Various techniques taken from Seiunchin kata, applied against the Tou in a continual manner. 

I use this type of practice to suppliment my regular training for when there is no partner avalible.  Sometimes I will pick single techniques from a kata to train, and othertimes apply many of the signiture movements, trying to flow from one technique to the next.  This enables me to get in the habit of immediately following up with a different technique should the first not have its desired effect upon the opponent.

Although no substitute for a real life opponent, training with the Tou allows me to visualise how certain techniques might be applied, and works as an excellent aid to visualisation.

Eventually I will endeavour to add a video for each of the classical Goju Ryu kata.

This first video is taken from Saifa Kata.

Hi, I'm the creator of MyShotokan.com - a website that grew out of a desire to share new kata with my karate students and help them learn to train on their own and, eventually, to become your own Master. My name is Douglas Lampi. I'm a Web Design Architect by trade and equally nerdy about Karate. 

Today, MyShotokan.com is a collection of over 180 videos of JKA Masters performing the 26 Traditional Shotokan Kata. 
The Membership subscription area of MyShotokan.com, called 'Sensie's Office' will see the first changes and upgrades!! 

This year, MyShotokan.com is going to change and evolve into my personal training lifestream online. 
I'll be blogging, posting pictures and videos and tweeting to my Shotokan followers on Twitter and other mico-blogging services.

Well, Ok, the truth is, not only do I miss the stimulation of training in karate, MyShotokan is also a personal Social Media Experiment, where I aim to build a huge list of karate friends all over the world. 

THEN - I'm going to start traveling to Shotokan dojo's in Canada, and blog my experiences to all my karate friends, subscribers, fans and followers!

• Follow me on Twitter,   http://twitter.com/myshotokan
• Friend me on MySpace,http://www.myspace.com/myshotokan
• Photo Contest on Facebook  http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5379787880

and watch for massive changes, improvements and upgrades to 'Sensie's Office' within http://www.myshotokan.com

Kampai!

Doug

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted by email from Douglas's posterous

This blog will form the basis for what just might be my personal Everest.  For years I have practiced karate, studied karate, written about karate and generally immersed myself in an artform that I am wholly unsuited for. I am neither co-ordinated nor fast, I am not particularly aggressive or combative, and I think way too damn much.  What I am gifted at is systems creation: give me any jumble of vaguely related objects, thoughts or theories and I will find some logical, simple way to relate that collection.

One may ask what right does a simple Shodan ranked karateka have to comment of subjects hotly debated by his senior ranked colleagues? Just where does a nobody from nowhere get off discussing topics he cannot even begin to understand much less explain? I reply simply that even the village idiot is right sometimes and often the best ideas come from humble minds. Perhaps it is my very limitations that make me appropriate to this task: none of this comes easy to me, so I have to look a lot deeper than my much more talented superiors.

I originally thought I would actually publish a book on this subject and I may still. On the other hand, putting this out on the world wide web does any number of very useful things. It opens up my ideas to a far greater audience. It allows people an opportunity to critique my work and perhaps improve it through liberal editting. Finally, it saves some publishing company the expense of publishing a book that three people will buy (well, maybe only two: my mom is not all that healthy and I doubt she will be around to see the finished results).  And so it begins....

suatu pemahaman dalam seni beladiri adalah bukan hanya dari bagaimana seharusnya kita belajar kihon, namun lebih lanjut pada aspek-aspek terpenting yaitu dalam pemahaman terhadap kata maupun bunkainya. kata disini adalah rangkuman dari gerakan-gerakan aplikasi yang dibuat secara runtut dalam bentuk yang mendasar dan menjadi rangkaian yang indah. oleh karena itu, kata bukan bersifat abadi, tapi gerakannya adalah bersifat mutlak. adapun dalam pelaksanaannya, itu tergantung bagaimana orang memahami kata yang ada dan dibentuk contoh aplikasi. itulah bunkai.

selama ini banyak atlit karate maupun beladiri lainnya hanya memfokuskan pada pelatihan kata untuk mencari poin ataupun pelatihan bunkai hanya untuk tontonan. hal ini sebenarnya adalah dampak dari pemendekan pemikiran dari pola kehidupan atlit yang hanya memfokuskan pada satu kata: poin. padahal, bisa dilihat berapa banyak orang yang paham tentang bunkai dari suatu kata tersebut? itulah ironisnya, dan fakta membuktikan bahwa dalam kompetisi kata beregu, dimana pada akhirnya akan memperagakan bunkai kata yang dimainkan, tidak terlalu diminati oleh para atlit kita sekarang ini. bahkan coach yang mengaku dirinya adalah seorang "shihan" terang-terangan menolak untuk berkembang dalam hal bunkai tersebut.

perlu diingat bahwa berkembang dalam bunkai bukan hal yang jelek. hal ini malah menjadi bukti bagaimana tingkatan seseorang dalam memahami suatu kata. dan justru inilah yang menarik dalam sebuah kata. satu kata memiliki penafsiran yang berbeda. hal tersebut mengingatkan saya pada sosok mario higaonna, yang menguasai bunkai kata tertentu yang menjadi favoritnya. ada lagi bagaimana gichin funakoshi yang menjadi founder shotokan menguasai kata tertentu beserta bunkainya. hal yang menarik adalah, sosok gichin funakoshi yang tingginya hanya 165 cm tersebut kadangkala banyak disalahtafsirkan oleh para muridnya. kadang, posisi "neko ashi dachi" dianggap mereka sebagai "kokutsu dachi". inilah yang kerap kali orang merasa bahwa mereka dalam memahami suatu kata belum maksimal, dan untuk bunkainya, mari kita menyoroti sosok mario higaonna yang menguasai jenis bunkai dengan seksama.

ternyata pembelajarannya adalah bagaimana kita bisa berlatih beladiri dengan mampu menguasai sepenuhnya kata dan bunkai. cara menguasai tentu adalah hal yang sangat mudah. kita bisa membuat latihan secara tidak sadar. maksud disini adalah membiarkan bayangan dalam pikiran kita bermain kata dan kita membayangkan bunkai dari kata tersebut. bila tidak memiliki gambaran, kita bisa mencomot dari visual yang kita dapatkan dalam latihan. memang, tidak semua instruktor beladiri paham dalam pelatihan ini. mau tidak mau, lakukan gerakan suatu kata tertentu secara berulang-ulang, lalu lakukan pembenaran terhadap gerakan tersebut. orang yang lebih menguasai suatu kata tertentu lebih baik dibandingkan orang yang menguasai beberapa kata namun tidak mengaplikasikannya bahkan dengan kihon yang buruk.

lalu bagaimana dengan kelanjutannya? mintalah instruktor yang paham dan peduli dengan kemampuan anda. bila dia hanya sebatas tahu, maka carilah yang mengetahui dan menguasai betul. tidak akan sulit bila anda berkemauan. dan anda akan menemukan makna dibalik pelajaran beladiri tersebut.

keep spirit

Nel NiJu Kun, le venti regole che costituiscono una sorta di manifesto spirituale del Karate, il maestro Funakoshi scrive "Kata wa tadashiku jissen wa betsu mono" (Il kata è perfezione dello stile, la sua applicazione è qualcosa d'altro).

Il kata, dunque, è la forma che per un attimo si svuota del contenuto, è energia pura che rimane volutamente inapplicata, è un'occasione per raggiungere quella precisione e quella perfezione che sono impossibili da ottenere nel combattimento reale.

Il kata Empi significa letteralmente "volo di rondine". Gli alti e i bassi, le pause in sospensione e le repentine picchiate imitano - e traggono da questo animale - gli insegnamenti di agilità e opportunità.

The first session of the weekend consisted of going over the finer points of the strikes, blocks and stances of Goju Ryu.  The circular nature of the blocks was discussed in detail, which was then followed by stationary sandan gi renshu.  The intensity was gradually increased and the drill then flowed into how the use of kamae can limit the target areas available to the opponent.  With the uke then assuming chudan no kamae, the tori's attacks were forced into being either jodan or gedan.  Time was spent around reacting to the opponents random attacks at multiple levels, and it became apparent that the circular nature of the blocks allowed for a variety of defensive blocks and parries to blend with the opponents attacks.  This led nicely into kakie practice where practitioners were then encouraged to lead their partners balance through the use of timing and subtle changes of pressure.  The whole time we were encouraged to look for the relationship between sandan gi, kakie, sanchin and bunkai.  It is through the correct blending of the various principles that each exercise employs that we are able to better understand the system of Goju Ryu.

Following this we moved onto the practice of Sanchin kata with Barrett Sensei discussing some of the advanced ideas behind the kata.

After a break for lunch we resumed with the classical kata of Goju Ryu, with each person demonstrating a kata of their choice which was then discussed in detail.  Bunkai practice followed with each person demonstrating various bunkai from their earlier chosen kata.  The bunkai was then discussed with much attention being paid to the principles and tactics employed in the Goju Ryu system, and how the bunkai should not deviate from these basic truths.

Day 2 began resumed with kata practice and the 2-person Gekisai kumite.  Topics such as maai, hyoshi, kazushi, mushin, zanshin, yoi and rei and their relationship to kata were discussed.  The remaining classical kata of the Goju Ryu were practiced and refined, and the day was brought to a close with hojo undo training and Sanchin kata.

I'm sure that all those who attended were able to come away with a lot to think about, and a better understanding of their art.  Our sincere thanks go to Richard Barrett Sensei.

The Shinsokai Gasshuku occur twice a year in April and October to coincide with the birth and death dates of Miyagi Chojun Sensei.  As a small group of practitioners we are committed to preserving and researching the teachings of Miyagi Chojun Sensei as passed on by Miyazato Eiichi Sensei.

Kakie comes into play every time you make contact with your opponent.  To break it down very simply, if your opponent strikes chudan tsuki and you block with chudan uke, you will end in the kakie position with your limbs touching. 

This is why developing a feeling of muchimi in your uke waza is so important, and why the blocks are not performed as fast as possible, but more with a feeling of heaviness, sticking to the opponents limb and blending with the strike.

The practice of kakie is the bridge between bunkai and actual application in that you are 'playing' with an un-cooperative partner who will be looking to defend against your attacks.  Kakie practice helps the practitioner to study the 'what ifs' of kata application by forcing the practitioner to think of his next move should his current attack be unsuccessful.

In addition to this kakie will help the practitioner develop a strong root, sensitivity, fluid reactions, and the ability to read the opponents intentions through feeling his movements through the link of the forearms.

Miyazato Sensei's dojo kun advises us to practice with creativity.  Nowhere is this more imortant then in regards to kata. 

The kata work as a textbook of practical techniques preserved over hundreds of years to enable their inheritors to study various methods of responding to common self defence scenarios.  The beauty of karatedo is that because of the issues around secrecy, and the fact that so much information was lost due to WW2, nobody really knows for certain what the creators of the various kata had in mind when putting together their catalogues of favoured technique.

Whilst this may be frustrating to many people who feel that they are left wondering around in the dark, in actual fact, it is a blessing.  This scenario gives us the perfect setting with which to make an unbiased study of the kata. 

If the answers are laid out in front of you, it is easy to stand right on top of them and not even notice they are there!

It is important to keep approaching the kata with an enquiring mind, always asking why and what?  Why this stance, why this strike, why this angle?  What are my target areas, what if he defends, what if I'm standing too close?

By studying kata in this way you will add more and more depth to your training and begin to comprehend how karatedo can be a lifelong practice.

A large majority of my own training is done alone in my dojo, so testing new ideas can be problematic.  Visualisation is extremely useful but can sometimes be deceptive and upon meeting a live partner you may find that the technique which existed in your mind is actually impossible in reality.

An excellent go-between of visualization and live partner training is the tou.  The tou is a wooden post similar in some ways to the wing chun wooden dummy.  Borrowing ideas from Kinjo Hiroshi Sensei's tou which he affectionately calls ki san (Mr Wood) I attached flexible arms and a straw makiwara at face height.  My sensei modified his even further by adding removable rigid arms at jo, chu and ge levels, and half a tyre for practicing kansetsu geri.  I also have a length of wrist thick bamboo on a length of rope which helps me to practice blocking and catching an arm.

I've found training with the tou to be an excellent aid to visualization, and an essential tool when it comes to investigating and developing bunkai.

• KIHON (técnicas básicas):
  • Yobi Undo (ejercicios de preparación)
  • Hoyo Undo (ejercicios complementarios)
• KAISHU (técnicas avanzadas de los katas clásicos):
  • KAISHU KATA (kata clásicos):
    • KIHON KATA (kata básicos)
    • KORYU KATA (otros kata clásicos)
  • KAISAI KUMITE (aplicación de las técnicas de kata)

Sistema de Miyagi Chojun:

• YOBI UNDO (ejercicios de preparación):
  • JUNBI UNDO (ejercicio de calentamiento)
  • SEREI UNDO (ejercicios de relajación)

• HOJO UNDO (ejercicios complementarios)
  • TOSHU HOJO UNDO (ejercicios técnicos básicos)
  • KIGU HOJO UNDO (ejercicios con aparatos)

• SHUTAI UNDO (ejercicos principales):
  • KATA (formas):
    • HEISHU KATA (kata básicos)
    • KAISHU KATA (kata clásicos)
    • FUKYU KATA (kata nuevos)
  • KUMITE (luchas):
    • KAISAI KUMITE (kumite de las técnicas de los kata clásicos)
    • IRIKUMI (kumite libre para entrenar las paradas)

Sistema de Toguchi Seikichi:

• JUNBI UNDO (ejercicios de calentamiento)

• HOJO UNDO (ejercicios complementarios):
  • SHU HOJO UNDO (hojo undo principal)
  • FUKU HOJO UNDO (hojo undo secundario)
  • KIGU HOJO UNDO (hojo undo con aparatos)

• SHUTAI UNDO (ejercicios principales):
  • KATA (formas):
    • KIHON KATA (kata básicos)
    • KORYU KATA (kata clásicos)
    • FUKYU KATA (kata nuevos)
  • KUMITE (luchas):
    • KISO KUMITE (kumite básicos)
    • BUNKAI KUMITE (kata de parejas):
      • FUKYU KATA BUNKAI KUMITE (aplicación de los kata nuevos)
      • KORYU KATA BUNKAI KUMITE (aplicación de los kata clásicos)
    • JISSEN KUMITE (lucha real)
    • KASAI KUMITE (lucha con las técnicas de los kata clásicos)
    • IRIKUMI (lucha libre para entrenar paradas)

• RISUM KARATE Y RISUM BO (ejercicios de karate y con palo)

• SEIREI UNDO (ejercicios de relajación)

Bienvenidos al blog del grupo de Karate Goju-Ryu de Bergara. Desde aquí, intentaremos aportar nuestra experiencia en el duro camino de las artes marciales. Esperamos que este pequeño espacio, sea un punto de encuentro para los practicantes de Goju Ryu, así como de otros estilos, donde cada uno tenga la oportunidad de hacer su aportación, con el objeto de mejorar en nuestra práctica diaria y con ello conseguir las metas que perseguimos con dicha práctica.