tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885711670756817935.post3717175098171994073..comments2024-03-22T08:18:39.358-05:00Comments on RECCE ROOM: What's Wrong With Karate 1Recce Riflemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07728739036785037908noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6885711670756817935.post-11889260658324561582014-09-08T11:41:53.900-05:002014-09-08T11:41:53.900-05:00Howdy!
I agree that there are huge problems with ...Howdy!<br /><br />I agree that there are huge problems with Karate, and that the problems are with the training. I put in about 15 years, first in Shotokan, then Goju Ryu, with about a year of Shito Ryu and just a bit of Judo and Jujutsu. <br /><br />The idea of using a fixed zenkutsu dachi and a full choku zuki in a fight is ludicrous. My analysis of the problem is a little different than yours. I don't think those techniques were intended to be used in practical situations in the manner they are taught to white belts. I don't know why, but it was clear to me by the time I was 4th or 3rd kyu that the full form punch was either a training tool, or meant to illustrate something else that I didn't understand (I can picture a bo technique there as well- they weren't allowed to have weapons, so maybe...?). <br /><br />By the time I was a shodan and doing serious makiwara work on my own, it was clear that zenkutsu dachi illustrates the principle of something that will only exist for a fraction of a second at the conclusion of a punch. It was also clear that my punches were actually stronger from a relaxed, boxing style position (which makes sense in the theory of how muscles work). <br /><br />I don't know why those full punches are used in advanced kata, but if you research more obscure styles (older) you'll notice that you don't see it as much. The Okinawans did it a little more than the Chinese, and the Japanese went crazy with it. <br /><br />I think the punching through armor thing was made up by the Japanese to explain things to Westerners who asked too many questions for them. I think that they did a lot of that. There were also a lot of people in the early days who would put up their instructor shingle after a couple years of training, which is probably where you end up with people wearing black belts who should be wearing green belts. <br /><br />I don't think the problems is with the techniques so much as it is with people who never could understand application. As you say, you don't have that problem (at least to that degree) in jujutsu (or jiu-jitsu). That's why I finally had to give up on organized training. I just couldn't, in good conscious, continue with something that was going to get me hurt if I had to use it for real. I realized I was better off finding my own applications and interpretations of the techniques. <br /><br />Rifleslingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18433915540679169065noreply@blogger.com