So whats different

[Jinen Kym]

On the weekend a bloke I trained with through the 70's in Rob Dobson Karate club flew down from Brisbane specifically to train and train we did. From Friday noon through till 8pm Sunday when I took him back to the airport to fly home. He's recently completed his kyokushin 10 man line up and graded. He also has belts in taekwondo and Tang so do along with the brownbelt he had earned at Robs before he went interstate.
One of the standout differences he found was that we had both developed different stratagies for hitting targets. Where we have always been different from many Traditional karate styles is rather than rushing in or bashing through with punches we make openings via combinations. Our basic one is to push a palm heel to the head and as they block upwards we drop that hand into the lower ribs with a hammerfist.

How does your style or it's philosophies stand out from a traditional or your basic style?

[Shawn]

Great question Kym.

The shotokan I teach is in some ways a far cry from the JKA mould from whence it came. My students do not have the great posture or straight line power that many Shotokan Karate-ka have. However, they have a much greater understanding of combat in general. Locks and takedowns are often taught. Questions are encouraged and application of movement is critical. I guess one of the key themes that's different to many Shotokan-ka is that every movement has more than one purpose.

[kam]

I suppose when we spar at our dojo it has resembled kickboxing at times, and step sparring is very linear and direct. (shotokan)

In my personal practice, the wind up to the blocks are my innitial techniques (nothing new about this, i know)
Like palm parry/eye gouge with the wind up to knifehand gaurding block, Have a crack at the elbow with outer/inner block even upper block, then punch/kick and so on. Pretty basic apps there i know but i do prefer that type of app over the basic block to punch/kick etc

With my recent interest in Bagua, a whole lot more movement comes into play. There is not really a "block" in Bagua, ofcourse things are blocked lol but its always more of a parry leading to limb manipulation and throw.
Which ofcourse is there in Karate to do also, Its remarkable how these two arts compliment each other.

Appart from there being no fist in Bagua, When i practice the circular form (Jiang RongQiao) Many movements are really helping me find applications for my Shotokan Kata. One's intention is Linear/power and the others circular/manipulation. Yet with quite similar techniques allbeit applied differently. Seems they are two pieces of the same pie.

[Chrislg]

Nice observation Kam. You are going to love KU when you get a taste...

[andrewp]

One's intention is Linear/power and the others circular/manipulation. Yet with quite similar techniques allbeit applied differently. Seems they are two pieces of the same pie.

In Tai Chi it is all circles....but....you are told to find the straight lines within the circles....I always teach my shtotokan students that it is a straight line (linear movements) and they should look for the circles within it.

I don't know what grade you are mate....and it is of no concern on of course....but you seem to have a wise head on you.

[Jinen Kym]

I suppose when we spar at our dojo it has resembled kickboxing at times, and step sparring is very linear and direct. (shotokan)

In my personal practice, the wind up to the blocks are my innitial techniques (nothing new about this, i know)
Like palm parry/eye gouge with the wind up to knifehand gaurding block, Have a crack at the elbow with outer/inner block even upper block, then punch/kick and so on. Pretty basic apps there i know but i do prefer that type of app over the basic block to punch/kick etc

With my recent interest in Bagua, a whole lot more movement comes into play. There is not really a "block" in Bagua, ofcourse things are blocked lol but its always more of a parry leading to limb manipulation and throw.
Which ofcourse is there in Karate to do also, Its remarkable how these two arts compliment each other.

Appart from there being no fist in Bagua, When i practice the circular form (Jiang RongQiao) Many movements are really helping me find applications for my Shotokan Kata. One's intention is Linear/power and the others circular/manipulation. Yet with quite similar techniques allbeit applied differently. Seems they are two pieces of the same pie.

You would do well to drop by Karol Stojko's club in Felixstow. His club is "free flowing Karate" (Nagareru) and after many years of associating with him I asked "what is your base style?" He answered "Shotokan but we are the yang of Shotokan". The style has very big circular motions which came from viewing a Chinaman practicing his style (probably Chow Lay Futt).
Believe me, it's effective and has a lot more depth than some styles have today.

[kam]

Thanks Jinen Kym, Actualy Kata Heian nidan has opening movements which are trained as basicaly block/punch.
Yet, when i introduced a flowing circular action to the very same movements they produce a practicaly in-escapable sweep.

[Shawn]

Yet, when i introduced a flowing circular action to the very same movements they produce a practicaly in-escapable sweep.

Kam, could you please expand a little further on this? Keen to understand this better.

[kam]

The first movement, double block backstance.
First mistake made by typical breakdown is, it does not consider a forward momentum on the part of attacker AND defender.

So, my take on it is, we are almost clashing right off the bat. Yet, "typical" breakdown at this point is to further block another shot and jab at gut then extend left arm for lunge punch perhaps.
Distance or "position recognition" has been ignored too much i feel at this point. Why only "box" a couple of shots when we have gone from arms length right into closing the gap.

So, i consider the use of backstance with its weight basicaly on back foot to some degree to be a great opp to sweep out the front foot. However, before we get to that, When we double block we can use this to "load" the right arm, sweeping it in an arc immediatly at neck off attacker (remember we have clashed, not some stagnant distance scenario).

Left arm, instead of final linear strike, also crosses right arm then follows arc to neck as we draw right arm back, during this movement we sweep with front foot.

It can only work when we consider the first fact.. that a punch to the head is an arms length away, NOT a further distance in reality. Would you strike at me from 5 or more feet away lol. Also we move forward with the backstance/innitial defensive movement, therefore we should be taking advantage of the clash. So, in effect, the sequence and techs/stance can be much better utilised as opposed to a couple shots, by applying a circular action to the arms, producing left momentum neck strikes and right momentum foot sweep.

[Shawn]

The first movement, double block backstance.
First mistake made by typical breakdown is, it does not consider a forward momentum on the part of attacker AND defender.

So, my take on it is, we are almost clashing right off the bat. Yet, "typical" breakdown at this point is to further block another shot and jab at gut then extend left arm for lunge punch perhaps.
Distance or "position recognition" has been ignored too much i feel at this point. Why only "box" a couple of shots when we have gone from arms length right into closing the gap.

So, i consider the use of backstance with its weight basicaly on back foot to some degree to be a great opp to sweep out the front foot. However, before we get to that, When we double block we can use this to "load" the right arm, sweeping it in an arc immediatly at neck off attacker (remember we have clashed, not some stagnant distance scenario).

Left arm, instead of final linear strike, also crosses right arm then follows arc to neck as we draw right arm back, during this movement we sweep with front foot.

It can only work when we consider the first fact.. that a punch to the head is an arms length away, NOT a further distance in reality. Would you strike at me from 5 or more feet away lol. Also we move forward with the backstance/innitial defensive movement, therefore we should be taking advantage of the clash. So, in effect, the sequence and techs/stance can be much better utilised as opposed to a couple shots, by applying a circular action to the arms, producing left momentum neck strikes and right momentum foot sweep.

I like it! I might just give that a crack.