Contents:

 

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1 - New Podcast: Understanding Kata & WCA

 

This month’s podcast is a mix of topics! The first part examines the nature of kata, and many of the misunderstandings surrounding kata, using the following quotation from Gichin Funakoshi as a jumping off point:

"Like textbooks to a student or tactical exercises to a solider, kata are the most important element of karate.”

This line contains two great analogies that really get to the heart of things! It is the ramifications of these analogies that we explore in the first third of the podcast. Kata is NOT a solo re-enactment of a fight! Instead, kata is a repository of knowledge that, when correctly approached, can be freely and flexibly applied in the ever-changing world of conflict. This was the viewpoint that was clearly expressed by the masters of the past.

Having discussed the nature of kata, we then move on to discuss the link between kata and live practise. This includes a discussion on the nature of the secret practise of the past; as described by both Funakoshi and Motobu. I also put forth a case for the traditional view that it is the live application of a kata that shows an understanding of that kata, as opposed to the aesthetics of solo-performance.

The third and final part of the podcast looks at the history, goals and ethos of the World Combat Association (WCA) from both the perspectives of Peter Consterdine 9th dan (Chief Instructor) and myself (Chief International Coach). The WCA is the international home for pragmatic traditionalists and it’s about time I explained a little more about it in the podcast.

Lots of topics covered in this one and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the support of the podcasts!

 

Listen to the podcast on this webpage: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/understanding-kata-and-wca-podcast

 

Listen to Iain Abernethy's Podcasts on Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/iain-abernethy-practical-application/id393104872#

 

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2 - Practical Karate Weekly!

 

This video shows bunkai and a two-person bunkai drill for the first third of Kanku-Sho / Kosokun-Sho kata. The video is a sho

Practical Karate weekly has now been running for over 2 years! This online “newspaper” is a weekly Summary of all that is happening in the practical karate world. Check it out!

 

FOLLOW THIS LINK: http://paper.li/iainabernethy/1376566131

 

I personally edit it together and there will be a new edition every Wednesday (around 10am) and you can subscribe via the above page.

 

THIS WEEK: Street fighting mistakes, Fighting like Jim West, Techniques every karateka should know, Iron Shirt Chi-Kung debunked, European Martial Arts, Weight Lifting, “The way of aloneness”, and loads more articles and videos!

 

To subscribe enter your email address on the webpage: you’ll then be updated when every new issue comes out!

 

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3 - Kanku-Sho / Kosokun-Sho Bunkai (video)

 

This video shows bunkai and a two-person bunkai drill for the first third of Kanku-Sho / Kosokun-Sho kata. The video is a short summation of the bunkai covered in one part of a seminar in Nuremburg in October 2015. It is not an instructional video and a full weekend of training can’t be captured a five minute video such as this.

At the seminar we covered bunkai for the entire kata, and discussed the nature of the kata and the wider training methodology of which this drill should be part. For ease of practise we studied the bunkai of the kata in the form of a two-person drill which follows the order of the kata. However, it is vital to understand that the methods can obviously be applied in any order (as the situation dictates) and the drill is not intended to be an “as is” combination.

While the seminar covered the full kata, it is just the summation of the first third of the kata which is shared here. As with all martial arts techniques, what is shown is potentially dangerous and should only be practised under the supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced person.
 

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kanku-sho-kosokun-sho-bunkai-video

 

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4 - Blue dragon strikes, Nodo-Osae and Ebi-Gatame combination (video)

 

In this video we look at a three move traditional karate combination. All three techniques can be found referenced in the karate texts of the past: “Blue dragon strikes without warning” (Bubishi), Nodo-Osae (Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu), and Ebi-Gatame (Karate-Do: My Way of Life).

The video was filmed at a seminar in Nuremburg, Germany in October 2015. This section of the seminar was looking at “forgotten techniques” i.e. techniques which are recorded in the classical texts, but are now largely absent from karate training. We looked at many others, but it is hoped this short combination gives a flavour of what was covered as well as illustrating that the karate of the past was much more holistic than its modern counterpart. Thankfully, the tide has now turned as we are seeing people return to a more authentic and practical type of karate practise.
 

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/blue-dragon-strikes-nodo-osae-and-ebi-gatame-combination-video

 

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5 - Upcoming Iain Abernethy Seminars (Germany, Denmark, Northern Ireland, USA, Finland, UK, etc)

 

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.

 

Iain Abernethy and John Johnston Seminar 2015 (in Derby)
Date: 31st of October 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/events/iain-abernethy-and-john-johnston-seminar-2015

Seminar in Swindon
Date: 1st of November 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-swindon-5

Seminar in Hinnerup, Denmark
Date: 7th and 8th of November 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-hinnerup-denmark

Seminar in Augsburg, Germany
Date: 14th and 15th of November 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-augsburg-germany-2

Seminar in Blairgowrie, Scotland
Date: 22nd of November 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-blairgowrie-scotland-1

Seminar in Turku, Finland
Date: 27th to 29th of November 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-turku-finland

 

Seminar in Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Date: 5th of December 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-ballymena-northern-ireland-0

 

Seminar in Witham, Essex

Date: 24th of January 2016

For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-witham-essex

 

Seminar in Texas, USA

Date: 29th to 31st of January 2016

For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-texas-usa

 

Seminar in Laatzen (nr Hannover), Germany
Date: 6th and 7th of February 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-laatzen-nr-hannover-germany

Seminar in Keighley, Yorkshire
Date: Saturday the 13th of February 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-keighley-yorkshire

 

Seminar in Bristol
Date: 20th of February 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-bristol-1

Seminar in Folkestone, Kent
Date: 21st of February 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-folkestone-kent-1

 

Seminar in Watford
Date: Saturday the 12th of March 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-watford

Seminar in Presteigne, Powys
Date:Sunday the 20th of March 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-presteigne-powys-3

 

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

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

For details of all seminars (including maps): http://iainabernethy.co.uk/seminar-dates 

 

 

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6 - Kung-Fu Podcast

 

If you like my podcasts I have a great recommendation for you! Check out “Kung Fu Podcasts” from Tim Smith! Tim and I share that deep love of the traditional martial arts, whilst also knowing that we serve them best when we approach them honestly and critically. So if you like what I do, you’ll like what Tim does … even if you’re not a Kung Fu practitioner! :-)

The podcasts are very well researched and presented. They are always an interesting and educational listen, and the rate at which he gets them out is incredible! One of my favourite podcasts to entertain and educate when I’m travelling!

 

All the best,

 

Iain

 

Website: http://www.kungfupodcasts.com/

 

iTunes: Search "KungFu Podcasts" https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/kungfu-podcasts/id905076576?mt=2

Welcome to KungFu Podcasts

KungFu Podcasts was started with a simple vision, to provide a transparent and sincere voice on Kungfu.

It was simply annoying to continuously see so much magic, myth and lack of context being peddled in magazines and special programs.

Know why you are practicing Chinese Martial Arts, then make sure your practice matches up with your purpose.

I want you to enjoy the Practicality, the Culture and History of the wonderful Martial Art, we call Kungfu.

 

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7 - New DVD by Lee Taylor – Heian / Pinan Focus Mitt Drills

 

‘The drills outlined on this DVD are designed to enhance your skill and understanding of the Heian Kata series, bridging the gap between solo practise of the forms to your bunkai drills and ultimately leading to kata based sparring allowing you to develop impact of the kata techniques in a safe way.

You can train these drills immediately as they were designed not to be long and complicated, they are also a stand-alone system of drills as knowledge of the Heian Kata is not essential.

The primary objective of these drills is to reinforce the underlying principle of angles that appear in the kata ensuring the practitioner learns to move to the angle shown in relation to the pad holder.’

To order your copy message Lee direct: info@leetaylorkarate.co.uk

Cost £12.50 (contact Lee for shipping costs for your part of the world)

Running Time: 17 mins

Preview Video: https://youtu.be/DkKyYRlfnqQ

All DVDs are region free and the correct format for your part of the world will be automatically dispatched.

“Modern training equipment allows us to train in ways the past masters could not. In particular, focus mitts allow us to hit at angles and with a level of realism that traditional striking tools such as the Makiwara can’t match. In this DVD, Lee Taylor shows a number of focus mitt drills that allow us to practise close-range realistic bunkai complete with impact. These cleverly designed drills correspond to each of the five Pinan / Heian kata and will develop tactical positioning (use of the angles in kata), limb-control (use of hiki-te, muchimi, etc) and impact.

Combined with solo-kata, bunkai training and live practise, these pad drills “complete the circle” and show just how pragmatic the Pinan / Heian series can be. I’ve been asking Lee to make this DVD for a while because I know just how popular these innovative drills will be with students and instructors alike. The drills are explained in a very straightforward and easy to understand manner. They are great “plug and play” drills that are easy to adopt and will add value to your practise and teaching. Highly recommended!” – Iain Abernethy 6th Dan

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/new-dvd-lee-taylor-heian-pinan-focus-mitt-drills

 

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8 - The World Combat Association

 

Iain’s Introduction To The WCA

The exponential growth in those returning to practicing the martial arts in a practical way means that there is now a pressing need for a global dedicated association so practitioners of applied martial arts can band together for the benefit of both the arts and themselves.

The bodies set up to promote sporting offshoots or a particular style or methodology – as useful as they can be for their members – do little to promote and enhance what we see as an extremely important aspect of the martial arts.

An open and inclusive worldwide association is needed for pragmatic traditionalists and practitioners of functional martial arts. The World Combat Association (WCA) fulfils this need!

Many martial arts bodies have a recurring bad habit of trying to limit the freedom of their members and hence the WCA aims promote and enhance the wide variety of pragmatic approaches without imposing unnecessary limits upon people.

The WCA will wholly dedicated to the promotion and furtherance of applied martial arts. Your standard association will typically deal with things like insurance, providing representatives for competitions etc. That is not the role of the WCA.

The WCA has been set up to be an independent association of likeminded individuals who believe that applied martial arts needs a body to address the specific issues associated with our pragmatic approaches ....
 

Read more: http://worldcombatassociation.com/?page_id=230

 

WCA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldCombatAssociation

 

WCA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/worldcombatassn

 

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9 - The Path of Aloneness by Miyamoto Musashi (1645)

 

 

Dokkōdō - The Path of Aloneness
Written by the legendry warrior Miyamoto Musashi days before he died in 1645

Accept everything just the way it is.

Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.

Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.

Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

Be detached from desire your whole life.

Do not regret what you have done.

Never be jealous.

Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.

Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.

Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.

In all things, have no preferences.

Be indifferent to where you live.

Do not pursue the taste of good food.

Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.

Do not act following customary beliefs.

Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.

Do not fear death.

Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.

Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.

You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.

Never stray from the way.

 

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/path-aloneness-miyamoto-musashi-1645