Report by Jorge F. Garibaldi, Ten Chi Jin Martial Arts Academy, Århus, Denmark

I think that this report that follows, is as good a description, as any I've seen, or read.

"Looking in from the Outside"

My first seminar with Vince Morris Sensei

By  Jorge F. Garibaldi,

        Ten Chi Jin Martial Arts Academy

               Århus, Denmark

Saturday 15^th of September 2007, that’s a day I will remember.

That day I attended a seminar taught by Vince Morris sensei. I had read a couple of his books years ago, but not being a Shotokan student, and blinded by my own bigotry I decided that there was probably nothing to this guy. After all, he wasn’t Japanese, and as we all know, if you don’t have the right passport, your martial arts are rubbish…

But the years had passed, and finally I had learnt that knowledge and wisdom know no national boundaries. My years of dogma were finally over.

So there I was, Saturday 15^th, not really knowing what to expect, but hoping to find someone who knew what he was talking about and could back it all up with theoretical knowledge and hands on demonstrations.

There’s this old saying, “be careful what you wish for, you may get it”…

Well, I got it!

Vince Morris sensei turned out to be a great martial artist and a great teacher. I could sense the maturity of his Karate, not just by what he taught, but mostly through his way of moving, smoothly and quickly, pushing against the floor, and his explosive and devastating techniques.

That particular day we worked with Kanku Dai (Kushanku). In the opening movement of the kata, and its applications, he answered questions that had been poking at my mind for over 20 years.

Every time I would ask my instructors about the opening movement of Kanku Dai. The answers would vary depending on the instructor. If he was Japanese, the answer would be “kamae!”, if he was a westerner, the answer would be: “you are looking at the stars”, or “you are gathering ki” or something to that effect.

Not this day. Not Saturday 15^th of September 2007. This day I was finally told that one recurring theme of Kanku Dai is unbalancing your opponent and positioning him where he can be hurt, and was shown how this ancient technique work. A wonderfully effective and devastating way of “looking at the skies”, don’t you think?

Time seemed to stop or to cease to exist. We worked intensively and with deep concentration.

We were shown a sequence and paired off to try for ourselves, stopped for corrections, and paired off again, trapped in an exhilarating vortex of knowledge and energy.

It was raw fun and motivating. Thanks to sensei, I had found my beginners mind again. After more than 20 years, the joy of discovering was rushing through my veins again.

Within the frame of Kanku Dai, we worked with footwork, energy generation, controlling the opponent in such a way as to make him predictable (I definitely want to dig deeper on that one), distance or maai, the use of stances, kyusho jutsu, mental attitude, etc. It was clear that a lifetime of studies was ahead of us, if we aspired to master these concepts.

Another surprising thing was his age.  I thought that Vince sensei was in his fifties. Everything about him spoke of martial maturity and physical ability, his physical appearance, the way he moved, etc.

Imagine my astonishment when he said that he was 63 years old! That gave me something to think about. I have just turned forty, with all the anxiety that figure brings to us “aging” martial artists. Will I be able to keep up my training? Will my abilities start to diminish? Will I stop developing as a martial artist?

Well let’s put it this way. I would be very, very happy, if I could move at forty, the way Vince sensei moves at 63!!

So from now on, my training is all about moving like a 63 year old!

Jorge F. Garibaldi

Ten Chi Jin Martial Arts Academy

Århus, Denmark

Shock, Horror and Blocks

Panic, Fear, Danger, Shock, Horror & Blocks.                                                          

In a heat of a real and imminent danger or hostile encounter,                  
with your body undergoing all sorts of extreme stress,
if all you can muster are basic Karate techniques from your available reaction toolbox /memory they should be;
 the Best ,  i.e. most effective and easy to use. 

Therefore, even if you only know a few solid practical Karate techniques let us say the bunkai of Pinan Katas for example, or whatever source, you should still be able to defend yourself, especially if you understand the principles and you have been practicing the fighting moves diligently. 
 (If you're thinking in terms of using sports applications, please, Don't !!!!)

*Understanding and practicing the actual depth of Pinan Kata and the Nai hanchi Kata will endow you with good fighting moves and skills.
(*Understanding is the key word here)

These basic Karate techniques are especially effective defensive street fighting moves trained properly AFTER you have:                                                          

 1. Distracted or blind sided your opponent, or caused him to lose focus on harming you.                                                                                  

 2. Moved away from his centre line, making it hard for him to reach or strike you.                                                                                                    

 3. Destroyed your opponent's limbs, balance, mobility, or vision.

Look at the so called "basic building block" techniques that it presumably teaches,      for good examples:   
                                                             

1. Gedan barai - as a downward forearm strike to your opponent's jaw line, back of arm, kidney or inner thigh. You can KO a person by striking 45 degree into his brachial plexus using this technique, especially after you have brought him down to his knees.  (Learn what this means) 

2. Jun-tsuki - as a straight punch to any of your opponent's "vital points" (not to totally pointless places) in while pulling him towards your punch simultaneously using Hikite.

3. Jodan (age) uke - as an upward forearm strike to your opponent's jaw line or neck while pulling him towards your forearm simultaneously using Hikite.

4. Shuto uke - as a scooping strike into the inner forearm of any incoming punch/grab/push/pull. This would weaken your opponent's arm and deflect it away to open up his neck for the returning knife-hand "to strike".

Similarly, "basic" Karate techniques like Soto uke and Uchi uke can be used to weaken or destroy the limbs and even knockout a person, when used as very violent street fighting moves. 
                Imagine these usages: (visualise practice and train)

5. Uchi uke - as a flurry of pulls, pushes and strikes to your opponent's upper chest, collar bone, neck and jaw. Hitting all these targets with one hand, like a solid club while unbalancing him violently with the other by grabbing his clothing. Or as a strike on the back of the arm, while you grab and pull his wrist towards you. These are very devastating  fighting moves because you strike your opponent repetitively like a frenzy while causing bewilderment to them by constant unbalancing. 

6. Shoto uke - as a whipping strike to the lower back of your opponent's head while pulling him towards you simultaneously using Hikite (withdrawing hand technique). The side of your arm would contact his neck, jaw or etc (initial damage) while your fist/hand would wrap around and hit the lower back of his head, possibly inducing a knockout. This is actually an advanced Karate technique. The more relaxed you are, the more damaging this or any whipping blow will be.

Simple and straightforward fighting moves that can be easily executed under stress;.   are the most useful tools in any personal armoury

SPEED and "Efficiency"  ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES IN "BLOCKING"                                                                                            

To survive a real fight, you must be able to block “ i.e redirect”  the attacks on you and retaliate decisively preferable at the same time or premptively.
To be able to block successfully (in a blow for blow fashion) is insufficient by itself.  

To end a fight, you must hit him more and harder than he hit you. Practical  fighting techniques always consist of simple straightforward techniques emphasizing speed. With speed, you'll naturally get Efficiency & power.

For safety,
speed and efficiency,
most Karate "saving" techniques are both a block and strike. That means we hit our opponent at the same time "we block (i.e nullify) his strike" or nullify his intention to strike grab or injury by whatever means.

The first rule is: "Block and counterattack" must be one single movement.

1. Grab the opponent's striking limb and using hikite (withdrawing Hand technique), pull him towards you. (Many typical competition Karate styles teach hikite basically as a move to chamber a punch or block but never even use it in their competition training ....  something that's weird & illogical :-) ).               

 2. As you pull him towards you, strike his eyes, face, neck, throat or ribs hard, the choice of target depending on your last shifted position and your intention (stun, hurt or KO).

Vital Points

VITAL POINTS STRIKES
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT  PART OF KARATE BUNKAI.  
                                                                    

Why wouldn't they be ?
  

Vital points strikes are effective for fighting, and can level the odds when you are facing bigger, stronger, or faster opponents in a hostile situation.

Points strikes are very much an essential part of Karate bunkai as shown in many Kata, provided you know how to interpret them accurately.

Many Karate Kata bunkai contain kyusho points striking techniques.

But you should never rely on kyusho jutsu or Atemi exclusively.

Bunkai also contains throws, trips/sweeping movements, locks, parrying, strangles/chokes,
as well as the obvious strikes to the most sensitive areas.  

Just a thought

What is practical applied Karate ?

IF YOU HAVE DOUBTS, TEST YOUR TECHNIQUE AGAINST A MOVING RESISTING OPPONENT             

I think there isn't one Karate student in world who hasn't said to himself or herself at one time or another,

"This block will never ever work in a real fight, so why am I learning it?" 

But he or she is within the confine of the dojo, and for those Karate styles or dojos who practice "tradition" over everything else, it is and was unthinkable and disrespectful to question your Sensei. 

When your Sensei said, you listened, trained and that's it. The most common reply would be it's not working because you did not train hard enough or long enough. 

Nobody ever thought it's because that particular Karate block (used in that way or this) is not practical in a real fight.

So your own common sense, body biomechanics and anatomical capability are thrown out of the window just because of tradition or ego.

 I suggest every time you have doubts on a particular Karate technique, voice it out or better, pressure-test the technique against a moving resisting opponent.                                                                       

 All those typical Karate blocks you've been taught:

Gedan barai (downward block), 

Jodan uke (high block), 

Shuto uke (knife hand block),

Soto uke (outer forearm block), 

Uchi uke (inner forearm block), 

Morote uke (supported hand block) and etc. most likely won't work in a sparring context . 

You probably never got those blocks to work in your dojo Kumite (sparring) sessions.  
This is because sparring and fighting are different (one is a practice tool, the other is not).
Totally  different and  attacks in the street are totally different.  
 So techniques meant for one purpose are not readily interchangeable for sport or play.                                                                                     

If you've been training in the way that most Karate styles are, you would be hit while drawing your hand back  to chamber a block, it's simply too slow. You probably stand a better chance blocking those incoming strikes or punches by covering your head with both your arms, or by flinching.
 In the heat of a real fight, everything would be flying fast and furious. 

So chambering any punches, strikes or blocks will not be effective, whether to block, to strike or to generate more power.  

It's better to just strike or block from where your hands and legs are, unless the opponent has been stunned or sufficiently incapacitated for a final KO blow.

That's why any simple one move street fighting move is always more effective than any elaborate fancy Karate technique from most typical Karate tournament style. News about black belts being beaten-up by some street gangsters thugs or hoodlums are nothing new.

The way unarmed people fight now is no different from feudal Japan few hundred years ago. Most fights consist of lots of hand work: punching, slapping, grabbing, pushing, pulling, poking and scratching. Most of the strikes will be aimed at your head. 

Some Short Clips

Photo Selection

FALCARRAGH KARATE CLUB

 KISSAKI KAI Ireland

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FALCARRAGH KARATE CLUB
Now Celebrating 36 years of growing up
Founded in 1979 as a Wado-Ryu Karate-do club, now Kissaki Kai with foundations from Wado Ryu. Instruction for Juniors aged 8-15, 16-18 and Adults.
*This club is a MEMBER OF: Kissaki Kai Karate-do International; IMAC (Irish Martial Arts Commission) the national governing body for Martial Arts; Karate Ireland (Irish Karate Advisory board)

Please check out our Facebook page for: FALCARRAGH KARATE CLUB

CONTACT:
The Falcarragh Karate Club, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal, Ireland,
Tel: (00 353) 086 1773901,
e-mail; falcarraghkarateclub@gmail.com & falcarraghkarate@gmail.com
CLASSES at: Ionad Chu Chulainn, Ballyconnell Road, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal.
TUESDAYS 7-9pm, WEDNESDAYS 7-9pm

THE Falcarragh Karate Club is A NON-PROFIT Organisation that is run solely for the benefit of our members and is dedicated to the improvement of the individual and organisational standards.

News:
The Falcarragh karate club are delighted that Club member Gerry has achieved 5th Dan in Kissaki Kai Karate-do, previous 4th Dan in Wado Ryu.
Gerry attended the Irish Martial Arts Commission (IMAC) and Coaching Ireland coach/tutor training under the IMAC Professional Coaching Development programme at the Sport and Health institute in UCD to upgrade coaching qualifications on 14th May 2011
DON CAME Chief Instructor Kissaki-Kai UK, great seminar here in Falcarragh on Sunday, 06 March 2011 .

Neilly and Gerry attended the Kissaki Euro Camp in Ghent Belgium 23rd & 24th September.2011
 CHECK Kissaki Kai websites kissakikarate.com kissakikai.com for all Seminar updates & reports,
Find short video Clip of event  etc..**
Previous The club Hosted a Seminar With Sensei Don Came Chief Instructor Kissaki Kai UK on 19th September 2010. Prof Rick Clark on 19/March/2010 and 8th October 2010 (as part of his Irish Tour), * Robbie Tennant 19th, 20th June 2010 (two sesions in Falcarragh one in Claudy KC)- Gerry Smullen attended the 2010 Kissaki Kai USA camp, at Rowan University,NJ USA, June 2010. (and the preceeding LETS tutor course in Marlton NJ ).> Gerry, Anne and Neil acheived Martial arts Coaching requirements to maintain Accreditation & advance along recognised certification standards. Gerry received Garda Vetting Certificate September 2010

*OUR BASE Style/System: KISSAKI-KAI KARATE-DO -
with a heritage in Wado- Ryu Karate [other more elaborate sites than this will give you a history and lineage of the systems

Our SYLLABUS includes;
(a) Technical performance based grading syllabus for all Grades,
(b) Technical Practical Karate (Bunkai based Kumite & Kata),
(c) knowledge development Realism,
(d) Progressive teaching & learning methods,
(e) Traditional Values.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT; ...
We are dedicated to a high standards of competence.
We strive to improve our knowledge and performances;
We aim to be principled, dedicated & practice technical karate.
We support each other as students & instructors to progress on the development paths we/they wish to travel, in technique improvement, be it in Kata, Kumite, (realistic personal protection ), Coaching, Teaching, internal & physical fitness,
We believe that high standards & knowledge should be passed on to you and again by you, to others. .

WHAT WE DO TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS;....
We attend and organise courses to encourage technical advancement.
We promote technique effectiveness in realistic protection
 (and in performance).
Our target is to get it right, all the time.

*VINCE MORRIS SEMINAR One of the worlds most sought-after instructors, in Karate or for fast and effective self-defence, and in control and; Protection for Law Enforcement officers Gave his first Irish Seminar, in circa 15 years for us, on the 27th and 28th October 2007.
Great that Club members  attended the Belgian Kissaki kai Summer EuroCamps
THE FALCARRAGH KARATE CLUB schedule includes technical seminars, squad training, rules competitions and coaching seminars.*** The club promoted 6 Professor Rick Clark seminars, authority on the martial application of accupressure points, vital points and Kata bunkai. Members have attended USA and Euro Kissaki Summer camps attended Rick Clark weekend seminar in Cork at end of 7-9 November 2008.

(The club supported Adam Lafferty competing in WUKF Junior EUROs 2009 in Romania in September ,WUKO World juniors Italy 2008 and IKAB championships in Dublin in october 2009 *
Competitions do we miss them ?  No   No No  ;-) :- )   .

WHAT DO WE do :: IN OUR TRAINING
"KEYWORDS" and "PHRASES" ARE: Multi-range protection, Awareness, Defences, Self Esteem & Confidence, Art & Realism, Work ethic, Authenticity, Empowerment, Fulfilment, Instruction, Functional, Drills, Techniques & Concepts, Tuition, Learning & Teaching (side by side), Improve Karate skills, Inspire others be inspired by others, Foundation in Basics, action beats reaction,, Pre-emptive Drills, Strategies, Enjoy setting personal goals, Be efficient and simple, Pragmatic, Situation Appraisal, Scientific & Direct, Virtues, Advance, Expand, Respect & Adapt. ( ))

"ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PRACTICING KARATE"
The FIRST STEP is the HARDEST STEP to take.
The process of deciding to attend your first class can be a daunting experience,
WE KNOW because we went through it too, but by the end of your first session,
you could have acquired new skills and be totally relaxed in a new,  rewarding and enlightening environment. 

"KARATE IS NOT", a young persons pursuit,
Children in Karate is a TRULY MODERN phenomenon ("not a Traditional one"),
Karate is pragmatic, at its purest its not a sport, not a game, its function was/is to provide civilian protection,(when it's not protecting,  a watered down version could be an art or sporting activity), however that, is not its primary function or true purpose.

OUR CLUB HISTORY...
The Falcarragh Karate Club began in 1979 as a member of the Irish Karate Federation (IKF), an all-Ireland Wado Ryu Karate organisation when the IKF gradually changed into a Kickboxing style/organisation the Karate clubs (including Falcarragh) that went on to form the Ulster Karate Federation (UKF) wished to remain true to the Wado and; Karate systems and together formed the UKF.
They sought out a principal instructor at that time to continue Wado Ryu Karate training & in 1983 Sensei Ritchie Noblett (who sadly died on 28/11/2009) became the light at the end of that particular tunnel. One member of that Falcarragh Class of 1979 is still training at the Falcarragh Karate club.

RURAL LOCATION; The Falcarragh Karate club is based in a RURAL AREA and over the years a pattern has developed, the same drift of population that affects rural areas all over Europe, from the countryside into towns for education, work, social and lifestyle reasons, has always demographically affected the club membership (and seems likely to continue]
SEVERAL MEMBERS of the Falcarragh Karate club have achieved Black belt Shodan i.e. First Dan status...
including Anne Harkin in 2006  retired from training)
Donall Mullaney in 2006 ceased training)
Louise Diver.......ceased training
Aisling McFadden............. ceased training - due to move away
Carl Diver................. ceased training - due to move away
Raymond O Donnell........ ceased training - due to move away
Paul Deeney.............. ceased training - due to move away
Ownie Diver, (achieved 3rd Dan Sandan, in 1997)... ceased training
Gerard Smullen :............ 4th Dan Yondan (Wado-ryu) 5th Dan Kissaki Kai Karate Do
Two former members achieved Shodan in Shotokan Karate while undertaking third level education
<> Kathleen Doohan - Shotokan under Eneoda Sensei, in Hull University England.(ceased training)
<> Bryan Boyle-Shotokan 2nd Dan) under Kanazawa Sensei,in Ireland.
A LITTLE BIT MORE .....
Our members attend and host training seminars & sessions in addition to regular club training,aiming to give quality instruction in dynamic Kissaki Kai Karate-do built from Wado-Ryu, the flowing and fluid style founded by Ohtsuka sensei,
and now Karate Most Pragmatic through "KISSAKI KAI".
 *Shihan Ritchie Noblett 8th Dan was our Principal Instructor from 1983 - although based in Wales made annual trips to Falcarragh.
 In 2008 Ritchie suffered very a serious illness and sadly passed away on 28/11/2009.
All Karate clubs need as many knowledgeable people,coaches,qualified and experienced karate-ka as possible, you are never too young or to old to contribute.


Check Out details Regarding KISSAKI KAI.
http://www.kissakikarate.com/   http://www.kissakikai.com/
For The History, technique, Bunkai of True Karate.

Falcarragh Karate club MEMBERSHIP OF KISSAKI KAI .
Falcarragh Karate club have affiliated to Kissaki kai, I realised that when I started karate that my first instructors & others were not interested in anything other than having a winning competition team. Being thrown into competitions as a white belt (UNOFFICIALLY of course) practically every weekend, attending events where the referee was really an afterthought {& most didn't really know all the rules that's the way it was}some wore jeans and had just came along to watch, ( a spectator roped in, incredible but true).
I never saw a proper matted tatami (Fighting area) in my first ten years. Having read karate books as a youngster (years before my first karate class) describing useful karate techniques such as; single knuckle punches, finger stabs, palm heel, edge of hand strikes, edge of foot strikes to leg etc. in defense,
but being told (by my karate instructors) as a white belt,WE don't practice these as they're are '"no good"' for "competition", because they '"don't score"' (in competition)and not allowed (in competition)ï(so i.e they're useless ) and they're in the kata anyway for gradings when you move on through the belts and anyway we don't like Kata for competitions too time consuming & complicated, why bother with all that
WHY Did I ASK ?. if the Answer was always -Its either good for competition, or -its no good for competition.
Persevering I realised that what I was learning and practicing was only a very small watered down part of Karate. I was given a copy of the first seminar tape of Vince Morris and being amazed, I read his column in Trad karate Magazines & bought all the tapes & books etc as they were produced. Noting along the way with great interest the growth of others doing Kata Bunkai (practical karate) seminars etc. bought their books & tapes as well & noticing a shadowing of Kissaki kai techniques without the five wazas, the Kyusho, rules of combat etc.

It was patently obvious, that Vince Morris had researched what works practically & what does not  work and the historical reasoning behind techniques. I have come to believe, over the years that Kissaki kai has the concepts that explain the Kata  Bunkai, the concepts that are the foundation of the practical Karate applications taught.
I am convinced all Karate student must have the ability, attitude and skills to protect themselves quickly and efficiently, when there are no referees around, with simple workable methods that even-up any greater weight, size reach and weapon disadvantages. <>
 Really believing that, 80% OF THOSE WHO CHOOSE "KARATE" as beginners, choose it for self defence and most end up being directed  ("most times" ) towards competitive sports tournament applications.
As a student and instructor, I would not be true to my own beliefs or our students, not to join Kissaki kai. 

Far too MANY PEOPLE believe  KARATE today is only for Children - it is not... it may be adapted for Children, But that is adapted for children Karate, not Karate.

To all the variety of excellent Instructors that genuinely shared information, willingly or unknowingly.
Thank You.

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www.kissaki-usa.com/
http://www.kissakikarate.com/
http://www.fightingarts.com/
http://www.kissakikai.com/
http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Falcarragh-Karate-club/115236471847239?v=i