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4dventurer (January 6th, 2009 @ 7:15 am)

"Secret" knowledge? About what? Punching holes in the air? What good does that do if folks practising karate are not able to hit something with "resistance" like bags and mitts and possibly oponents? One thing i observed is this: when the UFC and MMA became very popular and all the "traditionalists" got their butt whooped, suddenly Bunkai became the holy grail of karate. For me nothing else but an attempt to keep karate interseting - for commercial reasons.

4dventurer (January 6th, 2009 @ 7:10 am)

Kata is not the root of karate. The need for self defense is - due to laws that did not allow common folks to bear weapons. the root of karate? (I hope i spell it right) Ikken hasetsu. And geographically spoken, karate originated possibly in ancient Greece, traveled via India and China to Japan and Okinawa. Tradition? What is tradition? Not challenging the status quo? Not so in my book. Tradition is to push the envelop and not to pointlessly focus on deep Kiba Dachis (just one example)

rcadag (December 17th, 2008 @ 12:44 am)

i have seen Osaka Sensie twice but haven't had the opportunity to watch him do kata. by the way, does anybody know where I could find a video Aihara sempai? That is if anybody here still remember him.

budokanboy (December 10th, 2008 @ 12:50 pm)

You are a very smart person. Get back into the dojo.

insaneguitarfreak (December 10th, 2008 @ 5:13 am)

At least that is what my Sensei used to teach me, and that´s how I see kata. Nevertheless I totally agree with you, kata alone isn´t enough. They ended up as technique exercises thanks to many people that don´t give a shit about tradition. For example, "Full Contact Karate" is Karate but without Kata. I mean without all the traditional knowledge. Ok with Fullcontact, but I always try to look for the roots of the things, and I believe that Kata is the root of karate. Best wishes.

insaneguitarfreak (December 10th, 2008 @ 4:58 am)

Hi, I´m Facundo and I am 1st dan in ShitoRyu but I stopped practising. I used to train kata A LOT. I know one thing about kata. Most people ignore that katas were traditionally developed by masters as a help to remember fighting techniques, the ones that are under the name of Bunkai (literally "the study of war"). 1 movement can represent numerous techniques. Not many people know that Katas hold hidden knowledge, everything that has to do with kyusho which is the most exquisite side of karate.

insaneguitarfreak (December 10th, 2008 @ 4:42 am)

I am 1st dan but I quit karate 2 years ago. I Remember some things, and I used to train kata a lot. I know one thing about kata. Most people ignore that katas were traditionally developed by masters as a help to remember numerous techniques, the ones that are under the name of Bunkai (the real meaning of a kata "step"). 1 movement can have several meanings, so it can represent numerous techniques. Not many people know that Katas hold "secret" knowledge, everything that has to do with kyusho

4dventurer (November 26th, 2008 @ 5:40 am)

Hoffman, Osterkamp, Glad are still active in Ochi's DJKB. For me the essence of Karate is Kumite. Most karatekas are unable to defend themselves with what they learn in kata. I learn more in facing a breathing living opponent/partner instead of an imaginary one. Only in face-to-face combat/kumite you can find out how good of a karateka you are. However, Kumite is a "Do" that lots of karateka avoid, because they are afraid to learn something about themselves they rather not.

budokanboy (November 25th, 2008 @ 2:19 am)

You're killing me with this Kumite idea of yours. We are just going to have to agree to disagree. Glad to hear Hoffman is still around. He used to have a mean gyaku tsuki. As far as the Shotokan remark goes I'm just prodding you. Let it go. I feel Kumite is a waste of time in traditional karate. Karate Kumite is good when the practitioners have advance to a level of compentency, but most fighters have perverted the art all together. after 30 years of kata I learn something new ea day

Heath8433 (November 25th, 2008 @ 2:08 am)

Juergen Hoffman ist still around in DJKB coaching the team of Siegburg. Met them a few times in competition, splitt records. Why could a shotokan instructor straighten me out? Ever heared about Teruo Kono (Wado Ryu) trained under him. And I feel he made me a more rounded Karateka. Regarding kata:there is no applicable value for kata in a fight.Would be equivalent to let a boxer only shadow box and then sent him into a ring against a real opponent. No one in his right mind would do that.

budokanboy (November 24th, 2008 @ 4:51 am)

I really wanted to blast after that last comment. However I'm through with it. You have your opinion and I have mine A good Shotokan instructor could straighten out your training. If you want to respond go ahead. i'm really bored with this back and forth banter. Is Hoffman and Butkin still around the DJKB???

4dventurer (November 24th, 2008 @ 3:10 am)

What technique do you try to perfect with kata? I am sure it is none that you can use in a kumite. Nobody, and I mean nobody becomes a good fighter with kata only - however, you can become an excellent fighter with kumite only. Kata teaches you nothing that is conducive to fighting. Kata is translated as form - showing best form, not showing best fighting. And claiming that my shotokan training was the only real training I received - is the air very thin up there on your high horse?