The amount of times i have had people tell me that they think karate is a joke, is uncountable. When asked why, they say that it only involves marching up and down like robots, in long deep stances, with one hand always chambered at the hip, and the other performing a very unrealistic block or punch. What they have obviously witnessed is karate basic training or Kihon. Then the best part is when they say, "you cant use that in a real fight".
What they fail to understand though, is that Kihon trainings sole intention is not to teach self defence techniques. I have been training Karate for a number of years and completely agree that if in a self defence situation, a lunge punch was executed while chambering the non punching arm at the hip and stepping forward into a long front stance, then the consequences would not feel good and you would probably find yourself eating a punch or two in the process. Kihon trainings main purpose is teach other fighting necessities such as, rotating the hips when striking, distance needed when attacking and defending, balance not just when kicking but also when striking and even grappling. Kihon training also helps condition the muscles used for self defence (which is nearly all of them) and when Kihon training with a partner, it will also help condition and harden the body when blocking and striking. Kihon means Basic, implying that you learn the basics of self defence when performing Kihon. The techniques are not specifically for self defence, but the techniques do lead to others which are used for self defence, so without a good solid grasp of Kihon techniques, you will never learn how to defend yourself properly. Kihon is a part of karate just like bag work, grappling, sparring and kata should be. Keep practising Kihon and you will notice that all other parts of your training shall improve.
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Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Karate Basics (Kihon training)
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2 comments:
Alright Marks I agree i cant count the amount of times people have said to me karate does'nt work or "X martial art is better" like you mentioned. Its easier to ignore the ignorance than to explain myself as to why we do the kihons, kata's and other various forms.
One thing i have noticed is that even in the MMA world signs are showing that people are turning back to karate, judo and other more traditional arts. Must be something in it! Sanj.
KarateStudent on the Hard Style "X" Block Low:
KarateStudent(KS) is still working on the practicality of Kihon post. Here, KarateStudent wants to highlight on of the intermediate kihon blocks in Tang Soo Do, called the "X" block, in this case the Low version.
Without going into great exactness (As KS tends to do), the Low "X" is performed by placing both hands at the right waist, R hand over L, then extending out in front and down with the R hand crossed over the L hand at the wrist area. This block is usually shown using a front stance or a closed stance, the latter with a double bend in the knees.
Ostensibly in Tang Soo Do (TSD), the purpose for the "X" block is to provide a fortified block against a powerful, rising, uppercut-type attack, typically a front snap kick or a swing kick. MARKS has posted an author who explains the 'hidden' grappling applications in kata (hyung in TSD). KS concurs with that author's views, and KS's TSD school does include a number of rudimentary grappling self-defense applications in the black-belt syllabus. The link between the "X" block and grappling though, is not explained.
KS believes that the TSD syllabus is trying to get students, as MARKS has posted above, to focus on the training benefits of Kihon and understanding simple concepts of application, rather than try to create sophisticated warriors, 'out-of-the-box.'
Unfortunately, the danger is that students often adopt whatever they have been taught or told as "gospel," without reality-testing as MARKS has advised.
The Low "X" block is one of the most dangerous to misuse. This is because the the karate person has, from a tactical standpoint, leaned forward to intercept the low attack, with both hand committed to a crossed position at the lower part of his body. The TSD stances mentioned tend to immobilze (particularly the closed stance) compared to the boxer's more upright posturing. To a boxer or streetfighter who would likely use boxing similarites, the opening is obvious and wide-open. Directly in front of him at torso level is a fixed target--your unguarded face and head. Tactically speaking, a boxing-type fighter would never do such a foolish thing. Yet Hard-Style karates uniformly recommend it.
The karate moral is that in a situation where you truly want to defeat an opponent, techniques must be matched with tactics. Using karate kihon techniques otherwise could (will be) HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!
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