Contents:

1 – New Podcast! The Jesse and Iain Show!

In this episode I’m joined by self-identified “karate nerd” Jesse Enkamp! I think Jesse does a great deal of good for the karate community. His panoramic view of karate, his prolific work rate, his eloquence, and his infectious enthusiasm combine to make him someone with much to offer. I’m really grateful to Jesse for joining me on the podcast.

Jesse and I discuss: the role of styles, trends in modern karate, the Shuhari concept, kata training, critical thinking, how karateka can use social media to share information, money in the martial arts, remaining motivated, and more! It’s a wide-ranging conversation that I’m sure you will find interesting. If you listen to the very end of the podcast, I have also included some of the “off-air” chatting :-)

This podcast also includes a brief section from Kris Wilder! How many karateka is it safe to fit into one podcast?!

Thanks for the support of the podcasts! My interview with Jamie Clubb, and the episode on self-defence law will be coming your way soon!

All the best,

Iain

Download and Listen to the Podcasts here: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/jesse-enkamp

2 – Iain Abernethy Seminars!

Below you can find details of the open seminars that are taking place in the next few months. I look forward to seeing you at an event near you and if you have any questions about them, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
 

Seminar in Bradford
Date: 18th February 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-bradford-1

Seminar in Bristol
Date: 24th of February 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-bristol-2

Seminar in Ireland
Date: 2nd to 4th of March 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-ireland

Seminar in Presteigne, Wales with Lee Taylor
Date: 11th of March 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-presteigne-wales

Iain Abernethy and Don Came seminar (Haywards Heath, West Sussex)
Date: 17th of March 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/iain-abernethy-and-don-came-seminar-haywards-heath-west-sussex

Seminar in Dorking, Surrey
Date: 18th of March 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-dorking-surrey

Seminar in Keighley, Yorkshire
Date: 24th of March 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-keighley-yorkshire
 

Seminar in Birmingham with Leigh Simms
Date: 25th of March 2018
Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-birmingham-leigh-simms

Seminar in Laatzen (nr Hannover), Germany

Date: 7th and 8th of April 2018

Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-laatzen-nr-hannover-germany

Seminar in Eastbourne

Date: 14th of April 2018

Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-eastbourne-0

Seminar in Maldon, Essex

Date: 15th April 2018

Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-maldon-essex-0

Seminar in Chesterfield

Date: 22nd of April 2018

Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-chesterfield

Please visit this webpage for details of seminars later in the year: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/seminar-dates 

To organise a seminar for your club, write to iain@iainabernethy.com

3 – New Practical Kata Bunkai Videos!

Four new videos since the last newsletter!

This video covers a pad drill that I recently taught in my home dojo.

At that particular session, I had some students needing to work on their lead hand hook punches, some needing to work on their sweeps, and some needing to work on their lead leg roundhouse. I therefore put all of those elements together into a single drill. This is more fun that drilling the elements singularly. The fact the drill is mentally and physically engaging means that the high levels repetition needed to develop competence are not a chore. As one of my teachers phrased it, this is “repetition by stealth”.

The drill affords the more advanced students a chance to work on flow and transitions. The drill also lets the student work on the body dynamics of hitting with the same hand twice.

I hope you find it interesting!

Watch here: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/karate-pad-drill

The Training Matrix!

A quick video about one of those things that should be obvious, but obviously isn’t :-) All training methods have deliberate flaws that have to be introduced for safety, specificity of training, or efficiently. Only real is real. These deliberate flaws do not render a given method useless, because the flaws will be counteracted by other training methods. It’s the integrated training matrix that ensures training is practical and effective. Isolating a method from the matrix and then critiquing it is entirely vacuous. Such statements are meaningless. It’s the matrix that matters!

Watch here: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/training-matrix

3K Karate

In this video I define “3K karate” and contrast it with more practical and traditional approaches to karate. Most approaches to karate will include the 3Ks: kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). What causes the radical difference between “3K karate” and practical karate is the nature of the 3Ks and the way in which they integrate, or don’t integrate.

“3K karate” has kihon, kata and kumite practised as largely separate entities; where each “K” has self-contained competence as its aim i.e. they do kihon to get good at kihon, kata to get good at kata, and kumite to get good at kumite. “Good” is also an arbitrary dictate as opposed to any objective measure.

By contrast practical karate – which is closer in method and intent to the karate of the past – has kihon, kata and kumite working together as a whole with the objective aim of enhanced combative efficacy within a civilian context (self-defence).

The video expands on these ideas further and, agree or disagree, I hope you find it an interesting watch.

Watch here: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/3k-karate

4 – Iain Abernethy App!

Thanks to everyone for the support of the app! It continues to update every week!

Recent additions have included 2.5 hours of exclusive footage breaking down the bunkai of Chinto / Gankaku kata in detial!

We are also in the process of breaking down all of Choki Motobu's two-person drills! Something all practical traditionalists should be aware of!

New and exclusive material added each week! Access to our HUGE practical karate video encyclopaedia! All for less than a cup of coffee each week!

If you’re not already a user, please find details here: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/iain-abernethys-applied-karate-kata-bunkai-app

5 – Karate Throws Volume 1!

Karate Throws Volume 1 is now available on Download, DVD, and with App Subscription!

“In karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and joint-locks are included” – Gichin Funakoshi

This video series looks at the “forgotten” throws that were once commonly practised within karate. The throws of karate can be found throughout the traditional kata and are well documented in the writings of the past masters. This video series will help practical karateka reintroduce this now neglected practise back into karate so it can once again be the holistic art it was originally created to be.

In addition to showing how to perform the throws, this video also shows where the throws can be found in the traditional kata and the writings of the past masters (complete with photos where possible). Additionally, this video also examines the underlying throwing principles encapsulated by the kata examples and shows additional ways in which they can be applied.

This volume looks specifically at the lifting throws which involve lifting the enemy’s feet off the floor. Volumes 2 and 3 (coming soon) will look at throws that trap the leg, and throws which disrupt posture.

Volume 1 now available on:

DVD (part of buy 2 get a 3^rd DVD FREE offer!):

https://iainabernethy.co.uk/shop/product-category/dvd/

NOTE: All formats available! Place your order and we will ship the right one for your county.

Download:

https://iainabernethy.co.uk/shop/product-category/download/

Stream with an app subscription:

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/iain-abernethys-applied-karate-kata-bunkai-app

6 – Shogun Practical Karate Tournament (Middlesex)

Doug Connell’s Shogun Practical Karate group are developing a form of competition with greater relevance to practical karate than standard formats. This will include traditional kata, realistic bunkai, bunkai with resistance, pad drills, live striking and grappling, etc. Iain has been invited to help officiate on the day. If you’d like to learn more then please email Doug Connell on doug.connell@shogunpracticalkarate.com

7 – Christian Wedewardt in the UK!

On the 29th of April 2018, Christian Wedewardt will be teaching his first ever UK seminar! Iain and Christian have taught together in Germany. Iain is a big fan of Christian’s material and way of teaching! Christian teaches practical karate in a structured, fun and extremely practical way. We are delighted that UK karateka have the opportunity to learn from Christian and enjoy his teaching style!

Christian speaks English fluently and the entire seminar will be in English (you can put away the German phrase books!).

Iain Abernethy will be in attendance for the full day. Iain will be assisting with the instruction and on hand to answer any questions.

The theme of the day will be practical karate drills that will be applicable to all styles. This will include two-person drills, impact drills and kata bunkai.

The seminar will run from 10am to 5pm and will be held at: The Beacon, Portway, Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 9BX.

Cost is £35 per person (for groups, when 4 pay, the 5 person goes free). Please contact iain@iainabernethy.com for details of how to book your place and payment details. Places are limited and all places must be pre-booked. There are no “on the door” places.

About Christian: Christian Wedewardt (43) holds a 5th dan in karate and has been training for 30 years. He believes in martial arts that have strong traditional roots and that are also entirely relevant and applicable to today’s world. Christian passionately believes in a version of karate that is exciting and attractive to everyone interested in art, fighting and self-defence

See Christian in action on this webpage: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/christian-wedewardt-uk

8 – Kris Wilder and Iain: 30th of June and 1st of July 2018!

I’m pleased to be able to announce that Kris Wilder and I will be teaching together at a two-day event in Oxfordshire, UK on the 30th of June and the 1st of July! The theme of the event will be “Reframing your art for the next level” and it will be open to karate practitioners of all styles. More information will be available soon!

To be kept in the loop please email iain@iainabernethy.com

Facebook Events Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/179265152647645/

9 – 5th Annual Charity Training Camp

More Info: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/5th-annual-charity-camp-5-7-may-2018