ameblo.jp/karatedokoshinkai/entry-11523712789.html Training for Tournaments vs Training for Self Defense The flow of a karate lesson designed to teach self defense is usually as follows: 1. Kihon Geiko (line drills including stances and ido-geiko) 2. Yakusoku Kumite (set drills and partner work) 3. Kata practice (2 and 3 may be reversed) + Stengthening exercises: weight training / makiwara etc Jiyuu Kumite (free sparring) may also be added in as part of the process. However, most existing karate rule sets are not built with self defense as a base. These rule sets instead tend to encourage a style of fighting quite removed from kata. If the goal is to learn practical self defense then, kumite is best considered as part of the strengthening exercises in the model above. In other words, kumite under current tournament rules is best considered somewhat ancillary to the overall goal of learning self defense. If we take the other approach and think of a karate lesson for the purpose of learning to win at tournaments, the content may be as follows: 1. Shadow-boxing / movement training 2. Tournament focussed mitt training 3. Ukekaeshi (leg strengthening), sparring + Strengthening exercises: weight training / stamina training etc. In this format the traditional karate training methods like kihon geiko line drills, yakusoku kumite, and of course kata make way for more specialised training for tournament purposes. Traditional training methods are there as part of the ancillary stengthening exercises if at all. This is not to downplay the importance of these ancillary exercises. It is not true to say that jiyuu kumite for tournament rules is entirely irrelevant to the development of genuine self-defense. It is certainly better for learners to develop their sparring ability than not to spar at all, as any form of sparring teaches gauging distance, attack and defense while bolstering confidence and grit. On the flip side for those who are looking to win at tournaments, practicing kata is useful for warming up, developing leg and core muscle strength, and learning deeper techniques of body use and power transfer (for more information see "Is kata training necessary? Competing theories"). In both cases however the additional training is a small support to the wider goal. As a result I find that particularly for those who are motivated solely by tournament success, their approach to line drills and kata becomes almost half-hearted over time, even if they are giving their absolute all to becoming stronger tournament fighters. Originally, the purpose of both kata and line drills was as practical way to develop proficiency in techniques to use against real life opponents - but for those aiming for tournament success the need to practice kata is relatively low, and time spent perfecting kata takes away from time that could be spent on tournament specialised practice. As a result, many modern karate-ka do not practice kata in a truly applicable fashion. Or perhaps as a result of the above, the true value of kata has become somewhat unknown. In modern karate kata exists only as an ancillary to the whole to the extent that some karate schools in Japan now do not practice kata at all. I personally know the appeal and the benefits of karate as a world sport having participated in tournaments throughout my life. But I feel a sense of unease as kata, so important to traditional karate, becomes less and less central over time. If karate-ka like ourselves do not tackle integrating kata with real life usage, no-one will. The Jiyuu Bunkai Rules project aims to change jiyuu kumite sparring from its current position as an ancillary stengthening exercise in developing self defense capability, to something that provides solid value as a central part of the training. Because modern rulesets discourage martial arts based practical karate self defense training, it is necessary to change the rules to see this happen. Ideally our new approach will help bridge the gap between the two approaches above and provide a logical, simple, united system with value for all.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 07:30:27 +0000
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