Aclaración: Antes de empezar quiero hacer una aclaración. Soy consciente de que la palabra "marcial" quiere decir proveniente o pertinente a Marte, el dios de la guerra. Pero en este artículo usaré el término refiriéndome al enfoque en el conflicto físico. Refiriéndome a un tipo de karate, que no se enfoca en competir y ganar medallas, pero se enfoca en como salir ileso de un conflicto físico. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- El Karate deportivo perdió su lugar en las olimpiadas. Y desde entonces, el debate ha arrasado en las redes sociales. Por una parte están aquellos que apostaron al karate deportivo y que se ven defraudados por una decisión que les parece injusta, arbitraria y basada en elementos que poco o nada tienen que ver con criterios deportivos y que se rigen más por los intereses económicos y de marketing que en los ideales olímpicos. Por otro lado estamos aquellos que nos alegramos de que el karate no quede atascado en el entarimado económico/deportivo de la maquinaria olímpica. El ala deportiva del karate, siente esta posición como una falta de respeto a los deportistas que ahora se quedan sin la escena olímpica (y los fondos económicos correspondientes) donde cosechar laureles y gloria. Se quedan sin el pináculo de su carrera deportiva. La verdad es que no se trata de eso. Hasta el más acérrimo oponente al karate deportivo, debe admitir las cualidades atléticas y técnicas de la élite del karate deportivo. Exponentes como Rafael Aghayev y Luigi Busa pueden ser consagrados como el Messi y el Cristiano Ronaldo del karate deportivo. La crítica que nosotros le hacemos al karate deportivo no es con la intención de menospreciar el esfuerzo, el trabajo y el sacrificio de sus atletas. Nuestra crítica tiene principalmente dos áreas de enfoque. Una de base, pertinente a la raíz de los principios fundacionales del Karate Do y la otra es metodológica, pertinente a la concepción marcial del karate do. Pero vayamos por partes. Porque en realidad, la discusión de fondo es sobre lo qué entendemos cuando decimos karate do. Yo estoy absolutamente convencido de que el término evoca significados radicalmente dispares en la cabeza de los proponentes de uno y otro bando. No estoy en condiciones de decir que es lo que entienden los exponentes del karate deportivo cuando hablan de karate do y karate tradicional. Y dentro de los que se oponen al karate deportivo hay varias visiones diferentes de lo que es y debería ser el karate. Pero creo que lo que escribo en este texto representa de forma general nuestra posición, más allá de matices conceptuales. El tema es que los términos karate do y karate tradicional ya están tan desgastados por su mal uso y abuso que han quedado despojados de sentido. Gerardo Balves sensei del Kyudokan, utiliza el término karate original, refiriéndose a aquellas tradiciones de Okinawa que tienen un enfoque marcial del karate. Esta es una definición muy certera, pero que tiene la desventaja de desconocer los millones de practicantes que provienen del karate japonés y que ven en sus sistemas, sistemas que tienen el potencial de ser igual de marciales e igual de eclécticos que el karate de Okinawa. Partiendo de una misma base, pero también nutriéndose de una herencia marcial diferente, pero de igual profundidad. Por eso, con el afán de incluir a todos los que ven al karate como un sistema marcial de autodefensa y no como un deporte de combate, utilizaré en este texto el término karate aplicado. No es que los que tenemos esa visión del karate hayamos renunciado a los principios filosóficos y éticos del karate do. Tampoco intentamos romper con la tradición que nos une a los maestros de antaño. Al contrario! Para nosotros el karate aplicado es un intento de reafirmar tanto los principios filosóficos y éticos de nuestro Budo, así como de rescatar la esencia marcial de las fauces de la pauperización técnica, filosófica, metodológica y por ende marcial a manos del karate deportivo. ¿A qué me refiero en concreto al afirmar esto? Nosotros vemos el karate como una corriente perteneciente a la tradición del Budo. El ideograma “BU” es muy específico al definir la cualidad marcial de sus disciplinas. El ideograma está compuesto de dos partes, una de las cuales significa detener y la otra está conformada por dos bardas cruzadas. La connotación es clara: detener el uso de las armas, detener el conflicto. Esto ya condiciona al karate como una disciplina marcial y que por consiguiente debe ocuparse con el conflicto humano, pero con la condición ética, de que su fin es detener el conflicto. De ahí que nuestro karate tenga como objetivo supremo, la forja del carácter de sus practicantes. Buscamos forjar personas de bien, fuertes y empáticas, porque para detener un conflicto es necesario partir de una posición de fuerza. Sin habilidad marcial, sin potencialidad destructiva no hay capacidad de acción. Por eso forjamos nuestras armas y nos perfeccionamos en su uso. Sin capacidad marcial no hay paz. A la misma vez forjamos el carácter empático, responsable y justo, necesario para imponer la paz y defender al débil. El karate estudiado y practicado así trasciende el ganar o perder. Sólo se ocupa de tener la conducta correcta, en el momento correcto y en el lugar correcto. Más allá del resultado, las consecuencias o lo que puedan decir otros. Hay una foto famosa de la Alemania nazi, donde Hitler visita una fábrica. En la foto aparece rodeado de cientos de obreros con el brazo en alto, captados por el fotógrafo en el justo momento en que gritaban Heil Hitler a todo pulmón. Pero entre la masa de hombres exaltados por la presencia del Führer hay uno que no saluda, que no grita. De brazos cruzados, entrecejo cerrado y mandíbulas apretadas, guarda silencio. Ese hombre de agallas inauditas es para mi un ejemplo perfecto de la fortaleza de carácter y principios que busca el karate do. Esto está en directa contradicción a lo que propone el karate deportivo. El karate deportivo sólo se centra en perder o ganar. Como premio por tus esfuerzos propone la hipertrofia del ego y la adulación de los demás. Fama y gloria. Aunque solo sea entre los practicantes de karate deportivo. Cosas que poco o nada tienen que ver con el karate como Budo. Este tema lo expresó de forma ejemplar Luigi Busa festejando su victoria sobre Rafael Ahgayev y coronándose campeón mundial bailando gangnam style sobre el tatami, frente a su oponente y frente a los oficiales del torneo. No lo digo yo. Está en YouTube. Si el campeón mundial, el máximo exponente se comporta de esa manera, ¿Que se puede esperar del resto? ¿Qué valores denota este comportamiento? ¿Cómo es posible hablar de karate do, desde esta perspectiva? Lo impresionante también y sintomático de los valores del karate deportivo, fue la total falta de reacción de los jueces. El que calla otorga y esto sirvió para cimentar una vez más, el carácter superficial y competitivo del karate deportivo. Pero nuestras diferencias no terminan ahí. Porque nos separa un abismo metodológico. El karate, desde nuestra perspectiva, viene definido por el universo técnico, táctico y estratégico sintetizado en los katas. Del kata surge nuestro repertorio técnico, nuestro bunkai y nuestras diferentes formas de kumite. El kata define qué técnicas usamos, cómo las usamos y cuándo las usamos. Por lo tanto, el kata define también qué métodos usamos para facilitar los atributos técnicos y físicos necesarios. Nuestra práctica se basa por ende en enraizar con el suelo, entrenar con impacto, trabajar a distancias reales y con intención real. Nosotros buscamos dominar y manipular al oponente a todo nivel, ya sea estructural, en el tiempo o el espacio. En cambio, lo que define los parámetros técnicos y por ende metodológicos del karate deportivo, es el reglamento de la WKF. Que dá puntuación y que no dá. Incluso, el reglamento imprime su hegemonía de forma tan absoluta, que premia parámetros técnicos tan diferentes entre el kumite y el kata, que son absolutamente incompatibles entre sí. Es imposible hacer kumite deportivo con el repertorio técnico y las características específicas que definen una buena técnica en el kata (según el reglamento WKF). Y también es imposible puntear haciendo kata con las características técnicas que se premian en el kumite deportivo. Pero el tema va todavía más allá. Porque los elementos tácticos premiados vienen condicionados por las técnicas permitidas por el reglamento y las formas de ejecución que son premiadas. Esto a su vez condiciona los atributos físico/motrices que el atleta debe cultivar para poder ganar:
Esto es fácilmente comprobable. Basta con solo golpear una Makiwara o un saco de arena utilizando el espectro técnico que se premia en la competición de kata para comprobarlo.
Esto condiciona los patrones de movimiento del atleta a patrones de movimiento donde el atleta tiene una relación muy superficial con el suelo y está en constante movimiento. Esto a su vez condiciona los métodos de entrenamiento destinados a cultivar los atributos físico/motrices necesarios. Y como podemos ver, estos atributos técnicos, físicos y motrices son muy diferentes a los que se cultiva cuando la práctica del karate está centrada en su aplicación marcial y definida técnicamente por el estudio del kata. Entonces por un lado tenemos un karate regido y definido por un reglamento de competencias deportivas, donde la actividad está volcada a generar un efecto en el observador: Es decir los jueces, ya sean estos de kata o kumite. Y el suceso o fracaso del competidor puesto a la merced de la subjetividad de esos jueces. En este karate, lo que se hace en kata no es aplicable al kumite. Es una práctica fracturada que requiere atributos opuestos entre kata y kumite. Por el otro lado tenemos una práctica integral, donde toda la metodología de trabajo va dirigida a la subjetividad del practicante y su experiencia empírica contrastada con la realidad en toda su gama de expresión y estudio: Bunkai, kumite, kotekitae, kakie, makiwara, etc. Somos dos disciplinas diferentes. Con: Objetivos diferentes. Metodología diferente. Principios y filosofías diferentes. Entonces queda en claro que nuestro problema no es con el karate deportivo. Cada uno que haga lo que mejor lo satisfaga. Nuestro problema radica en la falta de diferenciación terminológica y la auto adjudicación de un término, que en el mejor de los casos debería acoger a todas las vertientes del karate y por lo tanto no ser utilizada sobre una forma específica. Los torneos y campeonatos no son denominados torneos de karate deportivo. Son denominados torneos de karate. Los campeones, no son campeones de karate deportivo, son campeones de karate. El término de campeón seguido de la palabra karate es una aberración. No se puede ser campeón de una filosofía de vida. Si aplicas la filosofía, si transitas el camino, ya lograste el objetivo. No se puede competir, porque estamos hablando de términos absolutos. O estás en el Do o no lo estás. No se puede competir a ver quien transita mejor el camino. Por eso te digo hermano deportista. No te aflijas por solo tener una aparición en las olimpiadas. Desde el punto de vista deportivo no le aportó mucho al Judo y al Taekwondo lo destrozó. Solo te pido que seas sincero al presentar tu trabajo y tu esfuerzo. Preséntalo como lo que es: Un deporte de combate. Nada más y nada menos. Jorge F. Garibaldi 7mo dan Sekishin Karate Jutsu
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Historias del Dojo II
- Hoy vamos a explorar el origen del movimiento... Cuando sensei comenzaba la lección sin preámbulos, ni calentamiento, sabíamos que la lección iba a ser más filosófica que física. Sensei tendía a alternar lecciones extremadamente arduas físicamente con lecciones donde el estudio de conceptos filosóficos relacionados al movimiento físico y la aplicación marcial marcaban el ritmo de entrenamiento. - Cual es el motor central del movimiento humano? Nadie contestó. Todos sabíamos por experiencias anteriores, que la respuesta que buscaba sensei, por lo general iba más allá de lo obvio. - Piensen! Cual es la fuerza omnipresente en el mundo? Nuestros pensamientos tomaron un giro espiritual y sensei siempre alerta dijo: - No! No es una pregunta religiosa, ni metafísica! - Piensen analíticamente. - Cual es la fuerza que permea el planeta? - Sensei!? La vos provenía del fondo de la clase y pertenecía a Ana, una muchacha aguerrida, de mirada fuerte y pecas en la nariz. Ana había llegado al Dojo hace dos años y no se había perdido una lección desde entonces. Con el tiempo había adquirido un aire de seguridad y autoridad. Era evidente que en el Dojo se sentía en casa. Nosotros la apreciábamos por su entrega y seriedad en la práctica. - Si, Ana. Tienes una respuesta? - Si sensei. - La fuerza que domina todo en el planeta es la fuerza de gravedad. - Exacto! - Entonces cuál es el origen del movimiento? Todos los ojos se centraron en Ana. Parada con los brazos a los costados, el ceño fruncido y la mirada hacia arriba, Ana buscaba febrilmente en su mente una respuesta lógica, basada en los datos que tenía. - Si la fuerza de gravedad es la fuerza básica del mundo, entonces el origen del movimiento se debe encontrar en la relación entre nuestro cuerpo y la atracción que ejerce la fuerza de gravedad. No? - Correcto, pero el concepto de “cuerpo” me resulta un poco vago... - Alguien más que Ana que se anime a colaborar? Pedro, uno de los yudansha del Dojo. Un hombre de unos 30 años, con unos 15 años de experiencia levantó su brazo. Pedro era uno de los “duros” del Dojo. Un hombre de pocas palabras, entrenar con el era sinónimo de un labio partido, un ojo negro o una costilla rota... Sensei ya había expresado su disgusto con los modales de Pedro dentro del Dojo en más de una ocasión. De vez en cuando durante el entrenamiento, sensei le pedía una sesión de kumite a Pedro. El sempai no podía negarse, pero todos sabíamos lo que se avecinaba. Sensei bailaba, esquivaba, entraba y salía como si tuviera alas y en el proceso Pedro caía, volaba y era barrido como si fuera un muñeco sin voluntad propia. Todo sin causarle otro daño que un ego desinflado... El resto del Dojo soltaba un suspiro de alivio... Pedro se comportaría bien por un par de semanas... - El artista marcial debe aprender a identificar, separar y controlar las diferentes fuentes de energía del cuerpo. En este proceso va incluido el perfeccionamiento estructural y las oportunidades que nos da en nuestra relación al suelo y la fuerza de gravedad. - Pedro, Pedro... por qué no abres la boca más a menudo? Has dado en el clavo. Gracias! Pedro se volvió a sentar, mientras una sonrisa se posaba fugazmente en su boca. - Todo esto está muy bien. Pero es muy vasto, no? Por donde empezar? Cómo puede uno aplicar semejante pedazo de principio? Hay alguna regla básica, que nos permita abrir una puerta que posibilite la aplicación de todo los que hemos hablado hasta el momento? Ahora que sabíamos de qué iba el tema, todos teníamos nuestra opinión y todos queríamos dársela a conocer a sensei. Yo levanté mi brazo. - Sí Jorge? - La ley más básica de movimiento es la de aplicación de presión direccional sobre el suelo, en la dirección opuesta al movimiento deseado. - Y eso que quiere decir? Dijo sensei con una sonrisa traviesa en la cara. - Simplemente que si queremos, por ejemplo, desplazarnos hacia adelante, debemos aplicar presión sobre el suelo, empujando hacia atrás. - Correcto! Entonces ahora que sabemos como movernos, vamos a ponerlo en práctica. - Kihongumite por favor! - Otagai ni rei! - Hashime! Karate & Transfer I always try to push my students beyond technique. Always trying to open pathways of understanding and giving them the possibility of understanding the underlying general principles, that will crack open, not just that technique, but all of them. The other day we were training a simple drill, where one person (the defender) lies face down on the tatami, and the other student (the attacker) takes the most dominant position he or she can think of. From there the defender has to try to stand up and the attacker has to prevent the other person from standing up. Simple. The aim of the drill is for the attacker to use muchimi to adhere to the opponent’s movement in order to detect and disrupt the defender’s structural alignment hindering him from standing up. The defender’s task is to use muchimi to create and/or detect structural weaknesses in the attacker’s position in order to create a window of opportunity that enables him or her to stand up. I promise to upload a video to our YouTube channel (Sekishin Karate Jutsu) illustrating the drill. As always, I will start by showing the drill and explaining the purpose of the drill, and the concepts we are working with. Our system is based on a core of general concepts and principles, that we try to apply in everything we do. So I will usually give them technical references from kata, kakie, or our kihongumite so the students have a technical reference that uses the particular principle I want them to work on. Any way, we got on with the drill. As I look around in the Dojo, I see the students huffing and puffing, struggling for position. That was never the intention. If done right, this drill should be more like a game of chess, where openings are created and denied in a flowing stream of intention, action and countermeasures. I realize, that the “attackers” are trying to lock on some kind of grip or position, and that the defenders are fighting the lock with all their might. As a result, a couple of muscle strains and a minor concussion occur. Why do I tell you this story of my instructorial failures? Well, because this a perfect example of one of the biggest problems in Karate today. We are overly focussed on technique, instead of focussing on the development of ability. Let me explain. We use endless hours polishing techniques. How to punch. How to kick. How to block. How to lock. How to throw. How to breakfall. Common for all of the above is that they share a handful structural and energetical commonalities. Understand them, and you can apply any of them in every context. For example, any structure that is able to deliver power, is also able to receive that amount of power. That means that a structure can be used offensively or defensively. The structure doesn’t vary, the intention does. When I say structure I am talking of the structural alignment of a technique. Jodan uke, for example. The tactical application of this may vary, but the principle will always be true. If it wasn’t you wouldn’t be able to deliver a single punch, due to you structural alignment being too weak to take the impact of your hand hitting the target. I am a lecturer by profession. One of the pedagogical concepts we work with when teaching is called transfer. Transfer is the student’s ability to learn something in a context and being able to apply it in a totally different context. In karate terms, that could mean to learn ukemi (falling techniques) in the Dojo, being thrown by a training partner, and applying that knowledge and ability, to break fall when you fall of your bike. But transfer doesn’t take place if you only learn to mimic the technique. Transfer can only take place, if the student understands the principles of the technique and internalizes the abilities needed to such a degree, that the student is able to apply or use those principles according to the situation. And in the process freely and creatively creating the technical expression the situation demands. What can you do as an instructor to create a possibility of transfer for your students? Work from a conceptual base instead of working from a technical base. After all, techniques are physical expressions of concepts. Working from a conceptual base, you can cross reference between katas or tactical situations. Take a concept and work it in many different technical expressions and tactical situations. Above is a picture of our whiteboard. It’s in danish, but you get the idea. Jorge F. Garibaldi 7 dan. Ten Chi Jin Martial Arts Academy www.karate-klubben.dk www.sekishinkarate.com In the world of karate respect is often confused with relativism: All work is good and every effort worthy of praise...
Not for me. Sorry. I can not make myself praise what I think is wrong or of inferior standard. If you talk about kata and its huge importance for karate, but your technique is superficial. Whatever you say or do becomes completely worthless in my eyes. It is one thing to look at the map, but another matter entirely to walk the path... If you talk about bunkai and your solutions don’t have the slightest trace of tactical awareness. I say that you are a good dreamer. If you are not aware of the methodological and conceptual fabric that is the background of every technical and / or corporal expression of karate, I say it is best that you learn before you teach. It really exasperates me to see people expose their ignorance disguised as certainties and their myopia presented as virtue. All wrapped in a translucent and easily detectable false modesty. I know hundreds, if not thousands, of karateka. Of all of them I can count on the fingers of one hand, which of them I consider to have reached a deep understanding of karate as a martial art. This week already, I've seen two "sensei" of international projection, postulate in their respective videos that the “dachi” conditions your choice and applicability of hand technique. For me, that is indicative of such levels of shallowness, that I feel ashamed for their sake. It is not only indicative of a superficial knowledge of the internal principles of karate, but also demonstrates their tactical myopia and lack of operative capacity. I have done tui shou with my master (a method of pushing hands in taichi) where I push him with all my strength and he absorbs my energy standing on one leg. That is the potential of the internal connection of the body! Having felt and experienced that kind of structural strength makes you a little bit intolerant for stupid remarks stating that your “dachi” conditions which hand technique you can use. When you talk to that kind of “sensei”, they always offer to teach. Never ask for the possibility to learn. Do I recognize a pattern here? Anyway, I don't know who I'm writing for. Those who understand what I'm talking about, have already broken the code and are, like me, on the way to a general understanding of karate as a martial system. The rest will attribute the sourness of this writing to my poor manners, my ego or my bad mood. I suffer from all three evils, but none of them nourish this writing. It's just that sometimes... I can't shut up. Jorge F. Garibaldi 5 dogmas that you must give up if you aim deep in Karate Do
Do you want to advance and deepen the art of Karate Do? Then you must sacrifice some of modern karate’s sacred cows... Over the years each generation of karateka has contributed to the development of karate as a martial art. In each generation, there have been teachers who have deepened and opened new avenues of study, work and training. Each generation has had its handful of innovators who have renewed, modified and deepened our martial art. It is also true that after the popularization that Karate has undergone in the last 60 years, a lot of knowledge has been lost. Much of Karate's negative development is caused by the lack of understanding by many masters of the theoretical roots of Karate and the subsequent development of training methodologies based on the ignorance and lack of martial maturity of many who participated in the export and popularization of karate. The devaluation of karate has reached such heights, that for most of its practitioners today, karate has ceased to be a martial system of self-defense and has become a sports pastime, with its rules and tactics and strategies, and a methodology of specific training. All this in order to win competitions and achieve medals. Even within the so-called traditional styles, sports competition is taken as a natural extension ... Within this framework it is possible to identify several "dogmas" that govern the training of many modern karateka and stand in the way of anyone who wants to delve into the martial art of Karate Do. Dogma 1 Milimetric precision is necessary for the development of a correct basic technique. Like all dogmas, this one has a gram of truth. The problem lies not in the accuracy, but in the technical parameters that are used to determine what to value as correct and what to rate as incorrect. The basic technique (kihon) of Karate, should not be governed by external geometric or aesthetic concepts. Karate kihon should aim to gradually teach the pupil to create the internal structures necessary to create as long energy chains as possible, and maximize the transmission of energy. Dogma 2 Karate is composed of Kihon, Kata and Kumite. These types of statements represent, at its root, the lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of Karate Do as a martial system that we inherited from many of our teachers. This is a methodological and intellectual limitation of Karate as a system. Karate Do is in its conception, a holistic martial system that encompasses all the training areas necessary to mold a complete practitioner. In its correct context, there are a myriad of methods and disciplines that add to the practice of Karate Do as a martial system, that don’t fall into the categories of kihon, Kata and Kumite. Dogma 3 Past masters were better and generally the Karate Do of before was better than the one of today. There is a general trend in karate’s micro world, to always be looking back. Idolizing and idealizing the practitioners who preceded us on the path ... There is empirically nothing to support this theory, but there is enough graphic documentation to support the contrary: Many of today's practitioners have a more refined and effective technique than teachers from 3 generations ago. This is not a bad thing, nor does it place the teachers of yesteryear in a bad light. If it had been the case, then we would have grounds for criticism, as it would mean that our teachers would have been bad teachers. But everything indicates that in reality it is not so. Several of the classic masters of Karate Do can be seen demonstrating their technique on YouTube. In them it is evident to anyone who is willing to see them with a sincere and critical mind, that there has been a technical evolution. This is a natural and necessary process. The work and contributions of Isaac Newton are no less important or less impressive, nor are they eclipsed by the arrival of Albert Einstein to the world of physics, right? The transmission and continuous progression of knowledge is a law of the human condition. Einstein would never have reached his general theory of relativity if Newton had not done the work he did. We must remember that we are on the shoulders of giants, but it is necessary to take responsibility for our time, our development and our students. It is up to us to ensure that the development curve of Karate continues to rise. That is the only acceptable way to honor the legacy and heritage of the masters who transcended the path before us. Dogma 4 Without Bunkai there is no Kata. These days, it is fashionable among those who are interested in the study of functional Karate Do (it is unfortunate to have to refer to our art in this way, it is indicative of the total pauperization that Karate Do has suffered), to regard Bunkai as the main method of study of Kata. While it is true that the study of Bunkai is essential for the martial nature of our art, it is necessary to understand that Kata is much more than its analysis from the perspective of the martial application of its movements. The levels of information enclosed in Kata are of enormous depth and anyone who limits himself to the study of the martial application of the techniques of Kata, will be very shallow in his evolution as karateka. Kata gives us an ecosystem of study and development that will govern the training of mature karateka. It is inside that micro cosmos, that we will discover the internal connections and relationships that will allow us to identify and separate the different energy sources of the body, the study of the structures necessary for its use and its application within a technical martial context. Bunkai without Kata is simply a game of "if he attacks you like this, you do this." In turn, Bunkai is just one area of all facets of study that Kata provides us with. Dogma 5 Muscular contraction as technique’s main energy source. It is necessary to forget about the muscular force as the main source of power generation when striking. This is a vast subject that is generally misunderstood and misused by the mass of Karate Do practitioners. This type of information is impossible to convey in writing and it is necessary to study with a sensei who understands these areas of study, if you want access to genuine and functional information. Suffice it to say that, muscle strength is a lower level parameter in energy generation and very often is used in a counterproductive way. Internal coordination has a much stronger impact on your punching power, than your physical strength. Any muscle contraction involves the relaxation of the opposing muscles. Consequently, every technical study should make the same emphasis on the relaxation of antagonistic muscles as on the contraction of the muscles involved in the generation of energy. In traditional karate, we place great emphasis on the study and practice of kata, especially those particular to our styles. It is not unusual to do hundreds of repetitions of a kata during a period of intensive study. Unfortunately, usually the study and practice of kata ends there. It is limited to the chaining of kihon techniques in a given order without anything that differentiates it from any other kata. It is very common to see very experienced karateka do one kata after another without being able to observe the slightest difference in technical, energetic or structural characteristics between one kata and the next. In this article I want to present the areas of study and practice of kata that form the basis of the study in the Sekishin Karate Jutsu (SKJ) and at my Dojo, Ten Chi Jin Martial Arts Academy. JU Ju means soft, lacking in tension. In his book Hidden Karate, the true bunkai for the Heian Katas and Naihanchi, the teacher Gennosuke Higaki (of the Shotokan school) tells his first encounter with he who would become his Sensei, Shozan Kubota sensei *: "The first time I saw Kubota sensei, he showed me Heian Shodan. I knew he was a karate instructor, but I could not recognize the kata he was showing me as the kata Heian Shodan. It looked more like a form of Taichi than a karate kata. Me: "Is that taichi?" Sensei: "It's karate" Me: "What is the name of that kata?" Sensei: "It's Heian Shodan" Me: "???? What is your style ??? " Sensei: "Shotokan, direct from Gichin Funakoshi" Me: "I also do Shotokan. Why is it so different from what you do? " Sensei: "Because what you do is simple gymnastics" Me: “What?" Sensei: "Can you use your kata when you do kumite?" Me: “No, I can’t" Sensei: "So, what you do is a simple gym exercise" Me: "Sensei, can you use your kata in kumite practice?" Sensei: Let's see ... attack me! " Me: "Pow! Ouch !!!! ....... " * (Transcribed from memory) This small excerpt from Gennosuke Higaki sensei's book is symptomatic of what we have lost along the way. It is the first time that I find a written reference to something that we at our Dojo have been doing for many years, but never having received external validation as a recognized method of study and practice within karate. It is vital for our school to study the katas in their Ju form. Why? Because the slow execution of kata allows us to become aware of, and deepen our control over the structural bases necessary for movement and the execution of karate techniques. Simultaneously our awareness and control over the different energetic sources of the human body, its relation to the skeletal foundation and its interrelation at the moment of generating and transmitting energy. All this is possible only if the kata is studied and practiced slowly. The speed of execution is dictated by the ability of our minds to observe, control and manage all these concepts simultaneously. BU Bu of bushi, warrior. This form of kata practice refers to a form of practice in which the core is not technical excellence or precision. The central concept of this form of kata practice is the full expression of mind, body and technique within the technical context of kata. When deepening in kata’s Bu form, what is being done is to practice kata, as if we were fighting. Emulating combat from a technical, physical and psychological perspective in terms of explosiveness, speed and aggressiveness. This way of training is vital, to recognize the practical viability of karate kihon and dissipate illusions or mirages about our technical, physical and psychological reality. System Kata is a very deep source of information. But to access it, it is necessary to break down the kata, open it and study it from different perspectives. 1. Strategy: What is the basic combat strategy postulated in kata? Evasion, invasion, obstruction, countering, etc. 2. Tactics: Once we have identified the basic strategic postulate of kata, it is necessary to study and identify the tactical approaches that kata proposes to achieve its strategic objectives: Grappling, percussion, dislocation, etc. 3. This brings us naturally to the Bunkai: The bunkai involves an analysis of the tactical and technical approaches of the kata and its possible application in a physical confrontation. 4. Principles: Every technique that appears in a kata, functions as a matrix and model for all possible forms and variations of that technique. In addition, by extension kata contains the anatomical, structural and energetic principles necessary for the correct execution of the included techniques. It is necessary to identify, isolate and extract these principles to include their study and practice separately, outside the context of kata, whether in the form of kihon, kumite or any of the intermediates, be it makiwara, bag work, renrakuwaza, etc. Soon I will make a series of articles where we will look at some of these elements more closely. Until then to follow the DO, this hard, arduous and wonderful way of Karate Do. The analysis of kata, access to the information contained therein, its comprehension and application, is one of the most enriching and necessary processes in the development of a karateka. Without kata there is no karate. This is an irrefutable absolute, but given the mass culture that has been generated around our martial art, it is necessary to repeat it. My next statement, is not that natural to all of us on the path of Karate Do, but it is for me, and I hope it is for all the practitioners of Sekishin Karate Jutsu. There is no kata without bunkai. There is no right action without understanding. Without an in-depth analysis of the kata, a deepening of the art of Karate Do is not possible. Nor is it possible to grasp the different levels of knowledge contained in kata. It is no coincidence that the ancient masters referred to different kata as complete ryu of karate. But to constitute a complete system, it is not enough to suggest tactical and / or technical solutions. The kata must contain information on all aspects that make up the set of skills and knowledge necessary for the cultivation of a self-defense system. This vision of kata as the main vehicle of martial information, located at the heart of Karate Do, has as its original premise a utilitarian and functionalist vision. A vision that does not give rise to interpretations guided by sports, aesthetic and / or philosophical or esoteric criteria. If one accepts the premise that for the understanding and internalization of the methods of Karate Do, bunkai is essential, the only viable perspective in Karate Do's vision is the functionalist. Where the form is dependent on the function. That is to say, that technical analysis (bunkai) should only take into account the effect. This is a central parameter. To ignore it would be like analyzing the qualities of a car without caring if it really has the capacity to fulfill its primary function: the transportation of its passengers. Another aspect that needs to be considered when analyzing kata for martial application is that kata often omits the obvious, what the practitioner is supposed to know in order to analyze the kata (the necessary minimums so to speak). And only shows what is specific or specialized, what defines an application, or what is important from a point of view of principles. But in bunkai it is necessary to look beyond the tactical or technical propositions of kata. As we shall see later, kata contains several levels of information. General strategy for conflict resolution. Karate as a martial system focuses on self-defense. As such, it is obliged to take a basic strategic decision that identifies the possible conflict scenarios to be addressed and how to solve them. This basic strategic approach could be formulated as follows: A) Completing any physical confrontation in a decisive and definitive manner as quickly as possible. B) Do not go to the ground. And if forced to the ground, get up as soon as possible. This general strategic definition, conditions karate on a tactical and technical level. The techniques and tactics found in the kata reflect this strategic conception and aim to translate it into practice. Tactical level The techniques of karate work with maximum optimum. If it is possible to obtain the same or greater result with another technique, then the chosen application is not correct. That means that if there is a simpler, more direct and effective way to achieve the effect we are looking for, the application we have found is not the best possible application. All applications are designed to end the confrontation as quickly as possible. Therefore, in our analysis of kata it is necessary to look for solutions of maximum effectiveness. The angles in the katas must be interpreted as relative to the opponent's position. That means that if in a kata we make a technique to the right, it is not because the attacker is on my right, but because I position myself in that way relative to an attacker who is in front of me. The probability of an attack must be taken into account when analyzing the combative applications of kata. Do not confuse probability with possibility. Is it possible for someone in the street to attack me with oizuki jodan in zenkutsudachi? It is possible. Is it probable? No, it's highly unlikely, bordering on the impossible. In analyzing the combative applications of kata, it is necessary to consider the ritual of human aggression, its stages, how to detect it and how to control it in our favor. Technical level Most classic katas are systemic katas. By systemic kata we mean a classic kata of high technical level, that contains a complete martial system in itself. Examples of systemic katas are katas such as Kushanku, Naifanchi, Passai, etc. All movements of a kata must be considered as techniques and all techniques are designed to be used in real personal defense combat. All parts of the movement are significant. Do not look for fancy solutions. Effectiveness goes hand in hand with simplicity. The techniques should be applied against weak anatomical areas. There are many applications for each movement. Discover the principles behind the techniques. Energy and structural level This level is the deepest and of the most difficult access. This is where we study the different ways of generating energy and how to transmit it. We learn to separate, identify and use the different energy sources that are within the possibilities of the human body. The kata teaches us how to make use of the muscles, tendons and bone structure in combat movement. This aspect of karate is so advanced that one can even see how past masters used modern concepts such as plyometrics. Of course, from an empirical perspective and without a modern scientific methodology. To reach this level it is necessary to have the guidance of a teacher with the knowledge and methodology necessary to transmit it. This is the level traditionally called "ura", which means, that which is out of sight, that which is implicit ... POSSIBLE OR PROBABLE? I've been on The Bushi path for decades. Like the vast majority, I started with a martial art (in my case Wado ryu) and over the years I have been involved in other martial arts, but always maintaining the practice and study of my main style. Like every student in the martial arts, always looking for improvement, always polishing rough edges, always extending my area of self-control and self-knowledge. A very important aspect for the development and growth of Budoka is the encounter and training with practitioners of other styles and other martial arts. People with the same sincerity in their practice and study, but who do it following a different path and a different perspective. Such encounters can give us a fresh perspective on our own art and can open doors to new levels of understanding. I never miss the opportunity to visit other dojos and to study and train with new people. After many years of exchange, learning and mutual inspiration, I must say that there are endless perspectives and forms of access to this deep and vast sea that is Budo. I must also acknowledge that, unfortunately, the vast majority of fellow travelers I encounter along the way, are not in it wholeheartedly. The vast majority, take the sweet, the rewarding practice and avoid the hard and rough that is an inseparable part of the study of Budo. In a way, it can be said that the mass of practitioners of the martial arts poses or assumes martial postures, without deepening, or discovering their own technical, physical, spiritual and emotional limits. This is the same people who adopt martial hierarchies as a means of status, without ever in their career having been exposed to a context of martial study, where a lively and spontaneous practice is required, without choreographies and where the energy exchange with the opponent is free and total. I think this has several causes. The primordial is human nature. It seems that most of us go through life without trying to understand the nature of things. But on a specific plane to Budo, it seems that one of the reasons is the conception of Budo as something technical, separate from the spiritual and the physical. Once, a 7th dan from a well-known martial art in Spain, told me that I was not a real martial artist, since I was in good physical condition ... according to him, I was an athlete and not a martial artist by the mere fact that I was in good physical condition ... That sensei saw a contradiction between a healthy and dynamic body and the study of Budo. It goes without saying that this person has an abdominal region that suffers from hypertrophy and flaccidity due to excessive calorie consumption and a sedentary lifestyle ... This is an aberration of Budo. Without body there is no technique and there is no spirit. All three are inseparable. If one of the three is missing, it is not Budo. I recommend everyone who is interested in the subject to study the concept of Shin Gi Tai. This vision of Budo is often found in people who train defenses and attacks, year after year, where the concentration in technique is so absolute, that along the way they have lost the intention in the attack. And therefore, the reality in the defense ... What do I understand by intention? By intention I understand to strike I strike to the best of my ability, and I do that with the intention of obtaining the greatest possible effect on the opponent. The same applies to luxations, projections, etc. Sure, I always take responsibility for the safety and health of my training partner. There is no contradiction between intention and power, between responsibility and technical excellence. As a result of this technicalist vision of Budo, we see Budokas collecting techniques as trophies and knowledge separated from skill. It is a big difference between knowing the technical aspects of a technique, and the ability to carry the technique out in a real situation. This divorce between study and reality, technique and intention also results in the confusion of the probable with the possible. To give an example. People train defensive techniques to get free of a wrist grip. Fine tuning and refining the technique until exhaustion different angles of escape, twisting, exiting, etc. This is a typical case of divorce from reality. First, because in the context of human conflict, a wrist grip is never an end in itself, but a means of attack. If someone just grabbed your wrist and was content with that, the only defense needed would be to wait until they get tired of holding us. Second, because the wrist grip is not at all a common attack (especially in male-on-male aggression). Is it possible to be attacked with a wrist grip? Yes That possibility and the study of defensive methods against such attacks is correlated with the probability of being attacked with a wrist grip? NO! I'm not saying that wrist-grip defenses don’t have their place. But I say that the time devoted to its study must be proportional to the probability of an attacker using such techniques. I also say that a defense (any defense) against an attack (any attack) is at best limited. The only thing that can give us victory in an altercation, the only thing that can give us a chance of survival, is to attack. Whoever defends himself against an attack will perish. The one who attacks the attacker will exponentially increase his chances of survival. This is a basic notion for any modern military. But that has fallen into oblivion among today's martial artists. That's why I call on all martial artists to read this article. Examine yourself. Look at your interior with severity and sincerity and see what you find. If you find there is a palpable difference between your knowledge and your martial skill, then you have the answer. If you are sincere in your study of Budo you must change course and methodology. There is no alternative. SKJ COMBAT CONCEPTS He who is strategically coherent and imposes his strategy will achieve victory. The one who pursues his strategy with the most appropriate tactical means will achieve victory. In combat, there are no static or energetically void situations. It is imperative to recognize and accept the opponent's energy needs, but always denying their structural needs. Opposing the energetic expression of the opponent only creates a new attack platform for him. That is, the enemy needs and has an energy opposition proportional to their attack to develop their attack. In other words, if he pushes, he needs and presupposes a resistance to his push to develop his attack. Areas in dispute in combat: time, space, structure and energy. Supremacy in one of these areas, leads to supremacy in the others: A. Supremacy over time: go no sen, sen, sen sen no sen, allows the combatant to always decide the moment of contact (and consequently impact). B. The supremacy over space allows the combatant to decide the form and the contact angles, and limits the reactive options of the opponent. C. The positional structure of the fighter is his energy launch pad. He who disrupts the positional structure of the enemy will take away his energetic potential. D. Energy is the result of the correlation of the three previous elements. |
AuthorJorge F. Garibaldi Archives
December 2020
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