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22 Apr |
Joints - Part 1 - The Power Generator Karate, Kosonken, Techniques, Training
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In order to understand my earlier article about Oneness and subsequently other parts of it; the understanding of power generation from joints, especially elbows, is utterly crucial and cannot be disregarded.
Joints are important to our movements and acted as a power transmission center along the transmission lines of our limbs. In martial arts, especially internal system such as Wing-Chun, punching power is generated from elbows. Wing-Chun is mimicking many animals and among them are mainly crane and tiger. Crane being the foundation and essential form of Wing-Chun, it is also one of the three main animals in Uechi-ryu. (more…)
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22 Apr |
Sandairyu Karate, Kata, Video
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Sandairyu performed by Toyama Sensei, Ju-dan (10th dan).
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21 Apr |
Oneness - Part 1 Karate, Kata, Kosonken, Techniques, Training
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My training on Okinawa has opened up a totally new dimension of understanding in karate techniques. As we all know, karate derived from Chinese kung-fu. Old grand masters of various Okinawan schools went to China to learn. When they brought back the knowledge, they blended what they had learned from China into their aboriginal martial arts and became karate during the mid of last century.
I learned about Ikyuro or oneness or moving stance / striking together at the same time for deep impact. Locking at specific joints and contraction of muscles at specific areas during striking is essential to generate sharper and more powerful impact. This has to be performed with good stance.
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1 Apr |
The true meaning of martial arts training Training
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Whilst many people engage in martial arts training, many of them neglect or not knowing the true meaning of training. It is very difficult to teach younger children about the philosophy of training but the older people tends to refuse or ignore the importance of training philosophy.
As a karate instructor for more than a decade of coaching and teaching experience, I have observed many different human behaviors in children, adolescent and even adults. I have very hard working students and also very ignorant and “lazy” students. Lazy not in terms of physically lazy but in mentally and attitude wise. Lazy in terms of seeking short cuts to achieve black belts as their peers do. I had students who trained with me and at the same time trained in other martial arts. With me, they had only achieved 1 grade higher then white belt for one year of training but they had achieved junior black belts in the other. They started their trainings in karate and other martial arts almost the same time. Black belts they are but yet can they kick or punch like black belts.
Two factors influenced the younger students.
- Parents attitude in transferring their responsibilities to 3rd party in their children’s physical and mental education.
- Ignorant parents and their egoism to see their children achieving some standards, in this case, black belt as their peers or neighbors’ children do.
I have parents who are very concerning about their children’s progress. But none of them consistent enough to stay concerned throughout entire year. They become concerned when grading test is approaching. This attitude reflects onto their children subconsciously.
While older children and older adults are easier to train (but not much easier then the younger children), I have formulated some training-playing methodology to help my younger students to train. I called it cognitive training. I will let them play a simple game of jumping, for instance, to help them develop muscles on their legs and hips. They usually enjoy the games very much.
As to older students, especially adults, explanation of bio-mechanism is crucial but always not taken seriously by most adult students. Only a few will absorb my explanation and apply into their training.
I wrote a similar but not identical article here. It is about learning to use the muscles.
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