Fifty aspects of karate and martial arts training

Five general principles of learning karate

  1. Karate is practiced for health and personal safety
  2. The study of karate requires a student to effectively self-correct
  3. The goal is to utilize you body through pivoting and twisting the torso, to generate a transfer of kinetic energy to a desired target.
  4. In order to execute body turns aimed at a specific target, you need to where you put your feet. They are done on four lines that correspond to clock times.
  5. Karate students must know five key differences between karate training and fighting

Five aspects of fighting that are not practiced in traditional karate

  1. In fighting, the hands are held high, protecting the head, not the torso
  2. In fighting, subduing an opponent general requires multiple strikes. In karate, many defenses use a single counter strike
  3. When fighting, a forward advance is typically a cautious shuffle. In karate, most forward moving sequences walk/run/spin forward
  4. In fighting the hook, especially to the head is a fundamental weapon. In traditional karate it is completely lacking and head-strikes are rare
  5. Grappling on the ground is not a part of karate, although the Okinawans did practice their own separate art of tegumi.

Five components of traditional karate training (circa 1860)

  1. The practice of karate was for many years referred to as ti or toudi and included all manner of grappling and striking arts
  2. Strenuous conditioning was a hallmark of toudi
  3. The striking of the makiwara was central to training
  4. It was common for Okinawans to train so that common implements could be used in self defense. These included the rice sickle (kama), or mill stone handle (tonfa/tuifa), horse bridle / grain flailer (nunchaku), or shoulder pole used for transporting packages on the end to carry water, food, grain, etc. (rokushaku bo).
  5. Empty hand kata was at the heart of the practice of Okinawan karate

Five changes the Japanese made to karate

  1. Instituted ranking systems (belts) and uniforms
  2. Instituted and formalized styles
  3. Created competitive sparring (kumite)
  4. Removed grappling
  5. Instituted competition for kata.

Five aspects of Okinawan kata

  1. Kata was taught, father to eldest son under the strictest of secrecy.
  2. Kata are considered to be of Chinese origin. Military authorities are believed to have had a role in teaching these to Okinawans
  3. Okinawan kata are often short
  4. 150 years ago, a students would take three years to learn a kata, and would typically practice only three to five throughout his life
  5. Okinawan kata, practiced empty hand, teach primarily defensive movements

Five basic rules of Okinawan kata

  1. Okinawan kata is punctuated (discontinuous). There are many pauses.
  2. The movements of Okinawan kata are most often performed with speed and power. Slow movements are infrequent.
  3. Okinawan kata begin and end on the same point.
  4. In empty hand kata, one looks in the direction one is moving.
  5. Kata movements are restricted to specific directions.

Five rules of direction

  1. Kata movements are performed primarily on a line straight forward and back (12:00 to 6:00)
  2. Kata movements include movements on a line perpendicular (3:00 to 9:00)
  3. Some kata have movements that are on a 45 degree angle. (1:30 to 7:30)
  4. Some kata have movements on a second 45 degree angle. (4:30 to 10:30)
  5. Opponents are in the front or in back

Five rules of kata angles

  1. Stances with the weight back have both feet on a line.
  2. Stances with the weight forward have both feet equidistant from the line.
  3. Stances with the weight in the center have both feet on the line.
  4. Kata have long asymmetric sequences to the front and rear. (12:00 to 6:00).
  5. Kata have small symmetric sequences on the other three lines

Five basic foot movements in fighting

  1. Forward Stepping - Kicking adds distance (forward and crescent)
  2. Forward shuffling
  3. Forward spinning
  4. Retreating
  5. Evading

Five aspects of body movement in martial arts

  1. Movements can be practiced in a continuous manner, or in a punctuated manner.
  2. Movements can be practiced slow or fast
  3. Movements can be done in a relaxed manner or with tension
  4. Movements can be circular or linear
  5. Movements can be designed for civilian defense (empty hand) or for military purposes armed.

Additional New and Review Concepts for my Students Getting Started

  1. 3 Foot positions (stances)
  2. 3 Forward Hand Positions
  3. 3 Rear Hand Positions
  4. 3 Striking Positions
  5. Kata Has 3 Directions
  6. Kata Has 4 Lines
  7. Military training requires enemies to be front and back.