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Post by guyakuzuki on Mar 3, 2011 17:55:05 GMT
Don't know if I'm the only here who hasn't got english as a native tongue but I've had no problems whatsoever with understanding what you wrote Steve( if that might be of any help).I think it's well written and the only remark I have is the same as andrew's:I would first describe what taisabaki is and then the paragraphs about prolonged practice etc...Keep up the good work !
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 3, 2011 18:03:34 GMT
these pieces of advise are very helpful to me chaps please keep them coming cos they will help me edit other chapters also.
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Post by kensei on Mar 4, 2011 2:48:32 GMT
Geez, Steve and I speak the same English...and I never have any idea what he is saying!
Seriously, Steve...Keep going, we need more "advanced" books, to many basic books cloggin up the market right now.
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Post by vitruvius on Mar 4, 2011 3:40:56 GMT
Hi James,
I think Steve is writing a book on "how to" do Tai Sabaki, which is why I mentioned diagrams and step by step photos. This would make it easier for the reader to understand which is what he is looking for! Without illustrations the reader will feel detached and not as inspired.
Dynamic Karate by Nakayama and Black Belt by Kanazawa are in my opinion two of the best basic resources for us to study. I have never been let down by any book by Kanazawa. I think we need to remember what the title is, which is the basic structure of his program to get you to Shodan. Beyond that is another story!
I agree Steve is beginning a great project and I don't wish for another basic book. I think we have more than enough on that topic.
To me, the old is the new as we should always drill basics like there's no tomorrow. That's just my opinion, which is how I've been taught.
Hopefully, this book will enlighten us on a rarely discussed topic!
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Post by kensei on Mar 4, 2011 15:28:54 GMT
Hey Tim,
Not disagreeing that the foundation of your training should be on basic training and working on the building blocks of Karate. But I am saying we have more than enough basic books out their..... Dynamic Karate, Best Karate (1&2), Shotokan Karate Bible, Karate Do Kyohan/Nyomon, The SKI books, Grupps books, Robin Riely's books, Fische's book...ext and so on. All are fair to good books, but we need another book on how to do a front kick like....well like we need a kick in the head!
What is lacking is a book about "that next step" in training. We know it is their, and we know you have to build up to it...but for gods sake lets get a few books on what it is!
I see books like Adv. Karate by Elmar S and I think, wow...that went from very basic to .....University degree needed in two seconds. Time to find a book that deals with advanced principles of Karate in a very "english" basic way! I think Steve is doing that now and I applaude him for it!
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 4, 2011 17:19:58 GMT
Hi James, I think Steve is writing a book on "how to" do Tai Sabaki, which is why I mentioned diagrams and step by step photos. This would make it easier for the reader to understand which is what he is looking for! Without illustrations the reader will feel detached and not as inspired. Dynamic Karate by Nakayama and Black Belt by Kanazawa are in my opinion two of the best basic resources for us to study. I have never been let down by any book by Kanazawa. I think we need to remember what the title is, which is the basic structure of his program to get you to Shodan. Beyond that is another story! I agree Steve is beginning a great project and I don't wish for another basic book. I think we have more than enough on that topic. To me, the old is the new as we should always drill basics like there's no tomorrow. That's just my opinion, which is how I've been taught. Hopefully, this book will enlighten us on a rarely discussed topic! Hey Tim, no I am not writing a book about 'how to do tai sabaki' that will actually only be a section of the book which will cover many aspects of karate and also have anecdotal examples of were,how and why etc that i have took on board the principles etc that i shall comment upon. all of this based on 40+ yrs of study and 35 years of teaching karate professionally. I am trying to write the book that I and many others I have spoken to, would have loved to be able to by. To be fair Tim you have to remember that that the chapter excerpt that i posted is an unedited draft and i do make it clear that it will have pictures and diagrams and that it also should be read in conjunction with other chapters (identified) within the book. to my knowledge the book i am attempting to produce has never yet been produced. I hope to transcend the usual books by including more than just this is gyakutsuki and this is mae geri type of books and also dispel the myth that you can advance your karate by merely drilling basics for twenty years or more. Advanced karate requires advanced kbnowledge, advanced thinking and practice of far more than basics = fact i am afraid. I have asked for critiques because i want to make the book easily understood and informative with a content that will be useful and even enlightening rather than just reaffirming what GT and MG are! a huge task I know but someones gotta try cos we just have not got that book available to us yet.
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Post by kensei on Mar 4, 2011 18:41:52 GMT
I dont think this is the case yet, but we often find that when someone suggests we need more than instructor/Master A and B have provided to us we get responses like "how dare you suggest they are not advanced or teaching advanced"....the fact is that we often get great instruction in basic Karate well into 4th and 5th Dan and then we are expected to know advanced Karate skills....and we basicaly start at that point realizing that we have great skills as a student, but can not advance from that point unless we go it alone and on our own. Time for a book like Steves to stimulate thought and conversation.
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Post by kensei on Mar 4, 2011 19:08:05 GMT
Here is an example of why we need continuing Education..... Last night I was "working out" with the club, and it was not a great work out.....here is why. one of the instructors was off to the side and we began talking and working on some of the Katas. I noticed a Brown belt doing Bassai Dai and began correcting a hand possition he had and explaining that if he bent his wrist over "the arm" of the attacker he would not have the proper leverage to aply a joint lock or control the arm, depending on his "INTENT"....the blank look was pretty funny...from him and his instructor. So I showed him the joint manipulation I was meaning and then the "holding" of the arm (double grabbing hands before the side thrust kick), when I said "intent" of the move they both looked at me like I was speaking Polish.... The hand possitions were out of place for a proper grip on the hand and arm as well and both were totally lost till I demonastrated...the other instructor was lost and only knew how to dance through the Kata and not apply any of the moves in any way...but he sure looked good dancing. Like Egami Sensei once suggested....Karate as a martial art will die if we do not go further than the basic level. If we do not question and personally search for answers beyond....YAH, But it looks Purdy! then Karate as a Budo art is dead! Obata actually said that it will only last as a martial art two more generations...and that was two generations ago!
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 4, 2011 19:09:54 GMT
sadly, and this seems to be the same all over the world judging by the huge amount of youtube clips available, I think that the senior japanese, in fairness to them, when they do organisation courses with huge attendances tend to stick to basic principles purely because many of the Dan grades lined up before them are simply not performing the basic movements correctly and the instructors must realise that they, the Dan grade students, are going to go back and be teaching the Dojo students. I have, i must say, noticed that Asai sensei tended to be more creative and advanced in his teachings but i have seen clips of him looking exasparated because the Dan grades just couldnt do it because their basic movemnents were (for some not all, so poor) to make you all envious I must say me and my dan grades are VERY excited about our forthcoming friendship course (numbers limited) were we will have Yokot6a Sensei all to ourselves for 3 days. the poor man will have bloodshot ears with alol the questions knowing my inquisitive lot LOL
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Post by kensei on Mar 4, 2011 21:58:28 GMT
My grand father used to say "their are no stupid questions.....Just stupid people who wont stop bugging me" ;D Seriously, I see your point. At what point do you say "Okay, that is how that person is hard wired to move" and move on. One example is my junior Steve. For years we have been trying to get him to kick, Yoko Geri properly. My instructor and me would try to stretch him out and get his kicks to look more like a side kick and less like a stomp! (he can not kick above his own knee sideways). The basics of side kicks were lost to him, snap and thrust. Then one day I said "frig it" and we started just doing Kata and not stopping to do his side kick. He appreciated the change and enjoyed class not harrased by us about his kicking. Turned out he has a bone ridge that stops him from raising his leg the same way we do.....I saw it on an x ray his chiro did and it was a head slap moment if I ever had one....all that waisted time! Steve, Your book will hopefully be a start, for those masters that think they need to push basics till our ears bleed, we need advanced thinking and stimulation mentally to move forwards. Gaining years of training in basics is fine, but gaining years of thought provoking advancement is worth its weight in gold.
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Post by fujicolt on Mar 4, 2011 22:51:15 GMT
I am trying my best folks and remember my promise about free copies for the first 12 who post a critique to help me!
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Post by kensei on Mar 5, 2011 2:46:26 GMT
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Post by superjock on Jul 24, 2011 2:28:54 GMT
Reckon this is going to be required reading for my lot.
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Post by fujicolt on Jul 24, 2011 18:10:28 GMT
i was very recently discussing my concept of the content of my book with two seasoned (but frustrated with what they are given by thier organisations Seniors) Karateka .
Much in line with what Kensei says - they told Basically told me:-
Okay we have listened to the age old age old 'this is how to do Gyaku tsuki' and yes mine ain't perfect BUT i know I hit hard! So please let us know how to do so in real life encounters (Not Karateka -v-karateka in the dojo) but against someone trying to hurt me or my family!
Interestingly, they also said they are sick to death of reading hype about Shihan X or y will be coming again to do a course for us - a MUST attend event. So they go and get the same old same old again.
They actually discussed how, when you add it all up, travel, food, course fee and accomodation these events are expensive to the point of possibly transcending the 100 of pounds and on into the 1000's of pounds and they are sick of 'not being taught ' anything!
With this kind of thing in mind I am trying to write a book that brings together the kind of thing that changes your karate from - 'yes I can pass a preordained grading syllabus!' to 'I can make my karate work.
I would be most grateful for any input about what you would all like to read about! OSU!
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Post by superjock on Jul 24, 2011 20:54:03 GMT
You appear to be on the right track Steve. However I do not believe these or any other concept should be restricted to seniors. Getting people in at say after 6 months regular training they will get something out of it. If they are worth their salt they will start digging for the rest.
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