality of what we do in our everyday lives.

In the past, there are Martial Art masters that are legends, but little is known to us that they can have flaws as an average human being. Those in the Martial Arts community thought that Peter Urban was a nutcase and a loony, but one thing was that he was a great Martial Artist of his time, and I thought that he could’ve been the one to be the successor of the Goju-kai. I’ll say that the fault lied with Gogen Yamaguchi for telling his senior student Peter Urban that “a non-Asian can never achieve nirvana (enlightenment).” To add insult to injury he preferred to have his sons run the organization after he passes away, despite Urban being a higher rank than Yamaguchi’s sons. In my view, that is called nepotism. If Yamaguchi wasn’t playing favourites or being prejudiced, then there would be no such thing as American Goju-ryu. That’s just my little humble opinion.

I would generalize certain things at random on certain practices that can be a cancer to dojos. Many schools anywhere in the world can let so few students get an easy pass, special privileges or inheritance whether or not they are a Dai-sempai or sempai of the dojo. First off doing such practices too many times can create jealousy and another thing is that this special student would not learn anything about earning what you want instead of things given to you on a silver platter. Nobody in the dojo would get good benefit out of their training when a Sensei does that.

Although hardly mentioned within the Martial Arts community was that I heard stories posted by forum members I have interacted with are the infamous scandals within the schools and organizations. These members shared the articles of Senseis that practice child molestation, affairs with underage girls, and Senseis cheating on their wives committing adultery. Sometimes I gone about thinking that it is all a misunderstanding and a certain clique are trying to ruin this guy’s reputation and so forth, but who knows? It became apparent to me, overtime that the stories are true. We have so few role models left in this world. Scandals like these are everywhere, on the streets, in the classrooms, in the churches, in the recreational centres, all the way up to the celebrity realm. And I wonder if these Senseis and Sifus have a mental illness or something. You run a good business, teaching kids and adults Martial Arts and they look up to you. Then right behind their backs you engage in alcoholism and drugs. Starting fights in bars to better your skills and hanging out with prostitutes. That was the practice which Chotoku Kyan did in his time, and encouraged his students to do those practices as part of their Karate training. Don’t take my word for it, find that book Okinawan Karate by Mark Bishop, it explains it briefly about Chotoku Kyan’s life. I wonder what kind of role model does such a thing. Kyan was a great Martial Artist of his time, but not a great role model. How can you enjoy your life by living a life like a drunkard? How can you enjoy your life being a swinger? How can you enjoy your life fighting and hurting people almost every night? I see that the most joy you get in your life has to be something spiritual. Many Martial Artists in the western world haven’t grasp budo, Martial ways or warrior spirit, the mental aspects of the Montu (Martial) Arts. So I say wake up Instructors. You are the father figures of the community.

There are Senseis out there who are not only egotistical and tyrannical, but also manipulative, cultists, and conmen. Those certain individuals most likely built their empires through making shortcuts; incorporating high priced membership fees and expensive merchandises. Other scams I have recently heard of were those that tried to raise the funds so they can pay off for a trip to go somewhere; that is called “the Sensei tax.” That’s where you pay your monthly membership fee of lets say $60 per month plus one or two government sales tax of 5%-7%, and then add a tax that is not related whatsoever to your nation’s government, but your own. You’ll be wasting your hard earn money over a greedy Sensei to either make as much money to the point where he or she can go on that dream trip or to open a chain of dojos from town to town, building a franchise like McDonalds. With the outcome of opening multiple dojos around the province or state, you hire on your Black Belt students who are Shodans, more likely who are fresh in the black belt club. The traditional values of the Asian Martial Arts were overlooked or overshadowed since it got here in the Western World. We have messed it up big time. Why is that? We let ego and let greed get in our way. Some folks cannot let go. There are individuals that try to embrace budo, but they are not willing to let go of their luxury. Most of them take shortcuts like this because they don’t have regular 9-5 job of sorts. How they run their business, is that the Sensei’s teach their students hardly anything, hand out belts to students like a Christmas present. In simpler terms, they run nothing more than a black belt mill or a McDojo. You get students under 16 years of age as Jr. Black Belts or black belts with very little effective skills to show. They are more than posers than true Martial Artists.

Then there are imposter leaders of the Martial Arts that forge the certifications, went over to a Halloween costume store and bought a black belt, opened a school, making themselves Hanshi. It’s like this, “I’m a grandmaster…of Karate.” (And I don’t mean by the Japanese accent Karate), it is so pronounced in the American accent “Karatee.” 

Then adding insult to injury, there is the bastardization of training uniforms. The late Sensei Richard Kim said, “Clothes cannot change the skill.” One of the many things that Sensei’s from different Martial Arts schools in the western world place too much emphasis on is training uniforms to suit a particular system of Martial Arts, and I find it way too overrated. It has been programmed into the student psychosis to such a degree that they think that wearing a black, red or a multi-coloured Gi (uniform) makes them higher in skill than the individual that wears a white Gi. Where did the classical mind of the Montu Arts gone to? I tell you Senseis, Shihans, Renshis, Kyoshis and Hanshis who are reading this message that you are misleading your own students! Change your habit which goes against your warrior ancestors.

I have attended quite a few tournaments and the thing which I begin to find humourous is that competitors obsess themselves about providing more than one uniform for tournaments. Now I don’t mind those that train in both Karate and Iaido let’s say, but the thing that can drive such folks crazy is that competitors change at least two times. They have a uniform for weapons, one for kata, one for sparring, one for self-defense (some tournaments have a self-defense division). I find it funny, but understand the program. You have to waste so much money on purchasing so many different uniforms to compete in tournaments, like come on. Understand the message people, “Clothes cannot change the skill.” I quote Richard Kim in his book The Classical Man, “More and more martial artists are adopting a tendency to appear in flamboyant dress during meets, exhibitions and demonstrations. Some argue that the flashy clothes they sport are meant to psyche opponents and dazzle the public, but all that is a matter of opinion. Clothes certainly cannot change the skill.” (p.55) One of the biggest scam in the Martial community is to sell the student on joining the demo team or to sign up to a tournament out of town and tell them that they have to buy a colourful gi that can make anyone who wears it look like a peacock for $500 or something plus tax and Sensei tax (if any other school I recognize do that practice scam), on top of that put down an expensive fee for joining the demo team. Think about how much money an instructor is raking in and being able to buy fancy clothes and drive a Corvette or a Lexus. I have no desire to have those luxurious things at the expense of what I love to do. I have the wealth of spirituality, the highest form of wealth that many of us are having a hard time to achieve. I rather walk as a warrior instead of driving in a fancy car to get my message across to all of you.

Before I even started training in the Martial Arts, I thought all of this was cool, but I knew little by little about the lies, and the scams. Students who are reading this message don’t be deceived, if you don’t like what the instructors teaches and what he or she does, leave the dojo and find a better one who knows of no ego, greed or arrogance; plain and simple. Find a Sensei who cares more about passing down the knowledge to the next generation. The three poisons of man is ego, greed and arrogance, let us get out of that mess and live right through Ma’at, live modestly through Ma’at, do justice through Ma’at, live a balance life through Ma’at, and be one with nature through Ma’at, live in the presence of the goddess of truth, justice righteousness, and balance through nature. We must be aware of the crooked scams and seek right knowledge that should benefit our training. We should put aside are petty differences, that is what separates us from the Montu Arts, for a Martial Artist should always learn to forgive and forget and hopefully we shall work together for the betterment of the next generation, that is the highest form of being a great Martial Artist. Let the Montu Arts bring us together into one community and one organization, put aside the petty politics and the egos, for we as Martial Artists should promote world peace. At the end of the day you can dig it. A quote from the movie The Warriors, “Can you dig iiiiiiiit?” We have so much work to do to rebuild our community which had fractured us for so long. It’s time to come home to the budo thought.

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                               Hotep NTR,    

                                                                                                                                 Jonathan