Master Toyotaro Miyazaki - RIP

body of text 9-25-44 to 8-11-21

Our Students Are Gassy

Could we go back into our dojo at this time? Technically, yes. So why haven’t we? It seems our students are very gassy. Huh?

Gas molecules spread to fill out whatever size container they’re in. When we have 8 students in the double classroom (800 sq ft), they stand far apart and fill the space. When these same 8 students are in the buffet room (1,200 sq ft), they stand farther apart, filling that space. When we go outside on the patio (a few thousand sq ft), students stand faaar apart, trying to fill the vast space. What’ll happen when we go back into a 350 sq ft dojo?

After 9/11/2001, all flights were grounded nationwide. Once flying resumed, people were startled whenever they heard a low-flying plane. This lasted for a while until ‘normal’ became routine again. I understand everyone’s concern. Masks, social distancing, and non-contact have us gun shy. It’ll take a while before we feel ‘normal’.

Once we go back into the dojo we’ll try to keep minimum 6 foot social distance. In order to do so, we’ll need to restrict how many students come to each class to avoid overcrowding. So far, our gassy students don’t seem ready for this close distance. So when will we go back to the dojo on a regular basis? Soon… soon.

Renshu (練習) vs Keiko (稽古)

Here are two similar Japanese terms: RENSHU and KEIKO.
- RENSHU (練習) is to practice on your own, rote repetition, polish your technique.
- KEIKO (稽古) is a lesson in class under the sensei’s guidance. Keiko implies study for a deeper understanding of your technique. It often involves hands-on training, working bunkai (analysis; disassembly; examination) of fighting techniques found within your kata.

We have been unable do to hands-on training during COVID. No kumite… no ippons… mostly basics and kata, and for change of pace, kata and basics. We have grabbed sticks to simulate arms and legs. We have discussed how a move works. As someone once said: It’s like trying to fill your hunger by reading a menu. You get it in theory, but it’s not really satisfying.

On the positive side, we polished our basics, learned new kata, and honed our techniques. Now that pandemic restrictions are lifting, we can take these new, improved techniques and start applying them on each other in more realistic scenarios.

Our restricted training and Zoom effectively served a limited purpose. It kept us from rusting or forgetting our Karate. The best news is that better days are ahead. To be ready, to stay ready, follow what I usually shout out at the end of class: PRACTICE!

The Herbert Rule

At the old Baldwin dojo we had a sharp kid named Herbert Kwok. He was a good student, very intelligent, who made it up to Brown Belt in April, 2006.

One day we were working the three Tekki katas and one of the Brown Belts posed this question: Why does yame in Tekki Sho step in halfway with the right foot as your hands come out, step in the rest of the way with the left foot as your hands come together, and step out with the left foot to finish yame. Then Tekki Ni yame steps in halfway with the left foot, the rest of the way in with the right foot, then out with the left foot to finish yame. Then Tekki San ends like Tekki Sho – in halfway right, in left, out left. Hmmm… good question.

Other schools may yoi and yame different from us, but we have always been consistent since at least 1972. We yoi stepping in with the left foot, and then out with the left foot. Yame, with rare exception, ends the same way, stepping in and out with the left foot. A notable exception is Heian Sandan. The last stance being a wide kibba dachi, we step in halfway with the right leg, then do a regular left-left yame. Back to the question posed: All three Tekki katas end in kibba dachi, so it makes sense to step in halfway before doing a standard yame. Why is Tekki Ni different from the other two? I dunno… to be different? Maybe to keep you alert?

That’s when young Herbert piped up: It’s determined by the final kata attack. Whutchu talkin’ ‘bout Herbert? He then proceeded to show how all katas through San Kyu yame with the leg on the attacking side. Aha! But what about Heian Sandan? You throw a left punch, but yame with the right leg, so there! Herbert said it’s a left hook punch over the right shoulder, making it a right side attack, so yame starts with the right leg. The kid had an idea, held his ground, and proved his premise correct. This may not be the reason for yame, but it’s a great way to remind you which leg moves in for yame. Since that day, I refer to this idea as the ‘Herbert rule’.

The Very Definition of 'Osu!' 押忍！

A couple of days ago a very high ranking, important Black Belt in Japan posted a video on Facebook showing his students’ fine performances at a Tokyo tournament. They did extremely well, but barely missed taking runner-up. He lamented that this was because of lack of practice due to COVID shutdowns. He further commented that he, too, could not practice as he wanted. He is a national tournament champion, and feels that his inability to train as he did previously has exacerbated his back pains. It is upsetting to not work his kata more than a few times before the pain becomes intense.

The last thing this wonderful Karate master needs is advice from lowly little me, but that didn’t stop me from commenting on his post. I thanked him for posting the video of his students’ excellent competition. I then brashly added the following:

We knew an American competitor, Jim Smith. If he did not make at least runner-up he would say, “The answers are back in the dojo”. This is difficult when pandemic has closed your dojo. Stay strong, COVID will end soon. I, too, have back pain (and knees, and hips, and shoulder). Keep a strong positive attitude; it does help. I believe the correct phrase for pushing forward against great adversity is: Osu! 押忍！

Why Can't I Test?

We had a small Shinsa (rank examination) last month for one student. COVID has prevented us from training in contact elements like kumite (sparring) and ippons (self-defense). I have allowed any ready members take one test, giving them conditional rank which will be certified once COVID restrictions lift and we can certify these contact elements.

One brown belt student asked me if he could test. I said ‘no’ for several reasons, one is he already had a COVID promotion. Once a student reaches 4th Kyu purple belt, they have a minimum wait requirement and must be invited to test. As my Sensei often said, if you ask permission to test, you show you are not ready. Many intangibles are taken into account, not just the physical ability to perform new kata. The student must show mental readiness, which includes the patience to be invited to test.

The biggest reason this student was told ‘not yet’ is because he still hasn’t learned his fact sheet given out to all white belts, told to learn, and quizzed on at each rank examination. This consists of one page of history and Japanese terminology we use every day in class. “What’s the big deal? I know my new kata, and I know how to fight.” He may know the sequence of the kata, but has very limited understanding of the techniques. “What good is learning the fact sheet? I ain’t never gonna need it.” We train more than the body, also the mind and spirit. Learning the fact sheet takes some discipline and dedication – two important traits for higher ranks. As a brown belt, he should set an example for other students. If a yellow belt asks him for help on a history or terminology question, it looks bad if he says “I don’t gotta know that stuff.” When the class is going through basics, it looks bad when he has to watch what others do because he doesn’t know his Japanese commands, or worse, slow us down as I must say and demonstrate the term he should already know.

Did I mention this brown belt is an adult in his 40s, a college graduate, and successful business owner? I put it in collegiate terms he should understand. To get his degree in business, he was required to take liberal arts courses. Were they useless, or did they help him by rounding out his thought process, helping him think faster on his feet? If he wanted just business classes, there are schools that offer certificate programs. If he wanted the degree, he was required to pass all the non-business courses as well. If he wants to just learn fighting, he could enroll in boxing, or MMA, or jiu jitsu. (And don’t yell at me how those arts are mental as well as physical. I know that, but try to convince my brown belt of that) You want rank in a traditional Karate dojo? Meet all the traditional requirements of that dojo.

A higher ranking student should never ‘ask’ to test. His technique, knowledge, and attitude should necessitate his being told to test. “So, can I test yet? Pleeeze!!!” No, not yet.

Adjust - Adapt - Apply

A US Marine Corps unofficial motto is: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome. Similarly, we've been following a motto: Adjust, Adapt, Apply.

We are still out of our dojo thanks to COVID. Fortunately, there are other areas available within the Temple that hosts our dojo. We sometimes use an 800 sq ft double classroom, or the 1,200 sq ft buffet room, or outdoors on the patio. These are harder surfaces than our padded deck, making turns, pivots, kicks, stomps, etc more punishing on our feet. We wear shoes or sneakers, but even that affects our kata, timing, rhythm, and general movement.

Moving and pivoting on various floor surfaces can take a toll. Some members feel it in their feet, or ankles, or knees, or back. A few members felt achy side effects from COVID vaccines. We all learn to adjust our techniques, adapt to our difficulties, and apply our Karate to the best of our ability. That shows great attitude and spirit. Ganbatte! Osu!

One Year of COVID

It is now one year since our dojo shut down on March 17, 2020. How have we fared during this time as a school and as individuals? Our workouts continued without interruption. We’ve been fortunate to have options at the Temple that hosts our dojo. We can train in a large double classroom (800 sq ft), a buffet room (1,200 sq ft), and outside on the patio (a few thousand sq ft). We keep minimum 6-foot distance, wear masks, and work out non-contact. Some members have trained in person without interruption while others have trained from home via Zoom. It’s far from ideal, but has kept us treading water or slowly moving forward. We held two Shinsas for those who improved significantly. All ranks are provisional; contact elements such as ippons, kumite, and tameshiwari must be demonstrated once we return to normal training.

Less obvious, but more important has been the effect on our individual members. Self-quarantine, lockdown, work from home, remote schooling, business closings, social distancing, etc have all taken toll on our ’normal’ way of life. Many people are out of shape and gained weight due to their sudden sedentary lifestyle. Too many elements are out of our control. Life as we know it is completely disrupted. Continued training during these pandemic times offers members a sense of normalcy. Our class schedule allows members to have some structured regularity to their week. Working out releases endorphins, allowing you to feel better and counter the effects of depression and stress.

This pandemic reinforces my longstanding beliefs in Karate training: Karate is a microcosm of life. Everything that goes on in the dojo also occurs in the real world. There are some katas you like better than others, and some techniques you absolutely hate. You must learn to perform everything at least passably to improve and move up in rank. In life, you have fellow students or coworkers you like better than others, you may have teachers or bosses that you dislike, but you must learn to get along with them and perform your tasks satisfactorily. Keeping routine of going to the dojo and the structure of class can help you organize your life for better efficiency.

Hopefully, we will go back inside the dojo and return to physical contact in the near future. In the meantime, DŌ GAKUIN will continue to offer our members a sense of normalcy in these crazy times. See you for training - wherever that may be!

'Footloose' Footwork

We worked on footwork last week in class. It reminded me of something back in 2014 when I attended a weekend of seminars with Okano-kancho in Perry, FL. Among the workouts, he wanted to lead us through some footwork drills, commenting that he uses a ladder on the ground for these exercises. I knew his father, Okano-soke, had some extreme training measures. Since I did not use exercise ladders or was exposed to them, I thought he meant an actual wooden or aluminum ladder on the floor, with 4 inch side rails and thick rungs, which could do tremendous damage if you misstep.

Anyway, Kancho had us work a step-over drill moving up and down the mats. I used to cover Saturday Judo classes in the 1980s for my buddy Jimmy Zoubantes. I would lead his class through the same drill Kancho had us do, and others even more complex. I guess my muscle memory was still there, as I flew up and down the mats. Well, ‘flew’ for a then-60 year old man, but I moved much faster than many participants much younger than me.

It was after the seminars that I learned about agility ladders: nylon struts with thin plastic rungs that lay flat to the ground. Oh, so there’s really nothing to trip over or harm you if you step out of bounds? You’re playing hopscotch.

Then I related it to kata. There are martial artists who don’t like kata. It’s useless; they’d never use a kata move in a fight; it’s a waste of their time. They’d use a basic punch, kick, or simple combination. They’re right – and wrong. They don’t understand what kata is all about. Basics do come out automatically because we practice them so often. Kata builds muscle memory on moves and combinations not normally used every day. Kata practice allows you to employ a technique in kumite or actual self-defense, should the situation present itself.

My Judo footwork drills from the 1980s kicked in muscle memory 30 years later. We’ve had former students return after many years’ absence and regain their former skills rapidly due to muscle memory. Work the process. Trust the process. The process works!

Martin Luther King Day - Your Life's Blueprint

Dr Martin Luther King gave an uplifting 20 minute speech at Barratt JHS in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967 where he spoke of racial pride, and put the onus on these students to use a blueprint to make their lives better.

The quote above was meant for civil rights, but it also applies to civics today. Instead of causing havoc, rioting, and looting, we’re better served by working on ways to improve our lives – as Americans and as private citizens.

It also applies to Karate training during these COVID times. So if you can’t fly, then run… walk… crawl to keep moving forward. We’re not back in the dojo yet, but come work out with us at the Temple, or on Zoom, but keep moving forward.

If your stance is weak, your Karate is weak

A few days ago I posted about weight distribution in stances. This Facebook memory came up on my timeline today:

As far back as 1979 I would go upstate NY to attend Hidy Ochiai's annual invitational tournament. At the Black Belt meeting before the event, he would talk about how he judges from he ground up. He would say that the strongest punch thrown from a weak, wobbly stance is a weak, wobbly punch. *food for thought*

Weight Distribution

def: SHINSA Examination; judging; inspection; investigation.

We held Shinsa (rank examination) yesterday. One student had difficulties with back stances (I understand… COVID times… we’re not in the dojo… we’re on concrete floors… we’re wearing sneakers… yada yada yada), so I asked him what his weight distribution should be. He said 60%-40%. I routinely tell students 75-25 (we’ll discuss this later), so I then asked two Brown Belts what they thought. One said 70-30 and the other said 80-15 (?!). Many different instructors in many different dojos have many different answers. Nobody will put you on scales to see exactly what the weight distribution is, but percentages give you a guide as to how stance works.

Front stance (zenkutsu dachi): I’ve heard 60-70-80% weight on the front leg because your weight/force is going forward. We recognize that the back leg drives the body forward as much as the front leg steps forward. We therefore say the weight distribution is 50-50.

Back stance (kokutsu dachi): Body weight is shifted to the back leg with the feet in straight line. This means your front leg could be swept. With most of the weight on the rear leg you can shift all the weight back to avoid the sweep or kick with the front leg. We use a number halfway between 100%-0% and a 50%-50% shift to front stance. Mathematically, that would be 75%-25%.

Horse stance (kiba dachi) and immovable stance (fudo dachi): Pretty basic, the balance is 50-50 on each leg.

Cat stance (neko ashi dachi): Where back stance is two shoulders length, cat stance is roughly halfway back at around one shoulder length. We say the weight distribution is 85-15.

Hourglass stance (sanchin dachi): Your front heel just about touches your rear ankle. There is almost no weight on the front leg, so we say 95-5.

Crane stance (sagi ashi dachi): One leg is completely off the ground, with the foot touching the standing leg. Weight distribution is obviously 100-0.

Cross legged stance (kosa dachi): We used to look at kosa dachi as unstable, impractical, and not very mobile. We learned from kobudo training with Oshiro-shihan that the stance is highly mobile moving forward and back, as well as side to side. Each foot is turned out 45 degrees, one behind the other, the rear shin resting on the front calf. Most weight is on the front leg, hips drive the body forward, and the rear leg props up the stance. It is surprisingly stable as you are ‘sitting’ on your front leg with the rear leg supporting the stance at 80-20.

We understand that stance is transitional. You do not fight strictly out of front stance, back stance, etc. You should move fluidly, shifting the body, to fit the situation and your strategy. Proper stance strengthens your legs, teaches you to stabilize your body, while upsetting your opponent's balance.