Contents:

 

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1 - New Podcast: Kakapo-Do - How NOT to be a practitioner!

If you’ve been in the martial arts for more than five minutes you can help but be struck by the vast number of animal names associated with techniques and styles. We have cat stance, horse stance, the anaconda choke, gator rolls, white crane kung fu, “crane on a rock” (Gankaku kata), Enpi (Japanese for the Swallow), and so on.

We have lions, bears, tigers, cranes, snakes, monkeys, leopards and many more.

However, I feel we are missing one animal. It’s an animal that accurately reflects the state of much of modern martial arts. The animal in question is a bird called the “Kakapo”; which is why I’ve called this podcast “Kakapo-do” or “The Way of the Kakapo”.

The ancestors of the Kakapo could fly, but the Kakapo itself evolved in an environment with no predators, and all was well, until predators were reintroduced. The Kakapo does not recognise its predators, engages in behaviour that puts it at risk, it can’t fly (but tries to when threatened), and it should come as no surprise to hear it is critically endangered.

I can see many parallels between the Kakapo and much of modern martial arts (as I’m sure can you). The podcast is therefore essentially about the state of modern martial arts and some of the pitfalls we need to avoid.

Thank you for listening in and I hope you enjoy it!

All the best,

Iain

PS Checkout the new music! Four new tunes provide the background and interludes and I hope they add to the listening experience.

Listen to the podcast on this webpage: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kakapo-do-how-not-be-practitioner

 

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

 

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2 - Nine New Online Bunkai Videos!

 

I've been really busy with the videos since the last newsletter! Below you can find details of NINE new videos!

1) Kanku-Dai / Kushanku Throw and Joint-Attack

This video was filmed at a seminar in Norway in January 2015. Over the weekend we covered applications and drills for the whole of Kushanku / Kanku-Dai. This clip looks predominately at the joint attack following the throw toward the end of the form. The throw had obviously been taught previously and is hence the mechanics and nature of it are only refereed to briefly in this particular clip.

It is also important to understand that over the weekend the progress of the nature of the methods as we move through the kata was stressed. Basically, the simplest and most applicable methods are taught toward to start of the kata. As the kata progresses it builds upon previous methods. This throw and joint-attack therefore needs to be understood in the full context of the kata i.e. it is not a primary method, but a secondary supporting method.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kanku-dai-kushanku-throw-and-joint-attack-video


2) Kushanku / Kanku-Dai Bunkai: End Throw

This short video shows bunkai for the end movement of Kushanku (Kanku-Dai). This variation applies to the “both arms up” version. The “one arm up” version can be applied in the same way, but the enemy would be thrown to the side in the direction of the hiki-te (hand that is down).

The throw is an advanced one (for application in self-protection) which is why, I would suggest, it is the final movement of the kata.

This clip was filmed during the Q&A section at the end of a three day event in Clarksville, Tennesse, USA. I’ve also got some more footage from this event which I will share in due course.

I hope you enjoy this clip. If you intend to practise this throw, then you must do so under the supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced instructor, with suitable mats, and with an uke (recipient) who is skilled at break falling.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kushanku-kanku-dai-bunkai-end-throw-video


3) Passai / Bassai-Dai Bunkai: Gichin Funakoshis Ude Wa & Ebi Gatame

This footage shows a small part of a Passai / Bassai-Dai bunkai drill which was taught over two full days at a seminar in the Netherlands. The techniques in this clip show a throw and hold; both of which were referred to in the writings of Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi.

The throw is “Ude-Wa” (arm-ring) which Funakoshi shows in his book, Karate-Do Kyohan. The following submission hold – which was shown as an interesting aside to the wider drill – is called “Ebi-Gatame” (shrimp-hold) and was referred to by Gichin Funakoshi in his book, Karate-Do: My Way of Life.

Later in the day, we were looking at ways to regain the feet should a situation end up on the floor. As part of this, we showed how Ebi-Gatame can be used to remove the enemy’s legs from around your waist. A short clip of that section is also included.

Both of these techniques are potentially dangerous and they should only be practised under the close supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced person.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/passai-bassai-dai-bunkai-gichin-funakoshis-ude-wa-ebi-gatame


4) Basic Karate Gripping

This video looks as some basic karate grips and gripping techniques. It was filmed during a two-day seminar in Germany in February 2015. Karate is primarily a striking system, however it also includes a great many grappling techniques; as found within the kata and as recorded in old texts such as The Bubishi, Gichin Funakoshi’s Karate-Do Kyohan, Kenwa Mabuni’s Karate-Do Nyumon, etc.

To ensure these grappling methods can be applied effectively, gripping skills are required. Indeed, gripping skills are also required to effectively deliver strikes at close-range. This short video records an introduction to two commonly used grips, three gripping techniques, and the some methods that can flow on from those grips.

Although not shown in this clip, at the seminar the participants were also instructed in live drills to ensure genuine competence in those methods. As is always the case, this short clip cannot show the entirety of what was taught, or how what was taught fits within the wider system and methodology of training. Nevertheless, we hope the clip is of some use and that you find it interesting.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/basic-karate-gripping-video


5) Kururunfa Flow Drill

This video shows a flow drill for the first half of Kururunfa kata. It was filmed during a class at a four day residential course in February 2015. This part of the kata primarily concentrates on controlling the enemy’s limbs in order to limit their striking options whist creating openings for your own strikes.

As is shown in the clip, it is possible to put all the methods shown in the first half of the kata end to end in order to drill them as a single entity. Such drills are useful when learning the bunkai of a kata (such that the solo-template and two person drill closely match), but they are only one part of the wider methodology needed to make kata work. The methods also need to be drilled in isolation, in various combative contexts, and in unscripted and live drills. There is a brief discussion on the beginnings of this process towards the end on the clip.

This video shows snippets of what was practised and can obviously not record in full the wider methodology of which this drill was part. I nevertheless hope that the clip is useful.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/kururunfa-flow-drill-video


6) Naihanchi / Tekki-Shodan Limb Control Flow Drill

This video shows a slow motion, and practise speed, demonstration of a limb-control flow drill for Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan kata. The early part of the video was a short demonstration, given by Lee Taylor and myself, so that karateka at a residential course could take a little footage to act as an aid to memory. It is not intended to be an instructional clip, but as an aide-mémoire for those who had just learnt the drill.

The second part of the video shows Charles and Joe – young 1st dans in my home dojo – doing the drill at practise speed. The clip was filmed by me on a low resolution mobile phone, so the quality is not great. You can, however, see what is going on and get an idea for how the drill would be worked in practise.

One thing to be crystal clear on is that this is a drill where a fleeting range (“trapping distance”) is artificially maintained to allow the practise of a specific skill set i.e. how to get limbs out of the way to land strikes. In real situations one would not see extended bouts of limb-control as presented in the drill. The back and forth nature of the drill – while being good for time efficient practise – is also not ideal because it could foster a “back and forth” mind-set, whereas a more dominating mind-set is required for self-protection. All of that said, when used in the right context as part of a wider training methodology (which obviously can’t be communicated is short videos like these) such drills can be useful and do have a role to play

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/naihanchi-tekki-shodan-limb-control-flow-drill-video


7) Shisochin Bunkai

This video looks at bunkai for a few sections of Shisochin kata. In particular, we look at the “signature sequence” of Shisochin both as it appears towards the start of the kata and with the additional entries and exits found toward the end. As part of this we also cover the bunkai for the “rising double elbow” and the end turn.

This video was filmed at a residential course in February 2015. This short clip does obviously not show all of the instruction, but we nevertheless hope you find it interesting and of value.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/shisochin-bunkai-video


8) Transition drill with partner and pads

During an intensive residential course in March 2015 we covered a number of transition drills. These are drills to get the student used to flowing from technique to technique in such a way that dominance is maintained. This drill includes head-butting, kneeing, groin-kicking, palm heels, slaps and dropping hammer-fists.

We have a great many such drills and they come together to provide “templates for movement.” It’s is our experience that when the templates have been sufficiently drilled, smooth transition and relentless pressure will become intuitive such that they are ever present when freely applied. We are therefore using examples to covey and intuit principle. The drills are never ends in themselves; and hence they should not be mistaken as being “combinations” to be used as is. This drill is one of many, which together form a useful whole.

One of the things this drill helps develop is maintaining pressure as distance changes. Notice how we begin very close, move to kicking distance, and then finish at hand-striking distance. The distance “pulses” and it does so in other ways in the other drills not shown here.

We begin by working the drill with a partner in a controlled way so the student gets the correct feel of how the techniques within the drill would be applied on a human body. It is then necessary to move onto the pads such that impact can be applied. It is the mix of partner and pads that helps ensure the various aspects of an effective and applicable technique are developed whilst safety in practise is maintained.

In my personal teaching and practise, such drills (which are also drilled without a partner in line-work to allow for the development of internal body awareness) take the place of the impractical sequences of otherwise disconnected motions that much of modern karate has acquired. Putting random karate motions end to end archives little and it is my firm view that practical skills are most efficiently and effectively developed through practical sequences.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/transition-drill-partner-and-pads-video


9) Jion Kata Bunkai

This video shows a selection of bunkai for the first third of Jion kata. It also shows how the motions can be combined into a Jion flow drill. As is normally the case, the motions further on in the kata are meant to interlink with those that have come before. It’s not possible to explain the entirety of this process of interaction in a short clip like this, but nevertheless it is touched upon.

The video was filmed at a four day residential course in March 2015. It does not cover all of the instruction given for Jion kata so it may be difficult to follow at times. It also needs to be understood that the wider methodology is not covered. Videos such as these cannot adequately capture in-depth instruction and are therefore never intended to be a substitute for such instruction. That said, I hope you find the clip interesting and useful.

http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/jion-kata-bunkai-video

 

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3 - Upcoming Iain Abernethy Seminars (Chicago, Dresden, UK, etc)

 

Below you can find details of the open seminars that are taking place in the next few months. Details of others will be added as soon as details have been finalised. 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 Birmingham
Date: Sunday 22nd of March 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-birmingham-0

Seminar in Presteigne, Powys
Date: Saturday the 28th of March 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-presteigne-powys-2

Seminar in Wigan
Date: Sunday the 29th of March 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-wigan-0
 

Seminar in Dresden, Germany
Date: 18th and 19th of April 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-dresden-germany

Seminar in Chesterfield
Date: Sunday the 26th of April 2016
For more details please follow this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-chesterfield

Seminar in Chicago, USA
Date: 1st to 3rd of May 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-chicago-usa-1

Seminar in Deal, Kent
Date: Saturday the 6th of June 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-deal-kent

Seminar in Birmingham
Date: Sunday the 7th of June 2015
For more details please follow this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/events/seminar-birmingham-1

 

 

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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4 - Iain on the Hiyaa!! THE Martial Arts Podcast!

 

You may be interested to know that I was recently interviewed by the Hiyaa Podcast! It was a fun conversation and we covered quite a few topics! If you follow the link below you can listen to the podcast online and download it. The podcast is also available via itunes. I hope you enjoy it!#

Episode 62 – Interview with Iain Abernethy

Welcome to Episode Sixty Two of Hiyaa!! THE Martial Arts Podcast – The “that’s not an accent, THIS is an accent” Show

Meet Iain Abernethy and learn about his martial arts philosophy, teaching, writing, and podcasting goodness.

So join us for a dark and stormy day—both here and in the UK—as we battle the elements to bring Hiyaa to your earholes!
 

http://www.hiyaapodcast.com/episode-62-interview-iain-abernathy/

 

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5 - Reconstructing Tomari-te by Stewart Squire

 

Situated at the western edge of Naha’s great city sprawl is the Tomari Port Terminal. The ferry services that emanate from there connect Okinawa to the surrounding islands, such as “Kume and the Keramas”. Providing access to the South China Sea, Tomari has for centuries, been an important gateway into and out of Okinawa.

The proximity of its deep water port and its easy access to the old Royal Capital of Shuri, meant that Tomari, had an important role in the loading and unloading of commercial cargo and official tribute from the surrounding islands.

Prior to the dissolution of the old feudal kingdom, Tomari, was a centre of diversity, scholarship and commerce. Not only did financial transactions take place but educational and cultural exchange happened frequently with many different nationalities venturing in and out of the port as well as settling there. (2)

Through this vast enterprise an exchange of martial knowledge took place over many generations which led to unique combative methodologies being retained and developed by the local Tomari “Bushi”. Though many of these ways and means have disappeared in the years following the reforms introduced by Ituso Anko and his supporters, fortunately some of the key elements of the local Tomari methods have been retained and passed down for us to explore today.

The aim of this article is to explore some of these underlying themes which differentiated Tomari’s methods for those found around Shuri and Naha, and explore some interpretations of one of its defining Kata: Rohai.

 

You can read the entire article on this webpage: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/article/reconstructing-tomari-te-stewart-squire

 

 

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6 - African Training Camp 2016

 

We are in the early stages of planning an exclusive 7 day practical karate training camp in Uganda, Africa in 2016! Along with the training and comradery, we will also taking a trip to the top of the breath-taking Murchison Falls, taking a boat trip on the Nile, and taking game drives in order to see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, antelopes and possibly even lions and leopards in their natural environment. Eric Parsons and I are working on the logistics and if you want to be among the first to know as things take shape – there will be a small number of limited places – please drop me an email at iain@iainabernethy.com and I’ll keep you in the loop!

 

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7 - Early Bare Knuckle Boxing Info

 

Hi I'm Oz,

Iain has kindly let me send you some information about my website, but before I do I'd like to tell you a little about what I teach, and how I got to teaching it.

My first proper martial art was Shotokan, I started it when I was a kid, and like most people I really bought into it. I knew deep down that if I practiced my kata enough, and stretched enough at home, I'd be able to fight just like Bruce Lee. But after several years of training I started to get disillusioned. The bunkai I was being taught just didn't seem to make sense. I guess I wasn't the only person to feel that way. A lot of people in the early 90s felt the same way. There wasn't really anyone teaching practical, and believable applications the way Iain is today. But unlike Iain I took a different route.

I overheard a conversation one day at a medieval re-enactment event about an ancient German book that described how to fight with a sword, and it became a bit of an obsession for me, so I set out to find it. I eventually did, but along the way I found a lot of things that were much more impressive, at least to me. I found books by English people, books that were hundreds of years old. Books that taught how to fight with swords, daggers, and quarterstaffs, books that taught how to fight with your fists, how to wrestle and grapple. I gave up Shotokan and focused entirely on learning English Martial Arts. Obviously the karate I had been taught was nonsense, and the real secrets to fighting were English.

But as the years went on, and I trained more and more, I began to realise something that surprised me. I was teaching the art of Classical Pugilism. The art of fighting with bare fists from an age where grappling and throwing were a standard aspect of fighting. But I also seemed to be teaching something that looked a lot like the Shotokan I'd done. Long straight punches, stable stances, even the blocks looked similar. One day, in a draughty old wrestling gym in the North of England I was being taught traditional Catch wrestling by a crotchety old man who couldn't walk without a stick. He was trying to describe a throw to me, a shoulder throw that landed in a submission hold. When he told me to step over my opponent as they hit the ground I realised I'd been taught that very movement in Heian Godan twenty something years ago. It was a bit of an eye opener for me.

I haven't gone back to Karate, but I have a new found respect for it. It turns out the early English bare knuckle boxing I've been teaching for the last decade or so isn't so different after all. There are a lot of strikes to set up throws, a lot of holds, traps, and escapes. And a lot of sneaky elbows, backfists, and “accidental” knees.

Anyway, that's enough about me. I've spent the last few years writing e-books and filming videos on what I do – trying to spread the word of English Martial Arts. If it sounds at all interesting to you then there are all sorts of things available on my website, I suspect you'll be surprised at how similar it is to the fantastic work Iain's been doing for years.

Some of it is free, and some of it is for sale. I offered Iain a cut of any money I made and he turned me down flat. We did agree however that instead of giving him money we'd give it to someone who really needed it. And so if you do choose to buy anything, I'm going to give 50% of all the profits to the NSPCC (The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

 

Read more and watch videos via this link: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/great-early-bare-knuckle-boxing-info

 

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8 - The magic of the left jab by John Nawn

 

Details of John Nawn’s new book:

This book is titled the “Magic Of The Left Jab” for a very good reason.

The Left Jab is the first punch all boxers are taught. It is used to control the distance between you and your opponent. It’s used to probe your opponent’s defences. It’s used to set up combinations. It’s used to control your opponent’s movements. It’s used to wear down your opponent mentally and physically. It’s used to set up knockout punches. It’s used to control the speed, tempo and intensity of the fight and much, much more. It is in fact the most versatile punch you can learn to use.

IT IS IN FACT A MAGICAL PUNCH!

The left jab is a much under-estimated and under- utilised strike.

The left jab when used to effect with good footwork can be a fight winner.

It can be used in so many different circumstances including but not limited to :-

• FEELING OUT YOUR OPPONENT AT THE START OF A FIGHT.

• WORKING DISTANCE.

• CHECKING HIS REACTION SPEED.

• MOVING IN BEHIND THE JAB TO CLOSE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT.

• JABBING YOUR OPPONENT OFF AS HE RUSHES AT YOU.

• WEARING YOUR OPPONENT DOWN PHYSICALLY BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY MENTALLY.

• SETTING UP COMBINATIONS.

• SETTING UP KNOCKOUTS.

• THE JAB CAN BE A KNOCKOUT PUNCH.

We will discuss all this and much, much more in this e-book.

Additionally, when you buy this e-book you will receive a link to two youtube videos that will demonstrate some vital exercises with the left jab.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Left-Jab-John-Nawn-ebook/dp/B00TA3DJOC/

 

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9 - Mick Tully Seminar on the 4th of April (Derby)

 

Details of this seminar can be found here: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/mick-tully-seminar-4th-april-2015

 

 

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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