Cracking the Code of Kata

Somewhere in the mid 1990's I heard the phrase " A block is a lock, a blow it a throw". It was the beginning of a transformation in my understanding of what karate training could be. I knew instinctively that there was more to the practice of kata than simply an exercise in punching and kicking. Those words, or something close to them came from Tony Anessi, the man featured in the above video. I have never seen one of his books or videos until I found this one on YouTube. In hindsight I owe him a debt of gratitude. Apart from that one quote and it's impact in revitalizing my practice, I may not have continued down this path. So, though it may be late in coming, Mr. Anessi, Thank You.

More Monastery Training

I have recommended Thomas Merton's book "Mystics And Zen Masters" to many people. I think it does a remarkable job of comparing and contrasting Eastern and Western Monastic / Mystical traditions. He also writes about his relationship with Suzuki Roshi. I stumbled onto this video. It captures a bit of the feel of that book.

Bunkai Pinan Shodan / PyungAhn Chodan

In this application Oldman uses the series of high blocks to drive his opponent backward. The last of the "high blocks" is used as a choke / pin against a wall. From there Oldman can reason with the gentelman. In addition if the attacker is wearing a jacket, Oldman can grab the attackers left shoulder while at the same time grabbing the attackers left lapel. The hand on the right shoulder holds the jacket in place, Oldman's left hand pulls down and back pulling the attacker neck down onto Oldman's right forearm securing a very solid choke. As the offender is unimpressed with Oldman's request for cooler heads to prevail Oldman looks to extricate himself from the premesis. His exit strategy begins with a 270 degree turn while grabbing the attackers arm throwing him to the floor. Then Oldman hits the road.

Monastery Training

After The Deluge

The water was not as deep as in my previous cartoon but a huge bother none the less.I was up into the wee hours of the morning mopping and installing a pump. At this point there is still water coming in. The soil is saturated so any new water has to go somewhere. My wife said last night in exasperation "House's are not meant to have basements". I told her "Maybe so but you might not feel that way the next time the Tornado siren goes off". After all we do live in Kansas.

Midwest Flooding

Swine Flu and You

On my way to work this morning the top news story was about, you guessed,it Swine Flu. As bad as it is, it is certainly not the only "bug" we that spend time in dojos can concern ourselves with. Colds,flu, fungal infections, warts and even antibiotic resistant infections. When a mom or dad drops their little one off at the dojo they might worry that the child will break a leg. Most are not thinking "Gosh my kid could get MRSA" (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

The news serves as another reminder that we need to do all we can to keep our dojos clean and our friends and us healthy. I start with regularly mopping the mats and disinfecting them. The next idea can be a challenge but it is one of the best way beat illness...hand washing. Encourage members to wash their hands before and after class. You could even provide a dispenser of hand sanitizer near the entrance of the dojo. Be an example for kids to emulate. Even try making it fun. You can even make it a contest to see whose hands are cleanest. Think of it as real "Reality Based Self Defense".

Bunkai: Pinan Yondan / Pyung Ahn Sahdan

In the above example you see an approach to the beginning of Pinan Yondan. The person defending raises both arms to block the incoming punch from the attacker. This is consistent with the form as practiced in most styles. However I have not seen the kata ever practiced with a knife hand strike following the block. One thing I try to do when analyzing a form is first to stay as close to the actual movement as possible. That does not mean that I try to be literal. Being literal might have you looking at the first two moves of the form and thinking "One...Block...Two... Block. In addition to not being too literal I try to keep things simple and direct.



The second response shown is both direct and simple. Were it differs from the first example is that it uses a simultaneous block / strike. The defenders striking hand also serves to block if the attacker throws a left hand also.



In this variation you see a response to a grab. One thing that the illustration does not show very clearly is the idea of using the wrap up and twist of your waist to off balance the opponent. This off balancing causes them to want to straighten up to regain their balance which facilitates your ability to move your arms through the "blocking" movement . In the kata after the first block the hands move toward your left him before executing the second "block". So what you end up with in this example are two options. One, ending in a wristlock and the second ending in a throw.

Killing Dandelions

Let me start by saying that I'm not a "lawn" guy. I have friends that have lawns that look like putting greens. Even though I'm not Mr. Greenlawn, I do try to keep our house and yard looking good. Fortunately I have a couple of neighbors that have set the bar pretty low. Rather than going the extra mile I would say that on average I go the extra hmmmmm.....260 yards. That way I'm still able to stay ahead of the guy with the bass boat and Jeep in his driveway. If they ran he might just have me. Since they don't I'm still clearly ahead.

Earlier in the spring at my wife's urging I spent the better part of a day applying a weed and feed to see if I could get a jump on the dandelions, my yellow nemesis. I mean I was on them like white on rice. For a few weeks things looked great and then BAM!!! Dandelions. As a homeowner I really dislike them. Speaking as a Martial Artist I have to admire them. They are tenacious. They thrive under the absolute worst of conditions. You can try to dig them up. If you do good luck getting all of the root. I think the thing that gets me the most is the whole reproduction strategy. I mean, take an Oak tree. When this big, grand, king of the woodlands is ready to reproduce it's like " Yep, time to drop some acorns". Dandelions are like the Wicked Witch of the West"..."Fly my pretties!!!". Then as dutifully as her flying monkeys did the dandelion seed soar on the wind to wreak havoc far and wide.

The Dandelion. As much as I want to hate it I have to give it credit. I think it has a lot to teach me about martial arts, and life.

Fried Day

Ladies' Night Ou...ch at Hallmark

Today you get to be a fly on the wall and get a glimpse into a self defense class I teach called http://ladiesnightouch.blogspot.com. I have a class coming up on the 28th that I'm preparing for and looking forward to. The class begins with introductions and general discussion and questions. From there we move on to the topics of awareness and boundaries.



This picture shows the beginning demonstration of verbal and physical boundaries. The photo also shows the discussion on how we build defensive techniques on natural reactions and responses.



After we practice handling verbal aggression we move on to using environmental awareness to escape. In addition we cover improvised weapons in the environment. After this drill we begin training combat techniques. We keep it very simple, kicks, knees, palm heels and elbows.



In the next two pictures the ladies implement all they have trained beginning with first attempting to deescalate the verbally aggressive assailant. You can see as each woman go full contact with the padded assailant her peers cheer her on and yell out techniques when they see the openings for their use.



It does not matter how much padding you have on. Some things still hurt. I continue to press the assault until I take a shot that I feel would have sufficient impact to stop an actual assault. We tell the ladies, "Don't stop till they drop".



After class we debrief, celebrate and take more questions. In a class that is 3.5 hours long we cannot cover every possible thing that a woman could encounter but we cover a lot of ground. The women leave the class encouraged and invigorated. They also have information and options that they can and have implemented to protect themselves. We call "Ladies' Night Ou...ch" a fun, fast paced introduction to effective women's self defense". I think that is an honest accurate description of the class. I am happy to be able to provide it.

I would appreciate hearing about any experiences you have had taking or teaching self defense. Our class is great but your insight might just make it even better.

Deadliest Warrior: Samurai vs Viking

Martial Arts Trends

The Deadliest Warrior: Larping vs. Gladiator

Click on image to enlarge.

What Inspires You?

Earlier today I made a kind of snippy, sarcastic post. It was aimed at a person who had made a comment on a YouTube video of two of my students doing a kicking drill. After my post had been up for a few minutes I returned and took it down. I can sometimes use, what my wife refers to as "my evil gift", insightful, razor sharp humor in ways that are not "helpful"or kind. So I'll start the day over and put up something else. Something of both obvious and subtle quality. Something remarkable and inspiring. If you cannot see the beauty in it, and feel compelled to say something like "That wouldn't work if the UFC" go ahead. I recognize that what inspires or impresses me will not neccesarily do the same for others. Feel free to share what does inspire you. Today the kata of Seiko Toyama.

Salami Pirates

Here's How to Win "The Tuxedo" AND A FRAMED OLDMAN ORIGINAL.

Convince three different people to visit Oldman's Boobishi and leave a comment under the "Tuxedo" post that says...

"Your Name" (as in you) sent me to Oldman's.

i.e.

JoelM sent me to Oldman's.

Or,

BBM sent me to Oldman's.

Or

AngleMeg sent me to Oldman's.


The first Name that shows up three times gets the movie AND the Oldman artwork.

Bunkai, Pinan Yondan / Pyung Ahn Sahdan

Fish With Feet and Blogtalkradio.com

As a person who is committed to life long learning I would just like to say ARRRRRRRRGH!!!. Thank you, I just needed to get that out of my system. I both need and want to learn new things. In my martial practice I'm exploring new ground. At work I'm learning new software and new systems. I'm enjoying learning about the blogsphere and how it works. Just when I think I'm making some progress I sometimes run into a wall or something new to me that opens up a door to a whole other level of complexity and exciting possibilities. ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!

In my work I am both blessed and cursed to work with very talented young designers and artists that grew up in an already digital world. Most of them would have no idea what a transistor radio was or what a mimeograph did. Nor, would they need to. So as I bob around in the shallow end of Flash, Maya, Dream Weaver and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, I don't really feel like a dinosaur. I feel more like the first fish that thought "Hmmm, I bet if I tried I could use my fins to "Swim" on dry land". He didn't even have a word for "Walk" yet. That fish was either moving away from something in the water or toward some possibility on dry land.

Just when I feel I'm getting a grasp on the blog thing here comes Secondhandkarl on http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/23738 and opens another door wth his interview of Jessica, a.k.a. Black Belt Mama. Thanks a lot Karl... ;)


So, are you stretching or being stretched. Where is your growing edge.

A Sense of Place

Over the course of my life I have lived in many different areas. I have very vivid memories of each of the places. I grew up in western Illinois along the Mississippi river. I spent ten years in Chicago and ended up in the Kansas City area. Being an artist and a very visual person I often times mentally walk through the old neighborhoods, woods, and even most of Chicago in my mind. I do this in the evening as I'm preparing for sleep. I'm not really trying to remember per se, there is no effort involved . I just mentally stroll along until I drift off to sleep. Over the years my memory has proved to be very accurate particularly in visual matters. My wife will question my auditory memory but never my visual recall. Walking those old paths can be a type of contemplation, a meditation. A more tangible record of this pondering are small paintings that I do from memory. The "accuracy" is not the most important aspect of the painting. It has to capture a sense of place.

Am I alone in the practice of mental wandering? Where do you go? Where does your mind take you?

Fudoshin "Immovable Heart"

Fudōshin is a state of steady imperturbability referred to as "immovable heart". It is a part of the philosophical, or mental aspects of many Asian martial arts which can contribute to the effectiveness of the person trained in those arts. Fudoshin can be manifest as unshakable determination. It is characterised by mental stability as opposed to obsessive drive. It is an embodiment of strength an flexibility both in body and mind.

Some folks got it, some folks don't. How about you?

Britain's Got Talent

Moondance

Oldman Gets Frenched

Today I got a fun surprise in the e-mailbox. It was a note from a French Shotokan practitioner named Bernard Barès. He asked for permission to publish and translate Boobishi examples into french for the "Gazette du SKDV". Bernard trains with Shotokan Karaté-Do Vernolien. I sent the above cartoon to him as my reply.

Now I just want to see him translate the title.

Bunkai, Pinan Nidan, PyungAhn Edan V.3

DANGER!!!...DANGER!!!...

Last Months Winner

Dear Mr. Cook,

Thank you so much for the book Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu, which arrived yesterday via mail as promised. I find the book to be very interesting and informative, with tutorial so simple even a child could understand. As such, my four year old son, upon perusing the tome with me yesterday evening, immediately hip-tossed me onto his playmat and submitted me with an armbar (see attached photographic evidence). I hope that further reading will reveal to me the counter to this most effective technique.

Sincerely,
Mike

Pssssssst.....

The New Guy

Oldman Briefs

The RDA PMA Experiment

This post is a compilation of two posts made in the end of 2008 on another blog of mine called "The RDA PMA Experiment". It was an introduction into a blog that would journal an approach to exploring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The RDA PMA Experiment

I guess I should start with the PMA portion of the equation. PMA is short for Prairie Martial Arts. At PMA we practice Chung Do kwan, Tae Kwon do and teach effective women's self defense in our "Ladies Night Ouch" program. I also teach classes in the corporate fitness center at Hallmark Cards Inc. The photo below is of the northwest corner at PMA. The dojo is located in the lower level of my home. The PMA dojo is a compact but useful 475 sguare feet. It is equipped with Zebra puzzle mats and a water filled heavy bag. In addition there is a TV/DVD/VCR player and a small dressing room. Since it's completion we have held classes and hosted small seminars for visiting martial artists from around the United States.



Next, Just what is the experiment. The experiment is this, once put together can a group of people with little to no experience grappling attain sufficient skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to earn the rank of Blue Belt issued by a recognised black belt in the art primarily using training materials produced by that Black Belt instructor? The training would consist of small group training two to three times a week hosted by a facilitator with eleven years teaching experience in another art.

I have owned and trained with other BJJ videos and dvds before. I first purchased the Gracie Basic tapes from the Torrance Academy. I also own the Cesar Gracie Instructional set. All of them were well done and helped to introduce me to the art. I have used them as training aids in the past. An obvious question or suggestion to me would be "why not just find an instructor in you area?". Based on my current career (Designer/ Illustrator) and my avocation Karate/TKD I teach 5 to 6 classes a week outside of my job. These classes often conflict with other teachers schedules. What I am able currently able to do is schedule training opportunities in my home. A short while back I came across some videos on YouTube posted by Roy Dean. Roy is a black belt under Roy Harris. The Videos showed examples of Mr. Dean teaching basic technique and also white belts testing for their blue belts. The presentation of technique was clear and the rolling was spirited and respectful. I found them both encouraging and inspirational. I decided to purchase Deans' "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Blue Belt Requirements".



I was not disappointed. I even emailed him and complimented him on both their technical and aesthetic quality. We shared a few emails which I enjoyed. Both the quality of the product and the enjoyment of the interaction has helped in my decision to use his materials with the small group of guys exploring BJJ in my home. So if we put the pieces together he RDA-PMA Experiment is PMA Prairie Martial Arts using "RDA" Materials as the basis for exploring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I would like to add that that we are not affiliated / associated with Mr.Dean nor do we represent his academy. We do not want people to assume (if we share videos of our group working out) that it represent students under his instruction. What we will do as a part of our experiment is to commit to use his "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Blue Belt Requirements" as our primary syllabus for our groups exploration. A promo of Roy Dean's "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Blue Belt Requirements".



We are a few months in to the experiment and things are going well. Step by step, rep by rep.

The Tuxedo

Spazwell Googles and Oogles

True "Love"

Cultural Differences

Hai Chihuahua

Video Games, Virtual Worlds and KobudoKat

I did not grow up playing video games. Of course I have tried them with my kids only to be called "playtarded". Running around a virtual world grabbing sacks of coins, climbing ladders and killing virtual invaders just doesn't do it for me. The Simms? even less.

But I'm staring to understand a bit, via a little thing I call the "Hits Counter". I make posts, a cartoon here, a little story there and "bling", the hits counter records another visitor. Ohhhh I get it. It's like those little sacks of coins...Ahhh I see.

So in celebration of reaching a personal "newbie blogger" goal of 5000 hits I'm going to release a new "virtual" character... KobudoKat.

Spiritual Disciplines

When we think of Spiritual Disciplines in relationship to the practice of martial arts, many people automatically think of Shaolin Monks or Zen temples. Many others have very little interest in anything remotely "spiritual" or religious. Some will say " I don't want any of that mystical CRAP!".

It is not hard to think of austere practices and disciplines in those settings. Extended periods of Zazen for hours on end during sesshin. Purification rituals under ice cold waterfalls. The restricted diet. Not to mention being whacked with the Kyosaku if you happen to dose off during meditation. Then there are the mind bending Koan.

One book I often recommend is "Mystics and Zen Masters". It does a beautiful job of finding contrasts and commonalities between Eastern and Western Monastic practices.


Richard Foster in his 1978 book "Celebration of Discipline" examines what are considered the historic disciplines of the Christian church. He divides them into three categories.

First, the inward disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation, and study in the Christian life.

Second, the outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service.

Third, the corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.



In The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck talked of the importance of discipline. He described four aspects of discipline:

Delaying gratification: Sacrificing present comfort for future gains.

Acceptance of responsibility: Accepting responsibility for one's own decisions.

Dedication to truth: Honesty, both in word and deed.

Balancing: Handling conflicting requirements. Peck talks of an important skill to prioritize between different requirements.


Many practitioners and teachers of martial arts today talk about spirit and discipline. Others lead by example and never speak about the matter. Taking the time to look into these methods and practices gives us and idea of how participating in a systematic method of disciplined practices can help us grow even when it is not addressed directly. We can also see how those same disciplines can benefit us purely approached with a secular and psychological mindset. Like Merton I enjoy digging into the contrasts and commonalities. I can enjoy both.

I was encouraged by Daniel Praeger The Australian Jiu Jitsuka, to share a little about some email correspondence with Kensho Furuya and how they came about. Furuya. was and Aikido master, a Zen priest, and an author of "Kodo: Ancient Ways. Lessons in the Spiritual Life of the Warrior/Martial Artist.". There were not many emails but I benefited from them. I guess that could be my next post.

Enlighten Me.

In his book The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck talked about the the idea of human spiritual development. He theorized and described four stages of human spiritual development.

The four stages

Peck postulates that there are four stages of human spiritual development:

Stage 1. is chaotic, disordered, and reckless. Very young children are in Stage 1. They tend to defy and disobey, and are unwilling to accept a will greater than their own. Many criminals are people who have never grown out of Stage 1.

Stage 2. is the stage at which a person has blind faith. Once children learn to obey their parents, they reach Stage 2. Many so-called religious people are essentially Stage 2 people, in the sense that they have blind faith in God, and do not question His existence. With blind faith comes humility and a willingness to obey and serve. The majority of good law-abiding citizens never move out of Stage 2.

Stage 3. is the stage of scientific skepticism and inquisitivity. A Stage 3 person does not accept things on faith but only accepts them if convinced logically. Many people working in scientific and technological research are in Stage 3.

Stage 4. is the stage where an individual starts enjoying the mystery and beauty of nature. While retaining skepticism, he starts perceiving grand patterns in nature. His religiousness and spirituality differ significantly from that of a Stage II person, in the sense that he does not accept things through blind faith but does so because of genuine belief. Stage 4 people are labeled as Mystics.

Peck argues that while transitions from Stage 1 to Stage 2 are sharp, transitions from Stage 3 to Stage 4 are gradual. Nonetheless, these changes are very noticeable and mark a significant difference in the personality of the individual.


In a later post we will look at his ideas of the disciplines used in the process of human spiritual development. Where do you stand? Enlighten me.

Dining in Canton

Bunkai, Pinan Nidan, PyungAhn Edan

Click on image to enlarge.

If you scroll back a page or two you will find another option for this same series of movements. It can be fun to find different possibilities in kata. I think one reason people don't dig deeper is that, well... you do really have to. Of course nobody has to paint a landscape right a book or play an Oboe. My wife is a writer and has had one book published. She has probably read dozens on the craft of writing. Probably an equal amount of biographies of great writers. She may never publish another book in her life. I have no plans on ever getting into a altercation. Even though that is the case, it is the process or learning, delving, digging, and exploration that is one of it's own rewards.

A Rare Okinawan Art

Take a Look, It's in a Book

Click photo to enlarge.

I don't know if the PBS show "Reading Rainbow" is still being broadcast. It used to start with a song that began "Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow". That show encouraged a lot of children to read. I was not much of a reader as a kid. That changed for me when I was attending the American Academy of Art in Chicago.

The school offered studio styled training rather than a liberal arts program. I lived downtown in another universities dorm and worked as an R.A. and managed the weight room. I would get paid a very modest amount each month. I made it a habit to by one book a month. At the time I purchased books on art technique and art history. A few years ago I offered the collection of books to the Academy's library. They gladly accepted a collection of 300 books. Those books helped me grow and achieve different goals. One of the goals was to make my living as an artist. I have done that now for twenty five years.

Now that I'm involved in the martial arts, I have taken a similar course. The photo above shows part of my current collection of martial arts related books. Some are new, some I have lived with for a long time. I have grown to love reading and books. Keep in mind that when I started collecting books there was no Internet. The only access people had to a lot of information was through books. If Reading Rainbow was still on I'm sure they would have a web presence and maybe a new song... "You can bet, it's on the net a Reading Rainbow".

Do you have a martial arts library? A favorite book you go back to again and again? Don't even get me started about dvds.

It's Ninjariffic

I received this email today from Mark a.k.a. Spectrum. He was the winner of the "Spring Break" secret code contest. He selected the "Why Ninjas Can't type " Cartoon as his prize. Once again, good job stealthy one.


Mark,

I received the package at the exact time you foretold. The mail carrier was unaware of my surveillance even after our previous unpleasantness (including my demand that all visitors announce they are unarmed). Using all my Zen training I was able to control my excitement and bladder as I could see the drawing of spazwell on the package from my hiding place on the porch.

My son (a TKD beginner) and I (a advanced beginner) have been studying both The Art of War and the Ask a Ninja Handbook this year. These thoughtful Christmas gifts from the kung fu side of the family have provided a good balance for our mental training.

I love the way your Oldman stuff cuts this same balance.

Thanks
Mark

A Changing Of The Guard...Yuta Man!

Welcome to Freak A Friend Friday.

Honolulu Hawaii: There has been a changing of the guard in Hawaii's Goju Ryu Karate circles. In an unusual turn of events two family members ended up facing each other in the finals of the Executive, Open division,of The Hawaii Goju Championships, Saturday. After a day of intense elimination matches Richard Kimura, 58, faced off against Yuta "Mikeey" Kimura. Yuta is Ms. Kimura's thirteen year old Chihuahua. The two athletes faced each other in the center of the arena and bowed to each other deeply. Their mutual respect for each others skill was obvious.

The crowd was buzzing with anticipation as the referee shouted "HAJIME!!" and the fight began. To the amazement of the crowd (and Sensei Kimura) the match was over almost as soon as it started. The tournament and matches, which were supposed to be light to moderate contact ended by knockout in seven seconds. The stunned crowd first gasped then burst into thunderous applause to acknowledge the skill and courage of the aging combatants. As Mr. Kimura was helped to his feet the champion Chihuahua's paw was raised in victory. In a show of good sportsmanship the fighters embraced each other and Yuta's coach Ms. Kimura. In the post fight interview Mikeey was asked if he had anything he wanted to say but instead sat stoically and gestured to his coach who would field questions.

Ms.Kimura said "This is really a great day. He's getting kind of old and we are not sure how much longer he'll be with us but I just love him. He trains so hard and he has such heart it's a little sad to know this could be his "swan song". To be honest I'm just glad he didn't break a hip". I commented that it was obvious to everyone there that she truly loved her little Yuta by the way she spoke of him. Looking confused and a bit taken aback she said. "Mikey...? I was talking about Richard...my husband".

As the family headed for their car Mikeey stopped to relieve himself. As Ms. Kimura tossed Mikeey's gear into the car she said "Oh honey, would you please get that?" gesturing toward Mikeey's handiwork. As Sensei addressed the "issue" he thought to himself "He can do a jump spinning heel kick but he can't use a toilet? I don't get it". They all got into the car and buckled their seat belts, then Mikeey drove the Kimuras home.

The Wisdom of Confuseus

No...Really?

Developing Speed, Accuracy And Control

Above is an illustration of an exercise for developing greater speed, accuracy and control with your punches and kicks. You can do the exercise by yourself or as a game in class. First you will need some kite string and a few buttons. Cut a piece of the string that is long enough to reach from the ceiling to the floor. Thread the button onto the string then hang the string from the ceiling of the room. You can now slide the button up and down the string to adjust it to various heights. You can also put multiple buttons on one string and put up multiple strings for a whole group. Once the string are hung they will serve as targets for punches and kicks. The goal of the drill is to kick or punch hard and fast without hitting the button and causing the string to move. If you or a student hit the button they get a predetermined number of push ups to do. Also the student can be given push ups for not coming close enough or not kicking fast enough.

So once again the goal of this "Game" is to help develop speed, accuracy and control. Strong arms can also be a by product.