Sanbon Kumite

[Dod Watt]

Do you think this is the way basic Kumite drills should be done?, if not what do you see wrong?.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV_Kj1Qsx2E#t=6m45s

[Bob Davis]

Well the obvious thing from this very short clip, even at slow speed, was that the distancing was completely wrong, all the techniques were so far short of the target that there was no necessity to block at all really (other than that's what the drill says you do) and the counter was a long long way short of the mark. This was effectively two people doing solo practice together (if that makes sense)

I do use various Sanbon Kumites in my teaching and think it's a good drill and yes, sometimes they are that far off the mark (as beginners often will be until they start to understand distance and timing rather than training to the count) but that's not the way it's demonstrated or taught.

I am well aware in my own training doing sanbon that if I don't move AND block I will get hit and at that point it very much become a real drill.

[fujicolt]

Mr Watt - are you trying to find an excuse to bar me from the site - the last time i dared to question anyone with a Japanese name I was barred from the site. Okazaki Sensei is rightfully well respected but in these clips a factor i have been complaining about for decades, that sadly is often seen - is clear as day:

Totally wrong distancing! sorry but tis true ! look carefully and it is plainly obvious.

Don't be surprised if someone complains at my 'disrespect'

[Dod Watt]

Well if you are being disrespectful Steve so am I, in that clip there is no excuse for the distance to be wrong, they are all senior karate-ka and this was taken from an actual dvd called The Master Class- Okazaki

[fujicolt]

LIAM - THAT DOD CHAP - BAR HIM NOW - HOW DARE HE AFTER DECADES OF TRAINING - 'QUESTION' A JAPANESE SENSEI - HE SHOULD BE SHOT!

Or should his opinion be considered?

[liamwatt]

I would steve but I don't know what he would do with himself without his forum .

[fujicolt]

you mean he would stop being so proud of his son for starting it?

[Paul Bedard]

Oh, here I go sticking my foot in it.
I think I had better be careful here & try to make sense, however I just know this is going to be fun.
First for the record, I am true blue ISKF, which is led by master Okazaki, I have trained under him many times & received both my shodan & sandan from him. Also I have trained under his nephew Hiroyoshi who is the first defender of the clip.
I haven`t seen the whole series or the dvd which demondtrates sanbon kumite. So I can only express an opinion on assumption!
I agree that the way that it is shown that the points made are valid. Really there was no need to block as the distance was off, also the punch was unnecessary as the target was to far away. In training with the ISKF we would be much closer, for example the attacking punch should tickle my mustache if I didn`t block & the counter should touch gi. Actually I like to touch the body, with green belt & up.
Having said this, what I`m thinking about the video is this; first camera angle, you can very clearly see everything being performed, closer & maybe not so easy to see. Next, this could very well be aimed at beginners & we sometimes keep them further apart till the technique looks good & the confidence level comes up. Third, in the USA everyone is so worried about getting sued, that there are some dojos that don`t even allow the wrist to wrist contact the we do in blocking, they actually use the one sun method between wrists. Never mind actually striking the gi & body. It could very well be that this is in part the reason for the distance being off.
I can assure you that training with either master O or sensei Hiro & the distance shown on this preview clip would not be the case.
Osu
Paul B

[fujicolt]

Points taken Paul. I am Sure that even Osaki Sensei (if the comments about the errors were pointed out to him) would agree they are valid.

However, i would suggest that your point:

I can assure you that training with either master O or sensei Hiro & the distance shown on this preview clip would not be the case

goes straight to the crux of the matter. If ANYONE is going to release a 'Master Class' series they should pay attention to minute detail BEFORE publishing and/or give explanation to clarify any reason that (for example) distancing is wrong.

I think all would agree with me in saying that we have total confidence in the validity of your positive comments about Okazaki Sensei and his co instructors and in fact would love the opportunity to train with them.

As i said - more attention to detail before publishing is the answer and it is, to be fair, a shame that this small clip has drawn the validity of the series into question - but the japanese need to grasp the fact that they are selling to a market that contains many already educated people with decades of experience as well as novices. Therefore errors will be outed - and rightly so. By way of analogy, i am not mechanically minded but if i bought a masterclass series on Motor Vehicle maintenance and mechanics - I would expect detail such as the fine positioning of components in relation to each other to be accurate and clear.

but as i said your points about Okazaki Sensei totally accepted. Go buy him a book on 'how to make accurate educational video's' for Christmas

[Paul Bedard]

I can`t say that I disagree with what you are saying Steve, however this is a point that most who make instructional videos overlook in the editing is that people in the know want clear, precise realism. Although I would like to see the whole video on sparring, before making to much of a judgement call, the example of distance on this one clip could have been better.
One thing that I`m sure of is that someone was hired to do the filming, I think it`s through` legend productions` isn`t it,as in the case with most instructors who do training videos, they put a lot of faith into those they hire, but then again they only film the material that they are presented. So yes more detail could have been a focus of editing. I`ll stop now, as I think I`m starting to contradict myself!!!
Osu
Paul

[fujicolt]

Has Okazaki Sensei done other stuff. I agree a wider perusal may show his skills etc more clearly. And anyway - film no matter how good never really gives the essence and feeling that is attained when you see them for real. i have seen hours and hours of stuff related to Enoeda Sensei but they never quite succeed in displaying the mans 'presence' and awesome power.