Subject: Five things martial artists get wrong about self-defence!
Hi All,
I hope this email finds you well and keeping up with your training. I know it’s difficult to train without the motivation a group can provide, but difficult is what we martial artists do! We deliberately put ourselves in difficult situations for the challenge and growth opportunities those difficulties provide. This current challenge is one none of us want and we will also be overjoyed to see the back of, but the same mindset should apply. We should face the challenge head on, accept it’s difficult, but do it anyway.
Training consistently is the key. You are far better doing little and often than infrequent longer sessions. Do some stretching, a little kata, some kihon, some shadow sparring, some push-ups, etc. There’re loads of options! Having set times each day can really help ensure you keep up the habit too. Training is good for our bodies and minds and it’s really important to take good care of ourselves in times like these.
Lots of cool stuff to tell you about in this newsletter! The main thing being a “secret” YouTube Video I put up this week on the main “five things martial artists get wrong about self-defence”. It’s one of my more “ranty” videos … but I know you always enjoy those :-) Links and more details can be found below.
I also want to thank everyone for their show of support to me and my family at this time. As someone who makes a living by traveling and teaching large groups of people close-range combat methods, the restrictions brought by the current pandemic are somewhat problematic. It’s really touching that so many of you have recognised the difficulties I’m facing and have reached out. I don’t make use of Patreon or anything like that, but if you do want to help me and mine, and support what I do, here are some simple things that would really help me a ton:
1) Subscribe to the app. It’s $8.99 / month via Budocode (you can also subscribe via iTunes) and you get access to hundreds of hours of exclusive content which is updated every week. You’ll also be part of a global community and have access to the exclusive live sessions I will be doing soon. The revenue from the app is unaffected by the pandemic and your support of me through it would be greatly appreciated. You can download the app from the App Store and Google Play and then set up an account:
Join Up: https://www.budocode.com/Account/Register?appid=2056
Need Help? app@iainabernethy.com
2) I appreciate that many of you will also be experiencing your own difficulties, but there are loads of cost-free ways you could help me too. If you like these newsletters, please share the following link with your friends and training partners. Increased subscribers to the newsletters will really help me going forward and regaining my stride when all this is over:
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/join-newsletter-and-get-two-free-e-books
3) If you like what I do on social media, sharing that content and encouraging your friends to follow would again really help in the bounce back:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iainabernethy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iainabernethy/ @iainabernethy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iainabernethy @iainabernethy
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/practicalkatabunkai
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. It is all greatly appreciated!
Please check out the contents list below!
Speak soon!
All the best,
Iain
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CONTENT:
1) Five things martial artists get wrong about self-defence!
2) Iain’s Recent Interview on Online Training
3) Cold Water Swimming / Advisors not Rulers
4) Gekisai Dai Ichi Flow Drill
5) Tandoku Kata
6) Leg Strengthening Home Workout
7) Pre-order “The Heian-Kata Bunkai Phenomenon” by Christian Wedewardt
8) Unsu In-Depth
9) Training Ronin Style by David Hogsette
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1) FIVE THINGS MARTIAL ARTISTS GET WRONG ABOUT SELF-DEFENCE!
Martial arts instructors are often the worst self-protection instructors. The key reason for this failing is that they are not sure what self-protection actually is and they incorrectly assume it is one and the same as martial arts or fighting. The truth is they are radically different. While there is some crossover, the fact remains that only a very small part of martial arts and fighting has relevance to self-protection and vice versa. Sadly, most martial artists don’t grasp this and as a result teach self-protection very poorly without realising. The don’t know what they don’t know, and hence think they know all there is to know.
In this video I cover the key five things that martial artists get wrong about self-protection:
1) Using self-protection is the ONLY valid measure of value
2) Reinventing criminal violence in their own image
3) A total failure to address legalities
4) A complete failure to grasp the objective of self-protection
5) Reducing the whole of self-protection to nothing but the physical
As is made clear in the video, I love the martial arts and all they have to offer; but I also know they do not adequately address the needs of self-protection. To effectively train and teach martial arts, fighting and self-protection, we need to understand the specific nature and goals of each. If we don’t, then training will always be unfocused and ineffective.
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/m7fJ9ZlzWfQ
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2) IAIN’S RECENT INTERVIEW ON ONLINE TRAINING
My recent chat with MPower International Association where I talk about how martial arts are currently being forced to adapt to training at home and how it can thrive.
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/WlAl2aS9nww
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3) COLD WATER SWIMMING / ADVISORS NOT RULERS
A short video, filmed immediately after some cold-water swimming, which discusses one way that the martial arts crossover to everyday life. Martial arts can teach us to be very aware of our bodies and emotions while ensuring they remain advisors and not rulers.
https://youtu.be/v5v4ixiDOqc
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4) GEKISAI DAI ICHI FLOW DRILL
This video quickly runs through a flow drill for Gekisai Dai Ichi. The purpose of such drills is the time efficient practice of the core methods of the related kata. To fully realise the value of kata we also need to include bunkai based live drills, semi-live drills, pad drills, variation drills, etc in our practise. When any drill is isolated from the whole its purpose and value can become obscured. For instruction on this drill, and all related methods, please check out the app.
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/7iuSjXPwFhg
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5) TANDOKU KATA
Full instructions for the kata have now been added to the app! I plan to do a live lesson for app users on the kata in the near future! Watch this space :-)
Monitoring the position of the target with one hand, while striking with the other, is common in the traditional kata. By placing a single focus mitt on one hand we can replicate a located target and hit with real impact. I have created a kata called Tandoku (“Alone”) specifically for this type of training. Each sequence exhibits different combative concepts and the kata contains a wide variety of techniques. It’s a good workout too! I have begun teaching the kata in the app this week. When app users have learnt the full kata, I think it would be fun to a do a live online session to go over the details!
You can see an extract of the kata here:
https://www.facebook.com/iainabernethy/videos/372216083730161/
You can find a full kata breakdown here:
Main Menu > Misc Techniques and Drills > Solo Training Ideas > Tandoku Kata
If you are not yet an app member, you can more details below:
Information: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/iain-abernethys-applied-karate-kata-bunkai-app
Join Up: https://www.budocode.com/Account/Register?appid=2056
Need helps setting up a trial? app@iainabernethy.com
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6) LEG STRENGTHENING HOME WORKOUT
Lockdown making it difficult to know what day it is? I have bad news … it’s leg day! No gym? No weights? No excuses! Full martial arts based leg strengthening workout needing nothing but a chair … and a “secret” ingredient to make the exercises super hard! Added to the app this week! NEW VIDEO: Main Menu > Workouts > Leg Exercises > Leg Strengthening (Chair Only).
If you are not yet an app member, you can more details below:
Information: https://iainabernethy.co.uk/iain-abernethys-applied-karate-kata-bunkai-app
Join Up: https://www.budocode.com/Account/Register?appid=2056
Need helps setting up a trial? app@iainabernethy.com
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7) PRE-ORDER “THE HEIAN-KATA BUNKAI PHENOMENON” BY CHRISTIAN WEDEWARDT
You can now pre-order the English version of “The Heian-Kata Bunkai Phenomenon” by Christian Wedewardt. I’ve read the book (and wrote a foreword) and it’s superb!
https://karatepraxis.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/pre-order-the-english-version-now/
Iain’s Introduction:
Karate is undergoing something of a metamorphosis at the moment. It is simultaneously reaching back to its roots while also adopting modern training methods. Christian Wedewardt is a very influential karateka and his teaching is at the cutting edge of this metamorphosis. His teaching draws strongly from the roots of traditional karate – particularly in regards to the lessons drawn from the traditional kata – and yet it is innovative and contemporary. To me, it is a perfect example of what karate should be!
A tree needs heathy and strong roots. However, it should never be forgotten that one of the key purposes of those roots is to support new growth. If we don’t see new branches appearing, then it’s a sure sign that the roots are dead. The true tradition of karate has always been one of growth and constant change. As Gichin Funakoshi famously wrote in Karate-Do: My Way of Life, “Times change, the world changes, and martial arts must change too.” We are not talking about change for the sake of change here, but steady progress across the generations.
Another quote that I love on karate’s evolution is that of Choshin Chibana:
“Karate, as it is transmitted, changes every few years. This is a common phenomenon. It happens because a teacher must continue to learn and adds his personality to the teachings. There is an old martial arts saying that states that karate is much like a pond. In order for the pond to live, it must have streams that feed and replenish it. Without those streams the pond becomes stagnant and dies.”
Christian is certainly someone who adds his personality to his teachings! He’s an utter joy to be on the dojo floor with. His enthusiasm is hugely infectious, and his knowledge and insights are inspirational. His drills are functional and innovative; grounded in raw function while being fun to practise. There are not many like Christian and I’m delighted he’s written this book!
Christian’s approach to the Heian (Pinan) kata is indicative of his wider approach to karate: grounded in tradition while being innovative and contemporary. The approach recorded in these pages is rock solid. It all holds together as the system these kata are supposed to represent. Funakoshi told us in Karate-Do Kyohan that, “once [the Heian Series] has been mastered, one can be confident of their ability to defend themselves in most situations.” Christian proves the truth of that statement.
Well done for purchasing this book. You’ve made a very smart move!
Iain Abernethy 7th dan BCKA, WCA, EKF.
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8) UNSU IN-DEPTH
As app users will know, one of our ongoing series has been Unsu In-Depth. We have now broken down bunkai for the entire kata, and we have now completed our look at some of the associated sparring drills. The 17th and final part (added next week) will cover Unsu Pad Drills!
Main Menu > Kata Bunkai > Unsu > Unsu In-Depth > Parts 1 to 16
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9) TRAINING RONIN STYLE BY DAVID HOGSETTE
“This book is fantastic! David Hogsette has produced a very important work on a very important topic! I’m a huge believer in supplementary solo training. It can do so much to enhance our martial development. However, for many, it can be difficult to know what to do when there is no instructor there to guide us. This is where this awesome book comes in! Not only does the book cover all elements of solo training, in a way that ensures functional relevance and seamless integration with all important partner training, but it does so in a way that excites and motivates! Read this book and you will want to solo train, and you will do so productively. Highly recommended!” — Iain Abernethy, 7th Dan Karate
https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/training-ronin-style-david-hogsette
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That’s all for now folks! I’ll be back with more soon! Stay safe, active and upbeat!
All the best,
Iain