Welcome to the latest edition of the newsletters! As most
of you will know, my daughter was born on the 19th of March and
things have been even more hectic that usual since! Please accept my apologies
for the slight delay in getting this newsletter out. Plenty of interesting content
to make it up to you though!
Check out Section 1 for a discussion on the role of
kicking in self-defence. Section 6 has a link to a hidden video called, “Protecting
Others: A Forgotten Part of SELF-Defence”. Section 4 has information on Tegumi
(Okinawan wrestling) and its link to karate. Also be sure to check out Section 5
for great things you may have missed! Lots of other good stuff too!
Seeing as it is the Easter holidays, I’ve also added a
coupon code to the website for newsletter subscribers. You can get 20% off all downloads
using the code “Easter19” during check out:
The coupon expires on the 27th so act quick.
My 2020 diary is starting to fill up too; so if you’d
like me to visit your dojo next year it would be helpful if you could contact
me sooner rather than later. Thank you!
Thanks once again for your support of the newsletters!
Speak soon!
All the best,
Iain
Note: This is an opt-in newsletter and if you want to
unsubscribe at any time all you need do it click the link at the foot of this
email
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1 – Subscribers Questions
As mentioned in previous newsletter, in each edition I
will include a short article on a topic of a subscriber’s choosing. If you’d
like to suggest a topic, please email that topic to iain@iainabernethy.com
IMPORTANT: Please make the subject of the email
“Newsletter Question”. That will ensure the email is automatically forwarded to
the right place. I will then choose a topic based on what is most requested and
what I feel will be of most interest to the subscribers. I’m sorry to say that
time constraints, and the volume of email I receive, mean I will not be able to
answer each question individually. I nevertheless hope these question and
answers are of value to you.
NOTE: If your question was not covered in this
newsletter, you don’t need to resubmit it. All questions submitted will remain
on file and will be considered each time I do a newsletter.
IS HIGH KICKING EFFECTIVE & SHOULD WE TRAIN IT?
(Asked by Mark Castaldi)
To mix things up a bit, I thought I’d answer this one in
a video! Please follow the link to view:
IMPORTANT: This video will only be online for a couple of
weeks before it will be deleted. I’ll
permanently keep it in the app under the “Core Concepts > Iain Discusses…”
section, but non-subscribers will need to watch it sooner rather than later.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you prefer videos over articles?
Articles over videos? Or would you like a mix? Let me know at iain@iainabernethy.com
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2 – Recently Added to the App Since the Last Newsletter!
We have added a number of new videos to the app since the
last newsletter! This pocket practical karate database is HUGE and getting
bigger every week!
INTRODUCING BUNKAI TO YOUR CLASSES
This much requested video from members looks at how to
effectively move your classes from a “3K approach” to a practical approach. The
video covers the three key things you need to do you ensure you make the
transition effectively.
Location: Main Menu > Core Concepts > Iain
Discusses 3 > Introducing Bunkai To Your Classes.
NEW HANGETSU / SEISHAN SECTION
This has also been a much-requested addition to the app!
We have added the section and populated it with a number of videos covering
both bunkai and drills for this important kata.
Location: Main Menu > Kata Bunkai > Hangetsu
Seishan > Hangetsu Seishan Bunkai > Hangetsu Bunkai.
FOUR CONDITIONING DRILLS
This almost live video from the recent residential shows
four pad drills that can be used for mental and physical conditioning; as well
as developing technique.
Location: Main Menu > Almost Live > Almost Live
2019 > Four Conditioning Pad Drills.
PAD DRILL FOR THE START OF KANKU-DAI / KUSHANKU / KOSOKUN
This video shows both a flow drill, and its pad drill
equivalent, for the start of this widely practised kata. Bunkai-based pad
drills are vital in order to ensure your bunkai has impact!
Location: Main Menu > Kata Bunkai > Kushanku Kanku
Dai > Drills > Pad Drill for Start.
HITTING THE WALL
“Karate is the use of the body, objects to hand, and the
SURROUNDING ENVIROMENT to subdue an enemy” - Morinobu Itoman. This video looks
being pinned and pushed against a wall, how to use the wall to your advantage,
and how to successfully escape.
Location: Main Menu > Misc Techniques and Drills >
Other Stuff > Considering the Environment > Hitting the Wall!
MATSUMORA ROHAI BUNKAI
The kata is commonly referred to as “MatsumUra Rohai”,
but that’s a mistake as the kata comes to use from Kosaku Matsumora and not
Soken Matsumura. This video breaks down bunkai for the whole of Matsumora
Rohai!
Location: Main Menu > Kata Bunkai > Matsumora Rohai
> Matsumora Rohai Full.
WERE TO FIND THE APP: Search the App Store or Play Store
for “iain abernethy”.
NEED HELP JOINING? I appreciate that, like me, you may
not be that clued up when it comes to technology. I also appreciate that all
apps are different and hence it may not be obvious how to set up an account …
so let me do that for you! All you need to do is send an email to
app@iainabernethy.com with “New App Account” as the subject. I will then send
you an invite with a username and pin that you can use to sign into the app.
NOTE: You will not be charged anything until you personally set up a
subscription. The account I set up for you will simply allow you to sign in,
explore a little, and then set up a subscription should you chose to.
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3 – Suggested App Video: Basic Kata Based Sparring
There is a huge amount of material in the app, so each
newsletter I will suggest a video to check out.
Kata Based Sparring is a topic that often confuses
people. I think this is primarily down to preconceived notions and prior
experience of kata and kumite (sparring). If you think of “kata” as a fixed
imaginary fight, and you think of WKF style bouts for “kumite”, I can
understand how “kata based sparring” can sound like an oxymoron. In truth, kata
based sparring is a remarkably simple concept. In this video I explain one kata
based sparring drill and you get to see it done live.
Location: Main Menu > Core Concepts > Core Kata
Concepts > Kata Based Sparring > Breakdown of a Basic KBS Drill (17 mins)
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4 – Recommended Forum Topic: Tegumi (Okinawan Wrestling)
As you know, the forum has great set of contributors and
it’s definitely a community you should keep an eye on. I do appreciate there is
loads to look at though, so each newsletter I will pick out a thread I feel
will be of particular interest.
This edition’s recommended thread is on Tegumi (Okinawan
Wrestling). We look at what Funakoshi and Nagamine said about Tegumi and its
links to karate; its history; its development; and we even had video footage of
modern-day bouts.
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5 – Recent things you may have missed but will absolutely
love!
A basic impact drill for rising, lower, inner and outer
forearm strikes:
Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan bunkai and pad drill:
Do something nice and help Ken Bent:
Chinte Opening Movement Bunkai with Andy Allen:
Intelligent Sparring from Neil Cook:
Jeb Chiles on Pinan Shodan Oyo:
How to learn faster:
Andrew Rheeston, Lee Taylor & Leigh Simms Seminar
(UK, June 2019):
Comprehensive Karate (Free e-Book):
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6 – Protecting Others: A Forgotten Part of SELF-Defence
(Note: This video will be made public soon, but is presently
hidden on YouTube)
Protecting others is an important part of “SELF-Defence”.
In this video we look at the basics of: protecting others, facilitating effective
escape, the use of the voice, common problems and how to deal with them,
training drills, etc.
Such situations are high-risk and difficult and there is
no “good” or fool proof solution. The chaotic nature of protecting others needs
to be reflected in the drills designed to address it. They are not comforting
drills because they make clear just how hard it is; especially against multiple
enemies. Refusing to face this hard truth is, to my mind, unacceptable. The
potential safety of loved ones should come before the need to protect one’s ego
or style. We have to do the best we can in difficult circumstances; and that
demands prior training and practise.
This video can't cover all aspects, but I hope the
discussion of the basics is still of value.
“Karate is not merely practised for your benefit; it can
be used to protect one’s family or master.” – Anko Itosu, 1908.
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7 – Karate Nerd Experience 2019 (Sweden July 2019)
Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Jesse Enkamp, Oliver Enkamp and
myself! Your ticket includes accommodation from July 12-15, breakfast, lunch,
dinner, classical Swedish “fika”, all training classes and theory lectures,
instructor & training venue fees, professional photos & videos, Karate
Nerd goodie bag and secret guests and activities.
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8 – Open Seminars in the Next Three Months
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9 – Christian Wedewardt and Iain teaching in the UK
On the 28th of July 2019, Iain Abernethy and Christian
Wedewardt will be teaching a joint seminar in the UK! We are delighted that UK
karateka will once again have the opportunity to learn from Christian and enjoy
his teaching style!
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.
Christian speaks English fluently and the entire seminar will
be in English (you can put away the German phrase books!).
Iain and Christian will be teaching a wide range of
practical karate drills that will be applicable to all styles. This will
include two-person drills, impact drills and kata bunkai. Iain and Christian
really enjoy teaching together so this is sure to be a fun and productive day!
The seminar will run from 10am to 5pm and will be held
at: The Beacon, Portway, Wantage, Oxfordshire OX12 9BX.
Cost is £45 per person (for groups, when 4 pay, the 5
person goes free). Please contact Becky Webb (beckywebb_3@hotmail.co.uk) 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 holds a 6th dan in
karate (WCA awarded by Peter Consterdine 9th dan) and has been training for
over 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.
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10 – World Combat Association
If you want a more formal connection with me and what I
do, and you want to be part of ever-expanding international group of pragmatic martial
artists, then please consider joining the WCA:
I hope you like the new look newsletters and I’ll be back
with more soon!
All the best,
Iain
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Twitter: @iainabernethy
Instagram: @iainabernethy
