The Lord of Pasta:
Our beloved Lord of Whoopass was seen Down Under playing with his sausage.
Martial Arts News:
- Here’s something you’ll probably never find Master Wong doing.
Jobe, who is 48 and a fourth-degree black belt, began the free Saturday sessions at the church’s St. Andrew site on Portland Avenue a few months ago.
- Yip Man was a success so it stands to reason we’d see another movie about Bruce Lee.
“Bruce Lee, My Brother,” which opens this week around Asia, focuses on the iconic action star’s teenage years and family life in Hong Kong, where he first trained in martial arts and worked as a child movie actor.
- Krav Maga makes the Time blog.
“People gravitate toward it because of the Israeli army connection,” he adds, “but also because it has practical uses beyond just getting fitter or stronger.”
- Women Sumo wrestlers! This is courtesy of Sensei Matt Klein.
You heard it right. There is a push on to include women sumo wrestling in the next Games. And while Japan is involved in greeting their ancient sport into the Games, more European countries are pushing just as hard.
- One black belt takes on bullying.
“When I was picked on in school, I started taking karate,” Gallo explained. “The bullying stopped, but it had nothing to do with kicking or punching.
- Krav Maga seems to be the next big thing.
“Krav Maga is really good for using the minimum amount of time for the maximum results,” she said. “It uses intuitive body movements, movements you would do anyway if someone pushed you, and builds on that.”
- And to think I have trouble motivating myself to go for a run.
…he was diagnosed with a disorder that ended up robbing him of almost 90 per cent of his sight.Unperturbed, Johnstone continued with his training, building on the foundation of wrestling, goju-ryu karate and daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu that he had been developing since the age of 14.
- What caught my eye in this article is the reference to something called Kong Soo Do.
Body Mind Systems is a comprehensive martial arts training system teaching eight martial arts that encompass the foundations of all martial arts styles: kung fu, bagua zhang, tai chi, judo, kong su (taekwondo/karate), aikido, traditional Asian weapons and samurai sword.
- From Mr. Wikipedia:
Kong Soo Do (공수도) is a Korean martial art. Its name is composed of the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese characters for “karate-do”. In English it means “empty-hand way”. However, it is different from karate-do. It is influenced by individual backgrounds of instructors.
Just when I thought I had heard it all!
The Blogs:
- Bunkai has a new video up.
…we looked at the rather odd sequence near the end of kata Nujishiho (Niseishi), where the movements do not fit the usual way of generating power in Karate (or at least, not the Shotokan way of doing this kata) and the chambering position of the reaction hand is unusual too.
- Matthew wants you to nominate a Sensei!
It’s in this spirit that we celebrate the holiday season, and hopefully we can make one generous Sensei’s holiday a whole lot brighter.
Your job is to go to the contest page and nominate an individual who has brightened the lives of others and should be rewarded for their selflessness.
- Want to learn some Taji but don’t have access to an instructor? Then you might want to check this out. For those that are new to my blog, Steven Smith is Bob Patterson approved. (Yeah, yeah, add a quarter to my “approval” and you probably can buy a cup of coffee. Seriously though: He’s worth checking out!)
All of our Courses use High-Definition Streaming Videos. (You’ll need access to high-speed internet.)
- Accidental Aikidoist hits the big time!
Second I’ve been mentioned on AikiJournal!
- (Un)Caged Fighter is giving Dojo Rat and Ricewind some competition.
Since I left you guys some pics of hot ninjas on Halloween I will continue the tradition with more pics of nice looking women ( I would make it Thanksgiving themed but there aren’t any “sexy” pilgrim or turkey costumes).
- Wim offers some practical self-defense advice!
If this list describes you (and I’m confident it does for most of you), then your life isn’t in immediate danger. Nor will it be in the foreseeable future. So do you really need to be armed to the teeth every time you step outside? I don’t think so.
It’s rare that I disagree with Wim. However, this time I must! My wife seems to agree with Wim. Despite her comments I constantly remind her that, much like what happens to Steven Seagal in his movies, one day we might be attacked by Russian Ninja Assassins while dinning out. When that day comes all this training will finally pay off. One day…
The Videos:
- Both come from “Sakenpo”. This guy friended me on YouTuber and upon clicking though I noticed his videos.
Defense against a spinning back kick (aka reverse side kick):
Striking with knockout power:
So what do you all think of Brassard’s videos? I’m going to let you all comment on the second video. Since the reverse side kick is one of my bread-and-butter kicks I think I’ll comment on it.
It is true that balance disruption as a defense to the spinning back kick is not always taught. The only constructive feedback I’ll offer is this: Despite being a plausible option, the video makes the back kick defenses appear to be foolproof. The reality is that it’s much harder to do in a fluid situation than the video would lead you to believe.
Timing and set-up is everything with a good spinning back kick. If you are better at controlling the ranges of fighting than your opponent then it’s very possible to fire off a reverse side kick and score. Seriously: My old fat 40+-year-arse did it in Tae Kwon Do and Mantis Kung Fu. I also have had success in my current kickboxing sparring where take-downs are an option. Throwing that kick is a calculated risk that can result in being taken down or disrupted, however, it’s far from being certain.
Let’s close with one of my favorite MMA fighters, Cung Lee. He’s famous for making use of the spinning back kick in a setting where someone could close on him. (apologies for the annoying music)
-BCP
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Hi Bob,
My critique of SAKenpo’s (spinning back kick) video is he is doing everything from inside the critical distance, meaning why would any opponent spin around (leaving his back wide open) when anyone can strike you at will? Spinning back kicks (and spinning back knuckles) defensively are better thrown when your opponent is advancing anyway… easier to time the move and nail him!
True enough is it possible to disrupt a spinning rear (as I call them) by jamming. A good jammer will try and disrupt everything and make you pay (every time you flinch – he will charge).
Failing coming up against a jammer or someone trying to throw the spinning kick right next to you – it is better to move latterly in my estimation.
Hey, you never know when those Ninja killer commandos might jump you from the shadows. So be prepared!
Thanks Bob, for advocating for RealTaiji.
From the videos: I dig the push hands…or push-fists…the most.
Answer to your question: the kick vs. spin, as a technique it’s a fine practice, I think. It offers some body-mechanics experiences, both for attacker and attacked. It lacks martial realism, sure, but it’s just a little drill, possibly a taste of longer drill? I see several potential fun and useful ways for people to explore martial (and healing) interactions.
John and Steven -
I’ve put my foot in my mouth re: videos before so I could be wrong. He might well have a much longer lesson and this is only a part of it. Anyhow, jamming is an option but it does not always work.
Wim –
All they’d have to do is wait for me after I overate at China Buffet. Game. Over.
What? You didn’t like the vintage Yoshinkan Aikido videos?!
Never mind. You picked them up last Sunday.
Tradtitional_Karateka (“TK”) re “Charlie Wildish /Bunkai Jutsu”
TK checked out the link & CW. Impressive resume. TK looks to instructors like CW for those seriously interested in exploring traditional karate’s potential. Kata bunkai is an aspect TK has begun looking at intensely; not an area I would consider myself particularly well-versed.
TK is problably going to leave a detailed comment @ the Bunkai Jutsu site re the videos on kata applications.
RE: BP’s comment & CW’s comment about the ‘non-standard’ karate use of chambering & the body to generate power, TK believes that the common view of karate chambering–in actual application–is way too stereotyped (as is the common view of karate).
If we step back & take more of a birdseye view of the traditional karate curriculum,
karate techniques can be:
(A) Divided into basic & advanced.
(B) Furthermore, categorized as basic & applied.
For argument sake, let’s say basic builds strength VERSUS advanced which delivers the power developed from the strength built by basic techniques. And furthermore, basic techniques teach the body principles VERSUS applied which adapt the principles taught in basic techniques to actual fighting situations or scenarios.
TK’s point is that when you look @ traditional karate training this way, it starts to make a lot more sense. In the foregoing illustration, there’s actually a matrix of martial ability & skill being established. How many overlook this?
And additional training platform is to engage in the cross -training of other martial arts, whcih CW did, especially some of the chinese karates. This, according to CW, gave him much greater insight into his awful (TK said that for the karate critics) Shotokan karate style. Many of ST commentors have done so themselves.
TK’s conclusion is that what may appear to some as ‘non-standard’ karate chamabering or other uses of the body mechanics, to TK is the traditional martial art progression from basic to advanced principles, basic to applied techniques designed to be more effective & specifically tailored to actual confrontations.
Your karate isn’t changing or abandoning basics [chambering], it’s building on basics, growing into the realm of the advanced, the applied.
Traditional_Karateka
Rick –
Yep, last Sunday and they were good videos!
TK,
Perhaps. My view of the chambered punch is influenced by three things:
1. Two runs in Tae Kwon Do that total about six years.
2. Exposure to a traditional Shotokan group during my second TKD run.
3. Reading about other styles of Karate.
Based on all three I see very little evidence that other ways of punching are typically taught. In TKD run #2 we did flirt with the jab and boxer’s reverse. However, 85% was the traditional chambered fair. If a given instructor does teach other ways of punching it’s usually something that he or she brings in as an addition to the traditional curriculum. (same for those who teach some ground basics — it’s usually an add-on)
One of my past TKD instructors, husband attends a local Shotokan group. They totally chamber as does their instructor who is a 5th dan.
If you know of a traditional style of Karate that includes non-chambered fair I’d love to hear about it. I’m pretty sure that modern flavors of Kempo include non-chambered stuff but, in comparison to Karate, Kempo is fairly new. (newer than Tae Kwon Do, I think!)
Thanks for the shout out on the contest!